Abstract: A guide rail (14) for an elevator system (10) includes a base (20) connectable with a wall of a hoistway (12) of the elevator system (10) and a web section (24) connected to and extending from the base (20). A tip section (26) is located at an end of the web section (24) and is operably connectable to an elevator car (16) of the elevator system (10). The base (20), the web section (24) and the tip section (26) are formed of one or more thicknesses (28) of sheet metal material. An elevator system (10) includes an elevator car (16) located in a hoistway (12) and a guide rail (14) extending along the hoistway (12) and operably connected to the elevator car (16) for guiding the elevator car (16) along the hoistway (12). The guide rail (14) is configured such that braking forces applied to the guide rail (14) by a braking mechanism (36) successfully reduce the speed of the elevator car (16) without resulting in failure of the guide rail (14).

Abstract: An elevator system (10) is disclosed. The elevator system (10) may comprise a hoistway (18) including first and second hoistway portions (12, 16), a first car (14), a first stationary stator (44a) disposed in the first hoistway portion (12) and a second stationary stator (44b) disposed in the second hoistway portion (16), a first mover (42) mounted on the first car (14), and a first guiderail (62) disposed in the first hoistway (12). The first hoistway portion (12) may be free of other guiderails (62) for the first car (14). The first car (14) may be propelled in the first hoistway portion (12) by only the interaction of the first mover (42) with the first stationary stator (44a). The first car (14) may be propelled in the second hoistway portion (16) by only the interaction of the first mover (42) with the second stationary stator (44b).

Abstract: An elevator system (20) is disclosed. The elevator system (20) includes a hoistway (22, 26, a transfer station (34, 36, 42), and a propulsion system (50). The propulsion system (50) may include a moving part (52) mounted on the elevator car (24), and a stationary part (54). An interaction of the moving part (52) and the stationary part (54) may generate a thrust force to move the elevator car (24) in a vertical direction within the hoistway (22, 26) and the transfer station (34, 36, 42). The stationary part (54) may include a first section (80) disposed in the hoistway (22, 26), and a second section (26) disposed in the transfer station (34, 36, 42), the second section (82) having thrust force generation characteristics different from thrust force generation characteristics of the first section (80).

Abstract: A ropeless elevator system (80) is disclosed. The ropeless elevator system (80) may include a plurality of elevator cars (24), a first hoistway (22), a second hoistway (26), an upper transfer station (34), and a lower transfer station (36). Movement of each of the plurality of elevator cars (24) may be controlled according to a predetermined assignment (90, 112) in which: a plurality of floors (101-110, 121-130) is divided into a plurality of floor groups (92, 94, 114, 116), each of the plurality of elevator cars (24) is assigned to at least one of the plurality of floor groups (92, 94, 114, 116), and each of the plurality of elevator cars (24) is dispatched only to floors within the at least one floor group assigned thereto.

Abstract: An exemplary method of assembling an elevator machine frame includes situating at least a portion of a motor in a desired position, placing an elevator frame support plate against the portion of the motor, connecting a plurality of support rods to the support plate and connecting another support plate to the support rods such that the support plates are spaced from each other and in a desired alignment with each other.

Abstract: A device for a friction force provider for an emergency safety actuator for an elevator is disclosed. The friction force provider may include a housing having a first end and an opposing second end, where the first end may define an opening. The friction force provider may further include a primary magnet positioned within the housing and configured to move between an armed position and a working position. The primary magnet may be configured to create a force on a rail of an elevator system in the working position and be held within the housing in the armed position.

Abstract: An exemplary elevator brake device includes a permanent magnet. A core supports the permanent magnet. A first plate is positioned near one side of the core with a first gap between the first plate and the core. A second plate is positioned near another side of the core with a second gap between the second plate and the core. The first and second plates remain fixed relative to each other and are arranged such that relative movement is possible between the core and the plates. An electromagnet selectively influences an amount of magnetic flux across the first and second gaps, respectively, to control a braking force of the brake.

Abstract: A brake assembly for an elevator traction machine is disclosed. The brake assembly may include a rotating element, a fixed element mounted in operational association with the rotating element and a positioning device connected to the fixed element. The positioning device may additionally magnetically interface with the rotating element to facilitate centering of the fixed element relative to the rotating element.

Abstract: An exemplary locking or coupling device includes a plurality of magnets each having a direction of magnetization. A plurality of pole shoe members are positioned between selected ones of the magnets. A moveable support supports some of the magnets and some of the pole shoe members. The moveable support is moveable to selectively change a relative orientation of the directions of magnetization. One relative orientation primarily directs a flow of magnetic flux between the magnets through the pole shoe members and the magnetic flux remains essentially in a plane containing the magnets and the pole shoe members. A second, different relative orientation primarily directs the flow of magnetic flux from the pole shoe members in a transverse direction away from the plane.

Abstract: An electric machine including a rotor and an annularly-shaped first stator is provided. The rotor includes an annularly-shaped rotor body and permanent magnets positionally-fixed relative to the rotor body. The first stator includes circumferentially-spaced stator poles. The rotor and the first stator are concentric and axially-aligned relative to an axial centerline of the electric machine. Each of the permanent magnets creates a magnetic dipole. Each magnetic dipole extends along a dipole axis that passes through the respective permanent magnet. Each dipole axis extends in a first plane. The centerline of the electric machine extends in a second plane that is at least substantially perpendicular to the first plane. Each of the permanent magnets is positioned so that a magnet angle that is between 15° and 75° is defined between the respective dipole axis and a radial axis that extends between the respective permanent magnet and the centerline.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed reducing the size of an elevator machine by establishing an envelope associated with a sheave of the machine, and recessing at least one bearing associated with the machine at least partially within the envelope. Embodiments are directed to an elevator machine comprising a motor, a sheave, and a plurality of bearings recessed at least partially within an envelope of at least one of the motor and sheave.

Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car having an elevator car subsystem; a guide rail to guide the elevator car along a hoistway; primary windings positioned along the hoistway; permanent magnets coupled to the elevator car, the primary windings and permanent magnets defining a linear motor for imparting motion to the elevator car in response to a drive signal; and secondary windings coupled to the elevator car, the secondary windings generating a current to power the elevator car subsystem.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway; an elevator car to travel in the hoistway, the elevator car having permanent magnets mounted thereto; a stator mounted in the hoistway, the stator coacting with the permanent magnets to control motion of the elevator car in the hoistway, the stator including: a plurality of modular coil modules, each coil module including stacked coil assemblies, each coil assembly including stacked coil units, each coil unit corresponding to one phase of the stator.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway; an elevator car to travel in the hoistway; permanent magnets mounted to one of the elevator car and the hoistway; and a stator mounted to the other of the elevator car and the hoist way, the stator including windings coacting with the permanent magnets to control motion of the elevator car in the hoistway, the stator having a stator core supporting the windings, the stator core being electrically non-conductive.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a first hoistway having a shuttle section and serviced floors; a second hoistway having a shuttle section and serviced floors; a first elevator car; a second elevator car; a coupler physically connecting the first elevator car and the second elevator car during travel in the shuttle section; an upper transfer station for transferring at least one of the first elevator car and the second elevator car from the first hoistway to the second hoistway; a lower transfer station for transferring at least one of the first elevator car and the second elevator car from the second hoistway to the first hoistway.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a first hoistway; a second hoistway; and a structural member disposed between the first hoistway and the second hoistway; the structural member supporting a first stationary portion of a propulsion system for the first hoistway; the structural member supporting a first guide surface for an elevator car in the first hoistway; the structural member supporting a second stationary portion of the propulsion system for the second hoistway; the structural member supporting a second guide surface for an elevator car in the second hoistway.

Abstract: A guide device (26) for use in an elevator system includes an elevator guide roller (30) having a hardness that varies depending on a speed of rotation of the guide roller (30). In a disclosed example, a magnetorheological fluid within the guide roller (30) changes viscosity depending on the speed of rotation. One example includes varying an influence of a first magnetic field on the magnetorheological fluid to change the viscosity.

Abstract: A brake (26) for an elevator system (10) and method of using the brake (26) is disclosed. The brake (26) may comprise first and second brake linings (38) configured to be frictionally engageable with a rail (14) of the elevator system (10), a first biasing member (34) configured to urge the first brake lining (38) to engage the rail (14), and a first actuator (30) configured to move the first brake lining (38) to disengage the rail (14) when the first actuator (30) is energized. The brake (26) may be configured to be mounted on an elevator car (16) of the elevator system (10).

Abstract: A braking device for an elevator is disclosed. The device may include a motor, a braking system, a first switch, and a second switch. The motor may be capable of generating a counter-electromotive force. The braking system may move to a disengaged position upon being energized and may move to an engaged position upon being de-energized. The first and second switches may have an open state. In the open state, the switches electrically couple the motor to the braking system so that the counter-electromotive force of the motor may energize the braking system.

Abstract: A brake for machine and method of using the brake is disclosed. The brake may comprise first and second brake linings configured to be frictionally engageable with a rail, a first biasing member configured to urge the first brake lining to engage the rail, and a first actuator configured to move the first brake lining to disengage the rail when the first actuator is energized. The brake may be configured to be mounted on a machine, floor or the like.