Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes multiple elevator cars (22, 32) within a hoistway (28). A first compensation member (40) is associated with a first counterweight (24). A second compensation member (50) is associated with a second one of the elevator cars (32). Each compensation member has one end that moves with the associated elevator system component and an opposite end (44, 54) secured in a fixed position within the hoistway. In one example, a compensation member has a linear density that is approximately four times a linear density of a corresponding load bearing member.

Abstract: An elevator installation includes at least one elevator car and at least one counterweight, wherein the at least one elevator car is capable of being moved on guide rails in an elevator shaft by a drive with a driving pulley and with a supporting and propulsion apparatus. The at least one counterweight is formed with a hollow body enclosing a filling. In the event of a freefall, the hollow body is destroyed allowing the filling to emerge.

Abstract: An elevator installation includes a first elevator car and a second elevator car, each having a respective braking device, and a safety system that monitors the elevator cars. The safety system has for each braking device a braking force regulating device for regulating a braking force of the respective braking device. The safety system activates at least one of the braking devices by the associated braking force regulating device in order to prevent collision of the first elevator car with the second elevator car.

Abstract: A plurality of cars (A-C) traveling in the same hoistway (10) send communication check codes (27, 35, 70, 77) to each other over a first communication channel, and if a response is not received (30, 37, 73, 80) within a predetermined time (32, 38, 74, 81) the car not getting a response will send a failure mode command to the other two cars (53, 82). Either the car (A) which senses the failure, or a predesignated car (B) will assume a wild car mode (60, 88) after the other two cars are safely parked (56, 57; 85, 86) out of the way, under control of special sensors and signals sent over a second communications channel. Two out of three cars may operate if only one has communication failure with one or two of the others.

Abstract: An elevator installation has a first cage pair a second cage pair, both movable in an elevator shaft. Cages of a cage pair can move simultaneously in opposite directions within the shaft. In the shaft is a change zone which allows the cages of the cage pair to change between sides of the shaft while in upward or downward motion.

Abstract: Destination calls entered by means of buttons (21-29) are each given a designation unique to the car and pick-up floor for that call and other calls to be serviced therewith, such as a letter (A-E), which is different from any other outstanding calls. Calls can be reassigned among elevators (UL, LL, UR, LR) whether they are in the same or different hoistways (LF, RT). Signs (31-39, 41-49) adjacent each hoistway are illuminated to display the designation of any call which is being answered by an elevator car approaching the floor. Thus, passengers are informed when their call is being answered by the signs identifying the call, rather than identifying any particular car. Another embodiment identifies (60, 31a, 41a) the hoistway landing doorway (1, 2) as well as a letter to allow passengers to wait adjacent to the hoistway landing doorway of the car which will serve them.

Abstract: Safety equipment for an elevator installation with an upper elevator car and a lower elevator car, which cars are both movable substantially independently along a vertical direction in a common elevator shaft of the elevator installation includes a first electro-optical detection system with a first light source in a lower region of the upper elevator car and with a first detector which comprises a light-sensitive first sensor region in an upper region of the lower elevator car. The first light source issues a focused first light beam at a first angle with respect to the vertical direction. The first angle is predetermined such that on approach of the upper and the lower elevator cars the first light beam is incident on the first sensor region and thus is detectable by the first detector. In this case, the first detector triggers a reaction.

Abstract: A collision brake for two elevator bodies, which move independently of one another, includes a first locking mechanism, which is disposed between the two elevator bodies and is fastened on a first of the two elevator bodies, and which has a brake body arrangement having at least one first brake body, which is movably mounted in the first locking mechanism toward a guide structure. The first locking mechanism has a positive guide, which converts a relative movement of the brake body arrangement in an ascension direction by the second of the two elevator bodies into a relative movement of the brake body arrangement on the guide structure.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a second car is disposed below a first car. The second car is suspended within a hoistway by a second suspension body and a third suspension body to be raised/lowered by a second hoisting machine. The second suspension body has a second car end connected to the second car on a first lateral surface side thereof. The third suspension body has a third car end connected to the second car on a second lateral surface side thereof. A looping angle adjusting pulley for increasing the looping angle of the second suspension body with respect to a second drive sheave is disposed in an upper portion of the hoistway.

Abstract: An elevator system comprises an elevator car and a counterweight fixed to a traction means. A drive pulley moves the traction means. A bottom tensioning means is fixed to the counterweight and to the elevator car. A tensioning means weight tensions the bottom tensioning means. In an end position of the counterweight, the elevator car can continue to move when the traction means is moved further by the drive pulley. This moves the tensioning means weight at half the speed of the elevator car, for example. A measuring device is provided for the tensioning means weight for detecting such a motion of the tensioning means weight. This allows a triggering of an emergency stop of the elevator car.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a second car is disposed below a first car. The second car is suspended within a hoistway by a second suspension body and a third suspension body to be raised/lowered by a second hoisting machine. The second suspension body has a second car end connected to the second car on a first lateral surface side thereof. The third suspension body has a third car end connected to the second car on a second lateral surface side thereof. A looping angle adjusting pulley for increasing the looping angle of the second suspension body with respect to a second drive sheave is disposed in an upper portion of the hoistway.

Abstract: An elevator system comprises at least two independently operable elevator cars in each of a plurality of elevator shafts within a building. The elevator system comprises at least one first elevator shaft having a lower first and a lower second region, where a first elevator car moves within the lower first region of the first elevator shaft and a second elevator car moves within the lower second region. The first and second elevators are moveably controlled independently of each other within the first shaft. The system also includes at least one second elevator shaft having an upper first and an upper second region, where a third elevator car moves within the upper first region of the second elevator shaft and a fourth elevator car moving within the upper second region. The third and fourth elevator cars also are moveably controlled independently of each other.

Abstract: An elevator system includes multiple cars within a hoistway. Parking positions are provided outside the range of passenger service levels. A destination entry strategy is used by a controller for directing movement of the elevator cars. The inventive combination of multiple cars in a hoistway, parking positions outside of the normal passenger service level range and destination entry car movement control allows for reducing car travel speed, reducing car size or both while still meeting desired handling capacity needs or even exceeding the desired handling capacity associated with another elevator system that requires larger cars, higher speeds and more building space.

Abstract: An elevator installation is arranged in a building with at least two elevators, wherein the building is divided into building zones and each elevator has at least one elevator car, each elevator car is independently movable by an associated drive in an associated car zone and each car zone has at least one transfer floor. A first elevator has at least three elevator cars arranged vertically one above the other in a shaft. In addition, at least three car zones are allocated to a building zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lift system having a lift car (4) which can move vertically and horizontally, wherein vertical movement takes place along a vertical track (3) having a vertical guide rail (5), and horizontal movement is carried out by utilizing a car transfer device (13). The car transfer device has a horizontal displacement unit (16) into which a vertical guide rail piece (18) can be integrated, said guide rail piece guiding the lift car (4) in the horizontal displacement unit (16). The horizontal displacement unit can be positioned in such a manner that the guide rail piece (18) forms a section of the vertical guide rail (5). The lift cabin (4) can be fixed on the guide rail piece (18) during the horizontal displacement by means of a brake device (20).

Abstract: Lift system (10) with a lower lift cage (K1), an upper lift cage (K2), at least one counterweight (12), and support means (TA, TB) for supporting the lower and upper lift cages (K1, K2). The support means (TB) for supporting the lower lift cage (K1) are led downwardly in the lift shaft (11) laterally along the upper lift cage (K2). Drive means for driving the lower and upper lift cages (K1, K2) are present. Arranged at the upper lift cage (K2) is a first incremental transmitter (I1) which interacts with one of the support means (TB) and supplies information about a change in the spacing (D) between the lower and upper lift cages (K1, K2).

Abstract: An elevator installation is arranged in a building with at least two elevators, wherein the building is divided into building zones and each elevator has at least one elevator car, each elevator car is independently movable by an associated drive in an associated car zone and each car zone has at least one transfer floor and at least one further transfer floor. A first elevator has at least three elevator cars, which are arranged vertically one above the other and which comprise a middle and two adjacent elevator cars, wherein the middle elevator car is independently movable in a middle car zone and the two adjacent elevator cars are independently movable in two adjacent car zones. The middle car zone and an adjacent car zone serve at least one common floor. In addition, at least one of these car zones is allocated to two building zones.

Abstract: Evacuation method for a lift with at least three lift bodies which are moved along at least one travel path and are connected together by way of support and traction means, wherein the first and the second lift bodies are suspended 1:1 by means of the support and traction means and the third lift body is suspended 2:1 by means of the support and traction means. The three lift bodies can each be blocked by way of a respective controllable blocking device. If passengers are present in a first one of the three lift bodies a further second or third lift body is blocked. In the case of presence of an imbalance between the weight masses of the two remaining unblocked lift bodies the first lift body is moved to an evacuation storey.

Abstract: An elevator may include an elevator car, a set of hoisting ropes, a traction sheave, and a compensating device. The set of hoisting ropes may include first and second rope portions. The elevator car may include one or more first diverting pulleys from which the first rope portions extend upward. The elevator car may include one or more second diverting pulleys from which the second rope portions extend downward. The first rope portions may be under a first rope tension. The second rope portions may be under a second rope tension that is different from the first rope tension. The compensating device may act in substantially opposite directions on the first and second rope portions. The compensating device may produce an auxiliary force acting substantially in a same direction as the first rope tension.

Abstract: An elevator system has two elevator cars arranged one over the other, but that can travel independently of each other. Both elevator cars are suspended on suspension and traction mechanisms and each is coupled to a separate counterweight. Both elevator cars have a lower cable, wherein the two lower cables are tensioned by separate tension devices. The lower cable of the first, lower elevator car is fastened to the first elevator car and the first counterweight, The lower cable of the second, upper elevator car is guided at the second elevator car and at least one of the two lower cable ends thereof is secured by a weighted body secured in place with play and/or free-floating.

Abstract: A method of preventing a collision of two elevator cars of an elevator installation, which cars move substantially independently of one another in a common shaft, and an elevator installation includes a collision protection system that produces a retardation of each moved elevator car by a stopping brake as soon as the effective distance between the elevator cars falls below a critical minimum distance. After retardation of the cars by the stopping brakes, an emergency stop system comes into function. A control system of this emergency stop system ascertains the instantaneous movement state of the elevator cars. With the help of the car brakes, which are associated with the elevator cars, an additional retardation of each moved elevator car is triggered when the movement state thereof fulfils definable emergency stop criteria.

Abstract: An elevator system has a lower elevator car, an upper elevator car and a common counterweight in an elevator shaft. A support device has a first support strand and a second support strand. Each of the elevator cars is connected with the two support strands. In addition, a drive for driving the elevator cars is arranged in the elevator shaft. The drive includes four drive pulleys, wherein a first drive pulley and a second drive pulley are associated with the first support strand and the third drive pulley and the fourth drive pulley are associated with the second support strand.

Abstract: An elevator system comprises at least two independently operable elevator cars in each of a plurality of elevator shafts within a building. The elevator system comprises at least one first elevator shaft having a lower first and a lower second region, where a first elevator car moves within the lower first region of the first elevator shaft and a second elevator car moves within the lower second region. The first and second elevators are moveably controlled independently of each other within the first shaft. The system also includes at least one second elevator shaft having an upper first and an upper second region, where a third elevator car moves within the upper first region of the second elevator shaft and a fourth elevator car moving within the upper second region. The third and fourth elevator cars also are moveably controlled independently of each other.

Abstract: A method of modernizing an elevator installation that comprises a first elevator car movable in a shaft by a first drive includes installing at least one second drive without changing the first drive. In addition, at least one second elevator car is installed in the shaft and connected with the second drive. Moreover, a control unit is installed or configured in such a manner that it controls the first drive and the second drive.

Abstract: A conveyance system that utilizes an electromagnetic levitation motor acting as a mass driver to transport mined materials via a small shaft wherein multiple small skips are in transit simultaneously and which allows for return of the skips via the same route wherein the mass driver is used as a braking mechanism. The system also includes guideways to keep the skips in the correct position during transit, a safety system to prevent skips from falling back during a power failure, a system for feeding the skips to the mass driver at the lower end, and a headframe system for capturing skips at the upper end, unloading them, and feeding them back to the mass driver for the descent to the bottom.

Abstract: An elevator system (8) includes a hoistway (9) having a plurality of cars (10, 11) traveling therein, the hoistway includes a steel tape (14), each car having two tape readers (20, 21; 22, 23) which feed corresponding position detectors (29, 30: 31, 32) to provide independent position signals (35, 26: 37, 38). A group controller (52) assigns calls in a fashion to avoid collisions. Controllers (45, 46) for each car communicate with each other and when deemed necessary, either lower the speed, acceleration, deceleration of one or both of the cars, or stop (with or without reversing) one or both of the cars. Independent processors (41, 42) will drop the brake (49, 50) of either or both cars if they come within a first distance of each other, or will engage the safeties (18, 19) of either or both cars if they come within a lesser distance of each other.

Abstract: A method of assigning destination calls to cars (A-F) in an elevator system (20) having a plurality of hoistways (21-23) in which there is more than one car in each hoistway includes determining (33) the time for each car to respond to the call Among the cars with an acceptable response time, a determination is made regarding (34) the amount of additional delay in the hoistway that assignment of the call to one car will impose on the either car in the same hoistway. The call is assigned to that car which creates the least additional delay for cars in any hoistway.

Abstract: An elevator installation with at least one upper elevator car and at least one lower elevator car includes a first electromechanical switching mechanism mounted on the upper car and having a weight fastened at a downwardly extending elongate run, the run being held in a travel setting by the weight force, and a second electromechanical switching mechanism mounted on the lower car vertically below the weight. In the case of undesired approach of the two elevator cars, the weight impinges on the second electromechanical switching mechanism and thereby opens a safety circuit of the lower elevator car. The safety circuit of the upper elevator car is also opened by a diminishing of the weight force.

Abstract: An elevator safety system (10) includes a limit switch (32) coupled to a first elevator car (14) and an actuator plate (30) coupled to a governor rope (24) of a second elevator car (16). The actuator plate trips (30) the limit switch (32) when a distance between the first elevator car (14) and the second elevator car (16) goes below a safety threshold distance to stop the first and second elevator cars (14, 16).

Abstract: An elevator has at least two elevator cars, which are disposed one above the other in a shaft, which cars are vertically movable and which each have a drive, a counterweight and a traction device, wherein one drive is fixed at a first shaft wall and a second drive is fixed at an opposite second shaft wall and each drive has at least one drive pulley. At least one first deflecting roller is associated with each drive and is positioned the shaft wall that is opposite the drive and above the counterweight associated with the drive. The traction device is led from the counterweight over the deflecting roller to the drive pulley and from there to the elevator car.

Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator installation with a number of cars in a shaft, with a second car disposed underneath a first car. Associated with each car is a drive with a traction sheave and at least one cable strand, which is led over the traction sheave and by means of which the car is connected to a counterweight. The second car is kept in a suspension ratio of 1:1 and is connected to its counterweight by means of two cable strands associated with different sides of the second car and led over the traction sheave of the second car. A cable guiding device is provided which subjects the two cable strands of the second car to equal loading.

Abstract: An elevator car with brake equipment, which is arranged in the region of the elevator car, for holding and braking the same, which brake equipment includes: a brake unit which can co-operate with a brake rail, an actuating device which can produce an actuator force FA, and a connecting linkage which connects the actuating device with the brake unit in force-active manner for transmission of the actuator force FA, wherein the brake unit in unloaded setting is in its open setting and the connecting linkage is a pull cable.

Abstract: An improved elevator system and control method thereof is provided for effectively scheduling elevator cars and reducing hoistway spaces. The elevator system of the present invention includes at least one hoistway and at least two elevator cars operating independently in the hoistway. The elevator system schedules multiple elevator cars for multiple calls on the basis of information obtained by analyzing various signals provided from the button panels installed at elevator cars and elevator entrances of a building, thereby improving operation efficiency of the elevator system.

Abstract: An elevator system has a lower elevator car, an upper elevator car and a counterweight. A first drive drives the lower elevator car and a second drive drives the upper elevator car. Two parallelly extending guide rails lying in the region of a vertical center plane guide the elevator cars. A support device for the elevator cars and the counterweight comprises two separate support strands. The lower elevator car is fixed at two substantially diagonally opposite points of a horizontal plane each at a respective end of one of the support strands. The upper elevator car is similarly fixed at two substantially diagonally opposite points of a horizontal plane each at an end of one of the support strands, wherein the two diagonals intersect.

Abstract: One of a plurality of cars (17, 18) traveling in a hoistway (10) of an elevator system (9) may be diverted to the hoistway overhead (31) or pit (36) to enable another of the cars to gain access to a floor near or at a terminal floor (11, 14). When such car is at its last stop with doors open, visual (40) and audible (41) indicators present (57, 58) messages to the effect that this is the last stop and passengers should exit. After car doors are closed (66), visual and audible messages (68, 69) relate to the car going to the pit or overhead and that passengers may push any button (to reopen doors). Thereafter, the car moves (75, 76) to the overhead (31) or the pit (36) and presents (82, 83) visual and audible messages to the effect that passengers did not exit at the correct floor and must wait while the other car makes a stop.

Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes multiple cars (22, 24) within a hoistway (40). Parking positions (72, 74) are provided outside the range of passenger service levels (70). A destination entry strategy is used by a controller (60) for directing movement of the elevator cars (22, 24). The inventive combination of multiple cars in a hoistway, parking positions outside of the normal passenger service level range and destination entry car movement control allows for reducing car travel speed, reducing car size or both while still meeting desired handling capacity needs or even exceeding the desired handling capacity associated with another elevator system that requires larger cars, higher speeds and more building space.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a second car is disposed below a first car. The second car is suspended within a hoistway by a second suspension body and a third suspension body to be raised/lowered by a second hoisting machine. The second suspension body has a second car end connected to the second car on a first lateral surface side thereof. The third suspension body has a third car end connected to the second car on a second lateral surface side thereof. A looping angle adjusting pulley for increasing the looping angle of the second suspension body with respect to a second drive sheave is disposed in an upper portion of the hoistway.

Abstract: A method and apparatus adjust the inter-car distance in a double-deck elevator provided with hoisting ropes, in which elevator the hoisting ropes move a car frame supporting the elevator cars along guide rails. The vertical inter-car distance between the elevator cars is adjusted by moving at least one of the elevator cars in relation to the car frame by pulling the elevator car to be moved upwards and lowering the elevator car to be moved downwards by an adjusting rope.

Abstract: An elevator installation has at least three vertical elevator shafts arranged adjacent to one another, at least one boarding zone and a plurality of individually movable elevator cars. At least two directly adjacent changeover zones are provided in the region of the boarding zone and enable horizontal displacement of the elevator cars between the elevator shafts.

Abstract: A plurality of cars (A-C) traveling in the same hoistway (10) send communication check codes (27, 35, 70, 77) to each other over a first communication channel, and if a response is not received (30, 37, 73, 80) within a predetermined time (32, 38, 74, 81) the car not getting a response will send a failure mode command to the other two cars (53, 82). Either the car (A) which senses the failure, or a predesignated car (B) will assume a wild car mode (60, 88) after the other two cars are safely parked (56, 57; 85, 86) out of the way, under control of special sensors and signals sent over a second communications channel. Two out of three cars may operate if only one has communication failure with one or two of the others.

Abstract: An elevator installation has a vertical elevator hoistway and a plurality of elevator cars individually movable therein. An elevator control system readies at least two of the elevator cars in the hoistway in an area of two mutually adjacent entrance areas. Thus, simultaneous loading/unloading of the elevator cars via the entrance areas is possible. The two elevator cars then travel to destination floors, the first elevator car traveling a distance which is at least as great as that traveled by the second elevator car.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a control apparatus for a one-shaft multi-car system elevator in which a plurality of cars operate in one shaft, the control device being capable of efficient group control while avoiding collisions and minimizing the occurrence of confinement of passengers. The control apparatus includes approaching direction traveling prohibiting means 1D for prohibiting the cars from traveling in a direction in which the cars approach each other in the same shaft, and door open standing-by means 1E for causing the car to stand by with its doors open if the car is prohibited by the approaching direction traveling prohibiting means from traveling and if any passenger is present in the car.

Abstract: An elevator installation for conveying persons/goods, a method for operating the elevator installation and to a method for modernizing an elevator installation. The elevator installation includes at least two cages arranged one above the other in a vertical travel direction, and a drive per cage for moving the cages. The cage and the drive are connected by way of a conveying member. A counterweight for weight compensation of each cage. At least one cage guide rail is provided for guiding the cages, and at least a pair of counterweight guide rails are provided for guiding the counterweights. The drives are arranged near different first walls in the shaft.

Abstract: An elevator has at least two elevator cars, which are disposed one above the other in a shaft, which cars are vertically movable and which each have a drive, a counterweight and a traction device, wherein one drive is fixed at a first shaft wall and a second drive is fixed at an opposite second shaft wall and each drive has at least one drive pulley. At least one first deflecting roller is associated with each drive and is positioned the shaft wall that is opposite the drive and above the counterweight associated with the drive. The traction device is led from the counterweight over the deflecting roller to the drive pulley and from there to the elevator car.

Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator installation comprising at least one car, which has a safety gear and with which a control unit, a drive and a brake are associated, and further comprising a safety device for avoiding a collision of the car with an obstacle, another car or an end of the shaft, it being possible by means of the safety device to compare an actual distance of the car from an obstacle, another car or an end of the shaft with a minimum distance and a critical distance. If the actual distance goes below the minimum distance, an emergency stop can be triggered. If the actual distance goes below the critical distance, the safety gear of the car can be triggered.

Abstract: A pair of elevator cars (23, 24) traveling in the same hoistway (27) in response to a controller (28) may stop with the doors closed, or remain at a stop with the doors open, whenever one of the cars has to wait until another car moves out of the way before the one elevator car can proceed to finish service to its passengers. Within each cab (30) both a sign (29) and a loudspeaker (33) may present the same message to the passengers, assuring them that the operation is normal and that there is no need for alarm.

Abstract: An elevator group supervisory control apparatus is obtained which can achieve efficient group supervisory control while preventing or reducing the possibility of collision and the safe stopping of an upper car and a lower car in one and the same shaft as much as possible.

Abstract: An elevator group control apparatus collectively controls an elevator system where at least two cars can travel in each shaft independently of each other. The apparatus has a destination floor registration device installed at each hall for passengers to register destination floors and to indicate to passengers which cars will serve respectively for the registered destination floors. Priority zones and a shared zone for upper cars and for lower cars are set; a judgment is made as to whether the shared zone set can be entered by an upper or lower car; a car is put on standby based on the judgment a car is sent to a withdrawal floors, as necessary, after a service is completed. A car is selected as a candidate for assignment to a destination call if, according to the destination to be served by each car and the zones set for each car, so that the car would cause neither collision nor safety stop; and a car is assigned based on the selection.

Abstract: An elevator includes at least two elevator cars which are disposed one above the other and vertically movable in a shaft independently of one another and which each have an associated drive with at least one motor and at least one drive pulley, an associated counterweight and at least one associated tension device. One of the drives is fixed to a first shaft wall and the other drive is fixed to an opposite second shaft wall. The drives can be passed by the elevator cars, wherein the drives are arranged vertically above the associated drive pulleys.

Abstract: An elevator installation is arranged in a building with at least two elevators, wherein the building is divided into building zones and each elevator has at least one elevator car, each elevator car is independently movable by an associated drive in an associated car zone and each car zone has at least one transfer floor and at least one further transfer floor. A first elevator has at least three elevator cars, which are arranged vertically one above the other and which comprise a middle and two adjacent elevator cars, wherein the middle elevator car is independently movable in a middle car zone and the two adjacent elevator cars are independently movable in two adjacent car zones. The middle car zone and an adjacent car zone serve at least one common floor. In addition, at least one of these car zones is allocated to two building zones.