Abstract: A rope climbing elevator (10) includes prime movers (40,42) and drive sheaves (32,34) secured to the car (10) and engaging stationary ropes (12-26).

Abstract: An elevator system includes a counterweight-drive assembly (26) having a motor (32) and drive pulley (36) mounted internally to engage a drive belt (42) for climbing or descending with respect thereto, resulting in raising or lowering of an elevator car (12) coupled to said counterweight-drive assembly (26).

Abstract: A traction-sheave elevator is provided without a counterweight. The elevator includes an elevator car that is guided in an elevator shaft. A rope is used to carry the car. The elevator further include at least two motor-driven traction-sheaves that are connected one behind the other relative to the rope. The rope wraps around each traction-sheave to define a relative angle of wrap greater than 180°. A tensioning device is connected downstream of the traction-sheaves for self-adjustably applying a requisite tension to the rope after the rope comes off the second traction-sheave. Additionally, a braking device is provided for at least one of the traction-sheaves.

Abstract: In an elevator system, first and second car carrying bases move up and down along first and second segments of a hoistway, respectively. First and second support members are located on the first and second car carrying bases, respectively. A car is moved up and down within the hoistway while being selectively supported by the first or second car carrying base. The first and second car carrying bases are arranged so as not to overlap each other when projected on a horizontal plane. Each car support member can shuttle between a support position and a nonsupport position, the support position being a position at which the car support member supports the car by projecting into a moving path of the car and the nonsupport position being a position at which the car support member is retracted from and is outside of the moving path of the car.

Abstract: A rope climbing elevator (10) includes prime movers (40,42) and drive sheaves (32,34) secured to the car (10) and engaging stationary ropes (12-26).

Abstract: Mounting apparatus for a traction machine disposed in a hoistway includes a pair of beams that extend through the hoistway to the pit. One of the beams includes a mounting plate disposed at the top of the beam and to which the machine is fastened. The elevator car frame is engaged with guide rails that are functionally separate from the beams. In a particular embodiment, the guide rails are retained to the beams by clips. The clips retain and position the guide rail without subjecting the guide rails to the load of the traction machine.

Abstract: A horizontally moveable elevator cab (14) is transferred between a plurality of car frames (16-18) in successive hoistways (11-13) by horizontal motive means (44-47) in response to a signal processing controller (43, FIGS. 4 and 5).

Abstract: A driving system for elevators includes a cab, a pair of chain suspenders on the bottom of the cab and suspended from the roof of a building, a synchronized transmission device having a plurality of gears and chain wheels of different diameters, connected on one hand with a d/c motor and on the other hand via a pair of shafts and driving chains with chain suspenders, a plurality of retarders coupled with respective suspenders and a set of counter weights adjacent the cab and supported by a pair of pulleys on the roof of a building. This disclosure has been characterized in the structure of the synchronized transmission device which is designed as a labor saving mechanism, in addition to the installation of the retarders and the set of counter weights the cab can be operated by a d/c motor or by manual manipulation.