Abstract: A supporting and guiding arrangement, in particular a post for shelf storage and retrieval devices, having a box-like section bar with a hollow box cross section. Grooves for guide rails are formed at least in two opposite corners of the hollow box cross section, and the ends of the guide rails are fixed in a holder.

Abstract: An escape apparatus is designed for placement adjacent to an exterior entrance of a multi-story residence or other building. The escape apparatus includes an escape platform and cage which is attached to and supported by a sleeve which extends around the periphery of a vertically oriented stationary hollow column. The sleeve is movable upward and downward along the column exterior. A pair of cables are connected to the sleeve and extend from the sleeve upward and over a respective pair of sheaves positioned atop the vertical column and then into the column interior where they are connected to a speed control piston-counterweight. The column is preferably filled with liquid, such as a water and anti-freeze mixture, and the piston-counterweight has an aperture extending therethrough from top to bottom to allow liquid to flow from one side of the piston-counterweight to the other and a valve operating within the aperture to further regulate the rate of ascent of the piston-counterweight.

Abstract: A guide assembly has a roller to guide a conveyance within a shaft. The assembly includes first and second biasing devices and a support for the roller.

Abstract: A multi-stage mast assembly has its mast stages stacked front to back when retracted and has front-to-back guide rollers and side-to-side guide rollers between the mast stages and a front carriage frame. An extrusion is used for the mast stages and the carriage frame. The extrusion has a central hollow rectangular column, inwardly facing channels at the front corners, outwardly directed flanges at the back corners, and pairs of central stub flanges at the front and back.

Abstract: A cableless elevator system for very high buildings includes several vertical travel shafts with apparatus at the floors for horizontal travel of the elevator cars between shafts. Several cars can move in the same shaft at the same time. Vertically extending shaft wall strips positioned between the shafts have horizontal guide channels and vertical rolling tracks formed therein. During vertical travel, upper and lower guide rollers on the cars engage the rolling tracks and the cars are moved by a combination of a linear drive and a friction drive. The friction drive utilizes battery powered electrical motors to drive the lower guide rollers. The linear drive has linear motor stators attached to the shaft rear wall and permanent magnets on the cars. During horizontal movement, the upper and lower guide rollers engage the horizontal guide channels and the lower rollers move the car.

Abstract: A linear motor supporting apparatus for a linear motor elevator capable of greatly dampening a load from a stator when a relative displacement of the stator and guide rails occur, includes a linear motor including a rotor and a stator; a tensile force adjusting device, disposed below the stator, for adjusting a tensile force upon the stator; and a stator displacement adjusting device, disposed between the tensile force adjusting device and a supporting frame, for greatly reducing a load upon the stator by moving the stator by as much as a relative displacement between the stator and the rotor.

Abstract: A reinforced column for a lifting apparatus which includes an elongated outer shell member having a rectilinear cross-section. One side of the outer shell member has an elongated aperture therethrough, allowing access to an interior portion of the column. Interior of the outer shell, a pair of opposed elongated guide rails are positioned adjacent the elongated aperture. An elongated inner shell is simultaneously attached to selected portions of the guide rails and held at predetermined spaced relationships to the interior surfaces of the outer shell. The elongated inner shell is arrayed for providing a pathway for a carriage member of said lifting apparatus to travel therein.

Abstract: The traction sheave elevator comprises an elevator car (1) moving along elevator guide rails (10), a counterweight (2) moving along counterweight guide rails (11), a set of hoisting ropes (3) on which the elevator car and the counterweight are suspended, and a drive machine unit (6) comprising a traction sheave (7) driven by the drive machine and engaging the hoisting ropes (3). The drive machine unit (6) of the elevator is placed in the top part of the elevator shaft (15) in the space between the shaft space needed by the elevator car on its path and/or its overhead extension and a wall of the elevator shaft (15).

Abstract: A platform (1) comprising a fixed structure (2) and a plate (3) movable in translation comprising four corners (4). Each corner (4) of the plate is secured to a vertical translation structure (5) which ends in a counterweight (6). A fixed structure comprises three guideposts (7, 14, 21) which coact with three translation structures (5). A support arm (9) is disposed in the upper portion of the platform (1) which coacts with the fourth translation structure (5). In this way, a fourth guidepost is avoided, so that ready access is provided to the space below the plate. At the same time, the plate is supported at all four corners and so is securely arranged.

Abstract: This invention relates to a parking device and in particular to one which includes a vertical support, a vertical frame movably connected with the vertical support, a dog slidably mounted in the vertical frame, and a base frame fixedly connected with the dog, whereby the vertical frame together with the base frame may be elevated and rotated as required.

Abstract: A pendulum cab (13) is movably suspended from the frame (30) of an elevator car such as by rods (29) and stabilized by means of electromagnetic actuators (41-45) which interact directly with the hoistway rails (22) in response to signals from accelerometers (66-68) disposed on a platform (28) of the cab as well as proximity sensors for locking up the cab while at a landing.

Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator support for supporting an elevator cab, a pair of elevator support rails, a hydraulic jack having a piston, and a sheave mechanically coupled to the piston to form a piston-sheave assembly. The elevator support rails have opposing guide members on opposite sides thereof and extending therefrom. A first pair of opposing guide members face away from each other and extend outwardly away from their respective elevator rail. A second pair of opposing guide members face each other and extend inwardly away from their respective elevator rail. An engaging system permits the travelling of both the elevator support and the piston-sheave assembly on the guide members of the elevator support rails. A cable is operatively connected to the elevator support, the sheave, and a fixed reference, such that the hydraulic jack and the sheave are confined between the opposing ends of the elevator rails during operation of the elevator.

Abstract: The position of the elevator cab in an elevator system is detected by sensing the location of the cab relative to a flexible graduated tape whose ends are fixed in the elevator hoistway. The tape is provided with detectable components which are spaced a predetermined distance apart on the tape. Sensors are fixed on the elevator cab assembly adjacent to the tape so that the sensors can detect each of the tape components as the elevator cab moves up and down in the hoistway. Guides are mounted on the cab assembly to engage the tape so as to ensure that the tape and sensors are properly positioned relative to each other so that the tape components will be detected by the sensors. The guides are mounted on leaf or blade springs so as to be able to move relative to the cab assembly in response to tape deflections and correct the tape deflections to guide the tape past the sensors without creating a significant amount of noise.

Abstract: A handling apparatus for warehousing arrangement which is supported on and guided by a floor rail installed in, for example, a factory for movement along a predetermined track provided in front of load-in/load-out sections of a rack. A pair of front and rear posts upstanding from a travel carriage of the handling apparatus and spaced from each other in the dirction of horizontal movement of the carriage have opposed surfaces on which are formed front and rear guide faces. The elevator is guided at one and the other ends thereof by and along the front and rear guide faces so that the elevator is vertically movable along the guide faces. Cord members for vertical drive are arranged along the opposed surfaces of the pair of posts and are connected to the elevator. On the opposed surfaces of the posts at positions opposite to the cord members is defined a relief spacing between each cord member and each respective post.