# US 10,118,799 B2 · Multicar self-propelled elevator system

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- Number: US 10,118,799 B2
- Document ID: US10118799B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/780,023
- Filed: 2013-03-25
- Published: 2016-02-18
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-25
- Assignees: Otis Elevator Company
- Applicants: Otis Elevator Company
- Inventors: Zbigniew Piech
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118799B2

## CPC

- B66B 9/003: {for lateral transfer of car or frame, e.g. between vertical hoistways or to/from a parking position}
- B66B 11/0407: {actuated by an electrical linear motor (in the counterweight B66B17/12)}
- B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An elevator system comprising:
a first hoistway;
a second hoistway;
a first stationary portion of a propulsion system positioned in the first hoistway;
a second stationary portion of the propulsion system positioned in the first hoistway;
a first guide element for guiding an elevator car, the first guide element positioned in the first hoistway;
a second guide element for guiding the elevator car, the second guide element positioned in the first hoistway;
wherein the first stationary portion of the propulsion system is positioned on a first wall of the first hoistway, the second stationary portion of the propulsion system is positioned on a second wall of the first hoistway, the first wall and second wall being opposing walls of the hoistway;
wherein the first stationary portion of the propulsion system comprises a pair of beams having windings positioned between the beams, a plurality of openings formed in at least one of the beams, a plurality of braces connecting the pair of beams and a plurality of support brackets extending from each of the beams.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The elevator system of claim 1 further comprising:
a lower transfer station positioned at or below a first floor of the first hoistway and the second hoistway, the lower transfer station imparting horizontal motion to the elevator car to transfer the elevator car from the second hoistway to the first hoistway.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The elevator system of claim 2 further comprising:
an upper transfer station positioned at or above a top floor of the first hoistway and the second hoistway, the upper transfer station imparting horizontal motion to the elevator car to transfer the elevator car from the first hoistway to the second hoistway.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The elevator system of claim 3 further comprising:
at least one intermediate transfer station positioned between the lower transfer station and the upper transfer station, the at least one intermediate transfer station imparting horizontal motion to the elevator car to transfer the elevator car from the first hoistway to the second hoistway or transfer the elevator car from the second hoistway to the first hoistway.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The elevator system of claim 1 further comprising:
at least one transfer station to transfer the elevator car between the first and second hoistways.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The elevator system of claim 1 further comprising:
a moving portion of the propulsion system mounted to the elevator car;
the moving portion of the propulsion system configured to coact with the first stationary portion of the propulsion system when the elevator car is in the first hoistway;
wherein the moving portion of the propulsion system includes two moving portions of the propulsion system, the two moving portions of the propulsion system mounted to the elevator car.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The elevator system of claim 1 wherein:
the first stationary portion of the propulsion system and the second stationary portion of the propulsion system comprise modular segments.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein:
the first guide element is positioned on the first wall of the first hoistway and the second guide element is positioned on the second wall of the first hoistway.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The elevator system of claim 1 further comprising:
a third stationary portion of the propulsion system positioned in the second hoistway; and
a fourth stationary portion of the propulsion system positioned in the second hoistway.