# US 10,766,738 B2 · Out-of-group operations for multicar hoistway systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,738 B2 - Document ID: US10766738B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/547,925 - Filed: 2016-02-02 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-05 - Assignees: Otis Elevator Company - Applicants: Otis Elevator Company - Inventors: Arthur Hsu; David Ginsberg; Jose Miguel Pasini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766738B2 ## CPC - B66B 1/2466: {For elevator systems with multiple shafts and multiple cars per shaft} - B66B 1/2408: {where the allocation of a call to an elevator car is of importance, i.e. by means of a supervisory or group controller} - B66B 1/28: electrical (detecting excessive speed B66B5/04 {; control of electrical motor H02P}) - B66B 1/468: {Call registering systems} - B66B 5/0087: {Devices facilitating maintenance, repair or inspection tasks (devices incorporated in the buffer B66B5/288; railings on top of the car B66B11/0226)} - B66B 5/027: {to permit passengers to leave an elevator car in case of failure, e.g. moving the car to a reference floor or unlocking the door} - B66B 9/00: Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures (characterised by control systems B66B1/00; apparatus for raising or lowering persons on stages of theatres A63J5/12) - B66B 11/0407: {actuated by an electrical linear motor (in the counterweight B66B17/12)} - B66B 9/003: {for lateral transfer of car or frame, e.g. between vertical hoistways or to/from a parking position} - B66B 2201/104: Call input for a preferential elevator car or indicating a special request - B66B 2201/223: Taking into account the separation of passengers or groups - B66B 2201/405: by input of special passenger or passenger group - B66B 2201/4676: for checking authorization of the passengers - 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 A ropeless elevator system includes a plurality of elevator cars configured to travel in a hoistway having at least one lane, a propulsion system to impart force to each elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars, and a controller. The controller is programmed to operate in an in-group mode where the plurality of elevator cars perform service demands, an out-of-group mode where at least one selected elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars is prevented from performing the group service mode service demands, and a transition mode where the at least one selected elevator car is prepared and transitioned from operation in the in-group mode to operation in the out-of-group mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ropeless elevator system comprising: a plurality of elevator cars configured to travel in a hoistway having at least one lane; a propulsion system to impart force to each elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars; and a controller programmed to operate in: an in-group mode where the plurality of elevator cars perform service demands; an out-of-group mode where at least one selected elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars is prevented from performing the group service mode service demands; and a transition mode where the at least one selected elevator car is prepared and transitioned from operation in the in-group mode to operation in the out-of-group mode; wherein the controller is programmed to operate in the transition mode after authenticating an authorized user and satisfying preconditions of the transition mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ropeless elevator system of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system is a linear propulsion system comprising: a primary portion mounted in the hoistway, the primary portion comprising a plurality of motor segments; and a plurality of secondary portions, wherein at least one secondary portion of the plurality of secondary portions is mounted to one elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ropeless elevator system of claim 1, wherein in the in-group mode the service demands are passenger calls. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ropeless elevator system of claim 1, wherein in the out-of-group mode the controller is programmed to: provide out-of-group controls; and receive an in-group return initiation request. ### Claim 5 A ropeless elevator system comprising: a plurality of elevator cars configured to travel in a hoistway having at least one lane; a propulsion system to impart force to each elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars; and a controller programmed to operate in: an in-group mode where the plurality of elevator cars perform service demands; an out-of-group mode where at least one selected elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars is prevented from performing the group service mode service demands; and a transition mode where the at least one selected elevator car is prepared and transitioned from operation in the in-group mode to operation in the out-of-group mode; wherein in the transition mode the controller is programmed to: receive an out-of-group initiation request; provide an initiation request acknowledgement and/or initiation request information; and provide a car readiness notification that the transition of the at least one selected elevator car from the in-group mode operation to the out-of-group mode operation is complete. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ropeless elevator system of claim 5, wherein receiving an out-of-group initiation request further comprises authenticating an authorized user. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The ropeless elevator system of claim 5, wherein receiving an out-of-group initiation request further comprises providing related out-of-group selection parameters and options. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The ropeless elevator system of claim 5, wherein receiving an out-of-group initiation request further comprises satisfying preconditions of the transition. ### Claim 9 A method of controlling a ropeless elevator system comprising a plurality of elevator cars configured to travel in a hoistway having at least one lane and a propulsion system to impart force to each elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars, the method comprising: operating in an in-group mode where the plurality of elevator cars perform service demands; selectively operating in an out-of-group mode where at least one selected elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars is prevented from performing the group service mode service demands; and performing a transition mode to prepare and transition the at least one selected elevator car from the in-group mode to the out-of-group mode; wherein performing the transition mode occurs after authenticating an authorized user and satisfying preconditions of the transition mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein performing service demands includes performing passenger calls. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein operating in the out-of-group mode comprises: providing out-of-group controls; and receiving an in-group return initiation request. ### Claim 12 A method of controlling a ropeless elevator system comprising a plurality of elevator cars configured to travel in a hoistway having at least one lane and a propulsion system to impart force to each elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars, the method comprising: operating in an in-group mode where the plurality of elevator cars perform service demands; selectively operating in an out-of-group mode where at least one selected elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars is prevented from performing the group service mode service demands; and performing a transition mode to prepare and transition the at least one selected elevator car from the in-group mode to the out-of-group mode; wherein performing the transition mode comprises: receiving an out-of-group initiation request; and providing an initiation request acknowledgement and/or initiation request information. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein performing a transition mode further comprises providing a car readiness notification that the transition of the at least one selected elevator car from the in-group mode operation to the out-of-group mode operation is complete. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein receiving an out-of-group initiation request comprises authenticating an authorized user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein receiving an out-of-group initiation request comprises providing related out-of-group selection parameters and options. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein receiving an out-of-group initiation request comprises satisfying preconditions of the transition.