# US 10,865,071 B2 · Configurable multicar elevator system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,071 B2 - Document ID: US10865071B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/537,068 - Filed: 2015-12-17 - Published: 2018-02-15 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-17 - Assignees: Otis Elevator Company - Applicants: Otis Elevator Company - Inventors: Randall Keith Roberts; Zbigniew Piech; Adam Marian Myszkowski; Cezary Jedryczka; Wojciech Szelag; Tadeusz Witczak; Enrico Manes; Richard N. Fargo; Bryan Robert Siewert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865071B2 ## CPC - B66B 9/003: {for lateral transfer of car or frame, e.g. between vertical hoistways or to/from a parking position} - B66B 1/2491: {For elevator systems with lateral transfers of cars or cabins between hoistways} - B66B 1/3446: {Data transmission or communication within the control system} - B66B 5/0031: {for safety reasons} - B66B 11/0226: {Constructional features, e.g. walls assembly, decorative panels, comfort equipment, thermal or sound insulation} - 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 A method and system for managing an elevator system (10), includes providing a plurality of elevator cars (14) to travel in a hoistway (11), and selectively introducing and removing at least one of the plurality of elevator cars (14) to and from the hoistway (11) via a loading station (50). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An elevator system comprising: a plurality of elevator cars to travel in a hoistway, the plurality of elevator cars propelled by a motor; a loading station to selectively introduce and remove at least one of the plurality of elevator cars to and from the hoistway; and an evaluation station configured to evaluate at least one of the plurality of elevator cars; wherein the evaluation station evaluates at least one of a thrust performance of the motor and a power performance of an on-car power system of the at least one of the plurality of elevator cars when positioned in the evaluation station to determine a condition of the at least one of the plurality of elevator cars; the evaluation station signaling the loading station to remove the at least one of the plurality of elevator cars from the hoistway in response to the condition of at least one of the plurality of elevator cars. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, wherein an elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars is a specialized elevator car. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The elevator system of claim 2, wherein the specialized elevator car includes at least one of a vending car, a delivery car, a cargo car, a trash car, a private VIP car, a visitor car and a service car. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The elevator system of claim 2, wherein the specialized elevator car is assigned a higher priority than a remainder of the plurality of elevator cars. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, wherein an elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars includes an on board evaluation station in the elevator car. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, wherein an elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars includes a wireless link to communicate a car status to the elevator system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the evaluation station evaluates at least one of the plurality of elevator cars periodically. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, further comprising a transportation device to receive and transport a removed elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, further comprising a transport mechanism to transport and store a removed elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, wherein an elevator car is stored in the hoistway without obstructing a hoistway lane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, wherein a removed elevator car is stored in a last in first out transport mechanism, a first in first out transport mechanism, or a selective transport mechanism. ### Claim 12 A method managing an elevator system, comprising: providing a plurality of elevator cars to travel in a hoistway, the plurality of elevator cars propelled by a motor; selectively introducing and removing at least one of the plurality of elevator cars to and from the hoistway via a loading station; moving at least one of the plurality of elevator cars to an evaluation station; at the evaluation station, evaluating at least one of a thrust performance of the motor and a power performance of an on-car power system of the at least one of the plurality of elevator cars when positioned in the evaluation station to determine a condition of the at least one of the plurality of elevator cars; the evaluation station signaling the loading station to remove the at least one of the plurality of elevator cars from the hoistway in response to the condition of at least one of the plurality of elevator cars. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein an elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars is a specialized elevator car. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving and transporting a removed elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars via a transportation device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising transporting and storing a removed elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars via a transport mechanism. ### Claim 16 An elevator system comprising: a plurality of elevator cars to travel in a hoistway, the plurality of elevator cars propelled by a motor; and a loading station to selectively introduce and remove at least one of the plurality of elevator cars to and from the hoistway; an evaluation station configured to evaluate at least one of the plurality of elevator cars; wherein the evaluation station evaluates a power performance of an on-car power system of the at least one of the plurality of elevator cars when positioned in the evaluation station to determine a condition of the at least one of the plurality of elevator cars; the evaluation station signaling the loading station to remove the at least one of the plurality of elevator cars from the hoistway in response to the condition of at least one of the plurality of elevator cars.