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US 12,330,911 B2Granted
Modular elevator systems and methods
AssigneeBuildz, LLC
InventorsMark Joseph Bellissimo, Robert Francis Kelsch, Stanley Clark Beard, Jr., Jason Daryl Hunsinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular elevator system has a pit module, one or more shaft modules that are attachable to the pit module and/or to an adjacent shaft module, and a cap module that is attachable to an uppermost shaft module. The pit module, the shaft modules, and the cap module are each pre-fabricated and transported to a site at which a building is under construction for assembly top of the pit module, the remaining shaft modules are secured sequentially on top of each other, and the cap module is secured on top of the uppermost shaft module.
Claims35
A modular elevator system comprising:
- a pit module including at least one of a self-aligning connector or a retention feature on a top surface of the pit module;
- one or more shaft modules configured for attachment to the pit module and/or to an adjacent one of the one or more shaft modules, the one or more shaft modules including a self-aligning connector on one of a top surface or a bottom surface of the one or more shaft modules and a retention feature on the other of the top surface or the bottom surface of the one or more shaft modules;
- and
- a cap module configured for attachment to an uppermost shaft module of the one or more shaft modules, the cap module including at least one of a self-aligning connector or a retention feature on a bottom surface of the cap module,
- wherein each of the pit module, the one or more shaft modules, and the cap module are pre- fabricated and configured for transport to, and assembly at, a site at which a building is under construction,
- wherein the modular elevator system is configured for installation within the building either independently or as a component within a volumetric box,
- wherein, prior to assembly of the modular elevator system, an elevator cab and an elevator cab carrying frame are secured in one of the one or more shaft modules during transport, the elevator cab carrying frame supporting the elevator cab thereon during the transport,
- wherein a first of the one or more shaft modules is attached to the pit module by stacking the first of the one or more shaft modules onto the pit module and progressively engaging the self-aligning connector or the retention feature on the bottom surface of the first of the one or more shaft modules with the at least one of the self-aligning connector or the retention feature of the pit module for progressive alignment of the self-aligning connector or the retention feature of the first of the one or more shaft modules and the at least one of the self-aligning connector or the retention feature of the pit module as the first of the one or more shaft modules is stacked onto the pit module, and
- wherein the cap module is attached to the one or more shaft modules by stacking the cap module onto the one or more shaft modules and progressively engaging the at least one of the self-aligning connector or the retention feature of the cap module with the self-aligning connector or the retention feature on the top surface of the one or more shaft modules as the cap module is stacked onto the one or more shaft modules.
6 more elements
A method of assembling a modular elevator system, the method 18. comprising:
- pre-fabricating a pit module, the pit module including at least one of a self-aligning connector or a retention feature on a top surface of the pit module;
- pre-fabricating one or more shaft modules, the one or more shaft modules including a self-aligning connector on one of a top surface or a bottom surface of the one or more shaft modules and a retention feature on the other of the top surface or the bottom surface of the one or more shaft modules, wherein pre-fabricating the one or more shaft modules comprises securing an elevator cab and an elevator cab carrying frame within one of the one or more shaft modules, and wherein the one of the one or more shaft modules is transported with the elevator cab and elevator cab carrying frame installed therein, the elevator cab carrying frame supporting the elevator cab thereon;
- pre-fabricating a cap module, the cap module including at least one of a self-aligning connector or a retention feature on a bottom surface of the cap module;
- transporting the pit module, the one or more shaft modules, and the cap module to a site at which a building is under construction;
- positioning a pit module at a designated position for the building under construction;
- attaching a first of the one or more shaft modules to the pit module by stacking the first of the one or more shaft modules onto the pit module and progressively engaging the self-aligning connector or the retention feature on the bottom surface of the first of the one or more shaft modules with the at least one of the self-aligning connector or the retention feature of the pit module for progressive alignment of the self-aligning connector or the retention feature of the first of the one or more shaft modules and the at least one of the self-aligning connector or the retention feature of the pit module as the first of the one or more shaft modules is stacked onto the pit module;
- and
- attaching the cap module to the one or more shaft modules by stacking the cap module onto the one or more shaft modules and progressively engaging the at least one of the self-aligning connector or the retention feature of the cap module with the self-aligning connector or the retention feature on the top surface of the one or more shaft modules as the cap module is stacked onto the one or more shaft modules.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.