# US 2016/0257529 A1 · Elevator drive > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0257529 A1 - Document ID: US20160257529A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/033,179 - Filed: 2014-11-13 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-14 - Applicants: Inventio AG - Inventors: Josef Husmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160257529A1 ## CPC - B66B 11/08: with hoisting rope or cable operated by frictional engagement with a winding drum or sheave {(B66B11/008 takes precedence)} - 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 11/007: {for counterweightless elevators} - B66B 11/06: with hoisting rope or cable positively attached to a winding drum {(B66B11/0075 takes precedence)} - 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 drive for use in a counterweight-less elevator installation includes a motor driving a traction sheave in engagement with an elongate load bearing member supporting an elevator car, and a pressure applicator exerting a normal force on the elongate load bearing member as the member engages with the traction sheave. One of the traction sheave and the pressure applicator is displaceable relative to the other. Accordingly, in use, the normal force imparted by the pressure applicator on the elongate load bearing member can be varied to improve the longevity of the elongate load bearing member. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-15. (canceled) ### Claim 16 An elevator drive comprising: a motor; a traction sheave driven by the motor for engaging with an elongate load bearing member supporting an elevator car; and a pressure applicator arranged to exert normal force on the elongate load bearing member towards the traction sheave, wherein one of the traction sheave and the pressure applicator is mounted on a lever rotatable about a fulcrum and is thereby displaceable relative to another of the traction sheave and the pressure applicator, and whereby a tension in the elongate load bearing member biases the lever about the fulcrum when the traction sheave engages the elongate load bearing member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The elevator drive according to claim 16 including a switch monitoring a position of the lever. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The elevator drive according to claim 16 wherein the pressure applicator comprises a belt entrained over a first pulley and a second pulley and engaging the elongate load bearing member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The elevator drive according to claim 16 wherein the pressure applicator comprises a plurality of rollers spring biased towards the traction sheave and engaging the elongate load bearing member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The elevator drive according to claim 19 wherein the rollers are mounted on chain links forming a chain and at least one end of the chain is anchored by a spring. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The elevator drive according to claim 16 wherein the motor is mounted on the lever. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The elevator drive according to claim 21 wherein the tension in the elongate load bearing member biases the traction sheave towards the pressure applicator. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The elevator drive according to claim 16 wherein the pressure applicator is mounted on the lever. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The elevator drive according to claim 23 including a spring acting on the lever to bias the pressure applicator towards the traction sheave. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The elevator drive according to claim 23 wherein the tension in the elongate load bearing member acts on the lever to bias the pressure applicator towards the traction sheave. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The elevator drive according to claim 25 including a diverting pulley mounted to the lever and the elongate load bearing member travels over the diverting pulley. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The elevator drive according to claim 23 wherein the pressure applicator comprises a belt entrained over a first pulley and a second pulley and wherein at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley is mounted on the lever. ### Claim 28 A counterweight-less elevator installation comprising: an elevator car; an elongate load bearing member supporting the elevator car; and elevator drive comprising, a motor, a traction sheave driven by the motor engaging with the elongate load bearing member, and a pressure applicator exerting normal force on the elongate load bearing member towards the traction sheave, wherein one of the traction sheave and the pressure applicator is mounted on a lever rotatable about a fulcrum and is thereby displaceable relative to another of the traction sheave and the pressure applicator, and whereby a tension in the elongate load bearing member biases the lever about the fulcrum. ### Claim 29 A method for driving a counterweight-less elevator comprising the steps of: driving a traction sheave; supporting an elevator car on an elongate load bearing member engaging the traction sheave; and exerting a normal force on a portion of the elongate load bearing member passing over the traction sheave and varying the normal force in accordance with changes in a tension in the elongate load bearing member. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method according to claim 29 including a step of providing a pressure applicator to exert the normal force on the portion of the elongate load bearing member as it engages with the traction sheave.