Kinetic energy elevator systems

A kinetic energy elevator system for raising and lowering an elevator employing pneumatic and hydraulic fluids comprising:

• an elevator movable in a vertical direction up and down between floors of a building, the elevator having a platform with a downwardly projecting shaft and a casing for receiving the shaft;
• a vertically extending control chamber with a vertically reciprocal piston, a supply of the hydraulic fluid beneath the piston and a supply of pneumatic fluid above the piston, the piston being movable as a function of the pressure of the pneumatic fluid above the piston;
• a hydraulic fluid storage tank coupled to the casing and the control chamber;
• hydraulic fluid lines coupling the bottom of the control chamber with the casing, such hydraulic fluid lines including an up valve to allow the flow of hydraulic fluid to the casing and a down valve to allow the flow of hydraulic fluid from the casing, the hydraulic fluid lines also including a manual valve to shut off the flow of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic fluid lines between the hydraulic fluid storage tank and the casing and the hydraulic fluid flowing between the casing and the control chamber;
• a pneumatic fluid pressure tank with pneumatic fluid lines coupled to the top of the control chamber to feed pneumatic fluid under pressure to the control chamber above the piston;
• a compressor to provide compressed pneumatic fluid via second pneumatic fluid line to the pneumatic fluid pressure tank;
• a pneumatic fluid receiving tank coupled to the second pneumatic fluid lines between the compressor and the pneumatic fluid pressure tank;
• and
• control means for effecting the flow of hydraulic fluid and pneumatic fluid between the tanks, chamber and casing to cause the intended non-movement and movement of the elevator upwardly and downwardly.