# US 5,346,038 A · Kinetic energy elevator systems

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- Number: US 5,346,038 A
- Document ID: US5346038A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/212,124
- Filed: 1994-03-14
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1994-03-14
- Inventors: Kurt R. Rehfeld
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346038A

## CPC

- B66B 9/04: actuated pneumatically or hydraulically (platforms for lifting or lowering through short distances B66F7/00)
- Y02B 50/00: Energy efficient technologies in elevators, escalators and moving walkways, e.g. energy saving or recuperation technologies
- 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)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

A kinetic energy system for raising and lowering an elevator with pneumatic and hydraulic fluids. The elevator has a platform with a downwardly projecting shaft and a casing for receiving the shaft. A vertically extending control chamber has a vertically reciprocal piston with a supply of hydraulic fluid beneath the piston and a supply of pneumatic fluid above the piston. The piston is movable as a function of the pressure of the pneumatic fluid above the piston. A hydraulic fluid storage tank is coupled to the casing and the control chamber. Hydraulic fluid lines couple the bottom of the control chamber with the casing. Also included are a pneumatic fluid pressure tank, a compressor, a pneumatic fluid-receiving tank, and controls interrelated to effect the desired movements of the platform.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A kinetic energy elevator system for raising and lowering an elevator employing air and water comprising, in combination:
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 water beneath the piston and a supply of air above the piston, the piston being movable as a function of the pressure of the air above the piston;
a water storage tank coupled to the casing and the control chamber;
water lines coupling the bottom of the control chamber with the casing, such water lines including an up valve to allow the flow of water to the casing and a down valve to allow the flow of water from the casing, the water lines also including a manual valve to shut off the flow of water in the water lines between the water storage tank and the water flowing between the casing and the control tank and the casing;
an air pressure chamber with air lines coupled to the top of the control chamber to feed air under pressure to the control chamber above the piston;
a compressor to provide compressed air via second air lines to the air pressure tank;
an air receiving tank coupled to the second air lines between the compressor and the air pressure tank; and
control means for effecting the flow of water and air between the tanks, chambers and casing to cause the intended non-movement and movement of the elevator upwardly and downwardly.

### Claim 2

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.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system as set forth in claim 2 and further including solenoid valves for controlling the up and down valves and further include a control panel with controls operatively associated between the control panel and the solenoid valves.