Cableless elevator system

A cableless elevator system for high buildings having elevator cars moving in and between at least two vertically extending elevator shafts comprising:

• an elevator car having a friction drive means attached thereto for moving along a vertical travel path in an elevator shaft and along an horizontal travel path extending from the elevator shaft;
• a linear drive having a first portion mounted on said elevator car and a second portion mounted in the elevator shaft for moving said elevator car along the vertical travel path;
• and
• horizontal guide means extending from the elevator shaft and forming the horizontal travel path for said elevator car, said horizontal guide means including lower front and rear guide channels positioned at a level of a floor served by the elevator car and upper front and rear guide channels spaced above said lower front and rear guide channels, each said guide channel having a pivotable intermediate piece for selectively closing and opening gaps in the elevator shaft along the vertical travel path for said elevator car.

A cableless elevator system for high buildings having elevator cars moving in and between at least two vertically extending elevator shafts comprising:

• an elevator car having a friction drive means attached thereto for moving along a vertical travel path in an elevator shaft and along an horizontal travel path extending from the elevator shaft, said friction drive means including front and rear upper guide rollers mounted on an upper wall of said elevator car, front and rear lower guide rollers mounted on a lower wall of said elevator car and upper and lower support rollers mounted on side walls of said car for engaging rolling tracks formed in the elevator shaft during the vertical travel of said elevator car, and actuating means attached to said elevator car and connected to said support rollers for selectively moving said support rollers into and out of engagement with corresponding ones of said rolling tracks;
• a linear drive having a first portion mounted on said elevator car and a second portion mounted in the elevator shaft for moving said elevator car along the vertical travel path;
• and
• horizontal guide means extending from the elevator shaft and forming the horizontal travel path tier said elevator car, said horizontal guide means including lower front and rear guide channels positioned at a level of a floor served by the elevator car and upper front and rear guide channels spaced above said lower front and rear guide channels, each said guide channel having a pivotable intermediate piece for selectively closing and opening gaps in the elevator shaft along the vertical travel path for said elevator car.