Elevator system

Abstract

An elevator system is shown which includes first and second horizontally spaced elevator shafts. First and second independently operated elevator cars are located in the first shaft, and third and fourth elevator cars are located in the second shaft. The second and fourth elevator cars are interconnected by a first drive rope, and the first and third elevator cars are interconnected by a second drive rope. A first drive motor is connected to the first drive rope for simultaneously moving the second and fourth elevator cars in opposite directions, and a second drive motor is connected to the second drive rope for simultaneously moving the first and third elevator cars in opposite directions. The upper-most elevator cars in each shaft are provided with vibration dampers through which the drive ropes for the lower most elevator cars in each shaft extend for damping vibration of the drive ropes extending therethrough. The lower-most elevator cars in each shaft also are provided with vibration dampers through which compensating ropes for the upper-most elevator cars in each shaft extend for damping vibration of the compensating ropes. Movable vibration damper units carrying vibration dampers for damping vibration of drive and compensating ropes are located above, below, and intermediate adjacent elevator cars. Elevator cars include a car frame and passenger cage vertically movably mounted thereon. By negative feedback, the passenger cage is vertically moved dependent upon passenger load and position of the car frame along the shaft to substantially isolate the passenger cage from vertical vibration of the car frame to which drive ropes are affixed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.