Elevator system

An elevator system for a multistory structure comprising,

• an elevator shaft having front, rear and opposite side walls,
• an elevator car having front, rear and opposite first and second side walls in said elevator shaft movable along a first vertical axis,
• a counterweight in said elevator shaft movable along a second vertical axis adjacent the rear wall of the elevator shaft which counterweight includes front, rear and opposite side surfaces,
• drive rope means including at least a first drive rope and a second drive rope, said first drive rope being connected to said elevator car adjacent the first side wall thereof and to said counterweight, said second drive rope being connected to said elevator car adjacent the second side wall thereof and to said counterweight,
• drive means above the elevator car connected to said drive rope means for simultaneously moving said elevator car and counterweight in opposite directions along said first and second axes, respectively,
• said drive means including,
• a drive motor having a motor shaft extending substantially parallel to the rear wall of the elevator shaft,
• first and second non-parallel drive shafts extending obliquely relative to the rear wall of the elevator shaft connected to said motor shaft for simultaneous rotation upon operation of said drive motor,
• first and second drive sheaves affixed to said first and second drive shafts, respectively,
• first and second idler sheaves above said counterweights,
• said first drive rope extending between said first drive sheave and first idler sheave obliquely over said elevator car, and
• said second drive rope extending between said second drive sheave and second idler sheave obliquely over said elevator car.

An elevator system for a multistory structure comprising,

• an elevator shaft having front, rear and opposite side walls,
• a first elevator car having front, rear and opposite side walls in said elevator shaft movable along a first vertical axis,
• a first counterweight in said elevator shaft movable along a second vertical axis adjacent the rear wall of the elevator shaft which counterweight includes front, rear and opposite side surfaces,
• first drive rope means including at least four drive ropes connected to said first elevator car and to said first counterweight,
• first drive means above the first elevator car connected to said first drive rope means for simultaneously moving said first elevator car and first counterweight in opposite directions along said first and second axes, respectively,
• a second elevator car in said elevator shaft beneath said first elevator car and movable along said first vertical axis independently of said first elevator car, said second elevator car having front, rear and opposite first and second side walls,
• a second counterweight in said elevator shaft above said first counterweight and movable along said second vertical axis, which second counterweight includes front, rear and opposite side surfaces,
• second drive rope means including at least two pair of drive ropes connected to said second elevator car adjacent said opposite side walls of the second elevator car and to said second counterweight, a portion of at least some of said drive ropes of said second drive rope means extending obliquely over said first elevator car,
• vertical aperture means in the second counterweight through which said first drive rope means extend in connection of the first drive rope means to said first counterweight, and
• second drive means above the first elevator car connected to said second drive rope means for simultaneously moving said second elevator car and second counterweight in opposite directions along said first and second axes, respectively.