Power and communication for elevator car without traveling cable

A method of operating an elevator car without a traveling cable, comprising the steps of:

• powering the car door operator with power picked up by brushes mounted on the elevator car from power tracks mounted on the building in the vicinity of each landing;
• communicating with said car by means of radio transceivers;
• and
• powering said transceiver and functions of said car other than said door operator, including lights and a car operating panel, by means of a flywheel motor generator which is accelerated by power from said brushes and said power tracks.

An elevator system including a car disposed to travel within a hoistway of a building, comprising:

• a pair of power tracks mounted adjacent each landing within the hoistway of the building;
• a pair of brushes resiliently disposed to a frame;
• and
• a spring loaded solenoid mounted on said car for extending said frame toward said power tracks in response to urging of said spring, and for retracting said frame toward said car to provide clearance between said brushes and said power tracks when power is applied to said solenoid.

An elevator system including a car disposed to travel within a hoistway of a building, comprising:

• a pair of power tracks mounted adjacent each landing within the hoistway of the building;
• a pair of brushes resiliently disposed to a frame;
• a spring loaded solenoid mounted on said car for extending said frame toward said power tracks in response to urging of said spring, and for retracting said frame toward said car to provide clearance between said brushes and said power tracks when power is applied to said solenoid;
• a first radio transceiver disposed in said building;
• an elevator car adapted to travel within the hoistway between the landings of the building;
• an elevator cab having a door, a door operator, a car operating panel and lights;
• a flywheel motor generator disposed on said car;
• a second radio transceiver disposed on said car for communication between said cab and said first radio transceiver;
• and
• circuitry for connecting said flywheel motor generator and said door operator to said brushes and for powering said transceiver, lights, and car operating panel from the output of said flywheel motor generator, whereby to operate said cab without a traveling cable.