Elevator system with multiple cars in the same hoistway

An elevator system comprising at least one elevator shaft, and an elevator control system, wherein

• said elevator shaft having a plurality of elevator units, at least one interlocking means, and a cable elongation adjustment mechanism,
• said elevator unit including an elevator car and its guide means, a counterweight and its guide means, and a drive means, wherein
• said drive means including a motor, hoist cables, a traction sheave, a brake mechanism,
• said interlocking means including a coupling mechanism and a bi-directional clutch mechanism, wherein
• said bi-directional clutch mechanism allows said elevator cars in said shaft to travel only in same direction at a time,
• said elevator control system including a plurality of car computers, at least one shaft computer, at least one schedule control computer wherein
• said car computer controlling said elevator car unit,
• said shaft computer controlling said interlocking means, and
• said schedule control computer controls floor stopping policy.

An elevator system comprising at least one elevator shaft, and an elevator control system, wherein

• said elevator shaft having at least first and second elevator units,
• said first elevator car unit including an on-board collision prevention mechanism for down trip and said second elevator car unit including an on-board collision prevention mechanism for up trip, wherein
• said on-board collision prevention mechanism for up trip including a sheave that holds said compensating cables of said first elevator unit, a brake means to reduce the speed of said sheave that holds said compensating cables, and
• said on-board collision prevention mechanism for down trip including a sheave that holds said hoist cables of said first elevator unit, a brake means to reduce the speed of said sheave that holds said hoist cables.