Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SYSTEM HAVING A PLURALITY OF ELEVATOR CABS AND
COUNTERWEIGHTS THAT MOVE INDEPENDENTLY IN DIFFERENT
SECTIONS OF A HOIST WAY
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The invention generally relates to an elevator system that has a
plurality of
elevator cabs and counterweights which move independently of each other in
different
sections of the same hoistway.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Current tall buildings have many elevator hoistways, but each hoistway
only has
one cab operating in that hoistway with one counterweight cable attached to
the top center
of the cab. Therefore, only one cab services each floor throughout the entire
hoistway,
and the general public normally has access to every cab and every floor in the
entire
building. This situation leads to inefficiencies for building owners,
developers, and
operators who would like to construct many fewer elevator hoistways and
operate many
more elevator cabs in different vertical sections of each hoistway. As land
increases in
value in desirable urban locations, the financial pressure to construct taller
and taller
buildings will also increase. Already over 15 buildings worldwide have been
constructed,
each with more than 100 floors, and at least one of these buildings exceeds
150 floors.
Ten more buildings over 100 floors are already under construction, and twelve
more are
currently planned. If the number of elevator hoistways and their associated
lobbies in
these and other very tall buildings can be minimized, and the number of
elevator cabs that
operate in such elevator hoistways can be maximized, then the value,
efficiencies,
desirabilities and viability of these very expensive tall buildings can also
be maximized.
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[0003] The current situation also leads to inefficiencies and dissatisfactions
for
companies or individuals that lease or own many adjoining floors in a tall
building. Many
of them would like their employees, occupants and guests to be able to access
all of their
adjoining floors without having to take a public elevator between such floors.
Most
modern companies who lease or own multiple adjoining floors in a tall building
would
like to have one or more private elevators for all of its employees and guests
to use, for
reasons of privacy, security, efficiency, and commonality. The same is true
for tall -
residential buildings, where one individual or family leases or owns several
adjoining
floors. Many employees currently waste a lot of time, effort and their
company's money
by having to leave the company's premises, go out into a public lobby, wait
for a crowded
public elevator cab moving the entire length of a long hoistway, and then
having to re-
enter the company's premises on another floor, not to mention the return trip
to the
employees desk on the original floor. Company's secrets can also be
compromised or
lost during this process. But until now private elevators for each of such
companies,
individuals or residences have been either impossible to construct, too
impractical, too
inflexible, or extremely costly.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present invention involves an elevator system which allows building
owners,
operators or developers to construct many fewer hoistways and operate many
more
elevator cabs in each hoistway. It also permits any individual or company
which leases or
owns two or more adjoining floors in a tall building, to operate one or more
private
elevator cabs between all of such individual's or company's adjoining floors
in the same
private vertical section of a hoistway. With this invention, a plurality of
elevator cabs can
operate in different vertical sections of the same hoistway in a tall
building. The top cab
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in a hoistway may be designed in the same manner as currently designed
elevator cabs
with one counterweight cable connected to the center of the cab's roof,
because with this
invention there are no other elevator cabs moving above the top cab which
would conflict
with its center connected counterweight cable. However, the counterweights,
counterweight cables and other related equipment of all elevator cabs below
the top cab
are located outside of the common hoistway path so as not to interfere with
the motions of
any other cabs or their cables moving through the hoistway. Therefore, each
counterweight, counterweight cable and other cables are connected to its
associated
elevator cab at points horizontally and/or vertically shifted from all other
cables. With
this invention, up to twenty or more elevator cabs can operate independently
of each other
in different vertical sections of the same hoistway.
[0005] In a preferred embodiment, each elevator cab is connected to four
counterweights
by cables and their associated pulleys, which are horizontally, vertically,
and/or
symmetrically separated from each other. Each elevator cab has a separate lift
motor and
a separate lift cable or cables attached to it, and each lift motor cable and
its associated
pulleys are horizontally and/or vertically separated from all other cables and
other
equipment. All data and electric power cables connected to each cab and their
associated
pulleys are also be horizontally and/or vertically separated from other cables
and other
equipment. All associated counterweights and counterweight channels of the
elevator
system are likewise horizontally and/or vertically separated from each other
and from all
other equipment. A central computer control system determines and controls the
motions,
destinations, and functions of the cabs in the system.
[0006] The features and advantages described in the specification are not all
inclusive
and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent
to one of
ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims.
Moreover, it
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should be noted that the language used in the specification has been
principally selected
for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to
delineate or
circumscribe the inventive subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Figure 1 is an illustration of the front of a hoistway which provides
an overview
of an elevator system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0008] Figure 2 is an illustration of elevator cabs in a hoistway from another
perspective
highlighting the connection points of the counterweight cables and the lift
cables, and
how the guide track elements connect to the cabs, in accordance with one
embodiment of
the present invention.
[0009] Figures 3A to 3D are illustrations of the top view of cabs 1, 2, 3 and
4 that show
how each cab is connected to, among other things, the counterweights, the
counterweight
cables, the vertical guide tracks, the lift cables, and the data and electric
power cables, in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] Figure 4 is an illustration of a front view of cab 2 that shows, among
other things,
how the counterweights, the counterweight channels, the counterweight cables,
the guides
and the vertical guide tracks are connected and/or positioned with respect to
cab 2, in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] Figure 5 is an illustration of the top of the elevator hoistway that
shows, among
other things, the placement of the counterweights in their channels, the
counterweight
cables, the counterweight pulleys, and the lift motors, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] Figure 6 is an illustration of the placement of the guide tracks and
how the lift
motor, the lift motor pulley, and the lift cable is connected to each of the
cabs, in
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accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] Figure 7 is an illustration of the operation of an elevator hoistway
having multiple
elevator cabs moving independently of each other in the same hoistway over a
period of
time, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] Figure 8 is an illustration of the front of the top section and the
front of the bottom
section of a hoistway which shows, among other things, two independently
moving
elevator cabs out of a plurality of possible elevator cabs moving in the same
hoistway,
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] Figure 9A is an illustration of the side view of a guide apparatus that
guides an
elevator cab along a vertical guide track, according to one embodiment of the
present
invention.
[0016] Figure 9B is an illustration of the top view of a guide apparatus that
guides an
elevator cab along a vertical guide track, according to one embodiment of the
present
invention.
[0017] Figure 10 is an illustration of the top view of the top elevator cab
and its
associated elements in a hoistway that contains a total of ten elevator cabs
and their
associated elements, wherein each cab is capable of moving independently in
different
vertical sections of the same hoistway, according to one embodiment of the
present
invention.
[0018] Figure 11 is an illustration of the top view of the top elevator cab
and its
associated elements in a hoistway that contains a total of twenty elevator
cabs, and their
associated elements, wherein each cab is capable of moving independently in
different
vertical sections of the same hoistway, according to one embodiment of the
present
invention.
[0019] Figure 12 is an illustration of the side view of a one hundred twenty
story building
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which contains a plurality of elevator cabs, each capable of moving
independently in
different vertical sections of four different hoistways, according to one
embodiment of the
present invention.
[0020] Figure 13 is an illustration of two different private sections of the
same hoistway
wherein elevator slots may be shared by two different neighboring private
elevator cabs
over a period of time, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] Figure 14A is an illustration of the side view of one counterweight
channel that
can be shared by the counterweights of a plurality of elevator cabs, according
to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] Figures 14B, 14C and 14D illustrate the top plan views of three
counterweights
taken along the respective sectional lines of Figure 14A, each of the
counterweights
sharing one counterweight channel that can be shared by the counterweights of
a plurality
of elevator cabs, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] Figure 14E is an illustration of one counterweight channel from another
perspective that can be shared by the counterweights of a plurality of
elevator cabs,
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] Figures 14F and 14G are illustrations of the counterweight cables
attached to
different cabs that share a counterweight channel, which shows how the
counterweight
cables are routed over pulleys and are then connected to their associated
elevator cabs.
[0025] Figures 15A to 15D are respective illustrations of the top view of cabs
1, 2, 3 and
4 in a hoistway that show how each cab is connected to, among other things,
counterweights, counterweight cables, and the vertical guide tracks, in
accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] Figures 16A to 16D are respective illustrations of the top view of cabs
1, 2, 3 and
4 in a hoistway that show how each cab is connected to, among other things, a
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counterweight, a counterweight cable, a lift cable, and the vertical guide
tracks, in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Embodiments of the present invention are now described with reference
to the
figures where like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally
similar elements.
Also, in the figures, the left most digit(s) of each reference number
corresponds to the
figure in which the reference number is first used.
[0028] Reference in the specification to "one embodiment" or to "an
embodiment" means
that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in
connection with the
embodiments is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The
appearances
of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are
not
necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
[0029] The language used in the specification has been principally selected
for readability
and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or
circumscribe
the inventive subject. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is
intended to
be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set
forth in the
claims.
[0030] A view from the front of an embodiment of the multi-cab elevator system
is
illustrated in FIG. 1. A hoistway 100 (hereinafter also referred to as an
elevator shaft) is
shown containing four cabs 110. It should be recognized that the arrangement
of the
counterweights 120, the lift motor cables 136, and other elements, allow for
the operation
of a plurality of cabs in a hoistway 100 in other embodiments of the
invention. For
example, up to twenty or more elevator cabs can be operated in a single
hoistway or
elevator shaft. This is made possible by the positioning and the shape of the
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counterweights, as well as, the horizontal and/or vertical offsetting of the
counterweights,
their cables, channels, pulleys, lift motors and other elements, as discussed
below.
[0031] In FIG. 1, the cabs 110 operating in the hoistway 100 are all
vertically aligned.
From top to bottom, the cabs are referred to as cab 1 (110A), cab 2 (110B),
cab 3 (110C)
and cab 4 (110D). Each of the cabs 110 is capable of moving throughout the
hoistway
100 independently of the others, and without passing another cab, due in part
to each cab
having a separate and associated lift motor 130 (not shown) and horizontally
separated
counterweight cables 210, counterweights 120, counterweight pulleys 140, lift
cables 136,
and lift cable pulleys 145.
[0032] The movement of the cabs 110 is driven by separate and dedicated lift
motors 130
(not shown) positioned at the top of the hoistway 100, in a preferred
embodiment. In
alternate embodiments, the lift motors 130 can be placed in different
locations, such as at
the bottom of the hoistway 100 or each lift motor 130 can be placed at
different locations.
Each cab 110 is connected to a dedicated lift motor 130 (not shown) by a lift
cable 136.
Each lift cable 136 is attached to a cab 110 at two vertically aligned lift
motor connection
points 150 on the cab, e.g., on the rear or side (not shown) of each cab 110.
Each cab 110
can also be connected to a lift motor 130 by one or more lift cables 136
attached to one or
more connection points 150 on the cab, rather than as illustrated. Two lift
cables 136
attached to a cab 110 (not shown) could also be attached to the same lift
motor 130, as
described below. The lift motor connection points 150 of each cab are
horizontally
shifted from each other to prevent interference (interaction) between cables
136 of other
cabs 110. For example, in FIG. 1, the lift motor connection points 150 shift
from right to
left as the cabs 110 become lower in the hoistway 100. This allows a plurality
of cabs
beyond the four illustrated in this embodiment to each be controlled by a
dedicated lift
motor 130 without any obstruction caused by the lift cables 136. One end of
each lift
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cable 136 connects to the upper lift motor connection point 150 on a cab 110.
Each lift
cable 136 is then routed around a circular shaft of an associated lift motor
130 (not
shown) located near the top of the hoistway 100. Each lift cable 136 can then
be routed
through a floor lift pulley 170 which can be attached to the bottom of the
hoistway 100.
Finally, the other end of each lift cable 136 can be attached to the lower of
the two lift
motor connection points 150.
[0033] In an embodiment, the top cab 110A is connected to two counterweights
120A
located at the rear of the hoistway 100. In an alternate embodiment, one
larger
counterweight 120 may be connected to cab 110A. In another embodiment, all
counterweights 120 are located on the sides of the cabs 110 that travel
through the length
of the hoistway 100. Each of the counterweights 120 can be connected to a cab
110 by a
counterweight cable 210 (not numbered) running through one of the
counterweight
pulleys 140 located at the top of the hoistway 100. The counterweight pulleys
140 can be
horizontally and/or vertically separated from each other. Different sized
pulleys account
for different spacing between the cabs 110 and the counterweights 120.
Alternatively,
multiple pulleys can be used to vary the spacing between the cabs 110 and
counterweights
120. The counterweights 120 are all guided through individual counterweight
channels
410 in order to control the motion of the counterweights 120 and to avoid
interference or
collisions between counterweights 120. The counterweights 120 and
counterweight
channels 410 can be horizontally shifted from each other in order to provide
unencumbered access to each of the other elements and avoid interference with
other
elevator equipment.
[0034] The bottom cab, cab 4 110D, can have a spring 180 or another collision
dampening device on the bottom of the cab 110D as a safety precaution. In the
unlikely
event of a collision between the bottom of the hoistway 100 and cab 4 110D,
the spring
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mitigates the damage from impact. All cabs 110 can have a bumper 160 or
another
collision dampening safety device on the top of the cab. The bumpers 160 are
similarly
used as a safety precaution to lessen the unlikely impact of a collision
between two of the
cabs 110.
[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective of the elevator system, in
accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention. The cabs 110A, 110B, 110C, 110D, move
along two guide tracks 230 on each side of the hoistway 100 that run the
length of the
hoistway. Each cab 110 is engaged with two opposing guide tracks 230
positioned
vertically at the center of the hoistway 100, by utilizing guides or guide
apparatuses 220.
Guide apparatuses 220 are attached to opposing sides of each cab 110 (some are
not
shown). While illustrated as wheels, the guides 220 may also include "U"-
shaped prongs
which can serve as brakes and stabilizers. Different types of guides or guide
apparatuses
can also be used, some providing guidance and others providing brakes,
balance,
guidance and stabilization. In a preferred embodiment, each of the depicted
cabs 110 has
four guides 220, two on opposite exterior sides of each cab and aligned
vertically one
above the other at the upper center and lower center of each side of each cab
110. Each
cab 110 may also have only two guides 220, one on each exterior side of the
cab. Various
numbers and kinds of guides and guide tracks can be used. Having two opposing
vertical
guide tracks at the center of each side of a hoistway, rather than one at each
corner of a
hoistway as in some other systems, provides more balanced weight distribution,
and
lower maintenance costs in certain situations. The use of two guide tracks
also causes
less friction between the guides and the guide tracks which results in more
efficient
operation of the elevator system.
[0036] In an embodiment, two of the guides 220 are positioned substantially
along a
center axis or plane of a first wall of each cab 110 and two guides 220 are
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substantially along a center axis or plane of a second wall of each cab 110,
where in one
embodiment the first and second walls of each cab 110 are substantially
parallel. The
counterweights for cab 110A are connected to the cab at counterweight
connection point
240A, which can be located at the center of the roof of cab 110A. In alternate
embodiments, cab 110A is connected to a different number of counterweights
120, e.g.,
four counterweights horizontally separated in a manner similar to the other
cabs 110B,
110C, and 110D. In alternate embodiments all cabs 110 have multiple
counterweight
connection points 240 horizontally separated from each other, for example,
similar to
those described below.
[0037] In one embodiment, the remaining cabs, e.g., cab 110B, cab 110C and cab
110D,
can each be connected to four counterweights 120, with two counterweights
located on
either side of each cab 110 (not shown). The counterweight connection points
\240 on the
three lower cabs 110 are horizontally shifted in order to avoid interference
with one
another. Instead of one counterweight connection point 240A at the top center
of the top
cab 110A, there can be four counterweight connection points 240 located on the
top cab
110A, where four counterweight connection points 240 can be positioned
symmetrically
along upper sides of cab 110A (not shown), similar to the three lower cabs
110. As
shown on FIG. 2, the two counterweight connection points 240 located on each
side of
the lower three cabs 110 can be symmetrically positioned on each side of the
guide tracks
230, and can be shifted horizontally from each other so that none of the
connection points
240 or their associated counterweight cables 210 will interfere with each
other.
[0038] Also illustrated in FIG. 2 are lift motor connection points 150A, 150B,
150C, and
150D located respectively at the rear of each cab 110A, 110B, 110C and 110D,
and each
lift cable connection point 150 is shifted horizontally from each of the other
lift cable
connection points 150 of each cab. A lift cable 136 can be attached to each
lift cable
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connection point 150 then routed up a side of the hoistway 100 and connected
to a lift
motor 130 (not shown) in order to provide vertical motion for each cab 110.
All lift
cables 136 can be horizontally shifted from each other.
[0039] FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D illustrate a top view of each of the cabs 110
in one
embodiment of the invention. As illustrated in FIG. 3A the location of the
counterweights 120A for cab 110A is different than that of the other three
cabs, in this
embodiment. The counterweight connection points 240A for cab 110A are located
at the
center of the top of the cab 110A rather than on the sides of the cab. The
counterweight
connection points 240A are not implemented in this fashion on the other cabs
below cab
110A because there is a cab above such other cabs which would interfere with a
centrally
located counterweight connection point 240. The counterweight connection
points 240A
at the top center of cab 110A can be connected by two counterweight cables
210A (not
shown) to the counterweights 120A located at the rear of the hoistway 100 at
two
counterweight connection eyes 350A located on the top center of counterweights
120A.
As illustrated, the other counterweights 120B, 120C and 120D can be located on
interior
dividing walls 360 which are located within the hoistway 100. Interior
dividing walls
360, located between the hoistway/shaft wall and a cab wall, allow
counterweights and
other equipment to be located on both sides of the dividing wall 360. This can
increase
the number of counterweights and cabs that can operate in a single hoistway.
Any
dividing wall 360 can be extended to span the width of a hoistway 100.
Counterweights
120 can also be located on a hoistway wall 800 (not shown) rather than on a
dividing
wall. However, dividing walls can allow significant flexibility in the
selection and
placement of counterweights. By utilizing a dividing wall 360, a large number
of
counterweights can be positioned in a hoistway which can allow more cabs 110
to operate
in a hoistway. In some instances, counterweights can be constructed in long
and narrow
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shapes, or other shapes, in order to reduce the horizontal space occupied.
Counterweight
wells (not shown) can be constructed at the bottom of a hoistway to provide
for long
counterweights, and therefore permit cabs to have a full range of vertical
motion. The
counterweights used by the cabs 110 do not need to be of the same size or
shape. The
most important requirement for all counterweights is that they save energy and
keep each
cab 110 evenly balanced as it moves through a hoistway. A lift cable 136A for
cab 110A
is shown at the right rear of cab 110A. It can be connected to a lift cable
connection point
150A which is attached to cab 110A. A data and electric power cable 300A for
cab
110A, as shown in FIG. 3A, can be located at the right center of the rear of
cab 110A. It
is connected to a data and power connection point 330A which is attached to
cab 110A.
As shown on FIG. 3A, all of the connection points 150, 240 and 330 for all of
the cabs
110 are horizontally separated from each other, in one embodiment.
[0040] FIGS. 3B, 3C and 3D illustrate a top view of cabs 110B, 110C, and 110D
respectively in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. All
of these
cabs 110 have horizontally separated counterweight 120 locations. In an
embodiment,
four counterweights 120 are connected symmetrically to counterweight
connection points
240 at the upper sides of each cab 110, such that two counterweights are on
each
opposing side of each cab 110. In other words, by sectioning the top of the
cab into
quadrants, when viewed from the top plan view, there is one counterweight 120
and one
counterweight cable connection point 240 for each quadrant of each cab 110.
This
arrangement, with four connection points 240 connected to four counterweights
120,
provides balance superior to conventional configurations. In one embodiment,
in order to
optimize balance, the two counterweight connection points 240 located on each
side of
each cab 110 are placed symmetrically and equidistant from the guides 220 on
that side.
As discussed above, the horizontal distance between the counterweight
connection points
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240 and the guides 220 are different for each cab 110 in order to prevent
interference
between the various counterweights, cables and pulleys. For example, as
illustrated in
FIG. 3B, the counterweight connection points 240B for cab 110 can be
positioned so that
an axis or plane formed between opposite connection points 240 passes through
or near to
the two-dimensional center of the top of cab 110. In other words, an imaginary
axis or
plane between counterweight connection point 240B in the rear left quadrant of
cab 110B
and counterweight connection point 240B in the front right quadrant of cab
110B passes
at or near to the two-dimensional center of the top of cab 110B (e.g., near
the center of
bumper 160B in the two-dimensional perspective of FIG. 3B). Similarly an
imaginary
axis between counterweight connection point 240B in the rear right quadrant of
cab 110B
and counterweight connection point 240B in the front left quadrant of cab 110B
passes at
or near to the center of the top of cab 110B. This assists in balancing and
stabilizing the
cabs 110 and reducing the torque on the guides 220. The positioning and
placement of
the counterweight connection points for cabs 110B, 110C and 110D are similar
to those
of cab 110B.
[0041] Similarly, the lift motor connection point 150 and the lift cable 136
on the rear of
each of the cabs 110 are horizontally shifted from each other on each cab 110
in the
hoistway 100 to prevent interference between the lift motor connection points
150 and lift
cables 136 of each cab 110. Alternatively, these lift motor connection points
150 could
be located on one or the other sides of the cab, and as close to the central
guides 220 as
possible for purposes of balancing the cab 110 as it moves vertically through
the hoistway
100.
[0042] In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, four counterweight
connection
points 240B can be symmetrically located equidistant and nearest to the guide
tracks 230
and the guides 220B on each side of the hoistway 100. The four counterweight
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connection points 240B can be aligned with and connected to four counterweight
cables
210B and each of such cables can be routed up and over a counterweight cable
pulley
140B (not shown) and then can be connected to its associated counterweight
120B. A lift
cable 136B attached to a lift connection point 150B on the rear of cab 110B
can connect
to a lift motor 130B (not shown) to enable vertical movement of the cab. The
lift motor
connection point 150B can be horizontally shifted from all other lift motor
connection
points 150 of other cabs to avoid interference with other cables. A data and
electric
power cable 300B can be attached to a data and electric power connection point
330B on
the rear of cab 110B and then can connect to its associated data and electric
power source
located within the hoistway 100 (not shown). Two guides 220B can be attached
to each
side of the cab 110B (the guides for the lower cabs 110 are directly below
those shown)
and can be aligned with the opposing vertical guide tracks 230, and they guide
cab 110B
as it moves vertically along the length of the hoistway 100.
[0043] In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, four counterweight
connection
points 240C can be symmetrically located equidistant to the guide tracks 230
and the
guides 220C on each side of the hoistway 100. The four counterweight
connection points
240C can be aligned with and connected to four counterweight cables 210C and
each of
such cables can be routed up and over a counterweight cable pulley 140C (not
shown)
and then can be connected to its associated counterweight 120C. A lift cable
136C
attached to a lift connection point 150C on the left rear of cab 110C can
connect to a lift
motor 130C (not shown) to enable vertical movement of the cab. The lift motor
connection point 150C can be horizontally shifted from all other lift motor
connection
points 150 of other cabs to avoid interference with other cables. A data and
electric
power cable 300C can be attached to a data and electric power connection point
330C on
the left center of the rear of cab 110C and it then can connect to its
associated data and
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electric power source located within the hoistway (not shown). Two guides 220C
can be
attached to each side of cab 110C (the guides for the lower cab 110D are
directly below
those shown) and can be aligned with the vertical guide tracks 230, and they
guide cab
110C as it moves vertically along the length of the hoistway 100.
[0044] In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3D, four counterweight
connection
points 240D can be symmetrically located equidistant to the guide tracks 230
and the
guides 220D on each side of the hoistway 100. The four counterweight
connection points
240D can be aligned with and connected to four counterweight cables 210D and
each
cable can be routed up and over a counterweight cable pulley 140D (not shown)
and then
can be connected to its associated counterweight 120D. A lift cable 136D can
be attached
to a lift connection point 150D on the left rear of cab 110D and can connect
to a lift motor
130D (not shown) to enable vertical movement of the cab. The lift motor
connection
point 150D can be horizontally shifted from all other lift motor connection
points 150 of
other cabs 110 to avoid interference with other cables. A data and electric
power cable
300D can be attached to a data and electric power connection point 330D on the
left
center of the rear of cab 110D and can connect to its associated data and
electric power
source located within the hoistway 100 (not shown). Two guides 220D can be
attached to
each side of cab 110D and can be aligned with the vertical guide tracks 230D,
and they
guide cab 110D as it moves vertically through the length of the hoistway.
[0045] Bumpers 160 on cabs 110B, 110C, and 110D are also illustrated in FIGS.
3B, 3C
and 3D respectively. As described above, these bumpers can mitigate the impact
of any
possible collision between two cabs. Electronic and/or optical sensors 310 and
chain
landings 320 are also shown on the top of all of the cabs 110. The sensors 310
can
provide information regarding cab locations in the hoistway 100 and can also
provide
information about the status of cabs, e.g., movement, direction, power status
etc. Chain
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landings 320 can be used as an additional safety device. In an embodiment of
the present
invention, horizontally and/or vertically shifted electric power and data
cables originate
near the vertical midpoint of each hoistway 100 (not shown) in order to
minimize the
distance to the cabs at any given time, and to prevent interference or storage
of such
cables. The data cables can provide and receive necessary data and information
to and
from a central control computer. Each of the cabs 110 can have a cab control
panel 370
located on a front interior side of the cab. Wherever a connection point is
described in
any embodiment of this invention it may take the form of a rod, an eye, or
some other
connection device, and vice-versa.
[0046] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective from the front of cab 110B. In an
embodiment,
two guides 220B can be attached to the right side exterior wall 430 of cab
110B, and two
guides 220B can be attached to the left side exterior wall 430 of cab 110B.
The two front
counterweights 120B are shown on either side of cab 110B, and each
counterweight 120B
can be connected to the cab's counterweight connection points 240B by a
counterweight
cable 210B. Two additional counterweights connected to cab 110B by
counterweight
cables 210B can be behind the guide tracks 230, but are not illustrated in
FIG. 4. Each of
the counterweights 120 in the elevator system can be guided by a counterweight
channel
410 which runs the length of the hoistway 100. As shown on FIG. 4, the two
front
counterweights 120B can be guided in the two counterweight channels 410B
located on
opposing sides of the hoistway 100. Two other counterweight channels 410B can
be
located behind those shown, and guide the two rear counterweights 120B (not
shown) as
the cab 110B moves through the hoistway 100. Each counterweight 120B can be
connected to cab 110B by a counterweight cable 210B, which can be attached to
a
counterweight cable connection point 240B on the cab 110B and to a
counterweight cable
connection eye 350B or some other connection device positioned on the top of
each
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counterweight 120B. A lift cable 136B can be attached to the rear of the cab
110B by
two vertically aligned lift motor connection points 150B. In one embodiment,
the control
equipment 460 for the cab 110B can be located in the bottom portion of the
cab. The
control equipment 460 can also be located in the top and side portions of the
cab. Among
other things, the control equipment governs braking, opening and closing of
doors,
leveling of a cab with building floors, and the movement of a cab 110 through
a hoistway
100, ensuring that passengers reach their destination without incident. Sensor
chains 440
can be attached to the bottom of cab 110B in order to help detect the location
of nearby
cabs 110 in the hoistway 100. Similarly, electronic and/or optical sensors
310B can be
located on the top and bottom of each cab. They can sense obstructions that
may be
located either above or below the cab 110 and can assist in identifying the
location of a
cab 110 in the hoistway 100. As previously mentioned, a bumper 160B can be
located on
top of a cab 110 should a collision occur between cab 110B and another cab
from above.
[0047] FIG. 5 illustrates the configuration of counterweights 120 and
counterweight
channels 410 at the top of a hoistway 100, as well as the associated cables,
pulleys and lift
motors, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. For example, in
one
embodiment counterweight channels 410A and counterweights 120A for cab 110A
can be
placed along a wall 360 at the rear of the hoistway 100, in contrast to the
placement of the
other counterweights 120 and counterweight channels 410, in this embodiment.
As show
in in FIG. 5, counterweights 120A can be connected to cab 110A (not shown) by
counterweight cables 210A. Each of the counterweight cables 210A can run
through
counterweight cable pulleys 140A located above the counterweight channels 410A
and
through two other counterweight cable pulleys 140A located above the center of
cab
110A (not shown). Counterweight channels 410A for cab 110A can be horizontally
and/or vertically shifted from four lift motors 130A, 130B, 130C, 130D in
order to
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prevent any interferences and allow unencumbered access to each of these
elements. This
also preserves space and allows additional motors to be positioned for
additional cabs. In
an embodiment, lift motor 130A can be connected to cab 110A by lift cable 136A
which
can be wrapped around circular lift motor shaft 610 (not shown). The other
motors 130
are similarly connected to their associated cabs 110. The placement of the
counterweights for cab 110A at the rear of the hoistway is due to preference
only. In
alternate embodiments the position of counterweights 120A and counterweight
channels
410A for cab 110A can vary, for example, they can be similar to the
orientation set forth
below with reference to cabs 110B, 110C and 110D. These alternate embodiments
for
locations of the counterweights 120 and counterweight channels 410 can also be
useful to
allow for doors on both the front and rear of the cabs 110.
[0048] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, counterweight channels 410B
for cab
110B can be located nearest to and on both sides of the guide tracks 230 on
either side of
the hoistway 100. In other embodiments, the counterweight channels 410 can be
positioned elsewhere, provided that the channels, counterweights, pulleys and
related
cables associated with each cabs are horizontally and/or vertically shifted
and do not
interfere with each other. Pulleys 140B can be located above the counterweight
channels
410B and route the counterweight cables 210B from the counterweights 120B to
their
associated counterweight connection points 240B on cab 110B (not shown). Lift
motor
130B can be horizontally shifted from the other lift motors 130A, 130C, 130D
and can be
connected to the rear of cab 110B by lift cable 136B to enable movement of cab
110B.
[0049] According to an embodiment, each counterweight channel 410C for cab
110C can
be located adjacent to a counterweight channel 410B, on the opposite side of
each interior
shaft divider wall 360. Pulleys 140C can be located above the counterweight
channels
410C and can route the counterweight cables 210C (not numbered) from
counterweights
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120C to their associated counterweight connection points 240C on the sides of
cab 110C
(not shown). Lift motor 130C can be horizontally shifted from the other motors
130A,
130B, 130D, and can be connected to the rear of cab 110C by a lift cable 136A
(not
shown) to enable movement of cab 110C.
[0050] Each counterweight channel 410D for cab 110D can be located adjacent to
a
counterweight channel 410C on a side of each interior shaft divider wall 360
and nearest
to the front and rear of the hoistway 100. Pulleys 140D can be located above
the
counterweight channels 410D and can route the counterweight cables 210D (not
numbered) from the counterweights 120D to their associated counterweight
connection
points 240D on the sides of cab 110D (not shown). Lift motor 130D can be
horizontally
shifted from the other lift motors 130A, 130B, 130C, and can be connected to
the rear of
cab 110D by a lift cable 136D (not shown) to enable movement of cab 110D.
Instead of an interior shaft divider wall, all of the counterweight channels
can be
positioned along elevator shaft walls 800 (not shown).
[0051] In an embodiment, the counterweight channels 410 and counterweights 120
for
cabs 110B, 110C and 110D can also be stacked back-to-back or side-to-side on
the walls
of the hoistway 100. This method of positioning counterweights 120 and their
associated
channels 410 can greatly increase the number of cabs that an elevator system
is able to
operate in the same hoistway, as will be illustrated in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.
The
counterweight pulleys 140 positioned along either side of the hoistway 100 can
be
horizontally and/or vertically shifted in a manner similar to the
counterweights in order to
allow for operation of more elevator cabs 110. In an alternate embodiment, the
counterweights 120 and counterweight channels 410 can be positioned external
to the
hoistway 100 (not shown).
[0052] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of a lift motor system which can be used
for each
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cab 110 in accordance with one embodiment. In an embodiment, the lift motor
system
illustrated in FIG. 6 is similar for all cabs 110 although the particular
positioning of the
lift cable connection points 150 relative to the lift cables 136 may vary
symmetrically,
horizontally and/or vertically. In an embodiment, a vertical guide track 230
runs along
the vertical center of two opposing sides of a hoistway 100 and each guide
track 230
engages with two guides 220 located at the top center and bottom center of two
opposing
exterior sides 430 of each cab 110. The two guides 220 can be vertically
aligned with the
two guide tracks 230 and move vertically along the guide track 230 through the
hoistway
100. Two lift motor connection points 150 can be positioned on an exterior
wall 430 of
each cab 110 and can be vertically aligned with each other. One end of a lift
cable 136
can be attached to the top lift cable connection point 150. The lift cable 136
can then be
routed up the hoistway and around a circular rotating shaft 610 of a lift
motor 130, which
can be located near the top of the hoistway 100. The lift cable 136 can then
be routed
down the length of the hoistway 100 and around a floor pulley 170 which can be
pulled
toward the floor by a traction spring 620 which can be attached to the
basement floor 600.
The traction spring 620 can provide the required tension and traction to
enable a lift
motor 130 to pull a cab 110 up and/or down the guide track 230 as the cab is
guided and
stabilized by the guide apparatuses 220. The lift cable 136 can then be routed
back up the
hoistway and attached to the bottom lift cable connection point 150 located
near the
bottom of the cab exterior wall 430. It is also envisioned that one lift cable
connection
point 150 may serve to connect both ends of a lift cable 136 to each cab 110.
Between
the lift cable connection points 150, the lift cable 136 can become somewhat
circular and
continuous. Like the elevator counterweight system, this lift motor system can
eliminate
the need for any cable storage. According to embodiments, counterweight cables
and lift
motor cables described herein, can be made of carbon fiber, steel or
combinations thereof.
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[0053] While it is feasible in some embodiments for one hoistway to be
utilized, e.g., in a
deep mine shaft, in a tall tower, or as a private elevator between adjoining
floors of a
building, two or more hoistways can be utilized in other embodiments for
increased
passenger occupancy and convenience. With a plurality of hoistways, the
central elevator
control system can alternate and coordinate the direction which the cabs in
each hoistway
are traveling, in effect creating a circular traffic pattern of elevator cabs.
Proper
coordination of the directions that cabs are traveling can minimize the delays
that
passengers experience. The computer control system can ensure that enough cabs
for
proper service can be traveling in each one-way direction. Two hoistways with
multiple
elevator cabs can be expected to be sufficient for many buildings with 40 or
more floors.
In one embodiment, it is estimated that an additional hoistway can be added
for each
additional 40 floors that a tall building has.
[0054] In an embodiment, FIG. 7 illustrates the general operation of a
hoistway over time
with four cabs, 1, 2, 3, 4, operating in a hoistway. In FIG. 7, a hoistway
containing four
cabs is shown at 7 different points in time, 9:05 A.M. through 9:11 A.M., in
order to
demonstrate the operation of the multiple cab hoistway system, according to
one
embodiment. At 9:05, cab 1 is located at floor 1 with passengers entering cab
1, and the
rest of the cabs 2, 3, and 4, are located in basement slots 710. The basement
slots 710
may be located on floors used for parking cars and other uses. At 9:06, cab 1
moves up
the hoistway to transport passengers to upper floors and the other cabs move
up one floor
in order to take on passengers and prepare to transport them to upper
destinations. At
9:07, cab 2 moves up the hoistway and begins to load and unload passengers at
various
floors. Then cab 3 moves up to floor 1 to permit passengers to enter the cab.
At 9:08 cab
1 has delivered all of its passengers, cabs 2 and 3 are still transporting
passengers, and cab
4 has moved up to floor 1 in order to load passengers. By 9:08 cab 1 has moved
to the
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attic slots 720 in order to allow the other cabs to service any of the upper
floors in the
hoistway. People transferring from parked cars on basement floors 710 should
use cabs
2, 3 and 4 to arrive at their desired upper destinations.
[0055] By 9:09, cab 1 has moved up to attic slot A3 in order to make room for
cab 2 and
cab 3 in the other attic slots. Cab 2 is unloading passengers on floor 10 and
cab 3 is still
servicing floors 7 through 10. Cab 4 is still servicing passengers on floor 3.
By 9:10, the
lower cabs 3 and 4 continue to travel upwards while transporting passengers,
and
eventually they will dock at the highest floor possible. By 9:11 all of the
cabs have
moved up and docked at the highest possible slots in the hoistway. At this
point, a similar
process is begun in the opposite direction. All four cabs progressively move
down the
hoistway loading and unloading passengers until all of the lowest hoistway
floors are
again filled with docked elevator cabs. At this point in time the above
described process
begins all over again.
[0056] Attic slots 720 and basement slots 710 are constructed and used to
enable all cabs
to service all of the occupied floors in a building (in this case, floors 1-
10). If attic
hoistway slots Al to A3 were not available, only cab 1 would be able to
service floor 10.
Cab 1 would not be able to move out of the way and allow the other cabs to
reach floor
10. A similar problem would occur if there were no basement hoistway slots, B1
to B3.
The hoistway can still operate if attic and basement slots are not included,
but certain cabs
would not be able to provide service to certain floors.
[0057] An advantage of this invention is that in addition to future buildings,
many
existing buildings can effectively and inexpensively be retrofitted for
compatibility with
the present invention. In an embodiment, the elements of this invention can be
contained
within an existing hoistway. In an embodiment, this elevator system does not
need to
store cables due to the arrangement of cables, pulleys, counterweights and
lift motors. In
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an embodiment, some of the cables, pulleys, lift motors and other equipment
can be
located outside of a common hoistway, including above, below, or to the sides
of a
hoistway. In an embodiment, by utilizing multiple cabs in a single hoistway, a
building
can achieve additional elevator and passenger capacity while eliminating one
or more
hoistways and elevator lobbies and converting those hoistways and lobbies to
revenue
producing space on each floor. The space used for elevator support or
equipment
throughout a building can also be reduced by eliminating one or more
hoistways.
[0058] Modifications can be made to the present invention in order to allow
opposing
doors to be used on each end of the cabs 110. For example, while not
illustrated, all of
the counterweights, channels, cables, pulleys, and related equipment which
would impede
access to a rear cab door can be moved to the edges of the rear and/or front
of a hoistway,
or to the sides of a hoistway, or positioned on either side of a dividing wall
360 or a shaft
wall 800 (not shown). While useful for future buildings, the present invention
is also
compatible with existing buildings, existing hoistways, and existing elevator
systems.
[0059] Attic and basement hoistway slots can also be used to store cabs and
suspend
operation of certain cabs. This can help to reduce operating costs during low
usage
periods such as nights, weekends and holidays in an office building. The
computer
control system can also select a cab to service only a certain subset of
floors, which can
help with high traffic periods in some tall buildings, with conventions
occurring on
certain floors, or with a certain number of floors that are dedicated to one
company with
an abnormally high number of employees. Instead of use by passengers, elevator
cabs of
the current invention can also be adapted for use by automobiles (i.e. a
vertical garage) or
merchandise and materials on moveable pallets (i.e. a vertical warehouse).
[0060] The above text and figures describe various embodiments with respect to
a tall
building. It is also envisioned that alternate embodiments of the present
invention can be
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utilized by a deep mine (underground), a tall thin tower, or integrated with
horizontal
movement systems.
[0061] FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a multi-cab elevator system having
a plurality
of possible elevator cabs 110 moving independently of each other in the same
hoistway
100. For example, ten cabs 110 (110A, 110B, 110C, 110D, 110E, 110F, 110G,
11011,
1101, 110J) can move independently of each other in the same hoistway 100 (see
FIG.
10). In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the top cab 110A, and the
bottom cab
110J, can be respectively located in the top section and in the bottom section
of a
hoistway 100. All of the cabs 110 in hoistway 100 can be vertically aligned
and move
independently from one another without passing one another.
[0062] In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the topmost cab 110A, can
be
connected to four counterweights 120A which can be located near to the bottom
of the
hoistway 100 (the other two counterweights 120A can be behind those shown),
utilizing
four counterweight cables 210A (the other two cables 210A are behind those
shown).
Each of the four counterweights 120A can be guided within a separate
counterweight
channel 410A, one counterweight 120A guided within one counterweight channel
410A.
Each counterweight cable 210A can be attached to a counterweight connection
point
240A (the other two counterweight connection points 240A can be behind those
shown)
located along the top of each exterior side 430A of cab 110A, as illustrated
in FIG. 10.
Each counterweight cable 210A can be routed up and over a counterweight pulley
140A
(the other pulleys 140A can be positioned behind those shown), and then down
each
counterweight channel 410A. Each of the counterweight cables 210A can then be
attached to the top of each associated counterweight 120A (the other
counterweights
120B to 1201 can be located vertically between counterweights 120A and 120J,
and are
not shown). Cab 110A can have at least one dedicated lift motor 130A which can
be
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located on an attic floor 810 of the building. In another embodiment, the lift
motor 130A
can be located on the basement floor 600, or elsewhere. A lift cable 136A can
be
connected between the lift motor 130A and the lift cable connection points
150A located
on the rear of cab 110A (points 150A are not shown). Cab 110A can be guided
along two
opposing vertical guide tracks 230 attached to the center of each opposing
hoistway wall
800. Guide apparatuses 220A can be attached to the center of each exterior
side wall
430A of cab 110A, one at the top center of cab 110A and the other at the
bottom center of
cab 110A, as illustrated in FIG. 8.
[00631 In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the bottommost cab 110J,
can be
connected to four counterweights 120J which can be located near the top of the
hoistway
100 (the other two counterweights 120J can be behind those shown), utilizing
four
counterweight cables 210J (the other two cables 210J can be behind those
shown). Each
of the four counterweights 120J can be guided within a separate counterweight
channel
410J, one counterweight 120J guided within one counterweight channel 410J.
Each
counterweight cable 210J can be attached to a counterweight connection point
240J (the
other two points 240J can be behind those shown) located along the top of each
exterior
side 430J of cab 110J, as illustrated in FIG. 10. Each counterweight cable
210J can be
routed up and over a counterweight pulley 140J (the other pulleys 140J can be
behind
those shown), and then down each counterweight channel 410J. Each of the
counterweight cables 210J can then be attached to the top of each associated
counterweight 120J (the other counterweights 120B through 1201 can be located
vertically between counterweights 120A and 120J, and are not shown). Cab 110J
can
have at least one dedicated lift motor 130J which is- can be located on an
attic floor 810 of
the building. In another embodiment, the lift motor 130J can be located on the
basement
floor 600, or elsewhere. A lift cable 136J can be connected between the lift
motor 130J
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and the lift connection points 150J located on the rear of cab 110J (points
150J are not
shown). Cab 110J can be guided along two opposing vertical guide tracks 230
attached
to the center of each opposing hoistway wall 800. Guide apparatuses 220J can
be
attached to the center of each exterior side wall 430J of cab 110J, one at the
top center of
cab 110J and the other at the bottom center of cab 110J, as illustrated in
FIG. 8.
[0064] In an embodiment, cabs 110B through 1101 can be located vertically in
alphabetical order between cab 110A and cab 110J, but are not shown in FIG. 8.
The
primary differences between any of such cabs 110A through 110J is the
different
horizontal position of their associated counterweights (120A to 120J), of
their associated
counterweight channels (410A to 410J), of their associated counterweight cable
connection points (240A to 240J), of their associated counterweight cables
(210A to
210J), of their associated lift cables (136A to 136J), of their associated
lift cable
connection points 150A to 150J (not shown), of their associated data and
electric power
cables 300A to 300J (not shown), of their associated data and electric power
connection
points 330A to 330 (not shown), and of the pulleys 140 associated with cabs
110A
through 110J, as shown in FIG. 8.
[0065] It should be recognized that the configuration of the counterweights,
channels,
connection points, cables, pulleys and motor systems permit less than ten cabs
110 or
more than ten cabs 110 (i.e. 20 cabs, see FIG. 11) to move independently in
the same
hoistway 100.
[0066] In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, the guide
apparatus 220
may comprise a "U" shaped prong 900, an axle 920, a wheel 910 and two washers
930.
The steel prong 900 can be shaped somewhat like a musician's tuning fork. The
axle 920
can be positioned into two aligned and opposing holes on the prong, and each
hole can be
positioned on an opposing arm of the prong 900. The axle 920 may be welded to
the
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prong 900 for purposes of stabilization. In an embodiment, the axle 920 can be
positioned through the center of the wheel 910, and the two washers 930 can be
positioned around the axle 920, one on each side of the wheel 910. All of such
elements
may be made of substances other than steel as long as they are sufficiently
strong and
rigid. A vertical guide track 230 mounted along the center of an elevator
hoistway wall
800 can be positioned between each arm of the prong 900 of the guide apparatus
220 so
that they engage each other. The guide track 230 can remain in firm contact
with each
wheel 910. In an embodiment, a guide apparatus 220 can be positioned at the
top center
and at the bottom center of each exterior side 430 of each cab 110 (not
shown). As a cab
110 moves up and down the hoistway 100 each guide apparatus 220 can guide the
cab
110 along the guide track 230, and the wheel 910 can rotate around the axle
920, keeping
the cab 110 firmly against the guide track 230 in a straight line path.
[0067] FIG. 10 illustrates how the counterweights (120A to 120J) for each of
the ten
elevator cabs (110A to 110J) operating within the hoistway 100 can be aligned,
positioned and connected to their associated cabs (110A to 110J) and can be
positioned
relative to each other, to each cab's associated counterweight channels (410A
to 410J), to
each cab's associated counterweight cable connection points (240A to 240J), to
each
cab's associated counterweight cables (210A to 210J), to the vertical guide
tracks 230, to
each cab's guide apparatuses 220 (the other guides 220B to 220J can be behind
those
shown), to each cab's associated lift cable connection points 150A to 150J
(some are not
numbered), to each cab's lift cables 136A to 136J, to each cab's associated
data and
electric power connection points 330A to 330J, and to each cab's data and
electric power
cables 300A to 300J (some are not numbered), according to one embodiment of
the
present invention.
[0068] According to an embodiment, each cab 110A to 110J can be connected to
four
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associated counterweights 120A to 120J by means of four associated
counterweight
cables 210A to 210J (some are not numbered), each connected to an associated
quadrant
of each cab 110. Each counterweight (120A to 120J) can move in a vertical path
within
its associated counterweight channel (410A to 410J) through the hoistway 100,
which
path can be aligned with each counterweight's associated counterweight cable
connection
point (240A to 240J). Each connection point 240 can be horizontally and
symmetrically
positioned in each quadrant of each cab 110. One end of each counterweight
cable (210A
to 210J) can be attached to each cab (110A to 110J) at an associated
counterweight cable
connection point (240A to 240J) which can be positioned horizontally and
symmetrically
along the top of the exterior side wall 430 of each quadrant of each cab (110A
to 110J).
The other end of each counterweight cable (210A to 210J) can be routed over an
associated counterweight cable pulley 140A to 140J (not shown) and then can be
attached
to an associated counterweight connection eye 350A to 350J (not shown) located
at a top
center of each associated counterweight (120A to 120J). Some of the
counterweight
cables 210 are not separately identified. Each counterweight (120A to 120J)
can be
guided through a separate and associated counterweight channel (410A to 410J)
horizontally and symmetrically positioned adjacent to each quadrant of each
cab 110 in
order to control the movement of each counterweight 120 through the hoistway
100 and
to avoid interaction or interference between other cabs, other counterweights,
and other
cables.
[0069] For example, the topmost cab 110A can be connected to four associated
counterweights 120A by four counterweight cables 210A. Each of the four
counterweights 120A for cab 110A can be symmetrically positioned in a quadrant
of a
cab 110A and can be positioned nearest to each corner of cab 110A which helps
to
balance cab 110A as it moves through a hoistway 100. Each counterweight 120A
can be
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guided within its associated counterweight channel 410A (some channels 410 are
not
separately numbered) and can connect to cab 110A by four counterweight cables
210A
(some cables 210 are not separately numbered) at four associated counterweight
connection points 240A. As illustrated in FIG. 10, each counterweight
connection point
240A can be horizontally shifted from each other, and from the other
connection points
(240B to 240J) of other cabs (cabs 110B to 110J) to avoid any interference
with the
points 240.
[0070] For another example, the bottommost cab 110J can be connected to four
counterweights 120J by four associated counterweight cables 210J. Each of the
four
counterweights 120J for cab 110J can be symmetrically located in a quadrant of
cab 110J
and can be positioned nearest to each guide track 230 on each side of a
hoistway 100.
This helps to balance cab 110J as it moves through a hoistway 100. Each
counterweight
120J can be guided within its associated counterweight channel 410J and can
connect to
cab 110J by four associated counterweight cables 210J at four associated
counterweight
connection points 240J. As illustrated in FIG. 10, each counterweight
connection point
240J can be horizontally shifted from each other, and from the other
connection points
(240A to 2401) of other cabs (cabs 110A to 1101) to avoid any interference
with the
points.
[0071] The embodiments of the other eight cabs (110B to 1101) can be
substantially the
same as those of cab 110A and cab 110J just described, except that the
positions of their
counterweights (120B to 1201), of their counterweight connection points (240B
to 2401),
of their related counterweight cables (210B to 4201), of their counterweight
channels
(410B to 4101), and of their associated pulleys (not shown), can be at
positions which are
horizontally and/or vertically shifted from all of the others, as shown in
FIG. 10.
[0072] Each lift motor 130 (not shown) for cabs 110A to 110J can have at least
one lift
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cable 136. Each lift cable (136A to 136J) can be attached to an associated
lift cable
connection point 150A to 150J (some are not numbered). As illustrated in FIG.
10, each
lift cable 136 can be attached to a lift cable connection point 150 which is
positioned as
close as possible to a guide apparatus 220 for purposes of balance and
stability. Each lift
cable 136 positioned in this manner can be horizontally and/or vertically
shifted from
each other in order to avoid any interference between the cables.
[0073] In an alternate embodiment, as also illustrated in FIG. 10, each cab
(110A through
110J), instead of having just one lift motor cable 136, may instead have two
or more lift
motor cables 136 positioned symmetrically along the exterior of the rear and
front of each
cab 110A through 110J. For example, two lift cables 136A can be connected and
positioned symmetrically on opposite comers of cab 110A and function together
with lift
motor 130A (not shown) to simultaneously lift cab 110A. Similarly, two or more
lift
cables 136J can be connected and positioned symmetrically on different
opposite corners
of cab 110J and function together with lift motor 130J (not shown) to
simultaneously lift
cab 110J. Similar configurations of two lift cables (136B to 1361) can apply
to cabs
110B through 1101. As shown on FIG. 10, all lift cables 136A through 136J can
be
horizontally shifted from one another and can be attached to associated lift
cable
connection points 150A to 150J (some are not numbered).
[0074] In an embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 10, ten data
and electric
power cables (300A through 300J) can be positioned symmetrically along the
center of
the exterior rear wall 430 of each cab 110. Each such cable (300A to 300J) can
be
connected to an associated data and electric power connection point 330A to
330J (some
points 330 are not numbered), and each point 330 can be shifted horizontally
from each
other point 330 in order to avoid any interference between the points. In
another
embodiment, the data and electric cables 300 and points 330 may be located
elsewhere on
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each cab 110.
[0075] There can be two or more electronic and/or optical sensors 310 (not
shown)
positioned on the top of each cab (110A through 110J), and there also can be
two or more
electronic and/or optical sensors positioned on the bottom of each cab (not
shown). Cab
control panels 370 (not shown) may be located on the interior of the front
walls of each
cab (110A through 110J). Whenever the term 'eye' is used herein it can also
take the
form of a rod or a point. Whenever the term 'position' is used herein it can
also mean
'location,' and vice-versa.
[0076] FIG. 11 is a top plan view illustrating the configuration of
counterweights,
counterweight channels and connection points for twenty (or more) elevator
cabs (110A
to 110T) which can move independently of one another in a hoistway 100. In
this
embodiment, each cab can have four associated counterweights (120A to 120T),
four
associated counterweight cable channels (410A to 410T), four associated
counterweight
cables (210A to 210T), one or two lift motor cables (136A to 136T), one data
and electric
power cable (300A to 300T) and associated connection points and pulleys. Each
element
can be horizontally and/or vertically shifted from all of the other
counterweights,
counterweight cables, channels, connection points, pulleys, lift cables, data
and electric
power cables of the other cabs 110 within a hoistway 100 in order to avoid
interference
among them. FIG. 11 is conceptually very similar to FIG. 10, and it
illustrates the top of
elevator cab 110A in a hoistway 100 that contains twenty elevator cabs (110A
to 110T),
nineteen of which are not shown because they are directly below the top cab
110A. FIG.
11 also illustrates how four counterweights (120A to 120T) for each of the
twenty cabs
within the hoistway 100 can be connected by counterweight cables (210A to
210T) to
their associated connection points (240A to 240T) positioned on an associated
elevator
cab (110A to 110T), and how all of the elements can be positioned relative to
other
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counterweights (120B to 120T), other counterweight channels (410B to 410T),
other
counterweight cables (210B to 210T), opposing vertical guide tracks 230, other
guide
apparatuses (220B to 220T) which can be positioned directly below those shown,
other
lift cables (136B to 136T), other associated lift motor connection points
(150B to 150T)
(some of which are not specifically identified), other data and electric power
cables (300B
to 300T), other associated data/electric power connection points (330B to
330T) (some of
which are not specifically identified), according to an embodiment of the
present
invention.
[0077] In this embodiment, the placements and connections of the
counterweights (120A
to 120T), of the counterweight cables (210A to 210T), of the counterweight
channels
(410A to 410T), of the counterweight cable connection points (240A to 240T),
and their
associated pulleys which relate to each cab in a twenty cab hoistway can be
symmetrically positioned and horizontally and/or vertically shifted in similar
fashion to
the configuration, connection and motions of these elements in the ten
elevator cab
hoistway embodiment as discussed above. Because the positioning and operation
of the
lift cables (136A to 136T) and the data and electric power cables (300A to
300T), and
their associated connection points and pulleys can also be substantially
similar to the ten
cab embodiment as described in FIG. 10 above, they will not be described again
here.
[0078] In a twenty cab elevator system embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 11,
there are
twice as many lift cables (136A to 136T), data and electric power cables (300A
to 300T),
associated lift motors (130A to 130T), associated lift motor pulleys (145A to
145T),
associated lift motor connection points (150A to 150T), and twice as many of
all other
elements as described above, which are necessary for twenty cabs as compared
to the ten
cab embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10. In FIG. 11, each counterweight channel
(410A to
410T) and each counterweight (120A to 120T) can be twice as long and one-half
as wide
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as those shown in the ten cab elevator system of FIG. 10. Differences in size
and shape
of counterweights 120 and their channels 410 are necessary in order to
physically
accommodate twice as many counterweights 120 and counterweight channels 410
alongside each cab (110A to 110T) in FIG. 11.
[0079] In other embodiments, more or less than ten or twenty cabs 110 and
their
associated elements may be similarly configured as in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 in
order to
operate independently in a multi-cab elevator hoistway 100.
[0080] FIG. 12 is an illustration of a 120-floor office building which
contains four
different hoistways, each containing a plurality of elevator cabs, and each
cab can move
independently of the others in different vertical sections of the same
hoistway, according
to one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the 120-floor
office
building is occupied by six large companies (Company A, B, C, D, E and F), and
each
company occupies about 20 vertically adjoining floors. In this building, there
are four
different elevator shafts (Si, S2, S3, S4) that service various floors. FIG.
12 shows how
multiple elevator cabs in each shaft move up and down over different periods
of time,
according to one embodiment.
[0081] In an embodiment of Shaft Si, there are four elevator cabs (1, 2, 3, 4)
which can
access all floors in the building, including all three attic (equipment &
storage) floors and
all three basement (parking) floors. Shaft Si, in FIG. 12, illustrates three
scenarios for
cabs 1-4 by showing all four elevator cabs (1, 2, 3, 4) docked in the lowest
four floors and
waiting to ascend; all four elevator cabs (1, 2, 3, 4) docked in the highest
four floors and
waiting to descend; and all four elevator cabs (1, 2, 3, 4) moving
independently of each
other and going up or down between the other floors in the building. All of
these cabs (1,
2, 3, 4) moving in either direction (up or down) always stop at floor 1 (the
street floor) to
allow passengers to enter or exit. (See FIG. 7 for more details concerning
this
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embodiment.)
[0082] In an embodiment of Shaft S2, as shown in FIG. 12, there can be ten
elevator cabs
(numbered 1 through 10) that move independently of each other through vertical
sections
of Shaft S2. Because there are only three docking slots at each end of this
hoistway,
passengers in some cabs will have to transfer to a cab in another hoistway in
order to
complete a journey from some of the topmost floors to some of the bottommost
floors,
and vice-versa. Also because of the above limitation, according to an
embodiment of the
present invention, each of these cabs can only be permitted by the central
elevator
computer control system to access about 70% of the floors in each direction of
Shaft S2.
[0083] As illustrated in FIG. 12, cabs 1, 2, 3, 4 can move upward in Shaft S2
from lower
floors of the building toward the top of the building and said four cabs (1,
2, 3, 4) can
dock in the four topmost floors of the building (floors A3, A2, Al and 120),
awaiting
their next downward journey. Cabs 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 can respectively end
their upward
journeys at floors 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40. Passengers in any of the latter six
cabs who wish
to continue their upward journey to a higher floor can be advised by the
building's
elevator computer control system to exit their cabs at certain floors and to
take a specified
cab in Shaft S1 or Shaft S3 to continue their journey to their higher desired
destination
floor. For example, passengers in cab 7 can be advised to exit cab 7 on floor
70 and to
take cab 12, 13, ef 14 or 15 to floor 120.
[0084] At this point in time all cabs (1 through 10) in Shaft S2 can begin
their descent
down Shaft S2 toward the designated floors where they can stop. Cabs 7, 8, 9,
10 can
proceed to service floors toward the bottommost four floors (B3, B2, Bl, and
1) where
they can dock and await their next upward journey. Cabs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 can
move
downward servicing floors and can respectively end their downward journey at
floors 80,
70, 60, 50, 40, and 30 (as is similarly illustrated by cabs 11 through 16
which are shown
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in Shaft S3). Passengers in any of the latter six cabs who wish to continue
their
downward journey to floors 1, Bl, B2 or B3 or other lower floors can be
advised by the
building's elevator computer control system to exit their cabs at certain
floors and to take
a specified cab in Shaft 51 or Shaft S3 to continue their journey to their
lower desired
destination floor. For example, passengers in cab 4 can be advised to exit cab
4 at floor
50 and to take cab 17, 18 or 19 to floor 1. At this point in time the above
process can
begin to repeat itself in Shaft S2.
[0085] Meanwhile, in another embodiment, there can also be ten elevator cabs
(numbered
11 through 20) in Shaft S3 that can move independently of each other through
vertical
sections of Shaft S3. Because there are also only three docking slots at each
end of this
hoistway in this embodiment, passengers in some cabs will also have to
transfer to a cab
in another hoistway in order to complete a journey from some of the topmost
floors to
some of the bottommost floors, and vice-versa. In an embodiment, each of these
cabs is
also only permitted by the central computer control system to access about 70%
of the
floors in each direction of Shaft S3. As illustrated in FIG. 12, cabs 17, 18,
19, 20 can
move downward in Shaft S3 to the bottom of the building and can now dock in
the four
bottommost floors (1, Bl, B2 and B3), awaiting their next upward journey. Cabs
11, 12,
13, 14, 15 and 16 can respectively end their downward journey at floors 80,
70, 60, 50,
40, 30. Passengers in any of the latter six cabs who wish to continue their
downward
journey to a lower floor can be advised by the building's central elevator
computer
control system to exit their cabs at certain floors and to take a specified
cab in Shaft 51 or
Shaft S2 to continue their journey to their lower desired destination floor.
For example,
passengers in cab 14 can be advised to exit cab 14 at floor 50 and to take cab
9, 8 or 7 to
floor 1. At this point in time all cabs in Shaft S3 can begin their assent up
Shaft S3 to the
designated floors where they can stop (as is similarly illustrated in Shaft
S2), and the
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above process can begin to repeat itself in Shaft S3. The cabs in Shaft S2 and
Shaft S3
can operate in conjunction with each other to service as many floors and
passengers as
possible in the shortest possible time periods.
[0086] Because these embodiments are so efficient and contain so many elevator
cabs,
only two elevator shafts each containing ten cabs may be sufficient to service
the entire
120 floors of a building. Similarly, two elevator shafts which each contain
twenty
elevator cabs and operate in similar fashion to S2 and S3, may be sufficient
to service a
building with over 240 floors.
[0087] In an embodiment of the present invention operated in a 160-floor
building, for
example, the elevator system may utilize 15 or more elevator cabs to operate
at the same
time in the same elevator shaft. In an embodiment for a 200-floor building,
for example,
the elevator system may utilize 20 cabs to operate at the same time in an
elevator shaft.
In either of these embodiments, an elevator system described in FIG. 8 through
FIG. 11
may be utilized.
[0088] Because up to twenty or more elevator cabs can operate independently in
the same
elevator shaft, only two elevator shafts may be necessary in order to service
any tall
building, no matter how many floors there are in the building being serviced.
For
example, in one embodiment, a three hundred floor building may be adequately
serviced
by an elevator system comprising forty elevator cabs operating in two
hoistways of a
building. Thus, this sharing of hoistways by multiple elevator cabs can result
in a great
saving of cost, energy, materials, and building space, and a great increase in
cab
passenger capacity in any given elevator shaft in any building.
[0089] Shaft S4, as shown in FIG. 12, illustrates an embodiment of the present
invention
in a hoistway which is dedicated to private elevators for each of the six
companies
(Company A through Company F) in a building, wherein each company leases or
owns
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about twenty adjoining floors in a 120-floor building. The adjoining floors
for each
company coincide with each company's private section of the hoistway and can
be herein
referred to as each company's private section of a hoistway. In an embodiment,
each
company may choose to have one or two private elevator cabs operate in its
private
section of the hoistway S4. If company A chooses to have just one private
elevator cab
that will service all twenty of its private floors (e.g. floor 101 to floor
120), then such cab
(shown as Al in Shaft 4) can access all of A company's floors between floor
101 and
floor 120. In this embodiment, elevator cab collisions cannot occur in the
Company A's
private section of Shaft S4. Storage slots are also unnecessary when just one
elevator cab
is utilized. However, the wait time for just one private elevator cab, and the
limited
number of passengers that can be serviced by just one cab, may become problems
for
Company A.
[0090] In an alternate embodiment, Company C may choose to have two private
elevators
cabs operating in its private section of Shaft S4 that will service all twenty
of its adjoining
private floors (floor 61 to floor 80). In this embodiment, if Company C
operates two
elevators cabs within its private section of Shaft S4 both moving in the same
direction,
and does not require that both elevator cabs can access all of its adjoining
floors in each
direction, then the building's central elevator computer control system can
handle these
simple requirements without any cab collisions or storage slots.
[0091] But if Company C requires that both cabs can access all of its floors
in each
direction then, according to an embodiment, the cab slot for the floor at each
end of a
private elevator shaft section may be shared by the cabs of each neighboring
company.
The elevator control system may then be programmed so that only one
neighboring cab
(i.e. cab B2 shown on FIG. 12) can enter the shareable slot (i.e. at floor 80
or floor 81) at
the same time, and that the other neighboring cab (i.e. cab Cl shown on FIG.
12) must
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delay its entry into either of those shareable slots until the shareable slot
is empty again.
[0092] In an alternate embodiment, the elevator control system can require
that during
business hours, all private elevators in the building can only continuously
move in the
same direction (i.e. up or down) at all times so that each shareable slot in
the direction of
such motion will always be available for entry. Then during non-business hours
the
control system can require that only one elevator can be operated in any
direction in Shaft
4, or that the nearby stairs may be infrequently required for passengers to
access a certain
adjacent floor. It should be realized that there are also other possible
solutions for these
problems.
[0093] If there are even twenty or more companies in the 120-floor building
described in
FIG. 12 that desire to have a private elevator operate between their adjoining
floors in the
same hoistway (instead of six), this desire can also be accommodated by the
computer
control system and the elevator system described in FIG. 8 through FIG 12.
[0094] With regard to any of the above described private elevator embodiments,
if a
company wishes to expand into vacant adjoining floors, the elevator control
system can
instantly accommodate these desires by a simple computer program change, and
without
any costly or time consuming physical changes to a private elevator cab or a
private
elevator shaft. The same is true if any company wishes to sell or surrender
any adjoining
floors to a neighboring company. Thus it has been demonstrated that the
embodiments of
present invention and its computer control method have great efficiencies and
flexibilities. In another embodiment, when the occupants of any of the above
described
private elevator floors wish to travel to the floors of another company in the
building (e.g.
the street level on floor 1, or any of the attic [storage] or basement
[parking] floors), they
can use the elevator cabs in Shaft 51 or Shaft S2 or Shaft S3 that are
available for the
general public.
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[0095] FIG. 13 is an illustration of two different private sections in the
same hoistway
where elevator slots may be shared by two different neighboring elevator cabs
at two
different times, according to one embodiment of the present invention. As
shown in FIG.
13, four companies (A, B, C, D) occupy premises with adjoining floors in a
tall building.
In one embodiment, Company A and Company B have shareable slots on floors 64
and
65; Company B and Company C have shareable slots on floors 56 and 57; Company
C
and Company D have shareable slots on floors 48 and 49.
[0096] As shown on FIG. 13, at 9:00 AM, private elevator cab A2 has already
unloaded
its Company A passengers on floor 65 and is now stored in Company B's
shareable slot
on floor 64. Private cab Al is loading Company A employees on floor 65 and is
preparing to ascend to upper destinations on Company A's adjoining floors.
Private cab
B1 has already unloaded and loaded its Company B passengers on floor 57 and is
now
ascending to service Company B floors 60 through 64. Cab B2 is stored in
Company C's
shareable slot on floor 56 and is beginning to move up to slot 57 to load
Company B
passengers destined for higher Company B adjoining floors. Private cab Cl is
ascending
to service Company C floors 54 through 56, and then it will be stored in
Company B's
shareable slot on floor 57 after cab B2 moves up to slot 58. Private cab C2
has already
picked up Company C passengers on floor 49 and is ascending to service other
Company
C floors. Private cab D1 is just entering the shareable slot on floor 48 to
unload Company
D passengers and will then dock in Company C's shareable slot on floor 49 that
cab C2
has just vacated.
[0097] As shown on FIG. 13, at 9:05 A.M. private elevator cab D2 has just
picked up
Company D passengers on floor 48 and is descending through company D's private
section of the hoistway to service lower Company D adjoining floors. Private
cab D1 is
docked in Company C's shareable slot on floor 49, and is preparing to follow
cab D1
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down through Company D's floors. Private cab C2 has already serviced Company
C's
floors 56 through 54 and is preparing to service Company C floors 53 through
50, and
also floor 49 after cab D1 has exited that shareable slot. Private cab Cl is
docked in
Company B's shareable slot on floor 57 and is preparing to follow cab C2 down
through
Company C's adjoining floors. Private cab B2 has already serviced Company B's
upper
floors and is descending through Company B's private section of the hoistway
to service
Company B's lower floors until it docks in Company C's shareable slot on floor
56 after
cab Cl has moved down to floor 55. Private cab B1 has already vacated
shareable slot
65, has picked up Company B passengers on floor 64 and is now descending to
service
lower Company B floors. Cab A2 has just unloaded Company A passengers on floor
65
and will dock in Company B's sharable slot on floor 64 after cab B1 has exited
that slot.
The motions of all of the above cabs are controlled by the building's central
elevator
control system in conjunction with electronic and optical sensors located on
such cabs
and within the private elevator hoistway S4, in one embodiment.
[0098] FIGS. 14A through 14G illustrate how one counterweight channel 410 can
be
shared by the counterweights 120 of a plurality of elevator cabs, in one
embodiment of
the invention. This sharing of counterweight channels 410 can decrease the
necessary
size for hoistways and/or increase passenger capacity of the larger elevator
cabs that can
operate in a given hoistway. In FIG. 12, counterweight channels extend from
Floor 120
down to Floor 1 in Shaft S4 (not illustrated). According to the following
embodiments, a
120-floor building may have all of the counterweights connected to cab Al, cab
Bl, and
cab Cl in Shaft S4 sharing the same counterweight channels 410 for purposes of
economy of space and in order to maximize the number of passengers that can be
transported by each cab in the same elevator Shaft S4.
[0099] In an embodiment, as shown on FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B, FIG. 14C, and FIG.
14D,
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there are three vertical sections of the same counterweight channel: 410A,
410B, and
410C. In this configuration, counterweight 120A is positioned in a lower
vertical section
410C, counterweight 120B is positioned in a middle vertical section 410B, and
counterweight 120C is positioned in an upper vertical section 410A. The
counterweight
cables 210A connected to counterweight 120A pass through vertical
counterweight cable
passages 1400B located on each side of counterweight 120B connected to cab B1
(not
shown), and they also pass through even larger vertical counterweight cable
passages
1400C located on each side of counterweight 120C connected to cab Cl (not
shown).
Therefore, counterweight 120A and its associated counterweight cables 210A can
move
independently of the counterweights 120B and 120C up and down through section
410C
of counterweight channel 410 between adjoining floors 80 and 61 as shown on
FIG. 12.
Counterweight 120A can only move within section 410A of counterweight channel
410 if
it is attached to a personal elevator cab 110 that only moves through a
certain section of
hoistway 100 that is associated with adjoining floors of a certain occupant.
See shaft S4
on FIG. 12. But if counterweight 120A is attached to an elevator cab 110 that
moves
through the entire hoistway 100 in one direction, then counterweight 120A can
also move
through the entire counterweight channel 410 in one direction for the same
distance as its
associated elevator cab 110. See shaft Si on FIG. 12.
[0100] In addition, counterweight cables 210B connected to counterweight 120B
can
pass through even larger vertical counterweight cable passages 1400C located
on each
side of counterweight 120C attached to cab Cl (not shown). Therefore,
counterweight
120B and its associated counterweight cables 210B can move independently of
counterweights 120A and 120C up and down section 410B of the counterweight
channel
410 between adjoining floor 100 and floor 81 as shown on FIG. 12.
Counterweight 120B
can only move within section 410B of counterweight channel 410 if it is
attached to a
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personal elevator cab 110 that only moves through a certain section of
hoistway 100 that
is associated with adjoining floors of a certain occupant. See shaft S4 on
FIG. 12. But if
counterweight 120B is attached to an elevator cab 110 that moves through the
entire
hoistway 100 in one direction, then counterweight 120B can also move through
the entire
counterweight channel 410 in one direction for the same distance as its
associated
elevator cab 110. See shaft Si on FIG. 12.
[0101] Naturally counterweight 120C and its associated counterweight cable
210C can
also move independently of the other counterweights 120A and 120B up and down
section 410A of counterweight channel 410 between adjoining floor 120 and
floor 101 as
shown on FIG. 12, because there are no counterweights 120 or counterweight
cables 210
in section 410A of the common counterweight channel 410 that could obstruct
its motion.
Counterweight 120C can only move within section 410A of counterweight channel
410 if
it is attached to a personal elevator cab 110 that only moves through a
certain section of
hoistway 100 that is associated with adjoining floors of a certain occupant.
See shaft S4
on FIG. 12. But if counterweight 120C is attached to an elevator cab 110 that
moves
through the entire hoistway 100 in one direction, then counterweight 120C can
also move
through the entire counterweight channel 410 in one direction for the same
distance as its
associated elevator cab 110. See shaft Si on FIG. 12.
[0102] All of the counterweights 120 are separated vertically from each other,
and all of
the counterweight cables 210 are separated horizontally from each other. One
end of the
above described counterweight cables 210 is attached to an associated
counterweight
connection point 240 located on their associated cabs 110 (not shown) and the
other end
of such cables 210 is attached to an associated counterweight connecting eye
350 located
on the top of their associated counterweights 120.
[0103] In another embodiment, the counterweights 120 (not shown) of private
elevator
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cabs D1, El and Fl as shown on FIG. 12 can also share the same counterweight
channel
410 in the same manner as described above.
[0104] The side view of shaft S4 (FIG. 14A) illustrates a counterweight 120A
(connected
to cab Al) located in Company C's section of shaft S4, a counterweight 120B
(connected
to cab B1) located in Company B's section of shaft S4, and a counterweight
120C
(connected to cab Cl) located in Company A's section of shaft S4. All of the
counterweights 120 can move independently of all of the other counterweights
120 and
their associated counterweight cables 210, because none of such counterweight
cables
210 are in contact with or interfere with the motions of any of such
counterweights 120 or
such counterweight cables 210. All of such counterweight cables 210A pass
through the
vertical counterweight cable passages 1400C and 1400B located respectively on
counterweights 120C and 120B. Similarly, no counterweight 120 can collide with
or
interfere with any other counterweight 120 because each counterweight 120 can
only
move a limited distance in one direction through counterweight channel 410
between
vertically adjoining floors (i.e. its vertical section) of the 120-floor
building as shown on
FIG. 12.
[0105] FIG. 14B, FIG. 14C and FIG. 14D show the top view of each respective
counterweight 120 which is moving through counterweight channel 410 located in
Shaft
S4. In an embodiment, a counterweight 120A (which is connected to cab Al in
Shaft S4)
is guided through section 410C of counterweight channel 410. Two counterweight
cables
210A (shown on FIG. 14A) are attached to counterweight cable connecting eyes
350A,
one eye on each side of counterweight 120A. In a second embodiment,
counterweight
120B (which is connected to cab B1 in Shaft S4) is guided through section 410B
of
counterweight channel 410. Two counterweight cables 210B (shown on FIG. 14A)
are
attached to counterweight cable connecting eyes 350B, one eye at each middle
position of
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counterweight 120B. In a third embodiment, counterweight 120C (which is
connected to
cab Cl in Shaft S4) is guided through section 410A of counterweight channel
410. One
counterweight cable 210C (shown on FIG. 14A) is attached to the counterweight
cable
connecting eye 350C located at the center of counterweight 120C, because there
are no
other counterweights located or moving above counterweight 120C that could
interfere
with its center located counterweight cable 210C.
[0106] In one embodiment, the two counterweight cables 210A (connected to cab
Al)
pass through vertical counterweight cable passages 1400B located on either
side of the
middle of counterweight 120B and also through even larger vertical
counterweight cable
passages 1400C located on either side of the middle of counterweight 120C.
These
vertical counterweight cable passages enable counterweight 120A to move up and
down
through section 410C of counterweight channel 410 without obstruction and
independently of the motions of counterweights 120B and 120C which share the
same
counterweight channel 410. Similarly, the two counterweight cables 210B
(connected to
cab B1) also pass through vertical counterweight cable passages 1400C located
on either
side of the middle of counterweight 120C. These larger vertical counterweight
cable
passages 1400C enable counterweight 120B to move up and down through section
410B
of counterweight channel 410 without obstruction and independently of the
motions of
counterweights 120A and 120C which share the same counterweight channel 410.
FIG.
14F illustrates all of the above elements and embodiments from a different
three
dimensional perspective.
[0107] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14A, counterweight 120A is shown as
a
certain size, counterweight 120B is shown as slightly larger than
counterweight 120A in
order to account for the loss of weight of counterweight 120B due to its two
vertical
counterweight cable passages 1400B, and counterweight 120C is shown as
slightly larger
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than counterweight 120B in order to account for the greater loss of weight of
counterweight 120C due to its two even larger counterweight cable passages
1400C.
[0108] FIG. 14F and FIG. 14G illustrate how the counterweight cables 210 shown
on
FIG. 14A through 14E are routed in an embodiment up and over pulleys 140
positioned
at the top of a section of the counterweight channel 410, and then are
attached to each
counterweight cable connection point 240 located along a top side of each cab
110A,
110B, and 110C. In an embodiment, the right counterweight cable 210A1-attached
to
counterweight 120A is routed up through the right counterweight cable passage
1400B
and the right counterweight cable passage 1400C (as illustrated on FIGS. 14A,
14B, 14C,
and 14D), then up and over rear pulley 140A1, across the top of a section of
counterweight channel 410 to front pulley 140A1, then over front pulley 140A1,
and
down hoistway 100, and then is attached to counterweight connection point 240A
located
on a top side of cab 110A, as shown on FIGS. 14F and 14G. The left
counterweight
cable 210A2 attached to counterweight 120A is routed through the left
counterweight
cable passage 1400B and the left counterweight cable passage 1400C (as shown
on
FIGS. 14A through 14D), then up and over rear pulley 140A2, across the top of
a section
of counterweight channel 410 to front pulley 140A2, then over front pulley
140A2, and
down hoistway 100, and then is also attached to counterweight connection point
240A, as
shown on FIGS 14F and 14G.
[0109] Similarly, the right counterweight cable 210B1 attached to
counterweight 120B is
routed up and through the right counterweight cable passage 1400C, then up and
over
rear pulley 140B1, across the top of a section of counterweight channel 410 to
front
pulley 140B1, then over front pulley 140B1, and down hoistway 100, and then is
attached
to counterweight connection point 240B located on a top side of cab 110B, all
as shown
on FIGS 14A to 14G. The left counterweight cable 210B2 is routed up and
through the
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left counterweight cable passage 1400C, then up and over rear pulley 140B2,
across the
top of a section of counterweight channel 410 to front pulley 140B2, and over
front pulley
140B2, and down hoistway 100, and then is attached to counterweight connection
point
240B, located on cab 110B, all as shown on FIGS 14A to 14G.
[0110] Counterweight cable 210C attached to counterweight 120C is routed up
and over
rear pulley 140C, across the top of a section of counterweight channel 410 to
front pulley
140C, then over front pulley 140C, and down hoistway 100, and then it is
attached to
counterweight connection point 240C, located on cab 110C, all as shown on
FIGS. 14A
to 14G. All of the counterweight cables 210 and their associated pulleys 140
are
separated horizontally and/or vertically from each other, so as not to
interfere with each
other. In all of the above descriptions for FIGS 14F and 14G the terms 'rear'
and 'front'
pulleys mean with respect to a certain cab.
[0111] It is also envisioned that a plurality of cabs (for example, ten or
twenty cabs) in an
embodiment, using a system similar to the above described method of sharing
counterweight channels, can utilize only four counterweight channels for all
of their
counterweights in a hoistway of a tall building to service a plurality of
separately
adjoining floors or other floors (for example, two hundred or more floors).
[0112] FIGS. 15A, 15B, 15C, and 15D illustrate four elevator cabs 110A, 110B,
110C
and 110D aligned vertically one above the other in a hoistway 100, each with
just two
counterweights 120 positioned symmetrically on the opposite sides of each cab
110. For
example as shown on FIG. 15A, the top cab 110A has a counterweight 120A
located
within a counterweight channel 410A aligned with a counterweight connection
point
240A, and all of those elements are located next to the rear of the rear right
quadrant of
cab 110A. One end of a counterweight cable 210A can be attached to a
counterweight
connection point 240A and the other end of cable 210A can be attached to a top
center of
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a counterweight 120A. Also as shown on FIG. 15A, cab 110A has a second
counterweight 120A located within another counterweight channel 410A, and all
of these
elements are located next to the front of the front left quadrant of cab 110A.
One end of a
counterweight cable 210A can be attached to another connection point 240A and
the
other end of cable 210A can be attached to a top center of another
counterweight 120A.
All of these elements are positioned symmetrically with respect to each other
and operate
in unison.
[0113] As shown on FIG. 15B, cab 110B (positioned next below cab 110A) has a
counterweight 120B located within a counterweight channel 410B aligned with
counterweight connection point 240B, and all of these elements are located
next to the
front of the rear right quadrant of cab 110B. One end of a counterweight cable
210B can
be attached to a counterweight connection point 240B, and the other end of
cable 210B
can be attached to a top center of a counterweight 120B. Also as shown on FIG.
15B,
cab 110B has a second counterweight 120B located within another counterweight
channel
410B, and all of these elements are located next to the rear of the front left
quadrant of
cab 110B. One end of a counterweight cable 210B can be attached to another
connection
point 240B and the other end of cable 210B can be attached to a top center of
another
counterweight 120B. All of these elements are positioned symmetrically with
respect to
each other and operate in unison.
[0114] As shown on FIG. 15C, cab 110C (positioned next below cab 110B) has a
counterweight 120C located within a counterweight channel 410C aligned with
counterweight connection point 240C, and all of such elements are located next
to the
front of the rear left quadrant of cab 110C. One end of a counterweight cable
210C can
be attached to a counterweight connection point 240C and the other end of
cable 210C
can be attached to a top center of another counterweight 120C. Also as shown
on FIG.
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15C, cab 110C has a second counterweight 120C located within another
counterweight
channel 410C, and all of these elements are located next to the rear of the
front right
quadrant of cab 110C. One end of a counterweight cable 210C can be attached to
the
connection point 240C and the other end of cable 210C can be attached to a top
center of
another counterweight 120C. All of such elements are positioned symmetrically
with
respect to each other and operate in unison.
[0115] As shown on FIG. 15D, the bottom cab 110D has a counterweight 120D
located
within a counterweight channel 410D aligned with counterweight connection
point 240D,
and all of such elements are located next to the rear of the rear left
quadrant of cab 110D.
One end of a counterweight cable 210D can be attached to the counterweight
connection
point 240D and the other end of cable 210D can be attached to a top center of
counterweight 120D. Also as shown on FIG. 15D, cab 110D has a second
counterweight
120D located within another counterweight channel 410D, and all of these
elements are
located next to the front of the front right quadrant of cab 110D. One end of
another
counterweight cable 210D can be attached to another connection point 240D and
the
other end of cable 210D can be attached to a top center of another
counterweight 120D.
All of these elements are positioned symmetrically with respect to each other
and operate
in unison.
[0116] All of the elements described in FIG. 15A to FIG. 15D (other than cabs)
are
separated horizontally with respect to each other so as not to interfere with
one another.
Each of the counterweight channels 410 can be attached to a hoistway wall 800
located
on opposite sides of a hoistway 100. Each of the cabs 110 can move
independently of the
others throughout hoistway 100 with only two counterweights 120 symmetrically
connected to each of such cabs 110 instead of four counterweights as
previously
described. Each cab 110 can be guided along two opposing guide tracks 230 by
two or
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more guide apparatuses 220 attached to each exterior side 430 of each cab 110.
[0117] FIGS. 16A, 16B, 16C and 16D illustrate four elevator cabs 110A, 110B,
110C,
and 110D aligned vertically one above the other in a hoistway 100, each with
just one
counterweight 120 positioned symmetrically on one side of each cab 110, and
with one
motor lift cable 136 positioned symmetrically on the opposite side of each cab
110. For
example in FIG. 16A the top cab 110A has one counterweight 120A located within
a
counterweight channel 410A aligned with a counterweight connection point 240A,
and all
of these elements are located next to the rear of the rear right quadrant of
cab 110A. One
end of a counterweight cable 210A can be attached to a counterweight
connection point
240A and the other end of cable 210A can be attached to a top center of
counterweight
120A. Also, as shown on FIG. 16A, cab 110A has a lift motor connection point
150A
attached to the front of the front left quadrant of cab 110A. One end of a
lift motor cable
136A can be attached to the motor lift connection point 150A and the other end
of cable
136A can be wound around a shaft of a dedicated lift motor 130A located in the
attic 810
of a building (not shown). As motor 130A pulls the cab 110A up or down in the
hoistway
100 counterweight 120A stabilizes and balances one side of cab 110A as it
moves
through the hoistway 100, and lift motor cable 136A provides both the function
of pulling
the cab 110 in a certain direction of the hoistway 100, and the function of
stabilizing and
balancing the other side of the cab 110A as it moves through the hoistway 100.
All of
these elements are positioned symmetrically with respect to each other and
operate in
unison.
[0118] As shown on FIG. 16B, cab 110B (positioned next below cab 110A) has one
counterweight 120B located within a counterweight channel 410B aligned with a
counterweight connection point 240B, and all of these elements are located
next to the
front of the rear right quadrant of cab 110B. One end of a counterweight cable
210B can
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be attached to a counterweight connection point 240B and the other end of
cable 210B
can be attached to a top center of counterweight 120B. Also, as shown on FIG.
16B, cab
110B has a lift motor connection point 150B attached to the rear of the front
left quadrant
of cab 110B. One end of a lift motor cable 136B can be attached to the lift
motor
connection point 150B and the other end of cable 136B can be wound around a
shaft of
the dedicated lift motor 130B located in the attic 810 of the building (not
shown). As lift
motor 130B pulls cab 110B up or down in the hoistway 100 counterweight 120B
stabilizes and balances one side of cab 110B as it moves through the hoistway
100, and
lift motor cable 136B provides both the function of pulling cab 110 in a
certain direction
of the hoistway 100, and the function of stabilizing and balancing the other
side of the cab
110B as it moves through the hoistway 100. All of these elements are
positioned
symmetrically with respect to each other and operate in unison.
[0119] As shown on FIG. 16C, cab 110C (positioned next below cab 110B) has a
counterweight 120C located within a counterweight channel 410C aligned with
counterweight connection point 240C, and all of these elements are located
next to the
rear of the front right quadrant of cab 110C. One end of a counterweight cable
210C can
be attached to a counterweight connection point 240C and the other end of the
cable
210C can be attached to a top center of counterweight 120C. Also, as shown on
FIG.
16C, cab 110C has a lift motor connection point 150C attached to the front of
the rear left
quadrant of cab 110C. One end of a lift motor cable 136C can be attached to
the lift
motor connection point 150C and the other end of cable 136C can be wound
around a
shaft of the dedicated lift motor 130C located in the attic 810 of the
building (not shown).
As lift motor 130C pulls cab 110C up or down in the hoistway 100 the
counterweight
120C stabilizes and balances one side of cab 110C as it moves through the
hoistway 100,
and lift motor cable 136C provides both the function of pulling the cab 110 in
a certain
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direction of the hoistway 100 and the function of stabilizing and balancing
the other side
of cab 110C as it moves through the hoistway 100. All of these elements are
positioned
symmetrically with respect to each other and operate in unison.
[0120] As shown on FIG. 16D, the bottom cab 110D has a counterweight 120D
located
within a counterweight channel 410D aligned with counterweight connection
point 240D,
and all of these elements are located next to the front of the front right
quadrant of cab
110D. One end of a counterweight cable 210D can be attached to a counterweight
connection point 240D and the other end of cable 210D can be attached to a top
center of
counterweight 120D. Also, as shown on FIG. 16D, cab 110D has a lift motor
connection
point 150D attached to the rear of the rear left quadrant of cab 110D. One end
of a lift
motor cable 136D can be attached to the lift motor connection point 150D and
the other
end of cable 136D can be wound around a shaft of the dedicated lift motor 130D
located
in the attic 810 of the building (not shown). As the lift motor 130D pulls cab
110D up or
down in the hoistway 100 the counterweight 120D stabilizes and balances one
side of cab
110D as it moves through the hoistway 100, and lift motor cable 136D provides
both the
function of pulling the cab 110 in a certain direction of the hoistway 100,
and the function
of stabilizing and balancing the other side of the cab 110D as it moves
through the
hoistway 100. All of these elements are positioned symmetrically with respect
to each
other and operate in unison.
[0121] All of the elements described in FIG. 16A to FIG. 16D (other than cabs)
are
separated horizontally with respect to each other so as not to interfere with
one another.
Each of the counterweight channels 410 can be attached to a hoistway wall 800
located
on opposite sides of the hoistway 100. Each of the cabs 110 can move
independently of
the others throughout hoistway 100 with only one counterweight 120
symmetrically
connected to such cab 110 instead of two or four counterweights as previously
described.
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Each cab 110 can be guided along two opposing guide tracks 230 by two or more
guide
apparatuses 220 attached to each exterior side 430 of each cab 110.
[0122] A computer control system described in U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/829,996, filed May 31, 2013, controls the motions, destinations, braking
and other
functions of the elevator cabs 110 in each hoistway 100.
[0123] While particular embodiments and applications of the present invention
have been
illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited to
the precise construction and components disclosed herein and that various
modifications,
changes, and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details
of the
methods and apparatuses of the present invention without departing from the
spirit and
scope of the invention as it is defined in the appended claims.
53
