System having multiple cabs in an elevator shaft

摘要

An elevator system which utilizes four or more independently moving cabs in each elevator shaft. The lower cabs are connected to four spatially separated counterweights at four different counterweight connection points. The connection points are horizontally shifted on different cabs in order to prevent interference between cables, pulleys and counterweights. The top cab may be connected to one or two counterweights by connection points on the roof of the cab. The cabs are mounted on two tracks, each track on one side of the elevator shaft. The system includes a motor attached to each of the cabs by lift cables to facilitate the independent movement of all cabs. Existing buildings can be retrofit for compatibility with the present invention.

主权项

1. An elevator system comprising:
one or more elevator shafts; two or more elevator cabs positioned within each of said one or more elevator shafts, said two or more elevator cabs including at least a first elevator cab positioned above a second elevator cab, each of said two or more cabs having a first and a second wall that are substantially parallel to each other, wherein each cab moves independently of each other cab vertically through each of the one or more elevator shafts; and a first set of at least four cables connected to said second elevator cab, at least two cables of said first set of at least four cables positioned on said first wall of said second elevator cab and at least another two cables of said first set of at least four cables positioned on said second wall of said second elevator cab, wherein said cables are connected to respective counterweights in a first set of counterweights; a set of four counterweight channels, each of said four counterweight channels for guiding one of said counterweights; and said set of four counterweight channels is attached to two or more elevator shaft walls of the elevator shaft, a first subset of the set of four counterweight channels is attached to a first elevator shaft wall and a second subset of the set of four counterweight channels is attached to a second elevator shaft wall.