US1914128A - Multicage elevator - Google Patents
Multicage elevator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US1914128A US1914128A US492206A US49220630A US1914128A US 1914128 A US1914128 A US 1914128A US 492206 A US492206 A US 492206A US 49220630 A US49220630 A US 49220630A US 1914128 A US1914128 A US 1914128A
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- cages
- cage
- carriage
- elevator
- hatchway
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
- B66B9/00—Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
- B66B1/00—Control systems of elevators in general
- B66B1/34—Details, e.g. call counting devices, data transmission from car to control system, devices giving information to the control system
- B66B1/36—Means for stopping the cars, cages, or skips at predetermined levels
- B66B1/40—Means for stopping the cars, cages, or skips at predetermined levels and for correct levelling at landings
- B66B1/42—Means for stopping the cars, cages, or skips at predetermined levels and for correct levelling at landings separate from the main drive
- B66B1/425—Means for stopping the cars, cages, or skips at predetermined levels and for correct levelling at landings separate from the main drive adapted for multi-deck cars in a single car frame
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
- B66B11/00—Main component parts of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures
- B66B11/02—Cages, i.e. cars
- B66B11/0206—Car frames
- B66B11/0213—Car frames for multi-deck cars
- B66B11/022—Car frames for multi-deck cars with changeable inter-deck distances
Definitions
- Our'invention relates to elevator systems-f in which a plurality of cages are disposed in; one' hatchway and supportedone above the'y other in acommon carriage which moves all the cages simultaneously, and it has particu-- lar relation 'to multi-cage elevator systems of thetype just mentioned in'which the cages-v *are automatically and simultaneously inevable a way from or toward each other, in their common'ca-rriage; during movement thereof througha hatchway in order to adjust the spacing between the cages.
- the spacing between adjacent floors at various levels is not 'the saine.
- Tliatlis thedistance between the first 'and second floors is usually Amuch greater than 'the distance between two other floors at upper levels of the building.
- Grdinarily the distance between two adjacent floors near the top of .the building is less than the distance' Vl'ietwcen two adjacent floors intermediate of 'the top and bottom of the building.
- ventio'n' foi effecting this automatick adjustnient of the two cages may be utilized inconnection with elevator control systems of any type, althoughwe prefer that 'it ber employed ingconnection with an automaticelevator inwhich' effects the levelling of the cages, not
- Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, in front elevation, with parts broken away, of a preferred construction of an elevator carriage showing two superposed cages in their closest positions together and screw means'for movably supporting them with one cage counterbalancing another', whereby movement of both cages relative to the carriage is effected simultaneously
- Fig. 3 is a view, in end elevation, corresponding to the structure shown in Fig. 2;
- Fig. 4 is a view taken on lino lV-V of Fig. 2;
- Fig. 5 is a diagram of the selector switch and associated control system for effecting the automatic adjustment of the spacing between the superposed cages
- Fig. 6 is a modification of Fig. 2 and shows a flexible member, such as a cable or chain, connecting the two superposed cages to effect the counterbalanced support in a carriage, of one by another;
- Fig. 7 is a further modification of Fig. 2 and illustrates an elevator carriage having an upper cage fixed with respect thereto, and a Alower cage movable with respect tothe upper cage andthe supporting carriage;
- Fig. 8 is a modification of Fig. 1 and illustrates a building having a different combination of spacing between successive floors and the method of utilizing our invention for use with the ramps at the lower terminal.
- Fig.V 1 a View, in elevation, of the crosssection of a building 20, having a plurality of superposed floors numbered 1 to 13, upwardly from the bottom floor.
- Floors l and 2 are a maximum distance MA apart
- adjacent floors from floors 2 to 6 are a medium distance ME apart
- adjacent floors from floors 6 to 13 are a minimum distance M apart.
- An elevator hatchway 22 extends from the bottom to the top of the building, past all of the floors, and also extends below floor 1 a short distance to constitute a well 23 for providing the necessary space for elevator operating equipment, such as safety stop bumpers.
- a rectangular cage frame or carriage 24, in which an upper cage 25 and a lower cage 26 are movably supported in superposed relation, as will be hereinafter described, is adapted for movement up and down in the hatchway 22 by guide rail shoes 37'attached at the four corners thereof, the shoes being suitably disposed to engage guide rails 37 supported on the walls of the hatchway 22.
- rEhe carriage 2-/1 comprises a pair of spaced apart upright channel members or stiles 27 rigidly connected together at the top by the channel members 28 and at the bottom by the channel members 29.
- a horizontally disposed members 16 connected at their ends by the transversely disposed channel members 17 which enclose an area smaller than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the lower portion of the cages is provided for imparting rigidity and mechanical strength to the carriage 24, as well as to permit a reduction in the size and weight of the vertically disposed stiles 27 of the carriage.
- rlhe upper portion or head room of the lower cage 26 is offset from and has a smaller horizontal cross-sectional area than the lower bers 17 are. cut away at points midway between the end-s of the channel members to constitute a dovetail joint whereby the rec- Y rectangular :fi-aine comprising a pair of structural channel tangular frame is suitably litted and attached to the Stiles 27, as by welding.
- a plurality of struts or cables 19 are p-rovided for the purpose of aiding in maintaining the rigid perpendicular relation between the rectangular frame and the Stiles 27.
- cables are suitably attached to the four corners of the rectangular frame and extend upwardly and downwardly to the upperand lower ends of the stiles 27 to which they are attached by any suitable means.
- the gripping S members 38 of a safety brake of any suitable type Projecting outwardly from the ends of the bottom channel members 29 are the gripping S members 38 of a safety brake of any suitable type.
- Supporting cables 24 for the carriage 24 are attached to the central portion of -the upper channels 28 and extend upwardly through thev hatchway 22 and around the drumor sheaves of the elevator motor (not shown) to a suitable counterweight 15, for moving the carriage 24 up and down in the hatchway.
- the upper cage 25 and the lower cage 26 are provided with suitable doors 18 and are disposed within the carriage 24 Iin counterbalanced relation to each other.
- the cage 25 is attached to a rectangular frame comprising upright channel members 31 on each side thereof, rigidly connected 'together at their tops by channel members 32 and at their bottoms by channel members 33.
- Struts 27 extending at an angle to the vertical, outwardly from the tops of the upright channel. members 31 to the corners of the cage 25, are provided for maintaining a ⁇ rigid connection and relation of the cage 25 .and the frame tofwhich it is attached.
- the cages 25 and 26 are moved up or down in the carriage 24 simultaneously either toward or away from each other by a drive mechanism comprising a motor 40 and an associated counterbalancing screw andv gear mechanism.
- the motor 40 is suitably supported at the bottom of the carriage on a bracket arm 30 G3 attached to the lower channel members 29.
- the screw and gear mechanism comprises a pair of rods 41, disposed one on each side of the cages 25 and 26, closely adjacent and parallel to the Stiles 27, and extending from 95 the top to the bottomy of the carriage 24.
- the lower cage 26 is also attached to a rec-y tangular frame which comprises channel vrelatio-n to the channel members 29.
- Suitable double4 thrust bearing members 42 attached to the channel members 28 and 29, are provided for rotatably mounting the rods 41 on the carriage 24.
- the lower portion of the upper half of each of the rods 41 is threaded in one direction4 and the lower portion of the lower half is threaded in an opposite direction.
- the upper thread may be a righthand one and the lower thread may be a lefthand one or vice versa. rlhe length of the threading is slightly more than the distance which each cage moves relatively to the carriage 24.
- the upper cage 25 is supported and guided by the upper half of the rods 41, and the lower cage 26 is supported and guided by the lower half of the rods 41.
- Split-nut bearing members 39 attached to the bottom ends of the channel members 31 and 34 of the cages 25 and 26, respectively, engage the threaded portions of the rods 41.
- the split-nut construction of bearings 39 permits adjustment thereof on the rods 41, as well as a simple method of assembly of the cages in the carriage.
- the nuts 39 are screw threaded to cooperate with the threaded portions of the rods, so that simultaneous rotation of the rods 4l at the same speeds and in proper directions will effect a movement of the cages 25 and 261with respect to the carriage 24. Furthermore, by reason of the fact that the upper and lower threaded portions are opposite, the two cages simultaneously move away other.
- Sliding guide or bearing members 39 for engaging the smooth surface of the rods 41 are suitably attached to the upper ends of each of the cage channel members 31 and 34, respectively. They provide a mea-ns additional to the split-nut bearings 39 for guiding the cages 25 and 26 for movement along the rods with respect to the carriage 24.
- the motor 40 may effect the simultaneous rotation of the rods 41 to move the cages with respect to the carriage, its armature shaft 48 has mounted upon it a sprocket wheel 47 that is connected by a chain 45 to a sprocket wheel 46which is keyed to a shaft 44.
- the shaft 44 is rotatably supported in a pair of bearings 44 mounted on the channel members 29 and extends from one stile 27 to the opposite stile in parallel
- a beveled gear wheel 43 is keyed to one end of the shaft 44 and another gear wheel 43 is keyed from or toward each to the opposite end in positions to engage respectively a cooperating gear wheel 43 keyed to the lower end of one of the rods 4l and a gear wheel 43 keyed to the lower end of the other rod 41 so that rotation of the shaft 44 by the motor 40, through the chain 45 and the sprocket wheels 46 and 47 will effect simultaneous rotation of the rods 41 at the same speeds.
- the rota Ation of the motor 40 in one direction effects 10" the movement of the two cages away from il" rods 4l in a direction which effects a lifting of the lower cage.
- the pitch of the threads on the rods 4l obviously determines the coinponent of the weight of the upper cage effective to cause rotation of the rods 4l.
- the weight of the lower cage acting downwardly tends to raise the upper cage.
- the upper and the lower cages are spaced apart a maximum distance MA when they are at the level of floors 2 and l, respectively. It will also be seen that the distance between the upper and the lower cages, when they are at a level, respectively, with floors 4 and 3 is less than the distance MA and that this distance is ME. lt will be observed further that for another stopping position in which the upper and the lower cages are at the level, respectively, of floors 8 and 7, the distance between the cages is further decreased and is the distance Ml.
- the means which we have provided for effecting this change of spacing between the cages comprises a control system for the cage adjusting motor 40.
- This control system is entirely separate from the control system for the hoisting motor (not shown) which moves the carriage 24 up and down in the hatchway, and is applicable to any of the elevator control systems known and in use today.
- control push-buttons may be located in each of the ca for operation to register or effect stops desired.
- Tt will also be obvious, since the minimum distance between successive stops of the cages is the distance between alternate floors, that a signal control system may be employed in which. call push-buttons are .located on adj acent floors and so connected as to effect the same stopping position of the carriage when the button at either floor is operated. Thus, if a call is registered on floor 8, the carriage 24 Will be stopped so that the upper cage 25 is at the level of floor 8. If a call is registered at floor 7, the carriage will be stopped in the same position and the lower cage will be at the level of f1oor'7.
- the control system for the cage adj usting motor 40 comprises a selector switch 51 which is similar in construction and operation to the selector switches usually employed in elevator signalling and control systems.
- the selector switch 51 automatically establishes the proper electrical connections to the motor 40, whereby it is actuated at the proper times to effect thefnecessary adjustment of the cages and 26.
- the selector switch comprises essentially (see Fig.
- a threaded rod or shaft 52 suitably mounted (by means not shown) for rotation in accordance with the movement of one of the cages, for example, cage 25.
- An endless belt 120 attached at one pointthereof by a suitable bracket 121 to the cage 25 and supported by pulleys 122 mounted vrat the top and bottom of the hatchway 22, is preferably utilized totransmit the movement of t-he cage to the shaft 52.
- a worm gear 123 keyed to a shaft 124 to which one of the pulleys 122 is also keyed, engages a worm Wheel 123 keyed to the threaded rod 52 and movement of the cage 25 is thus transmitted to the rod 52.
- Any other suitable gearing may be employed for transmitting the rotation of the pulleys to the rod 52.
- a traveling nut 53 having the two arms 53 and 53'projecting outwardly therefrom on opposite sides of the rod 52 moves in either direction along the rod 52 by rotation thereof in accordance 'with the movement of the cago 25.
- the two arms 53 and 53 are disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to each other.
- the arm 53 has a contact member 21 at its free end for engaging conducting' contact strips 58 and 59.
- the arm 53 has a contact member 54 at the end thereof for engaging conducting strips 55 and 56.
- the strips 55 and 56 are connected electrically to the vmotor 40 and the engagement of the contact member 54 therewith partially completes a circuit for causing the motor to rotate in a direction to move the cages toward each other, in the carriage 24.
- the strips 58 and 59 are connected electrically to the motor 40 and the engagement of the conta ct member 21 therewith partially completes a circuit for causing the motor to rotateV in a direction to move the cages away from each other in the carriage 24.
- the arms 53 and 53 By reason of the angular relation of the arms 53 and 53, andthe friction between the threaded shaft 52v and the nut 53, the arms will be rocled to one extreme position when the cage starts upwardly and to the other extreme position when the cage starts downwardly, so that whenthe car ascends, a contact member 54 on the arm 53 will-engage the strips and 56 successively while a contact member 21 on the arm 53 lwill be disengaged and, when the cage descends, the contact member 21 will engage the contact strips 58 and 59 successively while the contact member 54 will be disengaged.
- the YContact member 54 engages the contact strip 55 from the time that the upper cage leaves the second floor until it arrives at floor 6; With the subsequent movement of the upper cageupwardly, the contact member 54 passes over a short insulating segment 55:l and upon. ⁇ the contact strip 56 which it continues ⁇ to'engage until the upper cage reaches ioor 13y and as long as it remains in that position.
- Limit switches 60, 61 and 62 are disposed one above the other, and ⁇ suitably attached to one of the stiles 27 of the carriage 24.
- the limit switch interrupts the con trol circuit of the motor 40 and stops the motor when the cages are a maximum distance ma apart.
- the limit switch 61 interrupts thecontrol circuit of the motor 40 when the cages are a medium distance me apart.
- the limit switch 6 2 interrupts the. control f circuit of the motor 40 when the cages are a minimum distance/mz' apart.
- a switch 7l. of' any suitable type is provided in one or both of the cages for the purpose of permanently interrupting the control circuit of the motor 40. It is desirable, at certain times, such as at night, when the passenger traffic is so reduced that only one cage is required, to stop the operation ot the cage adjusting motor 40.
- A, switch 7l on each cage provides a simple means for accomplishing this result.
- the cage adjusting motor may be of any suitable type, we have shown it as a split-field motor having a field winding 64 wound in one direction, a field winding 65 wound in the opposite direction, and an armature 40.
- the energization of the field winding 64 eifects a rotation of the motor 40 in a direction such that the cages are moved toward each other.
- rlhe energization of the field winding 65 elfects a rotation of the motor 40 in the opposite direction which rcsults in a movement of the cages away from each other.
- rlhe motor is thus energized and rotates in such a direction to move the cages together.
- the cam member 63 on the upper cage 25 engages the limit switch 61 and causes its contact members a and to open.
- the control circuit, just traced, for the motor 40 is thus interrupted and the motor stops. rlhis adjustment of the two cages is effected with such a speed that the proper spacing therebetween is attained before the upper cage 25 reaches floor 4.
- next stopping position of the carriage 24 in its upward travel is such that the upper' cage 25 is aligned with fioor 8 and the lower cage 26 with floor 7 as indicated in Fig. i.
- the dis tance between floors 7 and 8 is Ml which is less than the distance ME between floors 3 and 4. Therefore, in order to permit the simultaneous alignment of the two cages with their respective stopping' floors, it is necessary that they be moved still closer to each other.
- rEhe motor4() is thus-energized and' rotates in adirection
- the medium spacing-between the two cages maintainedv until the upper cageleavesv fleor4 in a downwarddirection at which ,time a further movementof the two cages away from eachother' is'eifecte'd-iir order 'to permit their simultaneous ⁇ alignment Wi th e their respective floors', at'thelowerterminali l,lhere-y Y 52) engages the strip 55.
- Acontact member -21 of the selector switch 51 i passes over a short insulating' segment 58 and engages the ystrip 59.
- a circuit for ener gizing the lield winding G4 and thek armature 40 of the motor 40 is vthus established and extends from the supply conductor L--1, 'throughconductor 70, switches 71, conductor "72, armature 40', winding' 64,:conductors 80 'f and 84, Vlimit switch 60,'conductor 85, strip 59, contact member 21, arm 53', rod 52, and conductor 7G to supply conductor L-.-2.
- ⁇ motor 40 is thus actuated and rotates in a.
- control system forthe motor 40 as previously described,is shown as applied to a building having' floor spacine's as illustrated Vin Fig. 1, it may be, obviously, readily applied to buildings having other combinations ⁇ ret' floor spacing' merely7 by the variation in the leng'thot the strips similar to the strips 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 to correspond te the par- 'y ticular requirements of the spacing' between adjaeenttloors of the building'.
- Fig. 8 wherein tl'i'efspacinp; between successive floors is altered 'from that ot' Fig'. l.. 1n Fig'. 8, the building 20 has a plurality of super-y posed IoOrs, numbered l to 13, upwardly from the bottom'. of the building'. In department stores and. office buildings, the distance between the .first and second floors is sometimes two or three times the distance between upper floors. It would be impractical and o'f.
- the cages ol multi-cage elevator systems utilizing this method of loading ⁇ were lixed with respect to each other' and their' supporting carriage at a distance apart necessary to el'l'ect thc simultaneous alignment thereof, respectively with successive i'loors. Therefore. the ramps had to extend to a distance above or below the lirst floor, which was equivalent to one halt the height of a cage plus halt the distance between the two cages. ln installations of multi-cage elevators in which the elevator cages were of a height equal to the distance between adjacent floors, the ramps had to extend to a height equal to one halt the distance between the adjacent upper floors.
- Elevator cages et standard dimensions are used in our inventirini, and since the Atwo cages n'ray be moved very closely to each other in our invention, the height to which the ramps must extend, in the application thereof, above and below the terminal floor is substantially one halt the height olf Ythe standard elevator cage. lt will thus be clear that instead ol requiring ramps to extend above and below the terminal floor u distance of at least six it'eet, that is, one half the average distance between floors, which is twelve feet, our invention requires that the ramps extend only to a distance ci about 'tour -feet above and below the terminal Vdoor. the tour feet being approximately one hall: the height ol' a standard elevator cage. 'l ⁇ here'tore, our invention elects a reduction oi at least two feet in the distance which it is required that the ramps extend above and below a common terminal floor.
- a ramp extending to a height et tourfeet above or below a 'floor permits the same angle or inclination as may be used for a ramp extending to a height of six 'feet and with less licor space occupied bythe ramp.
- the cages be spaced a maximum distance apart for the next stopping position after the .upper cage leaves floor 7, in the downward direction. Furthermore, after the upper cage leaves the floor 3 in a downward direction it is necessary that the two cages be moved to a position in which they are a minimum distance apart in order to be ⁇ in a position'to be properly aligned with the ramps 14 and 15.
- control illustrated in Fig. 5 may be modified without invention to suit the particular requirements of this cycle by properly constructing the length of the contact strips of the selector switch 51 and properly connecting them to the windings 6l and 65 of the motor.
- FIG. 6 A modification of the mechanism for altering the relative position of the two cages 25 and 26 is illustrated in Fig. 6.
- the structure of the carriage2l and the cages 25 andV 26 is identical with that illustrated in Fig. 2.
- the modilication consists in the counter-balancing of cage 25 by cage 26 byconnecting the sides oli' the lower cage 26 at the top thereof to the top central portion ofthe upper' cage 25 by cables or chains 100 which are supported by sprocket-wheels 101 and 102 suitably mounted in bearing members attached to the channel members 28.
- sprocket-wheels 101 Keyed t0 the same shaft as sprocket-wheels 101 are gear' wheels 103 which are each engaged by a worm gear 104 keyed to the shaft 105 of the motor l0 which is suitably supported from the upper' channels 28.
- Suitable guide rails 150 for engaging guide shoes 152 on the cages7 are disposed between the anges of Stiles 27 and are attached to the carriage at top and bottom by bracket members 151.
- Rotation of the motor 40 in one direction causes the upper cage 25 to be raised and the lower cage 26 to be lowered simultaneously with respect to the carriage 24.
- Rotationl of the motor 40 in the opposite direction causes the upper cage 25 to be lowered and the lower cage 26 to be raised simultaneously with respect to the carriage 24.
- FIG. 7 A further modificationof the structure of the moving mechanism for adjusting the spacing between the two cages 25 and 26 is illustrated in Fig. 7.
- the upper cage 25 is Xed withrespect to the carriage 24, and only the cage 26 is movable with respect to the Lipper cage 25 and ythe carriage 24.
- An additional horizontally disposed frame for connecting the mid-points of stiles 27 is not provided in this modifica- Y tion since the bottom of cage 25 performs this function.
- A. screw and gear mechanism similar to that already described, is provided for supporting and moving the lower cage 26 with respect to the carriage 24. It comprises the threaded rods or pipes 41', vertically disposed one on each side of cage 26 and rotatably supported in the carriage 24 at their bottom ends by double thrust bearings 42 which are attached tothe lower channels 29, and at their top ends by the bearings 42l attached to the stiles 27 at the level of the bottomv of the top cage 25.
- the rods 41 are threaded rat vthe lower portion thereof for a distance slightly greater than the distance which the cage 26 moves relatively to the carriage 24.
- Split-nut bearing members 39, and sliding bearingmembers 39 are provided forcage 26. They are attached thereto in a manner similar to that already described and ⁇ they also serve corresponding functions. Bearings 89 support the cage 26 and move it upwardly or downwardly with respect to carriage 24 when the rods 41 are rotated simultaneously at the same speed in proper directions. Bearings 39 engage the smooth surface of the rods 41 and serve to additionally support and guide the movement of the cage 26.
- the rods 41 are rotated simultaneously at the same speed in the proper directions'by a drive mechanism identical with that already described for that of Fig. 2 so that it will not again be described here.
- Fig. 7 The structure illustrated in Fig. 7 is provided for some installations where the carriage 24 moves at a slow speed or where theA is greater than the distance between alternate floors.V Assuming the same speed of movement of the cages in each case a longer time is required for the same variationv in the spacingbetween the two cages with a mechanism which moves only one cage than with a mechanism such as previously described which I moves both cages simultaneously. Therefore, in a high speed movement of the carriage 24, withstopping positions at alternate lfloors, an adjustment of but one .cage would not insure a complete adjustment of the spacing between the twocages during the travel of the carriage 24 between successive stops. Therefore, for most installations, the counter-balancing method of supporting and moving the two cages 25 and 26, previously described, ⁇ is preferredr over this latterV construction. j
- amcommon motive means for moving all ⁇ of said cages in the hatchway, and means including a second motive means operable separately from said common motive means, for changing the relative positions of said cages.
- a plurality of interconnected adjustably spaced cages simultaneously movable in,A a'common hatchway means, including motive means, for moving all of said cages in the hatchway, and means, including a second motivemeans operable separately from said motive means, for changing the relativek positions-of said cages during movement thereof in the hatchway.
- a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, means for movably supporting said cages in said' carriagev for movement relative thereto and to each other, and a common -motive means for moving all of saidcages relative to said carriage land to each other.
- a carriage movable ina hatchway, a plurality' of cages, means for movably supporting said cages in said carian riage for movement relative thereto and to each other, and motive means on said carriage for moving said cages relative to said carriage and to each other.
- a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, means movably supporting said cages in said carriage for movement relative thereto and to each other, and common motive means on said carriage for moving all of said cages relative to said carriage and to each other.
- a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, and means for movably supporting and counterbalancing said cages in said carriage for movement relative to said carriage and to each other.
- Van elevator a carriage mo-vable in a hatch'way, a plurality of cages, and means for movably supporting and counterbalancing said cages in said carriage for simultaneous movement relative to said carriage and to each other.
- a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, and means for movably supporting said cages in said carriage and counterbalancing one cage by another.
- a carriage comprising a vertically disposed quadrangular frame movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, means movably supporting said cages in said quadrangular frame one above the other for movement relative thereto and to each other, the upper portion of a cage being offset from the lower portion and having ya smaller horizontal cross-sectional area than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the lower portion, and a horizontally disposed quadrangular frame, for connecting opposite members of said vertically disposed quadrangular frame and imparting rigidity thereto, said horizontal frame enclosing an open area larger than the horizontal cross sectional area of the said upper portion of a cage but smaller than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the lower portion of the cages and said upper portion of a cage being movable through said horizontal frame to effect its close approach to the bottom of an immediately adjacent upper cage.
- a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, and means for movably supporting said cages in said carriageV and counterbalancing one cage by another comprising a threaded shaft rotatably mounted in said carriage, motive means on said carriage for rotating said threaded shaft, and a nut on each of said cages cooperating with said threaded shaft whereby the cages are moved relatively to said carria-ge upon rotation of the threadedV shaft.
- a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, and means for movably supporting said cages in said carriage and counterbalancing one cage by another comprising a supporting pulley r0- tatably Ymounted in said carriage, a flexible member engaging said pulley for supporting said cages by connecting one cage to another,
- a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, means movably supporting said cages in said carriage for movement relative thereto and to each other, and m-eans for moving said cages relative to said carriage and to each other during movement of said carriage in the hatchway.
- a plurality of interconnected adjustably spaced cages simultaneously movable in a common hatchway means, including motive means, for adjusting the cages and changing their relative positions during movement of the cages inthe hatchway, and control means for automatically causing said motive means to adjust the cages into any one of a plurality of predetermined relative positions, said control means comprising means movable in accordance with the movement of one of the cages in the hatchway.
- a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages movably supported in said carriage for relative movement with respect thereto and to each other, means including motive means, for changing the relative positions of said cages in said carriage, and cooperating means on said carriage and on one of the cages operable at predetermined relative positions of the cages for controlling the operation of said motive means.
- an elevator system vfor a building comprising a plurali-ty of superposed landings having different spacings between adjacent landings at different levels and a hatchway extending past all of said landings, a plurality of interconnected cagesV simultaneously movable in the hatchwa'y, and means including means movable in accordance with the movement of one of the cages in the hatchway, for automatically changing the relative positions of the cages .
- a building having a plurality of groups of landings therein, the distance between adjacent landings of said groups being different and decreasing in steps from a maximum at the bottom to a minimum at the top ⁇ of the building, a hatchway extending past all of said landings, a plurality of interconnected cages, simultaneously movable in said rhatchway and adjustable relative to each other so that upon stopping they may be in alin-ement with adjacent landings in any of the said groups, and means for reducing the distancebetween cages to a minimum in successive steps during movement thereof from the bottom to the top of the building and for increasing the distance between the cages to a maximum in successive steps during movement thereof from the'top to the bottom of the building. 18.
- a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of adjustably spaced cages supported by said carriage, and means including a motive means disposed on said carriage, for simultaneously adjusting all the cages and thereby changing their relative positions.
- a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of adjustably spaced cages supported by said carriage, and means including a motive means disposed on said carriage, for simultaneously adjusting all the cages and thereby changing their relative positions during movement of the carriage in the hatchway.
- a plurality of interconnected adjustably spaced cages simultaneously movable in a co-mmon hatchwa-y means including motive means for adjusting the cages and changing their relative positions, and control means for said motive means including means movable in accordace with the movement of one of the cages in the hatchway for automatically causing said motive means to adj ust the cages into any one of a plurality of predetermined relative positions and stop them thereat during movement of the cages in the hatchway.
- a plurality of interconnected adjustably spaced cages simultaneously movable in a common hatchway motive means for moving all of said cages simultaneously in said hatchway
- means including a second motive means operable independently o-f said first motive means to simultaneously adjust all of said cages and change their positions relative to each other
- control means for said motive means including means movable in accordance with the movement of one of the cages in the hatchwayfor automatically causing said second motive means to adjust the cages into any one of a plurality of predetermined relative positions and stop them thereat during the movement of the cages in the hatchway.
- a vertically disposed quadrangular frame In a carriage for supporting a plurality of superposed elevator' cages, a vertically disposed quadrangular frame, aA horizontally disposed quadrangular frame disposed to connect portions of said vertically disposed frame intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof and impart rigidity to the vertically disposed fraine, said horizontally disposed frame being adapted to permit a portion of one of said cages to move therethrough and closely approach another of said cages.
- an elevator system for a building having a plurality of variably spaced superposed landings and a hatchway extending past all of said landings, a plurality of adjustably spaced interconnected cages simultaneously movable in the hatchway, motive means for adjusting said cages, and control means for said motive means including means 'movable in accordance with the movement of one of the cages for automatically causing said motive means to adjust the cages into any one of a plurality of predetermined relative positions in accordance with the requirements of a stopping position before the arrival of the cages thereat and during the movement of the cages in the hatchway.
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Description
5 sheets-sheet 1 `June 13, |1933. H. D. JAMES ET AL MULT I CAGE ELEVATOR Filed oct. so, 195o TTO'RNEY June 13, 1933. H. D. JAMES Er AL MULTI CAGE ELEVATOR Filed Oct. 50, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ihm IN v ENTO R s Hanf/ James & gug/as Gaozer WITNESSES faQ/.7% d
ATTRNEY Patented .lune 13, v1933 irsfsrarssf PATENT-lorries :HENRY n. Jaiaiisgoii1 ninsriwvoon, AND DoUGLAsefBoozER, or PITTSBURGEENN- u iviULrIcaea. iiiinviiron Appiicfim'efiiea october 3o, ieee. sei-iai No. 492,205.
Our'inventionrelates to elevator systems-f in which a plurality of cages are disposed in; one' hatchway and supportedone above the'y other in acommon carriage which moves all the cages simultaneously, and it has particu-- lar relation 'to multi-cage elevator systems of thetype just mentioned in'which the cages-v *are automatically and simultaneously inevable a way from or toward each other, in their common'ca-rriage; during movement thereof througha hatchway in order to adjust the spacing between the cages.
`j `The modern tall office building has presented a serious problem with respect to speed in transporting passengers from lower to higher? levels, aswell as to uthe conservation of floor` f rspace area 'necessary for the elevator hatchisa solution of these two problems7 elevator systems comprising a plurality'of cages,A supported one above'the other in a commonV Vcarriage, have been suggested. `All the cages' in their regular stopping positions aresimulvtaneously aligned'with adjacent fioors. It will thus be understood that la multi-cage elevator system having two superimposed cages reduces ythe number of stopping positions necessary for one complete cycle of travel to one-half, and. effects they transportation of vtwice asmany people as doesan elevator sys-A teniy having assingle cage corresponding in size to each ofthe cages of the inulti-cage c elevator system.
ln most oflice buildings the spacing between adjacent floors at various levels is not 'the saine. Tliatlis, thedistance between the first 'and second floors is usually Amuch greater than 'the distance between two other floors at upper levels of the building. Grdinarily, the distance between two adjacent floors near the top of .the building is less than the distance' Vl'ietwcen two adjacent floors intermediate of 'the top and bottom of the building. vRecognizing that'for thepractical applicationv of a N limiti-cage elevator system to a building having different spacings between adj acent'floors at various levels; the positions of the cagesj with' respect to each other must of necessity beadjustable7 ithas been proposed to construct a common carriage for supporting two cages, the lower cage being fixed with respect to the carriage, and the upper cage being movable with "respect tothe lowerl cage and the carriage. Ithas beenpropo'se-d in an elevator ofthis t-ype to provide a cablelsystein'and a -inotiveineans for the carriage and' al separate cable system and'motive'meansifor'the upper cage. Further, it hasbeenpropose'd to have each of the Vinotive'means manually conftrollable from their respectively associated cages. y' i 'Insystemsf ofthe type just described, it
is necessarytolevel one of-thecages with its stoppingfloor and their subsequently'inanuallypperate a control lever in the other cage to bring it to the' level of its .stopping floor. Obviously, such a controljsystem i`s disadvantageous,'both` from the standpoint of depending upon the'huinan elementfto level at fleast one ofthe cages,1aiid the'unne'cessary A-waste of time andconsequent'inconvenience *and delay to passengers resulting therefrom.
We propose to construct anl elevator system of the Vmulti-cage type in which'the spacing "between the cage is' automatically adjusted fr during movement thereof-through the hatch- "way' the adjusting being entirely coi'iipleted when'the cages stop so that no `time'need bel wasted in adjustment." Furthermore,our inv-,-
ventio'n' foi effecting this automatick adjustnient of the two cages may be utilized inconnection with elevator control systems of any type, althoughwe prefer that 'it ber employed ingconnection with an automaticelevator inwhich' effects the levelling of the cages, not
so controlled, with vtheir stoppingifloors.
"It is,"`the'refore7 an object of our `invention to automatically adjust the spacing between the superposedzcages ofa multi-'cageelevator system during movement thereof. Y f` N It is another'object of ourv invention to CII movably support two or more cages in a common carriage, one cage counterbalancing another, whereby mov-ement of the cages relative to the carriage is effected simultaneously.
It is another object of` our invention to so construct the supporting carriage for a plurality of cages that the weight thereof is reduced without impairment in the strength thereof, and still permit the top of one cage to closely approach the bottom of another by the telescoping of the top of a cage through the frame comprising a support connecting the mid portions of the stiles of the supporting carriage.
It is another object of our invention to movably support a plurality of cages in a common carriage whereby a motive means for ad'ustinv the s acin' between the cao'es i t: D D
may be disposed on the carriage.
It is a further object of our invention to provide a control system for the cage-adjusting motive means for automatically effecting the operation thereof. Y l
It is a stillfurther object of our invention to provide a control system for the cageadjusting motive Ymeans which comprises a selector switch movable in accordance with the movement of one of the cages.
Other objects of our invention will be readily understandable from the subsequent description of our invention and the attached drawings; wherein Figur-e 1 is a diagrammatic view, in elevation, of the cross section of a building having a different spacing between adjacent floors of successive groups thereof and an elevator of the type described herein employed therewith;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, in front elevation, with parts broken away, of a preferred construction of an elevator carriage showing two superposed cages in their closest positions together and screw means'for movably supporting them with one cage counterbalancing another', whereby movement of both cages relative to the carriage is effected simultaneously Fig. 3 is a view, in end elevation, corresponding to the structure shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a view taken on lino lV-V of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a diagram of the selector switch and associated control system for effecting the automatic adjustment of the spacing between the superposed cages; y
Fig. 6 is a modification of Fig. 2 and shows a flexible member, such as a cable or chain, connecting the two superposed cages to effect the counterbalanced support in a carriage, of one by another;
Fig. 7 is a further modification of Fig. 2 and illustrates an elevator carriage having an upper cage fixed with respect thereto, and a Alower cage movable with respect tothe upper cage andthe supporting carriage; and
Fig. 8 is a modification of Fig. 1 and illustrates a building having a different combination of spacing between successive floors and the method of utilizing our invention for use with the ramps at the lower terminal.
For the purpose of illustrating the method of adapting the multi-cage elevator system to a building, we have shown diagrammatically in Fig.V 1 a View, in elevation, of the crosssection of a building 20, having a plurality of superposed floors numbered 1 to 13, upwardly from the bottom floor. Floors l and 2 are a maximum distance MA apart, adjacent floors from floors 2 to 6 are a medium distance ME apart, and adjacent floors from floors 6 to 13 are a minimum distance M apart. i
An elevator hatchway 22 extends from the bottom to the top of the building, past all of the floors, and also extends below floor 1 a short distance to constitute a well 23 for providing the necessary space for elevator operating equipment, such as safety stop bumpers. Y
A rectangular cage frame or carriage 24, in which an upper cage 25 and a lower cage 26 are movably supported in superposed relation, as will be hereinafter described,is adapted for movement up and down in the hatchway 22 by guide rail shoes 37'attached at the four corners thereof, the shoes being suitably disposed to engage guide rails 37 supported on the walls of the hatchway 22.
rEhe carriage 2-/1 comprises a pair of spaced apart upright channel members or stiles 27 rigidly connected together at the top by the channel members 28 and at the bottom by the channel members 29.
A horizontally disposed members 16 connected at their ends by the transversely disposed channel members 17 which enclose an area smaller than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the lower portion of the cages is provided for imparting rigidity and mechanical strength to the carriage 24, as well as to permit a reduction in the size and weight of the vertically disposed stiles 27 of the carriage.
rlhe upper portion or head room of the lower cage 26 is offset from and has a smaller horizontal cross-sectional area than the lower bers 17 are. cut away at points midway between the end-s of the channel members to constitute a dovetail joint whereby the rec- Y rectangular :fi-aine comprising a pair of structural channel tangular frame is suitably litted and attached to the Stiles 27, as by welding.
A plurality of struts or cables 19 are p-rovided for the purpose of aiding in maintaining the rigid perpendicular relation between the rectangular frame and the Stiles 27. The
cables are suitably attached to the four corners of the rectangular frame and extend upwardly and downwardly to the upperand lower ends of the stiles 27 to which they are attached by any suitable means.
lt will thus be seen that, by means of the constriuftion of the carriage just described, a
maximum rigidity and strength, as well as a minimum weight thereof, is obtained while at the same time the cages are not prevented from approaching each other very closely.
Projecting outwardly from the ends of the bottom channel members 29 are the gripping S members 38 of a safety brake of any suitable type.
Supporting cables 24 for the carriage 24 are attached to the central portion of -the upper channels 28 and extend upwardly through thev hatchway 22 and around the drumor sheaves of the elevator motor (not shown) to a suitable counterweight 15, for moving the carriage 24 up and down in the hatchway.
The upper cage 25 and the lower cage 26 are provided with suitable doors 18 and are disposed within the carriage 24 Iin counterbalanced relation to each other.
The cage 25 is attached to a rectangular frame comprising upright channel members 31 on each side thereof, rigidly connected 'together at their tops by channel members 32 and at their bottoms by channel members 33.
sov
members 34 disposed on either side ,thereof and connected together at the top by channel members 35 and at the bottom by channel Vmembers 36 and having struts 27 for serving a purpose corresponding to that of struts 27. The cages 25 and 26 are moved up or down in the carriage 24 simultaneously either toward or away from each other by a drive mechanism comprising a motor 40 and an associated counterbalancing screw andv gear mechanism.
The motor 40 is suitably supported at the bottom of the carriage on a bracket arm 30 G3 attached to the lower channel members 29.
The screw and gear mechanism comprises a pair of rods 41, disposed one on each side of the cages 25 and 26, closely adjacent and parallel to the Stiles 27, and extending from 95 the top to the bottomy of the carriage 24.
The lower cage 26 is also attached to a rec-y tangular frame which comprises channel vrelatio-n to the channel members 29.
Suitable double4 thrust bearing members 42, attached to the channel members 28 and 29, are provided for rotatably mounting the rods 41 on the carriage 24.
Other suitable bearing membersV 42 for engaging the smooth surface of the rods 41 and supporting them further to prevent their lateral displacement are provided at suitable intervals between the bearings 42 at opposite ends ofthe rods 41.
-The lower portion of the upper half of each of the rods 41 is threaded in one direction4 and the lower portion of the lower half is threaded in an opposite direction. F or example, the upper thread may be a righthand one and the lower thread may be a lefthand one or vice versa. rlhe length of the threading is slightly more than the distance which each cage moves relatively to the carriage 24.
The upper cage 25 is supported and guided by the upper half of the rods 41, and the lower cage 26 is supported and guided by the lower half of the rods 41.
Split-nut bearing members 39, attached to the bottom ends of the channel members 31 and 34 of the cages 25 and 26, respectively, engage the threaded portions of the rods 41. The split-nut construction of bearings 39 permits adjustment thereof on the rods 41, as well as a simple method of assembly of the cages in the carriage. The nuts 39 are screw threaded to cooperate with the threaded portions of the rods, so that simultaneous rotation of the rods 4l at the same speeds and in proper directions will effect a movement of the cages 25 and 261with respect to the carriage 24. Furthermore, by reason of the fact that the upper and lower threaded portions are opposite, the two cages simultaneously move away other.
Sliding guide or bearing members 39 for engaging the smooth surface of the rods 41 are suitably attached to the upper ends of each of the cage channel members 31 and 34, respectively. They provide a mea-ns additional to the split-nut bearings 39 for guiding the cages 25 and 26 for movement along the rods with respect to the carriage 24.
In order that the motor 40 may effect the simultaneous rotation of the rods 41 to move the cages with respect to the carriage, its armature shaft 48 has mounted upon it a sprocket wheel 47 that is connected by a chain 45 to a sprocket wheel 46which is keyed to a shaft 44. The shaft 44 is rotatably supported in a pair of bearings 44 mounted on the channel members 29 and extends from one stile 27 to the opposite stile in parallel A beveled gear wheel 43 is keyed to one end of the shaft 44 and another gear wheel 43 is keyed from or toward each to the opposite end in positions to engage respectively a cooperating gear wheel 43 keyed to the lower end of one of the rods 4l and a gear wheel 43 keyed to the lower end of the other rod 41 so that rotation of the shaft 44 by the motor 40, through the chain 45 and the sprocket wheels 46 and 47 will effect simultaneous rotation of the rods 41 at the same speeds.
Thus, it will be understood that the rota Ation of the motor 40 in one direction effects 10" the movement of the two cages away from il" rods 4l in a direction which effects a lifting of the lower cage. The pitch of the threads on the rods 4l obviously determines the coinponent of the weight of the upper cage effective to cause rotation of the rods 4l. Similarly, the weight of the lower cage acting downwardly tends to raise the upper cage.
Assuming cages of equal weight, clearly a motor of su'liicient power to overcome the unbalance of load in the two cages and the yfrictional forces is all that is required. Thus, one of the ad antages of counterbalancing one cage by the other is that a motor of comparatively small dimensions and power may be used. resulting in a minimum. cost as well as a minimum weight of the carriage 24.
Another advantage resultingfrom the counterbalancing of one cage by another is that a. motor of standard construction may be ,employed for effecting their adjustment in the carriage. lt should be obvious that were a separate motor employed to move each cage individually, by means of a screw mechanism similar to that described herein comprising j `the threaded rods 4l, without counterbalancm i ing' the cages in some manner, the power neces sary to lift a cage would be more than that to lower it because in lifting a cage power necessary to oif'erconie the weight of the cage would have to be provided and in lowering a cage this i power is not only not required but the weight balanced system, the power required to move them is cons yant and does not vary whether the cages are moving up or down. Thus, a motor of special design or having compensating features is not necessary and since a motor of standard construction may be employed the cost of the elevator system is kept down to a minimum with respect to this item.
Referring to Fig. l, it will be seen that the upper and the lower cages are spaced apart a maximum distance MA when they are at the level of floors 2 and l, respectively. It will also be seen that the distance between the upper and the lower cages, when they are at a level, respectively, with floors 4 and 3 is less than the distance MA and that this distance is ME. lt will be observed further that for another stopping position in which the upper and the lower cages are at the level, respectively, of floors 8 and 7, the distance between the cages is further decreased and is the distance Ml.
lt will thus be obvious that, by reason of the diminution in the spacing between successive up floors in the building, the cages must be adjusted from a maximum distance apart to a minimum distance apart in ascending from the bottom to the top of the building. It will be obvious also that in descending` from the top to the bottom of the building` the cages nuist move from a minimum distance to a maximum distance apart in accordance with thespacing of the floors at the Various stopping positions.
Therefore, we have provided a means for effecting the automatic adjustment of the spacing between the cages during the movement of the carriage 24 between successive stops whereby the cages are properly spaced in accordance with the requirement of the spacing between the adjacent floors at which they respectively stop before their arrival thereat.
The means which we have provided for effecting this change of spacing between the cages comprises a control system for the cage adjusting motor 40. This control system is entirely separate from the control system for the hoisting motor (not shown) which moves the carriage 24 up and down in the hatchway, and is applicable to any of the elevator control systems known and in use today.
lt should be understood that, since we provide an automatic means for adjusting the spacing` between the cages of a multi-cage elevator system, an ordinary control system may be employed and applied to one of the cages only. It should further be understood that control push-buttons may be located in each of the ca for operation to register or effect stops desired.
Tt will also be obvious, since the minimum distance between successive stops of the cages is the distance between alternate floors, that a signal control system may be employed in which. call push-buttons are .located on adj acent floors and so connected as to effect the same stopping position of the carriage when the button at either floor is operated. Thus, if a call is registered on floor 8, the carriage 24 Will be stopped so that the upper cage 25 is at the level of floor 8. If a call is registered at floor 7, the carriage will be stopped in the same position and the lower cage will be at the level of f1oor'7.
Inasmuch as any suitable control system may be employed for moving the carriage 24, a descrip-tion thereof will be omitted.
The control system for the cage adj usting motor 40 comprises a selector switch 51 which is similar in construction and operation to the selector switches usually employed in elevator signalling and control systems. The selector switch 51 automatically establishes the proper electrical connections to the motor 40, whereby it is actuated at the proper times to effect thefnecessary adjustment of the cages and 26. vThe selector switch comprises essentially (see Fig. 5) a threaded rod or shaft 52 suitably mounted (by means not shown) for rotation in accordance with the movement of one of the cages, for example, cage 25.- An endless belt 120, attached at one pointthereof by a suitable bracket 121 to the cage 25 and supported by pulleys 122 mounted vrat the top and bottom of the hatchway 22, is preferably utilized totransmit the movement of t-he cage to the shaft 52. 1
A worm gear 123, keyed to a shaft 124 to which one of the pulleys 122 is also keyed, engages a worm Wheel 123 keyed to the threaded rod 52 and movement of the cage 25 is thus transmitted to the rod 52. Any other suitable gearing may be employed for transmitting the rotation of the pulleys to the rod 52.
A traveling nut 53 having the two arms 53 and 53'projecting outwardly therefrom on opposite sides of the rod 52 moves in either direction along the rod 52 by rotation thereof in accordance 'with the movement of the cago 25. The two arms 53 and 53 are disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to each other. The arm 53 has a contact member 21 at its free end for engaging conducting' contact strips 58 and 59. The arm 53 has a contact member 54 at the end thereof for engaging conducting strips 55 and 56.
The strips 55 and 56 are connected electrically to the vmotor 40 and the engagement of the contact member 54 therewith partially completes a circuit for causing the motor to rotate in a direction to move the cages toward each other, in the carriage 24.
The strips 58 and 59 are connected electrically to the motor 40 and the engagement of the conta ct member 21 therewith partially completes a circuit for causing the motor to rotateV in a direction to move the cages away from each other in the carriage 24.
By reason of the angular relation of the arms 53 and 53, andthe friction between the threaded shaft 52v and the nut 53, the arms will be rocled to one extreme position when the cage starts upwardly and to the other extreme position when the cage starts downwardly, so that whenthe car ascends, a contact member 54 on the arm 53 will-engage the strips and 56 successively while a contact member 21 on the arm 53 lwill be disengaged and, when the cage descends, the contact member 21 will engage the contact strips 58 and 59 successively while the contact member 54 will be disengaged. Thus, in the travel of the nut 53 alongthe rod 52 in the direction corresponding to the upward movement of the cage 25,- the YContact member 54 engages the contact strip 55 from the time that the upper cage leaves the second floor until it arrives at floor 6; With the subsequent movement of the upper cageupwardly, the contact member 54 passes over a short insulating segment 55:l and upon.` the contact strip 56 which it continues `to'engage until the upper cage reaches ioor 13y and as long as it remains in that position.
Upon the descent of the carriage 24 and the descent of upper cage 25 from floor 13, the nut 53 is rocked into the position in-which the Contact member 21 engages the insulating strip 57. rllhe cont-act member 21 continues to engage the strip 57 until the upper cage arrives at floor 8. Subsequently, upon the descent of the upper cage therefrom, the contact member 21 engages the strip 58 which it continues to engage until the upper cage 25 arrives at floor 4. Upon thefurther-descent of the upper cage 25 the contact member 21 passes overa short insulating segment 58 and upon the strip 59 which it continues to engage until the upper cage arrives at floor 2. y i
Upon the reascent of the carriage 24fand that of the upper cage 25 from the floor 2, the nut 53 rocks into the position in which contact member 54 again engages the strip 55 and the` cycle of operation is again repeated as before described for a complete cycle of travel from the bottom to the top of the building and down to the bottom again.
Limit switches 60, 61 and 62 are disposed one above the other, and `suitably attached to one of the stiles 27 of the carriage 24.
They are successively operable, in the order l given, by a cam member 63 projectingfrom the side of the upper cage 2'5 in its movement toward the lower cage v*fromv a position in which it is a maximum distance therefrom. For opposite relative movement of the cage 25 and carriage 24 they arev operableV in the reserve order.
The limit switch interrupts the con trol circuit of the motor 40 and stops the motor when the cages are a maximum distance ma apart.
The limit switch 61 interrupts thecontrol circuit of the motor 40 when the cages are a medium distance me apart.
The limit switch 6 2 interrupts the. control f circuit of the motor 40 when the cages are a minimum distance/mz' apart.
A switch 7l. of' any suitable type is provided in one or both of the cages for the purpose of permanently interrupting the control circuit of the motor 40. It is desirable, at certain times, such as at night, when the passenger traffic is so reduced that only one cage is required, to stop the operation ot the cage adjusting motor 40. A, switch 7l on each cage provides a simple means for accomplishing this result.
While the cage adjusting motor may be of any suitable type, we have shown it as a split-field motor having a field winding 64 wound in one direction, a field winding 65 wound in the opposite direction, and an armature 40. The energization of the field winding 64 eifects a rotation of the motor 40 in a direction such that the cages are moved toward each other. rlhe energization of the field winding 65 elfects a rotation of the motor 40 in the opposite direction which rcsults in a movement of the cages away from each other.
The operation of our control system for effecting the adjustment of the relative positions of the cages 25 and 26 is best understood by assuming a hypothetical case. Let it be assumed that our invention is applied to an automatic elevator system of the latest type in which an operator merely presses piiishbuttons in the cage to record the stops desired by the passengers and in which the stopping of the cage is automatically effected both for the calls registered by the operator in the cage and for calls registered by operation of push buttons by passengers on the various floors. Let it be assumed, for the purpose oi this analysis, that there is an operator in each of the cages 25 and 26; that the functions of the operator in the upper cage 25 are to operate the push buttons in the cago for effecting the automatic stopping of the cage at those stops desired by theJ passengers en tering the upper cage, close the door of the cage and hatchway, and operate the control. lever` for initially starting the carriage 24 from rest; and that the functions of the eperator in the lower cage 26 are to operate the push buttons for effecting the stops desired by passengers entering the lower cage and to close the lower cage and hatchway doors. Let it be assumed that the carriage 24 is positioned at the lower terminal of the building 20. In this position the. cages 25 and 26 are spaced a maximum distance ma. apart, the upper cage 25 being at the level. of fioor 2 and the lower cage 26 being at the level of finer l. After the cages have been loaded. with passengers and the cage and hatchway doors closed, the operator in the upper cage 25 moves the control lever therein (not shown) to effect the operation of the motor formoving` the carriage 24 upwardly in the hatchway. rlhe successive stopping positions of the carriage 24 are such that the upper cage'25 always stops at even numbered floors, and the lower cage 26 always stops at odd numbered floors. 'il he first stop possible, then, of the carriage 24 in its upward travel is such that the upper cage is at the level of floor 4 and the lower cage is at the level of floor 3. As indicated in Fig. l the distance between floor 3 and floor 4 is ME, which is less than the distance MA between floor l and floor 2, and, therefore, in order to permit the alignment of the two cages with their respective floors for this stopping' position, it is necessary that the two cages be moved toward each other, into a closer space relation.. We provide means for effecting this movement into al closer space relation during the movement of the carriage between the stopping positions, so that no time is lost in levelling the cages with their respective floors when they arrive thereat.
As the carriage 24 moves upwardly from the lower terminal position the contact member 54 of the selector switch 51 engages the strip 55 as previously describe-d and it closes the circuit through winding of the motor 40, so that the motor rotates in such direction as to effect a movement of the cages 25 and 26 toward each other, in a manner previously described, by means ofthe screw-andgear mechanism. This circuit extends from supply conductor L-1, through conductor 76, switches 7l, conductor 72, armature 40 of the motor 40, winding 65, conductors 78 and 74, contact members a of limit switch 6l, conductor 7 5, strip 55, contact member 54, arm 53, rod 52, and conductor 76 to supply conductor L-2. rlhe motor is thus energized and rotates in such a direction to move the cages together. When they reach the distance me apart, the cam member 63 on the upper cage 25 engages the limit switch 61 and causes its contact members a and to open. The control circuit, just traced, for the motor 40 is thus interrupted and the motor stops. rlhis adjustment of the two cages is effected with such a speed that the proper spacing therebetween is attained before the upper cage 25 reaches floor 4.
If it is assumed that a stop call has been registered on either of the cages 25 and 26, or on floors 3 and 4, the carriage 24 will be caused to stop so that the cage 25 is level with floor 4 and cage 26 level with floor 3.
Let it be assumed that the next stopping position of the carriage 24 in its upward travel is such that the upper' cage 25 is aligned with fioor 8 and the lower cage 26 with floor 7 as indicated in Fig. i. The dis tance between floors 7 and 8 is Ml which is less than the distance ME between floors 3 and 4. Therefore, in order to permit the simultaneous alignment of the two cages with their respective stopping' floors, it is necessary that they be moved still closer to each other.
lli
As thel upperfcage 2'5zleavesiloor 4, the contact'inen'1berf54 runs o the strip 55, passes over? an insulating segment 55 and 'engages'.-
ythez.strip.56.` This establishes circuit through .whirling- 65 et the. motor'40, which extends `from supply oonductorL-1, through.
conductor70, switches` 71, conductor 72, armature 40of'the motor 40, winding 65, con-y ductors' and 77, limit-switch 62, conductor 78, strip"56, contact member54,arm'53,
rodzv52, andV conductor 76 to supply conductor L-+2.` `T he motor 40 is thus energized and movesthe cages 25 and 26 closer together.
lvhenthe'two cages reach'the distance ma' .q apart, the cam member 68 on theup'per cage 25 engages; and opensy the Vlimit sw1tch-62 causing the'moter-.40 tov stop.- f
Since-'the yspacinp` ot' the loorshfor successive stops of the carriage 24 in its upward travel above thislevellisthesame'as between l floors 7 and: 8, noturther change in the .spac.A
ing' between thel two cages is necessary in their; movement vto the top of thebuilding.
Let it be assumedlthat the carr1age24 has ascended .to the` top of therbuilding and starts y to "descend, 'T he reversal of direction vof movement of the carriageeiiects ther-ocking o'f the traveling-nut' toits other position in which the contact member 21, on thev arm 53,'engages= the insulatingstrip57, which it continues fto do until-the upper ca 1fe25 de-v scends-.rom iioor 8. I Y v The Acaf ,'es.are maintained in their same relative positions, therefore, until the uppeiI cage:descendsbelow floor 8.- The, next stoppingjposition o-'l the cagesxbelowthis point requiresthat they be amedium` distance me 4.
apa-rt: l l. y
As cage 25 moves downwardly trom floor 8, thecontact-member 21 of the selector switch l engages the strip 58 thereby establishing a circuit through winding 64' et the motor'40, which extends fronr supplyV conducto-r L-el,
through Vconductor '70, .switches 71, conductor 72, armature 40 of themotorAO, winding 64, conductors S0 and 81, contact members Z) eI the-limit switch G1, conductor 82, Vstrip'58, einv tact member-2l, arm 53', red- 52 and conductor 76 to supply conductor'L-e2. rEhe motor4() is thus-energized and' rotates in adirection The medium spacing-between the two cages maintainedv until the upper cageleavesv fleor4 in a downwarddirection at which ,time a further movementof the two cages away from eachother' is'eifecte'd-iir order 'to permit their simultaneous` alignment Wi th e their respective floors', at'thelowerterminali l,lhere-y Y 52) engages the strip 55.
.has beensuggested, in prier art, we', nvlded a ramp 14A which extends'upwardly1 fore, asfthe. upper cage 25 leaves floor 4, the
Acontact member -21 of the selector switch 51 i passes over a short insulating' segment 58 and engages the ystrip 59. A circuit for ener gizing the lield winding G4 and thek armature 40 of the motor 40, is vthus established and extends from the supply conductor L--1, 'throughconductor 70, switches 71, conductor "72, armature 40', winding' 64,:conductors 80 'f and 84, Vlimit switch 60,'conductor 85, strip 59, contact member 21, arm 53', rod 52, and conductor 7G to supply conductor L-.-2. The
`motor 40 is thus actuated and rotates in a.
direction so as to move the two cages farther apart.V The cages continue to move apart until the cani member 63 on the upper cage 25 engages and opens 'the limit switch GO, thus opening the control circuit of the motor40 qandf stopping it, with the cages the maximum 1 distance 'ma apart. f
Subsequently, upon the re-ascent of the carriage 24, the reversal of direction of retation ot' the rod 52 of the selector switch 5l `causes the traveling-nut 5B to rock into position so that the contact member 54 on the arm )H tion, previously described, is thus repeated.v
1n the operation above assumed, the travel ofthe carriage 24 was from the'bottom to the top of 'the building; and down to the bottom again.` vObviously, this would not be the` exactcycle of operation if the carriage 24 be stopped before it reaches the top and then caused to descend. of the various elements ot the selector switch would'be th-e same, and would effect they T he cycle of opera-'- However, the functions" proper operation ot the motor 40 for the par@ Y ticular travel ot' thecarriage 24.
' llVhile the. control system forthe motor 40, as previously described,is shown as applied to a building having' floor spacine's as illustrated Vin Fig. 1, it may be, obviously, readily applied to buildings having other combinations `ret' floor spacing' merely7 by the variation in the leng'thot the strips similar to the strips 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 to correspond te the par- 'y ticular requirements of the spacing' between adjaeenttloors of the building'.
l modification o'l" Fig. 1 is illustrated in Fig. 8 wherein tl'i'efspacinp; between successive floors is altered 'from that ot' Fig'. l.. 1n Fig'. 8, the building 20 has a plurality of super-y posed IoOrs, numbered l to 13, upwardly from the bottom'. of the building'. In department stores and. office buildings, the distance between the .first and second floors is sometimes two or three times the distance between upper floors. It would be impractical and o'f. uneconom'ic construction ina building' of this type, to have the carriage 24 long enough to allozw'the-upper cageto be level with the second tloor at thesame tunethat the-lower cageis level with the' first `floor.` Therefore, 'as
have prov4 Q Lul from the lirst `iloor the same distance as a ramp 15 extends downwardly from. the .first licor. ln the vterminal sto pping position, the floor of the ripper' is at the level. et lthe top of ramp 1+i and tue iioor of the lower cage is at the level. et the bottom ot ramp 15, and thus access to both cages from a common Hoor is obtained. However, the cages ol multi-cage elevator systems utilizing this method of loading` were lixed with respect to each other' and their' supporting carriage at a distance apart necessary to el'l'ect thc simultaneous alignment thereof, respectively with successive i'loors. Therefore. the ramps had to extend to a distance above or below the lirst floor, which was equivalent to one halt the height of a cage plus halt the distance between the two cages. ln installations of multi-cage elevators in which the elevator cages were of a height equal to the distance between adjacent floors, the ramps had to extend to a height equal to one halt the distance between the adjacent upper floors. Elevator cages et standard dimensions are used in our inventirini, and since the Atwo cages n'ray be moved very closely to each other in our invention, the height to which the ramps must extend, in the application thereof, above and below the terminal floor is substantially one halt the height olf Ythe standard elevator cage. lt will thus be clear that instead ol requiring ramps to extend above and below the terminal floor u distance of at least six it'eet, that is, one half the average distance between floors, which is twelve feet, our invention requires that the ramps extend only to a distance ci about 'tour -feet above and below the terminal Vdoor. the tour feet being approximately one hall: the height ol' a standard elevator cage. 'l`here'tore, our invention elects a reduction oi at least two feet in the distance which it is required that the ramps extend above and below a common terminal floor.
The advantages ot such a reduction in a height requirements ot the ramps is obvious both trom a psychological and an economical standpoint. Passengers have less objection and annoyance to walking up er down a ramp which extends only a distance oli about .tour feet above or below a connnon lloor, than they have it' they are required to wall; up or down a ramp which extends a distance of about six feet above or below a floor. ris to the economical standpoint, a ramp extending to a height et tourfeet above or below a 'floor permits the same angle or inclination as may be used for a ramp extending to a height of six 'feet and with less licor space occupied bythe ramp.
lt should, therefore, be` obvious that our invention is especially applicable to buildings having a lower' iioor terminal loading method in which ramps to the upper and lower cages are used.
The cycle or movement of the cages with respect to each other in the building illustrated in Fig'. 8 obviously requires amodifi-` cation of the strips of the selector switch 51 to eliect the results desired. In traveling from their terminal position illustrated in solid lines to the next stopping position in their travel upward, illustrated in dotted lines, it is necessary for the cages to be moved to their maximum distance apart. Since the spacing between adjacent floors above floor 6 is less than the spacing below that floor, it is necessary that the cages be moved'closer to each other, after the upper cage travels upwardly from floor 5. This medium spacing between the cages is maintained in the subsequent upward travel thereof to the top of the building and down again until the upper cage leaves the floor 7. It is necessary that the cages be spaced a maximum distance apart for the next stopping position after the .upper cage leaves floor 7, in the downward direction. Furthermore, after the upper cage leaves the floor 3 in a downward direction it is necessary that the two cages be moved to a position in which they are a minimum distance apart in order to be` in a position'to be properly aligned with the ramps 14 and 15.
lt has not been thought necessary to illustrate a control diagram for effecting the cycle of relative movement between the two cages,
just previously described, since the control illustrated in Fig. 5 may be modified without invention to suit the particular requirements of this cycle by properly constructing the length of the contact strips of the selector switch 51 and properly connecting them to the windings 6l and 65 of the motor.
A modification of the mechanism for altering the relative position of the two cages 25 and 26 is illustrated in Fig. 6. The structure of the carriage2l and the cages 25 andV 26 is identical with that illustrated in Fig. 2. The modilication consists in the counter-balancing of cage 25 by cage 26 byconnecting the sides oli' the lower cage 26 at the top thereof to the top central portion ofthe upper' cage 25 by cables or chains 100 which are supported by sprocket- wheels 101 and 102 suitably mounted in bearing members attached to the channel members 28. Keyed t0 the same shaft as sprocket-wheels 101 are gear' wheels 103 which are each engaged by a worm gear 104 keyed to the shaft 105 of the motor l0 which is suitably supported from the upper' channels 28.
Rotation of the motor 40 in one direction causes the upper cage 25 to be raised and the lower cage 26 to be lowered simultaneously with respect to the carriage 24. Rotationl of the motor 40 in the opposite directioncauses the upper cage 25 to be lowered and the lower cage 26 to be raised simultaneously with respect to the carriage 24. s
The fundamental principle of counterbalancing one cage by another is utilized in both the structures illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6, respectively.v j
A further modificationof the structure of the moving mechanism for adjusting the spacing between the two cages 25 and 26 is illustrated in Fig. 7. In this figure, the upper cage 25 is Xed withrespect to the carriage 24, and only the cage 26 is movable with respect to the Lipper cage 25 and ythe carriage 24. An additional horizontally disposed frame for connecting the mid-points of stiles 27 is not provided in this modifica- Y tion since the bottom of cage 25 performs this function.
A. screw and gear mechanism similar to that already described, is provided for supporting and moving the lower cage 26 with respect to the carriage 24. It comprises the threaded rods or pipes 41', vertically disposed one on each side of cage 26 and rotatably supported in the carriage 24 at their bottom ends by double thrust bearings 42 which are attached tothe lower channels 29, and at their top ends by the bearings 42l attached to the stiles 27 at the level of the bottomv of the top cage 25.
The rods 41 are threaded rat vthe lower portion thereof for a distance slightly greater than the distance which the cage 26 moves relatively to the carriage 24.
Split-nut bearing members 39, and sliding bearingmembers 39 are provided forcage 26. They are attached thereto in a manner similar to that already described and `they also serve corresponding functions. Bearings 89 support the cage 26 and move it upwardly or downwardly with respect to carriage 24 when the rods 41 are rotated simultaneously at the same speed in proper directions. Bearings 39 engage the smooth surface of the rods 41 and serve to additionally support and guide the movement of the cage 26.
The rods 41 are rotated simultaneously at the same speed in the proper directions'by a drive mechanism identical with that already described for that of Fig. 2 so that it will not again be described here.
Thus, in this modification, it will be seen that rotation of motor 40 in one direction causesV the cage 26 to be raised toward cage 25 and that rotation thereof in 'an opposite direction causes the cage 26 to be lowered away from cage 25. f
The structure illustrated in Fig. 7 is provided for some installations where the carriage 24 moves at a slow speed or where theA is greater than the distance between alternate floors.V Assuming the same speed of movement of the cages in each case a longer time is required for the same variationv in the spacingbetween the two cages with a mechanism which moves only one cage than with a mechanism such as previously described which I moves both cages simultaneously. Therefore, in a high speed movement of the carriage 24, withstopping positions at alternate lfloors, an adjustment of but one .cage would not insure a complete adjustment of the spacing between the twocages during the travel of the carriage 24 between successive stops. Therefore, for most installations, the counter-balancing method of supporting and moving the two cages 25 and 26, previously described, `is preferredr over this latterV construction. j
Therefore, it will be seen that we have disclosed a novel means for adjusting the spacing between the cages of a multi-cage elevator employed iii/buildings having different spacing between adjacent floorsat different levels, and have discloseda control system ly movable in a common hatchway, means,
including amcommon motive means, for moving all `of said cages in the hatchway, and means including a second motive means operable separately from said common motive means, for changing the relative positions of said cages.
2. In an elevator, a plurality of interconnected adjustably spaced cages simultaneously movable in,A a'common hatchway, means, including motive means, for moving all of said cages in the hatchway, and means, including a second motivemeans operable separately from said motive means, for changing the relativek positions-of said cages during movement thereof in the hatchway.
3. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, means for movably supporting said cages in said' carriagev for movement relative thereto and to each other, and a common -motive means for moving all of saidcages relative to said carriage land to each other.
4. In lan elevator, a carriage movable ina hatchway, a plurality' of cages, means for movably supporting said cages in said carian riage for movement relative thereto and to each other, and motive means on said carriage for moving said cages relative to said carriage and to each other.
`5. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, means movably supporting said cages in said carriage for movement relative thereto and to each other, and common motive means on said carriage for moving all of said cages relative to said carriage and to each other.
6. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, and means for movably supporting and counterbalancing said cages in said carriage for movement relative to said carriage and to each other.
7. In Van elevator, a carriage mo-vable in a hatch'way, a plurality of cages, and means for movably supporting and counterbalancing said cages in said carriage for simultaneous movement relative to said carriage and to each other.
8. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, and means for movably supporting said cages in said carriage and counterbalancing one cage by another.
9. In an elevator, a carriage comprising a vertically disposed quadrangular frame movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, means movably supporting said cages in said quadrangular frame one above the other for movement relative thereto and to each other, the upper portion of a cage being offset from the lower portion and having ya smaller horizontal cross-sectional area than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the lower portion, and a horizontally disposed quadrangular frame, for connecting opposite members of said vertically disposed quadrangular frame and imparting rigidity thereto, said horizontal frame enclosing an open area larger than the horizontal cross sectional area of the said upper portion of a cage but smaller than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the lower portion of the cages and said upper portion of a cage being movable through said horizontal frame to effect its close approach to the bottom of an immediately adjacent upper cage.
10. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, and means for movably supporting said cages in said carriageV and counterbalancing one cage by another comprising a threaded shaft rotatably mounted in said carriage, motive means on said carriage for rotating said threaded shaft, and a nut on each of said cages cooperating with said threaded shaft whereby the cages are moved relatively to said carria-ge upon rotation of the threadedV shaft.
11. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, and means for movably supporting said cages in said carriage and counterbalancing one cage by another comprising a supporting pulley r0- tatably Ymounted in said carriage, a flexible member engaging said pulley for supporting said cages by connecting one cage to another,
and motive means on said carriage for rotating said pulley to simultaneously move said cages relatively to said carriage and to each other.
12. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, means movably supporting said cages in said carriage for movement relative thereto and to each other, and m-eans for moving said cages relative to said carriage and to each other during movement of said carriage in the hatchway.
13. In an elevator, a plurality of interconnected adjustably spaced cages simultaneously movable in a common hatchway, means, including motive means, for adjusting the cages and changing their relative positions during movement of the cages inthe hatchway, and control means for automatically causing said motive means to adjust the cages into any one of a plurality of predetermined relative positions, said control means comprising means movable in accordance with the movement of one of the cages in the hatchway.
14. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages movably supported in said carriage for relative movement with respect thereto and to each other, means including motive means, for changing the relative positions of said cages in said carriage, and cooperating means on said carriage and on one of the cages operable at predetermined relative positions of the cages for controlling the operation of said motive means. I y
15. In an elevator system for a building comprising a plurality of superposed landings having different spacngs between adjacent landings at different levels and a hatchway extending past all of said landings, l"
a plurality of interconnected cages simultaneously movable in the hatchway and means for changing the relative positions of the cages during movement thereof in the hatchway in accordance with the spacing between the landings at which they next stop, before their arrival thereat, whereby upon stopping they are simultaneously in alinement with adjacent landings.
16. In an elevator system vfor a building comprising a plurali-ty of superposed landings having different spacings between adjacent landings at different levels and a hatchway extending past all of said landings, a plurality of interconnected cagesV simultaneously movable in the hatchwa'y, and means including means movable in accordance with the movement of one of the cages in the hatchway, for automatically changing the relative positions of the cages .a predetermined CIU .rae
amount during movement thereof in the hatchway in accordance with the spacing between the landings at which they next stop before the arrival thereat, whereby upon stopping they are simultaneously in alinement with adjacent landings.
l?. In an elevator system, a building having a plurality of groups of landings therein, the distance between adjacent landings of said groups being different and decreasing in steps from a maximum at the bottom to a minimum at the top` of the building, a hatchway extending past all of said landings, a plurality of interconnected cages, simultaneously movable in said rhatchway and adjustable relative to each other so that upon stopping they may be in alin-ement with adjacent landings in any of the said groups, and means for reducing the distancebetween cages to a minimum in successive steps during movement thereof from the bottom to the top of the building and for increasing the distance between the cages to a maximum in successive steps during movement thereof from the'top to the bottom of the building. 18. In a. building having a plurality of superposed landings, a hatchway extending past all of said landings and a ramp extending up from and a ramp extending down from one of said landings, a pair of interconnected cages simultaneously movable in the hatchway and adjustable with respect to each other, whereby they may be simultaneously alined with said ramps or any two adjacent landings, and means including means movable in accordance with the movement of one of the cages in the hatchway, for adjusting the positions of the cages relative to each other a predetermined amount in accordance with the requirements of each stopping position, the adjustment being effected. automatically by said movable means during movement of the cages through the hatchway prior to reaching each stopping position.
19. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of adjustably spaced cages supported by said carriage, and means including a motive means disposed on said carriage, for simultaneously adjusting all the cages and thereby changing their relative positions.
20. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality of adjustably spaced cages supported by said carriage, and means including a motive means disposed on said carriage, for simultaneously adjusting all the cages and thereby changing their relative positions during movement of the carriage in the hatchway.
21. In an elevator, a plurality of interconnected adjustably spaced cages simultaneously movable in a co-mmon hatchwa-y, means including motive means for adjusting the cages and changing their relative positions, and control means for said motive means including means movable in accordace with the movement of one of the cages in the hatchway for automatically causing said motive means to adj ust the cages into any one of a plurality of predetermined relative positions and stop them thereat during movement of the cages in the hatchway.
22. In an elevator, a plurality of interconnected adjustably spaced cages simultaneously movable in a common hatchway, motive means for moving all of said cages simultaneously in said hatchway, means including a second motive means operable independently o-f said first motive means to simultaneously adjust all of said cages and change their positions relative to each other, and control means for said motive means including means movable in accordance with the movement of one of the cages in the hatchwayfor automatically causing said second motive means to adjust the cages into any one of a plurality of predetermined relative positions and stop them thereat during the movement of the cages in the hatchway.
28. In a carriage for supporting a plurality of superposed elevator' cages, a vertically disposed quadrangular frame, aA horizontally disposed quadrangular frame disposed to connect portions of said vertically disposed frame intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof and impart rigidity to the vertically disposed fraine, said horizontally disposed frame being adapted to permit a portion of one of said cages to move therethrough and closely approach another of said cages.
24. In an elevator system for a building having a plurality of variably spaced superposed landings and a hatchway extending past all of said landings, a plurality of adjustably spaced interconnected cages simultaneously movable in the hatchway, motive means for adjusting said cages, and control means for said motive means including means 'movable in accordance with the movement of one of the cages for automatically causing said motive means to adjust the cages into any one of a plurality of predetermined relative positions in accordance with the requirements of a stopping position before the arrival of the cages thereat and during the movement of the cages in the hatchway.
In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 28th day of October, 1980.
` HENRY D. JAMES.
DOUGLAS Gr. BOOZER.
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Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US492206A US1914128A (en) | 1930-10-30 | 1930-10-30 | Multicage elevator |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US492206A US1914128A (en) | 1930-10-30 | 1930-10-30 | Multicage elevator |
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US1914128A true US1914128A (en) | 1933-06-13 |
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US492206A Expired - Lifetime US1914128A (en) | 1930-10-30 | 1930-10-30 | Multicage elevator |
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Cited By (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2838186A (en) * | 1953-07-30 | 1958-06-10 | Speed Park Inc | Automobile parking apparatus |
US3018850A (en) * | 1957-06-28 | 1962-01-30 | Fehlmann Hans Beat | Elevating plant |
US3036660A (en) * | 1959-05-29 | 1962-05-29 | Paul J Stine | Drive-in service machine |
US3085701A (en) * | 1962-02-05 | 1963-04-16 | Cons Devices & Dev Inc | Automobile parking system |
JPS4876242A (en) * | 1972-01-11 | 1973-10-13 | ||
JPS4882552A (en) * | 1972-02-10 | 1973-11-05 | ||
JPS4923959U (en) * | 1972-06-01 | 1974-02-28 | ||
JPS4931059U (en) * | 1972-06-19 | 1974-03-18 | ||
US5220981A (en) * | 1990-12-17 | 1993-06-22 | Kaehkipuro Matti | Elevator and a procedure for its control |
US5907136A (en) * | 1997-04-11 | 1999-05-25 | Otis Elevator Company | Adjustable double-deck elevator |
JPH11314858A (en) * | 1998-02-02 | 1999-11-16 | Inventio Ag | Double decker or multidecker elevator |
JP2000344448A (en) * | 1999-06-07 | 2000-12-12 | Toshiba Corp | Double deck elevator device |
JP2001233572A (en) * | 2000-02-24 | 2001-08-28 | Toshiba Corp | Double deck elevator |
WO2005051828A1 (en) * | 2003-11-27 | 2005-06-09 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Building with multi-deck elevator, control system therefor, and multi-deck elevator |
US20050217941A1 (en) * | 2004-03-17 | 2005-10-06 | Inventio Ag | Equipment for fine positioning of a car of a multi-stage car |
US20060191747A1 (en) * | 2003-08-12 | 2006-08-31 | Kone Corporation | Elevator |
US20150314990A1 (en) * | 2012-12-10 | 2015-11-05 | Inventio Ag | Double-decker elevator with adjustable inter-car spacing |
US9988243B2 (en) * | 2013-12-09 | 2018-06-05 | Inventio Ag | Elevator system |
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1930
- 1930-10-30 US US492206A patent/US1914128A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (27)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2838186A (en) * | 1953-07-30 | 1958-06-10 | Speed Park Inc | Automobile parking apparatus |
US3018850A (en) * | 1957-06-28 | 1962-01-30 | Fehlmann Hans Beat | Elevating plant |
US3036660A (en) * | 1959-05-29 | 1962-05-29 | Paul J Stine | Drive-in service machine |
US3085701A (en) * | 1962-02-05 | 1963-04-16 | Cons Devices & Dev Inc | Automobile parking system |
JPS4876242A (en) * | 1972-01-11 | 1973-10-13 | ||
JPS4882552A (en) * | 1972-02-10 | 1973-11-05 | ||
JPS4923959U (en) * | 1972-06-01 | 1974-02-28 | ||
JPS4931059U (en) * | 1972-06-19 | 1974-03-18 | ||
US5220981A (en) * | 1990-12-17 | 1993-06-22 | Kaehkipuro Matti | Elevator and a procedure for its control |
US5907136A (en) * | 1997-04-11 | 1999-05-25 | Otis Elevator Company | Adjustable double-deck elevator |
US6161652A (en) * | 1998-02-02 | 2000-12-19 | Inventio Ag | Method and apparatus for controlling elevator cars in a common sling |
JPH11314858A (en) * | 1998-02-02 | 1999-11-16 | Inventio Ag | Double decker or multidecker elevator |
JP4656681B2 (en) * | 1998-02-02 | 2011-03-23 | インベンテイオ・アクテイエンゲゼルシヤフト | Double decker or multi decker elevator |
JP2000344448A (en) * | 1999-06-07 | 2000-12-12 | Toshiba Corp | Double deck elevator device |
JP2001233572A (en) * | 2000-02-24 | 2001-08-28 | Toshiba Corp | Double deck elevator |
US7624845B2 (en) * | 2003-08-12 | 2009-12-01 | Kone Corporation | Method and apparatus for adjusting the distance between the cars of a double-deck elevator |
US20060191747A1 (en) * | 2003-08-12 | 2006-08-31 | Kone Corporation | Elevator |
US20060201748A1 (en) * | 2003-08-12 | 2006-09-14 | Kone Corporation | Method and apparatus for adjusting the distance between the cars of a double-deck elevator |
US7316294B2 (en) * | 2003-08-12 | 2008-01-08 | Kone Corporation | Elevator |
WO2005051828A1 (en) * | 2003-11-27 | 2005-06-09 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Building with multi-deck elevator, control system therefor, and multi-deck elevator |
US20060042884A1 (en) * | 2003-11-27 | 2006-03-02 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Building with multi-deck elevator, control system therefor, and multi-deck elevator |
US7377365B2 (en) | 2003-11-27 | 2008-05-27 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Multi-deck elevator equipped building |
US20050217941A1 (en) * | 2004-03-17 | 2005-10-06 | Inventio Ag | Equipment for fine positioning of a car of a multi-stage car |
US7261185B2 (en) * | 2004-03-17 | 2007-08-28 | Inventio Ag | Equipment for fine positioning of a car of a multi-stage car |
US20150314990A1 (en) * | 2012-12-10 | 2015-11-05 | Inventio Ag | Double-decker elevator with adjustable inter-car spacing |
US9643818B2 (en) * | 2012-12-10 | 2017-05-09 | Schindler Aufzüge Ag | Double-decker elevator with adjustable inter-car spacing |
US9988243B2 (en) * | 2013-12-09 | 2018-06-05 | Inventio Ag | Elevator system |
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