US3738455A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for gravity-actuation of elevators
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-11-05
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1990-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for operating elevators. The elevator is operated exclusively with gravitational forces. Accelerating and decelerating movements of the elevator are brought about by conversion of potential into kinetic energy and kinetic into potential energy in a controlled manner. The elevator and a counterweight are suspended from a cable and pulley assembly. At locations primarily beneath the elevator and counterweight, there are masses carried by the elevator and counterweight and transferred between the elevator and counterweight to bring about the application of the gravitational forces which will accelerate and decelerate the elevator as required.
Inventors
- 👤 A Tintore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:29
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66B; B66B17/00; B66B17/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
In a method for operating an elevator by moving the elevator up and down exclusively with the application of gravitational forces, the elevator and a counterweight being connected to each other through a cable and pulley assembly by which the elevator and counterweight are suspended so that when gravitational forces acting on the elevator are greater than those acting on the counterweight the elevator will descend while when gravitational forces acting on the counterweight are greater than those acting on the elevator the elevator will ascend, said elevator accelerating when starting from a stationary position and decelerating when coming to a stop, the steps of transferring masses carried by the elevAtor and counterweight at predetermined locations thereof between said locations with said masses acting on the elevator and counterweight for applying said gravitational forces thereto to bring about descending and ascending of the elevator, and changing in a controlled manner the amount of a potential energy which is converted into a kinetic energy during acceleration of the elevator while also changing in a controlled manner the amount of kinetic energy which is converted to potential energy during deceleration of the elevator, said controlled changing of potential and kinetic energy being brought about by the transferring of the masses between said locations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
In a method for operating an elevator by moving the elevator up and down exclusively with the application of gravitational forces, the elevator and a counterweight being connected to each other through a cable and pulley assembly by which the elevator and counterweight are suspended so that when gravitational forces acting on the elevator are greater than those acting on the counterweight the elevator will descend while when gravitational forces acting on the counterweight are greater than those acting on the elevator the elevator will ascend, said elevator accelerating when starting from a stationary position and decelerating when coming to a stop, the steps of transferring masses carried by the elevAtor and counterweight at predetermined locations thereof between said locations with said masses acting on the elevator and counterweight for applying said gravitational forces thereto to bring about descending and ascending of the elevator, and changing in a controlled manner the amount of a potential energy which is converted into a kinetic energy during acceleration of the elevator while also changing in a controlled manner the amount of kinetic energy which is converted to potential energy during deceleration of the elevator, said controlled changing of potential and kinetic energy being brought about by the transferring of the masses between said locations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein the step of transferring said masses takes place continuously during the entire movement of the elevator from one position to another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as recited in claim 1 and wherein the transferred masses take the form of cable wound on spools with the winding and unwinding of the cable taking place between spools carried by the elevator and counterweight for transferring the masses according to the weight of the cable transferred between the spools at the elevator and counterweight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a method as recited in claim 3, the step of transferring the cable between the elevator and counterweight until forces corresponding to a load carried by the elevator are achieved for bringing about the desired regulated movement of the elevator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a method as recited in claim 4, and wherein the action of the elevator is recorded on a control device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein the transferred masses take the form of a liquid pumped between the elevator and the counterweight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein the transferred masses take the form of a chain transferred between containers at the elevator and counterweight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
149 words
Apparatus for gravitationally actuating an elevator, comprising an elevator cabin, means guiding the latter for vertical movement, a supporting cable assembly extending from the cabin, a counterweight connected to the supporting cable assembly, for raising said elevator cabin when the force of gravity acting on said counterweight exceeds that acting on said cabin while said cabin descends when the gravitational force acting thereon exceeds that acting on said counterweight, a pair of mass-transfer means respectively carried by the cabin and counterweight for increasing and decreasing in magnitude the mass which is carried by the cabin and counterweight by transferring mass from the cabin to the counterweight for raising the cabin and by transferring mass from the counterweight to the cabin for lowering the cabin, and control means operatively connected with said pairs of mass-transfer means for controlling the transfer of mass therebetween for controlling the movement of the elevator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
149 words
Apparatus for gravitationally actuating an elevator, comprising an elevator cabin, means guiding the latter for vertical movement, a supporting cable assembly extending from the cabin, a counterweight connected to the supporting cable assembly, for raising said elevator cabin when the force of gravity acting on said counterweight exceeds that acting on said cabin while said cabin descends when the gravitational force acting thereon exceeds that acting on said counterweight, a pair of mass-transfer means respectively carried by the cabin and counterweight for increasing and decreasing in magnitude the mass which is carried by the cabin and counterweight by transferring mass from the cabin to the counterweight for raising the cabin and by transferring mass from the counterweight to the cabin for lowering the cabin, and control means operatively connected with said pairs of mass-transfer means for controlling the transfer of mass therebetween for controlling the movement of the elevator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 8 and wherein said pair of mass transfer means include containers for liquid and said control means transferring liquid between said containers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 8 and wherein said pair of transfer means include containers for chain which forms the mass and said control means transferring the chain between said containers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |