US3845842A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Elevator system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-06-13
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1993-06-13
Abstract
Abstract An elevator system for use within a multiple story building includes a car and a counterweight suspended by cables on opposite sides of pulleys supported within the upper end of an elevator shaft. Upper chambers within the car and the counterweight receive a weight medium operable to be transferred between the chambers to vary the weight of the car and the counterweight in relation to changes in the loaded weight of the car. A motor operable in response to changes in the weight of the load automatically moves the weight medium between the counterweight and the car in an amount equal to half the change in the weight of the load to keep the weight of the car and the counterweight balanced so as to reduce the power required to move the car between floors within the building.
Inventors
- 👤 W Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:12
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66B; B66B11/00; B66B11/0035; B66B11/0045; B66B17/00; B66B17/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
An elevator system for use within a vertical shaft in a multiple story building including, a car of predetermined unloaded weight suspended within the shaft to transport a load between floors within the building, a counterweight suspended within the shaft and spaced laterally from said car to offset the unloaded weight of the car, a set of upper and lower wheels rotatably mounted adjacent the upper and lower ends of the shaft, respectively, a flexible support line trained around said upper and lower wheels, said car and said counterweight being fastened to opposite sides of said line between said upper and lower wheels, a small motor operable to power rotate one of said wheels in said set to drive said line around said wheels to move the car and said counterweight vertically within said shaft, a weight medium movable between said counterweight and said car to vary the weight of the counterweight in relation to changes in the weight of the load in the car, means mounted within said car and operable to produce a signal in response to changes in the load, and means operable in response to said signal to move said weight medium between said counterweight and said car in an amount equal to half the change in the weight of the load to keep the weight of the medium in the counterweight substantially equal to the weight of the load plus the weight of the medium in the car prior to movement of said car whereby the system is kept balanced to reduce the power required of said small motor to move the car between floors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
270 words
An elevator system for use within a vertical shaft in a multiple story building including, a car of predetermined unloaded weight suspended within the shaft to transport a load between floors within the building, a counterweight suspended within the shaft and spaced laterally from said car to offset the unloaded weight of the car, a set of upper and lower wheels rotatably mounted adjacent the upper and lower ends of the shaft, respectively, a flexible support line trained around said upper and lower wheels, said car and said counterweight being fastened to opposite sides of said line between said upper and lower wheels, a small motor operable to power rotate one of said wheels in said set to drive said line around said wheels to move the car and said counterweight vertically within said shaft, a weight medium movable between said counterweight and said car to vary the weight of the counterweight in relation to changes in the weight of the load in the car, means mounted within said car and operable to produce a signal in response to changes in the load, and means operable in response to said signal to move said weight medium between said counterweight and said car in an amount equal to half the change in the weight of the load to keep the weight of the medium in the counterweight substantially equal to the weight of the load plus the weight of the medium in the car prior to movement of said car whereby the system is kept balanced to reduce the power required of said small motor to move the car between floors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
An elevator system as defined by claim 1 wherein said means operable to move the weight medium includes a motor adapted to be actuated in response to said signal to move said weight medium between said counterweight and said car, second means operable to produce a second signal to deactuate said motor automatically when the amount of weight medium moved equals one-half the weight of the change in the load.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
An elevator system as defined in claim 2 wherein said weight medium is liquid, said car including a first chamber formed therein to hold said liquid, a second similar chamber formed within said counterweight, a hose connected between said chambers and through which said liquid may be moved from one chamber to the other, a pump mounted within one of said chambers and operable by said signal-responsive motor to move said liquid through said hose.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
An elevator system as defined by claim 2 wherein said weight medium is a chain, said system further including a sprocket rotatably mounted in the shaft adjacent the upper end thereof, said chain extending between said car and said counterweight and being trained around said sprocket, said signal-responsive motor being connected to said sprocket to power rotate the latter to move said chain between said counterweight and said car, a clutch connected between said sprocket and said motor and operable to permit said sprocket to free wheel as said car is moved vertically within said shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An elevator system as defined by claim 4 wherein said chain is coated with a sound deadening material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
An elevator system as defined by claim 1 including scaffolding mounted within said shaft to support said cAr and said counterweight against lateral movement within said shaft, said scaffolding comprising a plurality of first units of selected length spaced from each other within said shaft and extending from the top to the bottom thereof, a plurality of second units of standard length sandwiched between said first units, one of aid second units extending generally between each floor and its overlying ceiling.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
An elevator system as defined by claim 6 including means for supporting each of said scaffolding units within said shaft against lateral movement, each of said scaffolding units including vertically extending guide rail sections along opposite sides thereof to guide said car and said counterweight vertically within said shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
121 words
An elevator system as defined by claim 1 including a first brake means connected to one of said wheels in said set and operable to prevent free fall of said car within the shaft, a second set of upper and lower wheels rotatably mounted adjacent the upper and lower ends of the shaft, respectively, a second flexible support line having one end connected to the top of said car, an intermediate portion trained around the upper and lower wheels of said second set and an opposite end portion connected to the bottom of said car, a second brake means connected to one of the wheels in said second car and operable to prevent free fall of said car within the shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
241 words
An elevator system for use within a vertical shaft in a multiple story building including, a car of predetermined unloaded weight suspended within the shaft to transport a load between floors within a building, a counterweight suspended within the shaft and spaced laterally from said car to offset the unloaded weight of the car, means connected between said car and said counterweight and supporting said car and said counterweight within the shaft, a first motor for moving said car vertically within the shaft between floors, a first chamber, a second chamber within said counterweight, a weight medium contained within said first chamber, connected with said second chamber and movable between said counterweight and said car to vary the weight of the counterweight in relation to changes in the weight of the load in the car, first means mounted within said car and operable automatically to produce a first signal when the weight of the load in the car is changed, a second motor adapted to be actuated in response to said first signal to move said weight medium between said chambers, and second means operable prior to movement of said car to produce a second signal to deactuate said second motor automatically when the amount of weight medium moved causes the weight of the counterweight to balance with the loaded weight of the car so as to reduce the power required of said first motor to move the car between floors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
241 words
An elevator system for use within a vertical shaft in a multiple story building including, a car of predetermined unloaded weight suspended within the shaft to transport a load between floors within a building, a counterweight suspended within the shaft and spaced laterally from said car to offset the unloaded weight of the car, means connected between said car and said counterweight and supporting said car and said counterweight within the shaft, a first motor for moving said car vertically within the shaft between floors, a first chamber, a second chamber within said counterweight, a weight medium contained within said first chamber, connected with said second chamber and movable between said counterweight and said car to vary the weight of the counterweight in relation to changes in the weight of the load in the car, first means mounted within said car and operable automatically to produce a first signal when the weight of the load in the car is changed, a second motor adapted to be actuated in response to said first signal to move said weight medium between said chambers, and second means operable prior to movement of said car to produce a second signal to deactuate said second motor automatically when the amount of weight medium moved causes the weight of the counterweight to balance with the loaded weight of the car so as to reduce the power required of said first motor to move the car between floors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |