Patent Description:
Elevator cars are conventionally operated by ropes and counter weights, which typically only allow one elevator car in an elevator shaft at a single time.

<CIT> discloses a power supplying system for an elevator. This document discloses the preamble of claims <NUM> and <NUM>. <CIT> discloses an elevator installation comprising an interchange arrangement configured to remove and/or attach one or more supply units from the car during a regular door-opening cycle.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator system as claimed in claim <NUM>.

In some embodiments the propulsion system is a beam climber system comprising: a first wheel in contact with the first surface; and a first electric motor configured to rotate the first wheel.

In some embodiments the first on-board energy management system is configured to be recharged while attached to the propulsion system.

In some embodiments the first on-board energy management system is configured to be recharged when the first on-board energy management system is located within a station or while the first on-board energy management system is traveling with the elevator car and the propulsion system through the station of the elevator system.

In some embodiments the elevator car, the first on-board energy management system, the propulsion system, and the first guide beam are configured to transfer from a first vertical section of the elevator shaft to a second vertical section of the elevator shaft when the elevator car, the propulsion system, and the first on-board energy management system is located in the station.

In some embodiments the propulsion system is configured to move the elevator car, the propulsion system, and the first on-board energy management system to the station when a state of charge of the first on-board energy management system is below a selected low state of charge.

Still according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator system as claimed in claim <NUM>.

In some embodiments the first on-board energy management system is configured to be removed when the first on-board energy management system is located within a station or while the first on-board energy management system is traveling with the elevator car and the propulsion system through the station of the elevator system.

In some embodiments the second on-board energy management system is configured to be replace the first on-board energy management system when the first on-board energy management system is located within the station or while the first on-board energy management system is traveling with the elevator car and the propulsion system through a station of the elevator system.

Some embodiments include a hard automation device configured to remove the first on-board energy management system.

Some embodiments include a hard automation device configured to replace the first on-board energy management system with the second on-board energy management system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating an elevator system as claimed in claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

In the first aspect and the second aspect, the station is at least one of a transfer station, a service station, or a parking area.

In some embodiments the propulsion system is a beam climber system and the moving, using a propulsion system, an elevator car through an elevator shaft further comprises: rotating, using a first electric motor of a beam climber system, a first wheel, the first wheel being in contact with a first surface of a first guide beam that extends vertically through the elevator shaft.

Some embodiments include recharging the first on-board energy management system.

Some embodiments include moving the beam climber system, the elevator car and the first on-board energy management system to a station to recharge the first on-board energy management system.

Technical effects of embodiments of the present invention include charging an on-board energy management system or changing out the on-board energy management system when the elevator car is located in the transfer station or any other station, such as, for example, a service station or a parking area.

The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations within the scope of the appended claims.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an elevator system <NUM> including an elevator car <NUM>, a beam climber system <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a power source <NUM>. Although illustrated in <FIG> as separate from the beam climber system <NUM>, the embodiments described herein may be applicable to a controller <NUM> included in the beam climber system <NUM> (i.e., moving through an elevator shaft <NUM> with the beam climber system <NUM>) and may also be applicable to a controller located off of the beam climber system <NUM> (i.e., remotely connected to the beam climber system <NUM> and stationary relative to the beam climber system <NUM>). Although illustrated in <FIG> as separate from the beam climber system <NUM>, the embodiments described herein may be applicable to a power source <NUM> included in the beam climber system <NUM> (i.e., moving through the elevator shaft <NUM> with the beam climber system <NUM>) and may also be applicable to a power source located off of the beam climber system <NUM> (i.e., remotely connected to the beam climber system <NUM> and stationary relative to the beam climber system <NUM>).

The beam climber system <NUM> is configured to move the elevator car <NUM> within the elevator shaft <NUM> and along guide rails 109a, 109b that extend vertically through the elevator shaft <NUM>. In an embodiment, the guide rails 109a, 109b are T-beams. The beam climber system <NUM> includes one or more electric motors 132a, 132b. The electric motors 132a, 132b are configured to move the beam climber system <NUM> within the elevator shaft <NUM> by rotating one or more wheels 134a, 134b that are pressed against a guide beam 111a, 111b. In an embodiment, the guide beams 111a, 111b are I-beams. It is understood that while an I-beam is illustrated, any beam or similar structure may be utilized with the embodiment described herein. Friction between the wheels 134a, 134b, 134c, 134d driven by the electric motors 132a, 132b allows the wheels 134a, 134b, 134c, 134d to climb up <NUM> and down <NUM> the guide beams 111a, 111b. The guide beam extends vertically through the elevator shaft <NUM>. It is understood that while two guide beams 111a, 111b are illustrated, the embodiments disclosed herein may be utilized with one or more guide beams. It is also understood that while two electric motors 132a, 132b are illustrated, the embodiments disclosed herein may be applicable to beam climber systems <NUM> having one or more electric motors. For example, the beam climber system <NUM> may have one electric motor for each of the four wheels 134a, 134b, 134c, 134d. The electrical motors 132a, 132b may be permanent magnet electrical motors, asynchronous motor, or any electrical motor known to one of skill in the art. In other embodiments, not illustrated herein, another configuration could have the powered wheels at two different vertical locations (i.e., at bottom and top of an elevator car <NUM>).

The first guide beam 111a includes a web portion 113a and two flange portions 114a. The web portion 113a of the first guide beam 111a includes a first surface 112a and a second surface 112b opposite the first surface 112a. A first wheel 134a is in contact with the first surface 112a and a second wheel 134b is in contact with the second surface 112b. The first wheel 134a may be in contact with the first surface 112a through a tire <NUM> and the second wheel 134b may be in contact with the second surface 112b through a tire <NUM>. The first wheel 134a is compressed against the first surface 112a of the first guide beam 111a by a first compression mechanism 150a and the second wheel 134b is compressed against the second surface 112b of the first guide beam 111a by the first compression mechanism 150a. The first compression mechanism 150a compresses the first wheel 134a and the second wheel 134b together to clamp onto the web portion 113a of the first guide beam 111a. The first compression mechanism 150a may be a metallic or elastomeric spring mechanism, a pneumatic mechanism, a hydraulic mechanism, a turnbuckle mechanism, an electromechanical actuator mechanism, a spring system, a hydraulic cylinder, a motorized spring setup, or any other known force actuation method. The first compression mechanism 150a may be adjustable in real-time during operation of the elevator system <NUM> to control compression of the first wheel 134a and the second wheel 134b on the first guide beam 111a. The first wheel 134a and the second wheel 134b may each include a tire <NUM> to increase traction with the first guide beam 111a.

The first surface 112a and the second surface 112b extend vertically through the shaft <NUM>, thus creating a track for the first wheel 134a and the second wheel 134b to ride on. The flange portions 114a may work as guardrails to help guide the wheels 134a, 134b along this track and thus help prevent the wheels 134a, 134b from running off track.

The first electric motor 132a is configured to rotate the first wheel 134a to climb up <NUM> or down <NUM> the first guide beam 111a. The first electric motor 132a may also include a first motor brake 137a to slow and stop rotation of the first electric motor 132a. The first motor brake 137a may be mechanically connected to the first electric motor 132a. The first motor brake 137a may be a clutch system, a disc brake system, a drum brake system, a brake on a rotor of the first electric motor 132a, an electronic braking, an Eddy current brakes, a Magnetorheological fluid brake or any other known braking system. The beam climber system <NUM> may also include a first guide rail brake 138a operably connected to the first guide rail 109a. The first guide rail brake 138a is configured to slow movement of the beam climber system <NUM> by clamping onto the first guide rail 109a. The first guide rail brake 138a may be a caliper brake acting on the first guide rail 109a on the beam climber system <NUM>, or caliper brakes acting on the first guide rail <NUM> proximate the elevator car <NUM>.

The second guide beam 111b includes a web portion 113b and two flange portions 114b. The web portion 113b of the second guide beam 111b includes a first surface 112c and a second surface 112d opposite the first surface 112c. A third wheel 134c is in contact with the first surface 112c and a fourth wheel 134d is in contact with the second surface 112d. The third wheel 134c may be in contact with the first surface 112c through a tire <NUM> and the fourth wheel 134d may be in contact with the second surface 112d through a tire <NUM>. A third wheel 134c is compressed against the first surface 112c of the second guide beam 111b by a second compression mechanism 150b and a fourth wheel 134d is compressed against the second surface 112d of the second guide beam 111b by the second compression mechanism 150b. The second compression mechanism 150b compresses the third wheel 134c and the fourth wheel 134d together to clamp onto the web portion 113b of the second guide beam 111b. The second compression mechanism 150b may be a spring mechanism, turnbuckle mechanism, an actuator mechanism, a spring system, a hydraulic cylinder, and/or a motorized spring setup. The second compression mechanism 150b may be adjustable in real-time during operation of the elevator system <NUM> to control compression of the third wheel 134c and the fourth wheel 134d on the second guide beam 111b. The third wheel 134c and the fourth wheel 134d may each include a tire <NUM> to increase traction with the second guide beam 111b.

The first surface 112c and the second surface 112d extend vertically through the shaft <NUM>, thus creating a track for the third wheel 134c and the fourth wheel 134d to ride on. The flange portions 114b may work as guardrails to help guide the wheels 134c, 134d along this track and thus help prevent the wheels 134c, 134d from running off track.

The second electric motor 132b is configured to rotate the third wheel 134c to climb up <NUM> or down <NUM> the second guide beam 111b. The second electric motor 132b may also include a second motor brake 137b to slow and stop rotation of the second motor 132b. The second motor brake 137b may be mechanically connected to the second motor 132b. The second motor brake 137b may be a clutch system, a disc brake system, drum brake system, a brake on a rotor of the second electric motor 132b, an electronic braking, an Eddy current brake, a Magnetorheological fluid brake, or any other known braking system. The beam climber system <NUM> includes a second guide rail brake 138b operably connected to the second guide rail 109b. The second guide rail brake 138b is configured to slow movement of the beam climber system <NUM> by clamping onto the second guide rail 109b. The second guide rail brake 138b may be a caliper brake acting on the first guide rail 109a on the beam climber system <NUM>, or caliper brakes acting on the first guide rail <NUM> proximate the elevator car <NUM>.

The elevator system <NUM> may also include a position reference system <NUM>. The position reference system <NUM> may be mounted on a fixed part at the top of the elevator shaft <NUM>, such as on a support or guide rail <NUM>, and may be configured to provide position signals related to a position of the elevator car <NUM> within the elevator shaft <NUM>. In other embodiments, the position reference system <NUM> may be directly mounted to a moving component of the elevator system (e.g., the elevator car <NUM> or the beam climber system <NUM>), or may be located in other positions and/or configurations as known in the art. The position reference system <NUM> can be any device or mechanism for monitoring a position of an elevator car within the elevator shaft <NUM>, as known in the art. For example, without limitation, the position reference system <NUM> can be an encoder, sensor, accelerometer, altimeter, pressure sensor, range finder, or other system and can include velocity sensing, absolute position sensing, etc., as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art.

The controller <NUM> may be an electronic controller including a processor <NUM> and an associated memory <NUM> comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor <NUM>, cause the processor <NUM> to perform various operations. The processor <NUM> may be, but is not limited to, a single-processor or multiprocessor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory <NUM> may be but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium.

The controller <NUM> is configured to control the operation of the elevator car <NUM> and the beam climber system <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may provide drive signals to the beam climber system <NUM> to control the acceleration, deceleration, leveling, stopping, etc. of the elevator car <NUM>.

When moving up <NUM> or down <NUM> within the elevator shaft <NUM> along the guide rails 109a, 109b, the elevator car <NUM> may stop at one or more landings <NUM> as controlled by the controller <NUM>. In one embodiment, the controller <NUM> may be located remotely or in the cloud. In another embodiment, the controller <NUM> may be located on the beam climber system <NUM>. In embodiment, the controller <NUM> controls on-board motion control of the beam climber system <NUM> (e.g., a supervisory function above the individual motor controllers).

The power supply <NUM> for the elevator system <NUM> may be any power source, including a power grid and/or battery power which, in combination with other components, is supplied to the beam climber system <NUM>. In one embodiment, power source <NUM> may be located on the beam climber system <NUM>. In an embodiment, the power supply <NUM> is a battery that is included in the beam climber system <NUM>.

The elevator system <NUM> may also include an accelerometer <NUM> attached to the elevator car <NUM> or the beam climber system <NUM>. The accelerometer <NUM> is configured to detect an acceleration and/or a speed of the elevator car <NUM> and the beam climber system <NUM>.

It is understood that while a beam climber system <NUM> is illustrated herein for exemplary discussion, the embodiments disclosed herein may be applicable to other multi-car linear motor based propulsion systems, such as, for example, a permanent magnet motor propulsion system.

Referring now to <FIG>, with continued reference to <FIG>, a battery replenishment system <NUM> is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The beam climber system <NUM> may not include a trailing electrical cable, such that, no electrical cords extend between the beam climber system <NUM> and the elevator shaft during normal operation. When utilizing multiple elevator cars <NUM> in a single elevator shaft <NUM>, the use of permanently attached trailing electrical cables in the elevator shaft <NUM> becomes difficult and complex. This becomes even more complex as the multiple different elevator cars 103a need to move between multiple different elevator shafts <NUM> or vertical sections (e.g., first vertical sections 117a, 117b, see discussed herein). Thus, it is advantageously to utilize on-board power supplies <NUM>. This requires that the power supply <NUM> be contained onboard the elevator car <NUM> or the beam climber system <NUM> (i.e., attached in some way to the beam climber system <NUM>, such that the power supply <NUM> may be electrically connected to the beam climber system <NUM>). Since the power supply <NUM> may be finite, it will eventually need to be exchanged for a new power supply <NUM> or recharged. The embodiments described herein provide a method and apparatus for replenishing power to a power supply <NUM> to power the elevator car <NUM> and the beam climber system <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the power supply is an on-board energy management system 120a, 120b. The on-board energy management system 120a, 120b may consist of a battery pack, supercapacitors, and/or any other energy storage device known to one of skill in the art. The battery pack may include one or more lithium ion batteries or similar battery type know to one of skill in the art. The on-board energy management system 120a, 120b is configured to travel with the elevator car <NUM> and the beam climber system <NUM>. The on-board energy management system 120a, 120b is electrically connected to the beam climber system <NUM>. The on-board energy management system 120a, 120b may be attached to the elevator car <NUM> or the beam climber system <NUM>. The beam climber system <NUM> may be configured to move the on-board energy management system 120a, 120b along with the beam climber system <NUM> and the elevator car <NUM> to a transfer station <NUM> when a state of charge of the on-board energy management system 120a, 120b, is below a selected low state of charge or when the elevator system <NUM> requires the elevator car <NUM> to go through the transfer station <NUM>. The battery replenishment system <NUM> is configured to charge and or transfer the on-board energy management systems 120a, 120b of the beam climber system <NUM> when the beam climber system <NUM> and the elevator car <NUM> is moving through a transfer station <NUM>. The transfer station <NUM> may be located at the top of the elevator shaft <NUM> or the bottom of the elevator shaft <NUM>. The transfer station <NUM> is configured to move elevator car <NUM>, the beam climber system <NUM>, the guide beams 111a, 111b, the guide rails 109a, 109b, from a first vertical section 117a of the elevator shaft <NUM> to a second vertical section 117b of the elevator shaft <NUM> when the elevator car <NUM> and the beam climber system <NUM> are located in the transfer station <NUM>. This may be accomplished with the use of transfer beams <NUM> operably connected guide beams 111a, 111b or any similar technology. The guide beams 111a, 111b may be interconnected to the transfer beams <NUM> through a series of interconnected crossbeams <NUM>. The crossbeams <NUM> may roll or glide along the transfer beams <NUM> to transfer from the first vertical section 117a to the second vertical section 117b of the elevator shaft <NUM>.

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the first on-board energy management system 120a is configured to be recharged while attached to the beam climber system <NUM> or in other words while being electrically connected to the beam climber system <NUM>. In an embodiment, the first on-board energy management system 120a is charged as the elevator car <NUM>, the beam climber system <NUM>, the guide beams 111a, <NUM>1b, and the guide rails 109a, <NUM> are located within the transfer station <NUM>. In another embodiment, the first on-board energy management system 120a is charged within the transfer station <NUM> as the elevator car <NUM>, the beam climber system <NUM>, the guide beams 111a, 111b, and the guide rails 109a, <NUM> are moved from the first vertical section 117a of the elevator shaft <NUM> to the second vertical section 117b of the elevator shaft <NUM> in the transfer station <NUM>. The transfer station <NUM> is configured to move elevator car <NUM>, the beam climber system <NUM>, the first on-board energy management system 120a, the guide beams 111a, 111b, the guide rails 109a, 109b, from a first vertical section 117a of the elevator shaft <NUM> to a second vertical section 117b of the elevator shaft <NUM> when the elevator car <NUM> and the beam climber system <NUM> are located in the transfer station <NUM>.

The first on-board energy management system 120a may be charged by a trailing cable <NUM>, or similar device known to one of skill in the art, that plugs into the first on-board energy management system 120a in the transfer station <NUM> and moves with the first on-board energy management system 120a as the first on-board energy management system 120a is moved from the first vertical section 117a of the elevator shaft <NUM> to the second vertical section 117b of the elevator shaft <NUM>. The trailing cable <NUM> electrically connects the first on-board energy management system 120a to a power grid <NUM> and the power grid <NUM> charges the first on-board energy management system 120a through the trailing cable <NUM>. Adequate checks and confirmation signals may be utilized by the controller <NUM> to ensure proper and safe charging. The trailing cable <NUM> is plugged into the first on-board energy management system 120a by a hard automation device that is a mechanism with the dedicated degrees of freedom required to grab, pull, release, remove, and/or insert the on-board energy management systems 120a, 120b. The hard automation device may be a robotic arm <NUM>. In one example, when the first on-board energy management system 120a, elevator car <NUM>, and the beam climber system <NUM> enter the transfer station <NUM> in the first vertical section 117a of the elevator shaft <NUM>, the trailing cable <NUM> may be plugged into the first on-board energy management system 120a and the trailing cable <NUM> may remained plugged into the first on-board energy management system 120a to charge the first on-board energy management system 120a as the first on-board energy management system 120a, elevator car <NUM>, and the beam climber system <NUM> move horizontally through the transfer station <NUM> to the second vertical section 117b where the trailing cable <NUM> is removed from the first on-board energy management system <NUM>. Alternatively, rather than a trailing cable, there be metallic contacts on the first on-board energy management system 120a that contact a charging strip connected to the power grid <NUM> in the transfer station <NUM> and the metallic contacts on the first on-board energy management system 120a slide along the charge strip to receive charge. Alternatively, there may be a wireless power charging system in the transfer station <NUM> to wirelessly transfer power between the power grid <NUM> and the first on-board energy management system 120a. The wireless power charging system may utilize wireless induction charging or any other type of wireless charging known to one of skill in the art.

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the first on-board energy management system 120a is configured to be detached from the beam climber system and recharged when detached from the beam climber system <NUM>. The first on-board energy management system 120a is removed from the elevator system and replaced by a second on-board energy management system 120b as the elevator car <NUM>, the beam climber system <NUM>, the guide beams 111a, 111b, and the guide rails 109a, <NUM> are moved from the first vertical section 117a of the elevator shaft <NUM> to the second vertical section 117b of the elevator shaft <NUM> in the transfer station <NUM>. The second on-board energy management system 120b may be fully charged or charged to a state of charge that is greater than a selected upper state of charge. The first on-board energy management system 120a may be removed by a hard automation device that is a mechanism with the dedicated degrees of freedom required to grab, pull, release, remove, and/or insert the on-board energy management systems 120a, 120b. The hard automation device may be a robotic arm <NUM>, or similar device known to one of skill in the art, that removes the first on-board energy management system 120a from the beam climber system <NUM> in the transfer station <NUM> and inserts the second on-board energy management system 120b into the beam climber system <NUM> as the beam climber system <NUM> and elevator car <NUM> is moved from the first vertical section 117a of the elevator shaft <NUM> to the second vertical section 117b of the elevator shaft <NUM>. The first on-board energy management system 120a will remain in the transfer station <NUM> to be charged by grid power <NUM> until a beam climber system <NUM> requires the first on-board energy management system <NUM>. It is understood that there may be multiple beam climber systems <NUM> and elevator cars <NUM> in a single elevator shaft <NUM>, thus the first on-board energy management system 120a and the second on-board energy management system 120b may operate as a communal or any number of shared on-board energy management system from multiple different elevator cars <NUM> to utilize. There may multiple shared on-board energy management systems held in reserve for some to be in use while others charge.

Prior to entering the transfer station <NUM>, the elevator system <NUM> may be required to determine whether the elevator car <NUM> is empty of humans. In an embodiment, the elevator car <NUM> may be prevented from entering the transfer station <NUM> if humans are detected in the elevator car <NUM>. In other words, in an embodiment, the elevator car <NUM> must be free of humans prior to the elevator car <NUM> entering the transfer station <NUM>. It is understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the elevator car <NUM> being free of humans with the transfer station <NUM>. This is dependent of the intensity of movement of the elevator car <NUM> movement within the transfer station <NUM> and/or duration of the elevator car <NUM> being with the transfer station <NUM>. If the movement of the elevator car <NUM> is intense the elevator car <NUM> would have to be free of humans but if the movement is at or below normal intensity then humans may be located in the elevator car <NUM>. Normal intensity of movement would be the movement utilized when normally carrying humans during normal operations.

The elevator system <NUM> may include a human sensing device <NUM>. The human sensing device <NUM> may be composed of at least one of a camera, a depth sensing device, a RADAR device, a thermal detection device, a floor pressure sensor, a microphone, or any similar human detection device known to one of skill in the art. The human sensing device <NUM> may also comprise any other device capable of sensing the presence of humans, as known to one of skill in the art. The human sensing device <NUM> may utilize the camera to detect a human and/or an object within the elevator car <NUM>. The camera may be configured to capture an image or video within the elevator car <NUM>. The depth sensing device may be a <NUM>-D, <NUM>-D or other depth/distance detecting camera that utilizes detected distance to an object and/or a human to detect a human and/or an object within the elevator car <NUM>. The depth sensing device generates depth maps for analysis. The RADAR device may utilize radio waves to detect a human and/or an object within the elevator car <NUM>. The RADAR device generates RADAR signals for analysis. The thermal detection device may be an infrared or other heat sensing camera that utilizes detected temperature to detect a human and/or an object within the elevator car <NUM>. The thermal detection device generates thermal images for analysis. The floor pressure sensor may be one or more pressure sensors located in the floor of an elevator car <NUM> that utilizes pressure data on the floor to detect a human and/or an object within the elevator car <NUM>. The floor pressure sensor generates a pressure map for analysis. The human sensing device <NUM> may additionally include a microphone configured to capture sound data within the elevator car <NUM>. As may be appreciated by one of skill in the art, in addition to the stated methods, additional methods may exist to detect humans and objects, thus one or any combination of these methods may be used to determine the presence of humans or objects in an elevator car <NUM>.

The human sensing device <NUM> may utilize a cognitive service that is configured to detect an individual and/or an object within the elevator car <NUM> through image recognition, video analytics, neural networks, machine learning, deep learning, artificial intelligence, speech recognition, computer vision, video indexer or any other known method to one of skill in the art.

Referring now to <FIG>, with continued reference to the previous FIGS. , a flow chart of method <NUM> of operating an elevator systems <NUM> is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

At block <NUM>, the beam climber system <NUM> moves an elevator car <NUM> through the elevator shaft when the first wheel 134a of the beam climber system <NUM> rotates along the first surface 112a of the first guide beam 111a. Block <NUM> may further comprise that a first electric motor 132a of a beam climber system <NUM> rotates a first wheel 134a to move the elevator car <NUM> through the elevator shaft <NUM>. The first wheel 134a being in contact with a first surface 112a of a first guide beam 111a that extends vertically through an elevator shaft <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, the first on-board energy management system 120a powers the beam climber system <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, the propulsion system moves the propulsion system, the elevator car <NUM>, and the first on-board energy management system 120a to a station to recharge the first on-board energy management system 120a or replace the first on-board energy management system 120a.

Once the first on-board energy management system 120a is recharged or replaced the controller <NUM> may confirm that the on-board energy management system currently installed in the propulsion is healthy and free to move away from the station and thus resume normal operations.

In the present invention, the station is at least one of a transfer station <NUM>, a service station, or a parking area.

The method <NUM> may further comprise that the first on-board energy management system 120a is recharged. The beam climber system <NUM>, the elevator car <NUM>, and the first on-board energy management system 120a may be moved to a station <NUM> to recharge the first on-board energy management system 120a.

The method <NUM> may further comprise that a trailing cable <NUM> is electrically connected to the first on-board energy management system 120a. The first on-board energy management system 120a is electrically connected to a power grid <NUM> and the power grid <NUM> is configured to charge the first on-board energy management system 120a through the trailing cable <NUM> when the first on-board energy management system 120a is within the station.

The method <NUM> may further comprise that the beam climber system <NUM>, the elevator car <NUM>, and the first on-board energy management system 120a are moved through the station while recharging the first on-board energy management system 120a.

The method <NUM> may additionally comprise that the first on-board energy management system 120a is removed from the beam climber system <NUM> and a second on-board energy management system 120b is electrically connected to the beam climber system <NUM>. The second on-board energy management system 120b powers the beam climber system 120a.

As described above, embodiments can be in the form of processor-implemented processes and devices for practicing those processes, such as processor. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code (e.g., computer program product) containing instructions embodied in tangible media (e.g., non-transitory computer readable medium), such as floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an device for practicing the exemplary embodiments.

Claim 1:
An elevator system (<NUM>) comprising:
an elevator car (<NUM>) configured to travel through an elevator shaft (<NUM>);
a first guide beam (111a) extending vertically through the elevator shaft (<NUM>), the first guide beam (111a) comprising a first surface (112a) and a second surface (112b) opposite the first surface (112a);
a propulsion system (<NUM>) configured to move the elevator car (<NUM>) through the elevator shaft (<NUM>);
a first on-board energy management system (120a) configured to power the propulsion system (<NUM>), the first on-board energy management system (120a) being attached to the propulsion system (<NUM>) and configured to travel with the propulsion system (<NUM>);
a trailing cable (<NUM>) electrically connected to a power grid (<NUM>), wherein the power grid (<NUM>) is configured to charge the first on-board energy management system (120a) through the trailing cable (<NUM>) when the first on-board energy management system (120a) is within a station (<NUM>),
characterized in that the station (<NUM>) is at least one of a transfer station, a service station, or a parking area; and
further characterized by comprising a hard automation device (<NUM>) configured to connect the trailing cable (<NUM>) to the first on-board energy management system (120a), wherein the hard automation device (<NUM>) is a mechanism with the dedicated degrees of freedom required to grab, pull, release, remove, and/or insert the first on-board energy management system.