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. Ropeless elevator systems may allow for more than one elevator car in the elevator shaft at a single time.

<CIT> discloses an elevator system, according to the preamble of claim <NUM>, comprising: a plurality of hoistways, each having at least one rail; at least one car moveable along and between the plurality of hoistways and having: a drive assembly operably connected to the car and including two or more wheels engageable to opposing surfaces of the rail of a hoistway along which the car may move, the drive assembly configured to apply an engagement force to the rail to both support the car at the rail and drive the car along the rail; and at least one shuttle moveable transverse to the plurality of hoistways for transferring the car between the hoistways.

<CIT> also discloses an elevator system, according to the preamble of claim <NUM>, mainly comprising a plurality of hoistways, at least one lift car, a driving assembly and at least one conveyor, wherein each hoistway is provided with at least one rail; the lift cars can move along the hoistways and between the hoistways; the driving assembly is operably connected to the lift cars and comprises two or more wheels; and the conveyors can move transversely relative to the hoistways so as to be used for transferring the lift cars between the hoistways.

<CIT> discloses a transfer station for a ropeless elevator system with redundancy of subcomponents and parking zone.

According to an aspect of the invention, a system for transferring elevator cars from a first elevator shaft to a second elevator shaft as recited in claim <NUM> is provided.

Further embodiments may include that the vehicle workstation is located on a landing below the transfer station, a landing above the transfer station or on the same landing as the transfer station.

Further embodiments may include a first guide beam that extends vertically through the first elevator shaft, the first guide beam including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first propulsion system is a first beam climber system including: a first wheel in contact with the first surface; and a first electric motor configured to rotate the first wheel.

Further embodiments may include that the elevator car containment slot further includes: a first containment slot guide beam configured to align with the first guide beam.

Further embodiments may include a first guide rail that extends vertically through the first elevator shaft, wherein the elevator car containment slot further includes: a first containment slot guide rail configured to align with the first guide rail.

Further embodiments may include a second guide beam that extends vertically through the first elevator shaft, the second guide beam including a first surface of the second guide beam and a second surface of the second guide beam opposite the first surface of the second guide beam, wherein the first beam climber system further includes: a second wheel in contact with the second surface of the first guide beam; a third wheel in contact with the first surface of the second guide beam; and a second electric motor configured to rotate the third wheel.

Further embodiments may include that the elevator car containment slot further includes: a second containment slot guide beam configured to align with the second guide beam.

Further embodiments may include a second guide rail that extends vertically through the first elevator shaft, wherein the elevator car containment slot further includes: a second containment slot guide rail configured to align with the second guide rail.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of moving elevator cars amongst elevator shafts as recited in claim <NUM> is provided.

Further embodiments may include that the moving, using the first propulsion system, the first elevator car and the first propulsion system from the first elevator shaft into the elevator car containment slot further includes: rotating, using a first electric motor of a first 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 first elevator shaft.

Further embodiments may include: aligning a first containment slot guide beam of the elevator car containment slot with the first guide beam.

Further embodiments may include: aligning a first containment slot guide rail of the elevator car containment slot with a first guide rail that extends vertically through the first elevator shaft.

Further embodiments may include that the moving, using the first propulsion system, the first elevator car and the first propulsion system from the first elevator shaft into the elevator car containment slot further includes: rotating a second wheel, the second wheel being in contact with the second surface of the first guide beam that extends vertically through the elevator shaft; and rotating, using a second electric motor of the beam climber system, a third wheel, the third wheel being in contact with a first surface of a second guide beam that extends vertically through the first elevator shaft.

According to another aspect of the invention, a computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim <NUM> is provided.

Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include moving an elevator car from an elevator lane into and/or out of a vehicle workstation and/or a spare vehicle station using a transfer carriage.

<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 electric motor 132b. The second motor brake 137b may be mechanically connected to the second electric 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 109a 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 multi-processor 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 and/or ropeless linear motor driven propulsion systems, such as, for example, a permanent magnet motor propulsion system.

Referring now to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, with continued reference to <FIG>, a transfer station system <NUM> for a transfer station 310a, 310b is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a side view of an upper transfer station 310a and <FIG> is a side view of a lower transfer station 310b.

The transfer carriage <NUM> may be a motorized and automated carriage. The transfer carriage <NUM> may move along a horizontal cross beam <NUM> in the upper transfer station 310a and a horizontal surface <NUM> of the elevator shaft 117a, 117b, 117c, 117d (i.e., a cross beam or a bottom of the elevator shaft 117a, 117b, 117c, 117d) in the lower transfer station 310b. The transfer carriage <NUM> may include a propulsive device (not shown for simplicity) to rotate wheels <NUM>. The propulsive device may be an electric motor and associated wheels <NUM> or a permanent magnet motor. In an embodiment, the transfer carriage <NUM> is positioned above the elevator system <NUM> in an upper transfer station 310a, as illustrated in <FIG>. In an embodiment, the transfer carriage <NUM> is positioned beneath the elevator system <NUM> in a lower transfer station 310b, as illustrated in <FIG>. The transfer carriage <NUM> includes one or more elevator car containment slots <NUM> configured to receive and hold/secure the elevator car <NUM> and the beam climber system <NUM>. The elevator car containment slot <NUM> may utilize a car retention mechanism to ensure that the elevator car <NUM> and the beam climber system <NUM> does not move during transportation by the transfer carriage <NUM> between elevator shafts 117a, 117b, 117c, 117d.

The first elevator shaft 117a and the fourth elevator shaft 117d may be passenger serving elevator shafts to transfer passengers between different landings <NUM>. It is understood that while two passenger serving shafts are illustrated herein, the embodiments described herein may be applicable to one or more passenger serving elevator shafts. The second elevator shaft 117b and the third elevator shaft 117c may be passenger serving elevator shafts to transfer passengers between different landings <NUM> or they may be non-passenger serving elevator shafts. It is also understood that while a single transfer carriage <NUM> is illustrated herein, the embodiments described herein may be applicable to transfer station systems <NUM> includes one or more transfer carriages <NUM>.

A second elevator shaft 117b may be utilized for a vehicle workstation <NUM> and a third elevator shaft 117c may be utilized for a spare vehicle station <NUM>. It is understood that while a third elevator shaft 117c for a spare vehicle station <NUM> is illustrated, the embodiments disclosed herein may be applicable to systems without the third elevator shaft 117c for the spare vehicle station <NUM>.

The transfer carriage <NUM> is configured to align an elevator car containment slot <NUM> with an elevator shaft 117a, 117b, 117c, 117d to receive and/or transfer a first elevator car 103a and a first beam climber system 130a into and out of service. The transfer carriage <NUM> may also be configured to align an elevator car containment slot <NUM> with an elevator shaft 117a, 117b, 117c, 117d to receive and/or transfer a second elevator car 103b and a second beam climber system 130b into and out of service.

Referring briefly to the example illustrated in <FIG>. In <FIG> the transfer carriage <NUM> may align the elevator car containment slot <NUM> with a first elevator shaft 117a to receive the first elevator car 103a in <FIG>. The first beam climber system 130a may then travel horizontally in the upper transfer station 310a to align the elevator car containment slot <NUM> with a second elevator shaft 117b in <FIG> to transfer the first elevator car 103a and the first beam climber system 130a to the vehicle workstation <NUM> within the second elevator shaft 117b in <FIG>. The transfer carriage <NUM> may then travel horizontally in the upper transfer station 310a to align the elevator car containment slot <NUM> with a third elevator shaft 117c and receive a second elevator car 103B and a second beam climber system 130b, as illustrated in <FIG>. The transfer carriage <NUM> may then travel horizontally in the upper transfer station 310a to align the elevator car containment slot <NUM> with either the first elevator shaft 117a or the fourth elevator shaft 117d in order to transfer the second elevator car 103b and the second beam climber system 130b into service, as illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring briefly to the example illustrated in <FIG>. In <FIG> the transfer carriage <NUM> may align the elevator car containment slot <NUM> with a first elevator shaft 117a to receive the first elevator car 103a in <FIG>. The first beam climber system 130a may then travel horizontally in the lower transfer station 310b to align the elevator car containment slot <NUM> with a second elevator shaft 117b in <FIG> to transfer the first elevator car 103a and the first beam climber system 130a to the vehicle workstation <NUM> within the second elevator shaft 117b in <FIG>. The transfer carriage <NUM> may then travel horizontally in the lower transfer station 310b to align the elevator car containment slot <NUM> with a third elevator shaft 117c and receive a second elevator car 103B and a second beam climber system 130b, as illustrated in <FIG>. The transfer carriage <NUM> may then travel horizontally in the lower transfer station 310b to align the elevator car containment slot <NUM> with either the first elevator shaft 117a or the fourth elevator shaft 117d in order to transfer the second elevator car 103b and the second beam climber system 130b into service, as illustrated in <FIG>.

While located in the vehicle workstation <NUM> work may be performed on the first elevator car 103a and/or the first beam climber system 130b. The vehicle workstation <NUM> may be located one landing below (as illustrated in <FIG>) or above the upper transfer station 310a, so that the transfer carriage <NUM> be may be free to move throughout the upper transfer station 310a to carry other elevator cars <NUM> after delivering the first elevator car 103a and the first beam climber system 130a to the vehicle workstation <NUM>. The vehicle workstation <NUM> may be located one landing above (as illustrated in <FIG>) or below the lower transfer station 310b, so that the transfer carriage <NUM> be may be free to move throughout the upper transfer station 310a to carry other elevator cars <NUM> after delivering the first elevator car 103a and the first beam climber system 130a to the vehicle workstation <NUM>. In an embodiment the vehicle workstation <NUM> may be on the same landing <NUM> as the upper transfer station 310a. In an embodiment the vehicle workstation <NUM> may be on the same landing <NUM> as the lower transfer station 310b. The vehicle workstation <NUM> may include work tools, including but not limited to, work platforms, test rigs, test equipment or any other tool known to one of skill in the art.

The spare vehicle station <NUM> may be located one landing below (as illustrated in <FIG>) or above the upper transfer station 310a, so that the transfer carriage <NUM> be may be free to move throughout the upper transfer station <NUM>10a to carry other elevator cars <NUM>. The spare vehicle station <NUM> may be located one landing above (as illustrated in <FIG>) or below the lower transfer station 310b, so that the transfer carriage <NUM> be may be free to move throughout the upper transfer station 310a to carry other elevator cars <NUM>. In an embodiment, the spare vehicle station <NUM> may be on the same landing <NUM> as the upper transfer station 310a. In an embodiment, the spare vehicle station <NUM> may be on the same landing <NUM> as the lower transfer station 310b.

In one embodiment, spare vehicle station <NUM> may provide for removing the elevator car <NUM> completely from the over all system. For example, the guide rails 109a, 109b and guide beams 111a, 111b located in the spare vehicle station <NUM> may be movable to move the elevator car <NUM> and beam climber system <NUM>. For example, the guide rails 109a, 109b and guide beams 111a, 111b located in the spare vehicle station <NUM> may be connected to a dolly, a truck, a train, a trolly, or any other vehicle known by one of sill in the art. The elevator car containment slot <NUM> may include a first containment slot guide beam 111a-<NUM> and a second containment slot guide beam 111b-<NUM>. The first containment slot guide beam 111a-<NUM> is configured to align with the first guide beam 111a so that the wheels 134a, 134b (see <FIG>) may roll from the first guide beam 111a to the first containment slot guide beam 111a-<NUM> when the beam climber system <NUM> is leaving the elevator shaft <NUM> and entering the elevator car containment slot <NUM> to ride the transfer carriage <NUM>. The transfer carriage <NUM> may include a first sensor 240a configured to detect when the first containment slot guide beam 111a-<NUM> is aligned with the first guide beam 111a. It is understood that the transfer carriage <NUM> may include other sensors including but not limited to micro-switches, gap sensors or broken beam sensors.

The second slot containment guide beam 111b-<NUM> is configured to align with the second guide beam 111b so that the wheels 134c, 134d (see <FIG>) may roll from the second guide beam 111b to the second slot containment guide beam 111b-<NUM> when the beam climber system <NUM> is leaving the elevator shaft <NUM> and entering the elevator car containment slot <NUM> to ride the transfer carriage <NUM>. The transfer carriage <NUM> may include a second sensor 240b configured to detect when the second containment slot guide beam 111b-<NUM> is aligned with the second guide beam 111b.

The first containment slot guide rail 109a-<NUM> is configured to align with the first guide rail 109a. The first sensor 240a may be configured to detect when the first containment slot guide rail 109a-<NUM> is aligned with the first guide rail 109a.

The second slot containment guide rail 109b-<NUM> is configured to align with the second guide rail 109b. The transfer carriage <NUM> may include a second sensor 240b configured to detect when the second containment slot guide rail 109b-<NUM> is aligned with the second guide rail 109b.

It is understood that while <FIG> illustrates the transfer carriage <NUM> as including two sensors 240a, 240b, the transfer station system <NUM> may include any number of sensors (i.e., one or more sensors) to ensure alignment of the first containment slot guide beam 111a-<NUM> with the first guide beam 111a, the second slot containment guide beam 111b-<NUM> with the second guide beam 111b, the first containment slot guide rail 109a-<NUM> with the first guide rail 109a, and the second slot containment guide rail 109b-<NUM> with the second guide rail 109b.

The sensors 240a, 240b are configured to communicate alignment to the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the beam climber system <NUM>, so that the beam climber system <NUM> may move itself and the elevator car <NUM> into an elevator car containment slot <NUM> of the transfer carriage <NUM>. The sensors 240a, 240b are also configured to communicate misalignment to the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the beam climber system <NUM> to prevent the beam climber system <NUM> from attempting to move itself and the elevator car <NUM> into an elevator car containment slot <NUM> of the transfer carriage <NUM> that is not misaligned.

The sensors 240a, 240b are configured to communicate alignment or misalignment to a transfer carriage controller <NUM> of the transfer carriage <NUM>. The transfer carriage controller <NUM> is configured to control operations of the transfer carriage <NUM>. By reporting misalignment to the transfer carriage controller <NUM>, the transfer carriage controller <NUM> may then take action to achieve alignment, such as moving laterally. By reporting alignment to the transfer carriage controller <NUM>, the transfer carriage controller <NUM> may no longer need to move the transfer carriage <NUM> until the elevator car <NUM> and the beam climber system <NUM> move from the elevator system <NUM> in the elevator shaft 117a, 117b, 117c, 117d into and out of the elevator car containment slot <NUM> of the transfer carriage <NUM>.

The transfer carriage 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 multi-processor 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.

Although illustrated in <FIG> as a separate controller, it is understood that the transfer carriage controller <NUM> may be a separate controller from the controller <NUM> of the beam climber system or the transfer carriage controller <NUM> may be a combined controller with the controller <NUM> of the beam climber system <NUM>. Additionally, the transfer carriage controller <NUM> may be a cloud controller or the transfer carriage controller <NUM> may be a local controller.

Although illustrated in <FIG> as separate from the transfer carriage <NUM>, the embodiments described herein may be applicable to a transfer carriage controller <NUM> located in the transfer carriage <NUM> (i.e., moving with the transfer carriage <NUM>) or located in a cloud computing network.

Referring now to <FIG>, with continued reference to the previous FIGS. , a flow chart of a method <NUM> of moving elevator cars <NUM> amongst elevator shafts <NUM> is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

At block <NUM>, a transfer carriage <NUM> is moved to a first elevator shaft 117a to pick up a first elevator car 103a and a first propulsion system. At block <NUM>, an elevator car containment slot <NUM> within the transfer carriage <NUM> is aligned with the first elevator shaft 117a.

At block <NUM>, the first propulsion system moves the first elevator car 103a from the first elevator shaft 117a into the elevator car containment slot <NUM>. In an embodiment, the first propulsion system is a first beam climber system 130a and the first elevator car 103a may be moved by rotating a first wheel 134a using a first electric motor <NUM> of the first beam climber system 130a. The first wheel 134a being in contact with a first surface 112a of a first guide beam 111a that extends vertically through the elevator shaft <NUM>.

At block <NUM> the transfer carriage <NUM> is moved with the first elevator car 103a and the first propulsion system within the elevator car containment slot <NUM> from the first elevator shaft 117a to a second elevator shaft 117b.

The method <NUM> may further comprise that the elevator car containment slot <NUM> within the transfer carriage <NUM> is aligned with the second elevator shaft 117b and the first propulsion system moves the first elevator car 103a and the first propulsion system from the elevator car containment slot <NUM> into the vehicle workstation <NUM> within the second elevator shaft 117b.

The method <NUM> may further comprise that the moving the transfer carriage <NUM> from the second elevator shaft 117b to a third elevator shaft 117c to pick up a second elevator car 103b and a second propulsion system in a spare vehicle station <NUM> within the third elevator shaft 117c. The elevator car containment slot <NUM> within the transfer carriage <NUM> may be aligned with the third elevator shaft 117c and the second propulsion system may move the second elevator car 103b and the second propulsion system from the spare vehicle station <NUM> within third elevator shaft 117c into the elevator car containment slot <NUM>.

The method <NUM> may further comprise that the transfer carriage <NUM> with the second elevator car 103b and the second propulsion system within the elevator car containment slot <NUM> is moved from the third elevator shaft into service (e.g., into the first elevator shaft 117a or the fourth elevator shaft 117d).

The method <NUM> may also comprise aligning a first containment slot guide beam 111a-<NUM> of the elevator car containment slot <NUM> with the first guide beam 111a. The method <NUM> may further comprise aligning a first containment slot guide rail 109a-<NUM> of the elevator car containment slot <NUM> with a first guide rail 109a that extends vertically through the first elevator shaft 117a.

The first elevator car 103a may also be moved by rotating, using a second electric motor 132b of the beam climber system <NUM>, a third wheel 134c, the third wheel being in contact with a first surface 112c of a second guide beam 111b that extends vertically through the first elevator shaft 117a.

The method <NUM> may also comprise aligning a second containment slot guide beam 111b-<NUM> of the elevator car containment slot <NUM> with the second guide beam 111b. The method <NUM> may further comprise aligning a second containment slot guide rail 109b-<NUM> of the elevator car containment slot <NUM> with a second guide rail 109b that extends vertically through the first elevator shaft 117a.

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:
A system for transferring elevator cars from a first elevator shaft (117a) to a second elevator shaft (117b), the system comprising:
a first propulsion system (130a) configured to move a first elevator car (103a) through the first elevator shaft (117a);
a transfer carriage (<NUM>) configured to move the first elevator car (103a) and the first propulsion system (130a) from the first elevator shaft (117a) to the second elevator shaft (117b) through a transfer station (310a; 310b), the transfer carriage (<NUM>) comprising:
an elevator car containment slot (<NUM>) to receive the first elevator car (103a) and the first propulsion system (130a) when the elevator car containment slot (<NUM>) is aligned with the first elevator shaft (117a),
wherein the first propulsion system (130a) is configured to move the first elevator car (103a) and the first propulsion system (130a) from an elevator system (<NUM>) within the first elevator shaft (118a) onto the transfer carriage (<NUM>) to a vehicle workstation (<NUM>), wherein the vehicle workstation (<NUM>) is located within the second elevator shaft (117b);
characterised in that the transfer carriage (<NUM>) is configured to move from the second elevator shaft (117b) to a third elevator shaft (117c) through the transfer station (310a; 310b) to receive a second elevator car (103b) and a second propulsion system (130b) from a spare vehicle station (<NUM>); and
wherein the transfer carriage (<NUM>) is configured to move with the second elevator car (103b) and the second propulsion system (130b) within the elevator car containment slot (<NUM>) from the third elevator shaft (117c) into service.