Patent ID: 7793763

Claim:
An elevator system, comprising: an elevator cable; an elevator car supported by the elevator cable; and at least one viscous damper attached to the cable, wherein damping coefficients of the at least one viscous damper are configured to reduce lateral vibratory energy in the elevator cable; wherein the at least one viscous damper comprises a movable viscous damper having a first end movably attached to the elevator cable and a second end movably attached to guide rails, the movable viscous damper being configured to reduce lateral vibratory energy in the elevator cable by imparting a damping force to the elevator cable at the first end of the viscous damper responsive to a movement of the first end of the viscous damper relative to the second end of the viscous damper, and wherein at least a component of movement of the first end of the viscous damper relative to the second end of the viscous damper occurs along a direction of movement perpendicular to the elevator cable; wherein the movable damper comprises a drive system configured to move the moveable damper along the guide rails independently of a movement of the elevator car.