Patent ID: 7428950

Claim:
An elevator system including an elevator car movable within a hoistway comprising: a machine for driving an elevator car through a hoistway; a counterweight mounted in the hoistway and having a deflection sheave; an elevator car mounted for movement in the hoistway and having a deflection sheave; and said machine having a drive sheave, said drive sheave, and said deflection sheaves all having parallel axes of rotation, wherein said drive sheave axis and said deflection sheave axes are parallel to an outer wall of said car, and a connecting member passing over said deflection sheaves and said drive sheave to drive said counterweight and said car within the hoistway, said machine mounted in the hoistway, and in a space between said car and a wall defining the hoistway, such that said machine is not directly above said car, said car being movable within the hoistway such that it is at least partially vertically aligned with said machine when in a vertically uppermost position.