Slide 1

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 2

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 3

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 4

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 5

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 6

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 7

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 8

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 9

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 10

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 11

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 12

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 13

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 14

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 15

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 16

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 17

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 18

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 19

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 20

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 21

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 22

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 23

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?


Slide 24

Levitators
A new concept for
elevators in tall buildings
Rajaram Pejaver

Overview of this presentation










The opportunity
Today’s technology
My solution
Future extensions
Key innovations
Main issues & obstacles
Project timeline
Feedback

The Opportunity






Improve elevator service in
existing buildings without
adding banks of elevators
Reduce floor space needed by
elevators in new tall
skyscrapers
Allow for unique shapes of
new architecture

Product application:
Existing buildings





Increase passenger capacity
and reduce wait times
Not possible to add new
elevator shafts to building
Typical height of building is
10–20 stories
Examples of target buildings
–
–
–

Office buildings
Hotels
High rise Apartments

Product application:
New skyscrapers




More than 30% of floor space in
skyscrapers is consumed by elevators!
Taipei 101 in Hong Kong has more than 57
elevator shafts!!
More and more tall buildings are being built
–
–
–



China has 5 of the 10 tallest buildings
Malaysia and Taipei have one each in top 10
Canada is building new residential skyscrapers

Need to increase utilization of available
elevator shafts
Taipei 101

Today’s technology



Limited to one
elevator car per
shaft



Based on
counterweights

The solution: multiple cars per shaft!

But will they not collide?
Two elevator cabs,
one moving down
and the other
moving up, share
the left shaft.
Lower cab shifts to
adjoining shaft
and carries on.

The system in operation
Rule: #cars going up = #cars going down
1

2

Car 1 needs to go all the way down
Car 6 needs to go all the way up
3
Press
Cars
Car
31is
Backspace
&moving
5 are moving
2
down
and then
downSpace to
play
again
Cars7this
Car
6is&moving
7 are moving
4
5
up
up
Car 7 is moving left

4

5
6

7

Drive Mechanism






Endless chain loop around two
pulleys
One segment constantly moves up
and the other side moves down
A third cable is stationary

Car clamps on to the cable
segment moving in the desired
direction

Floor 20
Floor 19

Floor 2
Floor 1

Figure 1

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Front View

Clamp

Figure shows car clamped
on to upward moving
cable. Yellow dots
indicate location of clamp.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Location of Drive Mechanism:
Top View

Figure shows car clamped
on to cable at eight points:
the four roof corners and
the four floor corners .
Car
Shaft
Clamp

Note: Not drawn to scale
Drive Mechanism

Door

Car at rest
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
stationary cable and is not
moving.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Car at moving downwards
Clamp

Car is clamped on to
downward moving cable
and is moving down.

Car
Shaft
Clamp
Drive Mechanism

Note: Not drawn to scale

Counterbalancing Cars


Figure 2a
–



Figure 2b
–
–



2 cars balance each
other on same drive
2 cars balance each
other on different drives
Shafts are mechanically
linked

Figure 2c
–

4 cars balance each
other on different drives

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 2c

Transition: Start of upward motion
1. Clamp moves
left to up cable
2. Clamp latches
up cable
3. Clamp releases
stationary cable

4. Car moves
upwards

Transition: Coming to a halt
1. Clamp moves
to stationary cable
2. Clamp latches
on to stationary
cable
3. Clamp releases
up cable
4. Car comes to a halt

Transition: Switching Shafts
1. Clamp extends
to adjoining shaft
2. Clamp locks up
3. Cab shifts
4. Clamp unlocks

5. Clamp retracts

Multiple Drive Zones


Problem: Drive assembly limitation
–



Solution: Stacked drive segments
–
–



A single span of drive assembly is not
suitable for tall buildings.
Allows for shorter drive segments
Optional: express & local speeds

Details: Car switches drives
–
–
–

Both segments serve the same shaft
Segments are mechanically linked
No horizontal car motion

Transition
Zone

Future extensions


Tilting cars during horizontal
acceleration
–




Moving horizontally between elevator
banks
Personal sized elevator cars
–




Reduces passenger discomfort

Faster transit with fewer stops

Splice cars together to form larger car
Operation along slanted shafts

Key Innovations









Elevator system without counterweights
Drive assembly for elevators
Clamp assembly and clutch mechanism
Use of extension arm in elevators to facilitate
transfer between adjacent shafts
Arbitrary horizontal switching between shafts
Multiple drive zones
Statistical counterweight balancing algorithm
Control system for collision avoidance and car
trajectory

Main issues & obstacles


Need to rework the US Elevator Code
–



Build a scaled prototype
–



Shared by Canada, and now China
Seeing is believing !

Design production model, while maintaining
–

–
–

current safety margins
operating efficiencies
passenger comfort

Project Timeline
Task
Patent Search
Patent Application
Detailed design
Find venture funding
Assemble project team
Develop scaled prototype
Product Development

Start Date
July 04
Dec 04
Jan 05
July 05
Dec 05
July 06
Jan 08

End Date
Dec 04
July 06
Dec 05
July 06
July 06
Jan 08
…

Thank You !!



What do you really think of all
this?