US 11,702,318 B2
Method of expanding an elevator system in a hoistway
Pedro Medeiros, São Bernardo do Campo (BR); and Fausto Rodolfo Silva, São Bernardo do Campo (BR)
Assigned to OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed by Otis Elevator Company, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed on Jul. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/379,582.
Prior Publication US 2023/0020453 A1, Jan. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. B66B 11/00 (2006.01); B66B 7/02 (2006.01); B66B 19/00 (2006.01)
CPC B66B 11/0075 (2013.01) [B66B 7/023 (2013.01); B66B 19/002 (2013.01); B66B 7/021 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of expanding an elevator system in a hoistway of a building, comprising:
parking an elevator car at or below a first level, between a first rail system extending along first wall of the hoistway and a second rail system extending along a second wall of the hoistway that is opposite the first wall, wherein the first rail system extends to a first top end located at second level that is above the first level, and the second rail system extends to a second top end that is below the second level;
raising the second rail system to the second level;
supporting an elevator machine with a bedplate, wherein the elevator machine is operatively connected to a machine end of a tension system and the tension system is operationally connected to the elevator car;
engaging a first safety block, operatively connected to the bedplate, to release the second rail system, whereby the bedplate is configured to move against the second rail system; and
raising the bedplate to the second level,
wherein:
prior to raising the second rail system to the second level, the method includes:
disconnecting a spool, operatively connected a spool end of the tension system, from the first wall, and connecting the spool to a ceiling of the elevator car,
wherein raising the bedplate to the second level while the spool is connected to the ceiling of the elevator car draws an additional length of the tension system from the spool.