Linear motor for multi–car elevators: design and position measurement

Multi-car elevator is an emerging technology consisting of two or more elevator cars moving independently in an elevator hoistway, which has become more appealing as building heights increase. In this paper, the design and drive methodologies for a linear motor driven multi-car elevator system with independentlymoving cars is introduced together with experimental results. Additionally, a safety method developed for the linear motor elevator and the conditions necessary for its proper operation are discussed. The new results introduced in this paper are in the areas of the design method of the linear motor for multi-car elevator system, and the preliminary results for the position measurement system.