Vertical hoist assembly

Claim 1

A vertical hoist car assembly for use in upwardly tapering structures and for travelling along a generally upright course therein, comprising elongated track means having a ladder construction of two generally parallel side rails interconnected by a plurality of transversely extending, longitudinally spaced rungs; support means for firmly supporting said track means in an upright manner on an upright surface; a service car means for moving along the upright course, the car having upper and lower rotatable wheels arranged and constructed to engage the side rails of said track means; said car having a floor at the lower end portion thereof with the floor being provided with an opening sized for ready entrance and exit by personnel and located and arranged for ready access by personnel to said track means whereby personnel may readily enter and exit said service car from and to said track means; and a door covering said opening; safety cable means extending between the upper and lower end regions of said track means and arranged and constructed for receiving personnel safety clamp means; suspension means for suspending said car on said track means; power means for supporting said suspension means and for lifting and lowering said car; and braking means arranged and constructed on said service car to engage said side rails, with said braking means being operable with said suspension means to be disengaged from said side rails when said suspension means is under tension and to engage said side rails in braking engagement when tension is released from said suspension means.