Direct drive for an elevator car

A direct drive apparatus for an elevator wherein a movable part of the direct drive, particularly a linear motor, is connected with an elevator car or counterweight for transmission of compression and tension in the travel direction by a tension/compression strut with settable damping properties. The tension/compression strut includes first and second rods which lie on a longitudinal axis of the strut and extend into opposite ends of a sleeve. First and second nuts are threadably received in the ends of the sleeve. First and second spring elements are positioned in the sleeve abutting the first and second nuts respectively. A central spring element is positioned between first and second spring plates which abut the first and second spring elements respectively. Each rod extends through the respective nut, spring element and spring plate into the central spring element and is attached the respective spring plate to optimize the oscillation and body sound insulation.