ELEVATOR

An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves

people or goods between floors (levels, decks) of a building, vessel, or other
structure.
Elevators are generally powered by electric motors that either drive traction
cables or counterweight systems like a hoist, or pump hydraulic fluid to raise
a cylindrical piston like a jack.

History of Elevator

The earliest known reference to an elevator is in the works of the Roman

architect Vitruvius, who reported that Archimedes built his first elevator
probably in 236 BC
In 1852, Elisha Otis introduced the safety elevator, which prevented the fall of
the cab if the cable broke.
The first electric elevator was built by Werner von Siemens in 1880 in
Germany.

Standard Elevator Types

The standard elevator is classified according to the rated load to the following
types:

Type (I): starting from 320 Kg up to 800 Kg rated load.

Type (II): more than 800 Kg up to 1600 Kg rated load

Basic Elevator Components

The standard elevators will include the following basic components:

1. Car.
Elevator Car is the vehicle that travels between the different elevators
stops carrying passengers and/or goods, it is usually A heavy steel frame
surrounding a cage of metal and wood panels.
Standard elevator car/cabin can be classified according to the number
of entrances and their locations as follows:
1. Normal Cabin
2. Open Through Cabin

3. Diagonal Cabin

Elevator Car is composed of the following components:

a) Car Sling
Car Sling is load carrier element in the elevator car as well as its
function of isolating vibrations due to running.

b) The elevator cabin

Elevator cabinets shall be completely enclosed by walls, floors and
ceiling; the only permissible opening beings are the car door, emergency
trap door and ventilation apertures.

c) Mechanical accessories which are:

Car door and door operator.

Guide shoes.

Door Protective Device.

2. Hoistway
A hoistway is the shaft constructed to allow elevators to efficiently
move between the floors of a building. The shafts are typically constructed so
that an elevator may move smoothly from one floor to the next, while also
allowing room for the use of ancillary equipment to manage the opening and
closing of doors as the elevator reaches a given floor.

Hoistway is equipped with the following components:

a) Guide rails for both the car and counterweight.

Are Steel Tracks in the form of a T that run the length of the
hoistway, round, or formed sections with guiding surfaces to guide and
direct the course of travel of an elevator car and elevator
counterweights and usually mounted to the sides of the hoist way.

b) Counterweight.
Counterweight is a tracked weight that is suspended from cables and
moves within its own set of guide rails along the hoist way walls.
Counterweight is used for the following:

Balancing the mass of the complete car and a portion of rated load,
and it will be equal to the dead weight of the car plus about 40% of the
rated load.
Reducing the necessary consumed power for moving the
elevator.

c) Suspension (Hoisting) Ropes (Cables).

Suspension Ropes are Suspension means for car and counterweight,
which are represented by steel wire ropes. They are Used on traction type
elevators, usually attached to the crosshead and extending up into the
machine room looping over the sheave on the motor and then down to the
counter weights. Hoisting cable are generally 3 to 6 in number. These ropes
are usually 1/2or 5/8 in diameter.

d) Landing (Hoistway) doors

The door that is seen from each floor of a building is referred to as the
outer or hoistway door. This hoistway door is a part of the building (each
landing). It is important to realize that the car door does all the work; the
hoistway door is a dependent. These doors can be opened or closed by
electric motors, or manually for emergency incidents. The difference between
the car doors and the hoistway doors is that the elevator car door travels
through the hoistway with the car but the hoistway doors are fixed doors in
each landing floor.

e) Buffers in the pit.

A Buffer is a device designed to stop a descending car or
counterweight beyond its normal limit and to soften the force with which the
elevator runs into the pit during an emergency. They may be of polyurethane
or oil type in respect of the rated speed.

3. Machine/drive system.
Driving machine, this is the power unit of the elevator, and usually
located at the elevator machine room.
The Driving machine used to refer to the collection of components that raise
or lower the elevator. These include the drive motor, brake, speed reduction
unit, sheaves and encoders.

4. Control system.
Elevator Control System is the system responsible for coordinating all
aspects of elevator service such as travel, speed, and accelerating, decelerating,
door opening speed and delay, leveling and hall lantern signals.
It accepts inputs (e.g. button signals) and produces outputs (elevator cars
moving, doors opening, etc.).

The main aims of the elevator control system are:

To bring the lift car to the correct floor.

To minimize travel time.

To maximize passenger comfort by providing a smooth ride.

To accelerate, decelerate and travel within safe speed limits.

Elevators Types and Classification

1.

According to hoist mechanism.

2.

According to building height.

3.

According to building type.

4.

According to elevator Location.

5.

According to Special uses.