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STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. ___

6

ELEVATORS
MODULE OVERVIEW

In this module you will learn the basics on vertical transport systems like elevators, escalators, and moving
walks. We will learn some basic background about this vertical transport systems, their design and functions.
We will also study the major parts of each system and how they function. Aside from this we will look at the
different types and components of the systems. This module will specifically focus on elevator as a vertical
transport system so we will study the types of elevators, applications, parts and functions, and their
characteristics.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module the student should be able to:

1. To learn basic component systems of Elevators.
2. To understand how elevators work and function.
3. To determine proper elevators to be used for buildings.

LEARNING CONTENTS (Elevators)

Basic Introduction

 The elevator (or lift) 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

 Ancient and medieval elevators used drive systems based on hoists or winders. The invention of a
system based on the screw drive was perhaps the most important step in elevator technology since
ancient times, leading to the creation of modern passenger elevators. The first screw drive elevator
was built by Ivan Kulibin and installed in Winter Palace in 1793. Several years later another of
Kulibin's elevators was installed in Arkhangelskoye near Moscow. In 1823, an "ascending room"
made its debut in London.

 In 1823 in London, an "ascending room" was built and operated by two architects, Burton and
Hormer. It was designed as a tourist attraction to elevate paying customers to a panoramic view of the
city. The "Teagle" - a belt-driven elevator with a counterweight was developed in 1835 by Frost and
Stutt in England.

 The hydraulic crane was invented by Sir William Armstrong in 1846 for use primarily at the docks of
London for loading cargo.

 Henry Waterman of New York is credited with inventing the "standing rope control" for an elevator in
1850.

 In 1852, Elisha Otis introduced the safety elevator, which prevented the fall of the cab if the cable
broke. The design of the Otis safety elevator is somewhat similar to one type still used today.

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 On March 23, 1857 the first Otis passenger elevator was installed at 488 Broadway in New York City.

 The Equitable Life Building completed in 1870 in New York City was the first office building to have
passenger elevators.

 The first electric elevator was built by Werner von Siemens in 1880 in Germany.

Design

 An elevator is essentially a platform that is either pulled or pushed up by a mechanical means.

 In the past, elevator drive mechanisms were powered by steam and water hydraulic pistons or by
hand.
 A modern day elevator consists of a cab (also called a "cage" or "car") mounted on a platform within
an enclosed space called a shaft or sometimes a "hoistway".
 Hydraulic elevators use the principles of hydraulics (in the sense of hydraulic power) to pressurize an
above ground or in-ground piston to raise and lower the car.
 Elevator doors protect riders from falling into the shaft.
 The most common configuration for elevator door is to have two panels that meet in the middle, and
slide open laterally.

Lift performance

Lift performance depends on:

Acceleration
Retardation
Car speed
Speed of door operation, and
Stability of speed and performance with variations of car load

Machine room-less (MRL) elevators

Machine room-less elevators are designed so that most of the components fit within the shaft containing the
elevator car; and a small cabinet houses the elevator controller. Other than the machinery being in the
hoistway, the equipment is similar to a normal traction elevator.

Benefits
 creates more usable space
 use less energy (70-80% less than hydraulic elevators)
 uses no oil
 slightly lower cost than other elevators
 can operate at faster speeds than hydraulics but not normal traction units

Types of hoist mechanisms

There are at least four means of moving an elevator:

1. Traction elevators
These are the most popular types of
elevators. Rather than being pushed from
below, these types of elevators are moved
using cables.

Cables attach to the car and through a

sheave. The sheave is connected to an
electric motor.
Motor turns one way, elevator moves up.
Motor turns the other way, elevator moves
down.
The ropes are connected to a

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counterweight. The counterweight system serves as a means for conserving energy.

 Geared and gearless traction elevators

Geared traction machines are driven by AC or DC electric motors. Geared machines use gears to
control mechanical movement of elevator cars by "rolling" steel hoist ropes over a drive sheave
which is attached to a gearbox driven by a high speed motor. These machines are generally the best
option for basement or overhead traction use for speeds up to 500 ft/min (2.5 m/s).

Gearless traction machines are low speed, high torque electric motors powered either by AC or DC.
In this case, the drive sheave is directly attached to the end of the motor. Gearless traction elevators
can reach speeds of up to 2,000 ft/min (10 m/s), or even higher. A brake is mounted between the
motor and drive sheave to hold the elevator stationary at a floor.

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GEARLESS TRACTION ELEVATORS

Comparison of geared and gearless elevators

Elevators with more than 100 ft (30 m) of travel have a system called compensation. This is a
separate set of cables or a chain attached to the bottom of the counterweight and the bottom of the

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elevator cab. This makes it easier to control the elevator, as it compensates for the differing weight
of cable between the hoist and the cab

Traction Elevators

 Rise Limitations: ~ 300 feet (Geared)

unlimited (Gearless)

 Cost: $150,000 - $200,000 (Geared)

$200,000 + (Gearless)
 Speeds: 350 - 500 fpm (Geared)
500 - 1800+ (Gearless)
 Advantages of Gearless:
smoother
approx. twice machine life

2. Hydraulic elevators

Conventional hydraulic elevators. They use an underground cylinder, are quite common for
low level buildings with 2–5 floors (sometimes but seldom up to 6–8 floors), and have speeds of up
to 200 feet/minute (1 meter/second).

 Rise Limitations: ~ 60 feet

 Speeds: 100/125/150 fpm
 Advantages:
low cost
no penthouse
no structural load on building
 Disadvantages
slow
energy inefficient

Holeless hydraulic elevators were

developed in the 1970s, and use a pair of
above ground cylinders, which makes it
practical for environmentally or cost
sensitive buildings with 2, 3, or 4 floors.
 Rise Limitations: 20 feet
 Speeds: 100/125 fpm
 Advantages:
no well hole
minimizes environmental
contamination

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Disadvantages:
limited travel

Roped hydraulic elevators use both above ground cylinders and a rope system, allowing the
elevator to travel further than the piston has to move.

The low mechanical complexity of hydraulic elevators in comparison to traction elevators makes
them ideal for low rise, low traffic installations. They are less energy efficient as the pump works
against gravity to push the car and its passengers upwards; this energy is lost when the car
descends on its own weight. The high current draw of the pump when starting up also places higher
demands on a building’s electrical system.

 Rise Limitations: 60 feet

 Speeds: 100 - 125 - 150 fpm
 Advantages:
Eliminates well hole
Same 60’ travel range as “holed” hydro
Existing Building
 Disadvantages
More costly than conventional holed hydraulic

Hydraulic Code Changes

Holeless Hydraulic Holed Hydraulic Roped Hydraulic

Hydraulic elevators

3. Traction-Hydraulic Elevators
The traction-hydraulic elevator has overhead traction cables and counterweight, but 20
is driven by
hydraulic power instead of an overhead traction motor. The weight of the car and its passengers,
plus an advantageous roping ratio, reduces the demand from the pump to raise the counterweight,
thereby reducing the size of the required machinery.

4. Climbing elevator
A climbing elevator is a self-ascending elevator with its own propulsion. The propulsion can be
done by an electric or a combustion engine. Climbing elevators are used in guyed masts or towers,
in order to make easy access to parts of these constructions, such as flight safety lamps for
maintenance.

The car is moved up and down using “a fluid piston mounted inside a cylinder”

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Consists of three parts:

Tank
Pump
Valve

Characteristic of Lifts

1. Lift needed for the building more than 6 storey.

2. Suitable speed 100 – 150ft/min. Too fast will result in a nervous breakdown to the user. If too
slow will cause lack of function.

USER REQUIREMENTS :

 Good System – quiet equipment, smooth journey, good condition and safe at every
moment.
 Waiting time – minimum waiting time at any level.
 Aesthetics – Button panel clear and easily reached at appropriate level. Complete
instruction. Decorative lighting and comfortable.
 Movement of door – door movement is quiet and fast.

Types of elevators

Passenger elevator - Elevator are the main transportation arteries in the modern building and are vital in
determining a building's economic success. All types of passenger lifts of different capacity and speed.

Passenger elevators should be located at the circulation core of the building and be grouped into banks when
this is necessary and desirable.

The required number of elevators is determined by:

Building type
Building height
Number of stops
Floor use
Passenger volume

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FREIGHT ELEVATORS

A freight elevator, or goods lift, is an elevator designed to carry goods, rather than passengers. Freight
elevators are typically larger and capable of carrying heavier loads than a passenger elevator, generally from
2,300 to 4,500 kg. Freight elevators may have manually operated doors, and often have rugged interior
finishes to prevent damage while loading and unloading. Although hydraulic freight elevators exist, electric
elevators are more energy efficient for the work of freight lifting.

Good elevators - Goods Elevators are used in different industries for lifting
heavy goods and items. These goods elevators are precision designed to have
excellent lifting capacity & maintenance less working mechanism.

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Panoramic/scenic elevators - panoramic elevators, panoramic lift are

designed basically for malls and other commercials buildings. It has an
overlook over other elevators.

 They loosen rigour of architecture and give passengers a

visually stimulating ride between floors. This type of elevators
are suitable for luxurious buildings. It increases the passenger
sense of security.
 If the technical components are to be hidden, the scenic
elevator consist of entrance area and a viewing area. The
entrance area is surrounded by an enclosed shaft that contains
necessary elevator technology. The car is also enclosed in this
area.
 The car walls must be constructed with laminated glass with
EN 81.Depending on architecture, opaque sheet metal doors can be replaced with translucent glass
doors in scenic elevators.

Capsule elevators - Capsule Elevators act as Architectural highlights on

prestigious buildings. They can be called the ornaments of a building as
they enhance its beauty and bring life into it. Its design, features and
infinite options add its optimum travel comfort. It has aesthetically
attractive interiors with large glass viewing panel.

Glass elevators - Glass elevators combine speed, efficiency, simplicity

and easy maintenance at competitive prices. These elevators are
intended for use in residential apartments, hotels, banks and similar
applications, where the ease of use by individuals is important.

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Automobile elevators - A car elevator is installed where ramps are considered space-in conservative. Car
elevators are usually used in parking the vehicles at different floors, automobile show rooms, automobile
service centers etc. The car elevator usually has got the entrance on opposite sides so that the car can enter
from one end and leave from the opposite end.

Stretcher elevator- Stretcher elevator also cater to the health sector by providing specialized range of
Stretcher Elevators suited for application in hospitals, health centers and other similar places. A Stretcher
Elevator provides highly stable and smooth operation as it utilizes inverter control technology and lowest noise
mechanism. With blurring logic and group control of these Elevators, the waiting time is also reduced. These
highly spacious Elevators can easily accommodate stretchers and other medical equipment.

Rack-and-pinion lift -The rack-and-pinion lift is another type of lift. These lifts are powered by a motor driving
a pinion gear. Because they can be installed on a building or structure's exterior and there is no machine
room or hoistway required, they are the most used type of lift for buildings under construction.

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Paternoster - A special type of elevator is the paternoster, a constantly moving chain of boxes. A similar
concept, called the manlift or humanlift, moves only a small platform, which the rider mounts while using a
handhold and was once seen in multi-story industrial plants.

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Dumbwaiter - Dumbwaiters are small freight elevators that are intended to carry food rather than passengers.
They often link kitchens with rooms on other floors.

Scissor lift -The scissor lift is yet another type of lift. As most of these lifts are self-contained, these lifts can
be easily moved to where they are needed.

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CONSTRUCTION

ELEVATOR SHAFT – contain building components necessary for the operation of elevator. Its dimension
depends upon elevator model, door design and type of drive. They must have ventilation and smoke
extracting openings. The cross section of these openings is generally 2.5% of the shaft floor area, with
minimum cross section stipulated as 0.1m.sq.

SHAFT PIT – the bottom end of the shaft is called pit. The depth of the pit is measured from the top edge of
the finished floor at the lowest elevator stop to the top edge of the finished floor of the pit floor. The minimum
depth of pit is determined by:
space required for construction
over run and safety space stipulated by regulations

The pit sits directly on the foundation. Shaft pits that are 1 to 2.5m deep must be equipped with a removable
access ladder. Pits with a depth greater than 2.5m must have a secure access door to a building floor.

Machine room/motor room

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Pit

Located below the lowest landing level, containing buffers

For slower lifts – spring-type buffers
For higher-speed lifts – oil loaded buffers
Depth of pit varies from 1.4 to 2.8 m, depending on lift specification

Lift Components

LIFT CAR

Platform where passengers or goods is transported.

Constructed with steel or iron attached with steel frame.
Fire resistance

ELEVATOR CARS

In addition to doors, the size of the elevator shaft is

also largely determined by dimensions of elevator car.
All elevator cars must be well lit, with grid independent
safety lights which are battery operated
Passenger and freight elevator cars must be
ventilated. Air intake and exhaust openings must be
placed to ensure sufficient diagonal and cross
ventilation.

Divided into 2 types :

1. Closed Lift (typical type)
2. Open Lift (bubble type)

Open Lift (bubble type)

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Closed Lift (typical type)

Equipment to be provided – door, floor panel indicators, button of request, phone, emergency button, lighting,
ventilation and enough emergency supplies.

LIFT SHAFT

Constructed with reinforced concrete.

To accommodate the loading and fire resistance.
Size of lift shaft space is determined by the number of user.

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Looking down the lift shaft of a hydraulic elevator. The hydraulic ram is to the left.

Gearless motor mounted on the wall in the lift shaft

GOVERNOR

Usually placed at the top of lift shaft.

Placed in room equipped with a lifting beam for maintenance purposes.
Have electric motor, safety gear, guard rail, diaphragm motion and gear.

LIFT DOOR

Lift car is equipped with its own door (sliding type).

Security measure – resist the movement as long as the door is still open.
Self closing within a certain time frame.

2 types of sliding door :

1. Opened automatically when the lift stops at every level.
2. Swing door – will open when the lift stopped at the lobby.

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GUARD RAIL

Work to keep the car and the counterweight.

Mounted on both sides of the lift shaft which is attached to
the wheel of the car.
A safety device to hold the lift from crashing down if the
rope break.

BUFFER

To absorb the impact of the lift car when it fell.

Placed in a room called the lift pit.

COUNTERWEIGHT

Load borne by the generator is balanced by the

counterweight.
Connected with a wire rope of the elevator car.
Function of counterweight :
- To grip the lift car
- Reduce the power of generator
- Reduce the brake to stop the car lifts.

SHAFT HEAD – It is the upper section of the shaft,

measured from the top edge of the finished floor at the
uppermost stop to the bottom edge of the shaft ceiling.
SHAFT ACCESS – The size of the shaft access points is
determined by the door design, while their location is
defined by shaft symmetry.
MACHINE ROOM - Depending upon the type of drive

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machine room is located either at the top above the shaft or at the bottom next to it.

Controlling elevators
Overload sensor — prevents the elevator from moving until excess load has been removed. It may trigger a
voice prompt or buzzer alarm. This may also trigger a "full car" indicator, indicating the car's inability to accept
more passengers until some are unloaded.

Electric fans or air conditioning units to enhance circulation and comfort.

Call buttons to choose a floor. Some of these may be key switches (to control access). In some elevators,
certain floors are inaccessible unless one swipes a security card or enters a passcode (or both).

A set of doors kept locked on each floor to prevent unintentional access into the elevator shaft by the
unsuspecting individual. The door is unlocked and opened by a machine sitting on the roof of the car, which
also drives the doors that travel with the car.

A stop switch (not allowed under British regulations) to halt the elevator while in motion and often used to hold
an elevator open while freight is loaded.

An alarm button or switch, which passengers can use to signal that they have been trapped in the elevator.

Lift Controls

Possibilities of control arrangements:

Operator
Automatic
Down collective
Directional collective
Group collective
Programmed control

Lift Installation by zone system

ONE SYSTEM ZONE

For building not > 15 levels.
Elevators car stops at every level of the building.
Used to save space.

TWO SYSTEM ZONE

For buildings > 15 levels and < 40 levels.
System brake into two zone of elevator
The elevator of bottom and same for the top will not stop at any lower zone.
Not effective in the event of ‘off peak’ and interfloor service.

SKY LOBBY ZONE

For building > 40 levels.

A group lift with high speed moving lift without interruption from the floor to the sky lobby.
The elevator will move with normal velocity at the next level.

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Sky Lobby at Level 41&42

29 Double deck elevators
88 stories tall

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

Draw a sectional view of a passenger elevator of your choice and identify the different parts and functions.
ARNING ACTIVITY

SUMMARY

In this module we learned and studied the types of elevators, applications, parts, components and functions, and their
characteristics.

REFERENCES

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