VERTICAL TRASPORTATION SYSTEM

The four main types of elevators

Passenger Elevator

A passenger elevator is any elevator intended for the

transport of people through a building. These elevators
can vary drastically in terms of size, speed and interior
options depending on the use of the elevator.

Service Elevator

A service elevator is found in many commercial buildings

and is intended for the transport of goods through the
buildings by employees, such as the housekeeping staff
moving cleaning carts through a hotel. Service elevators
are also used in hospitals for the transport of patients on
hospital beds. To comply with code requirements, these
elevators are typically more robust and deeper than
standard passenger elevators, so they can navigate larger
items through the building.

https://www.schindler.com/ph/internet/en/about-us/news/2021/types-of-
elevators.html
The four main types of elevators

Freight Elevator

A freight elevator is intended to move very heavy loads,

such as cars or cargo in industrial buildings. These
elevators are not intended for passenger transport and
are designed to withstand tougher working conditions,
which is why their interiors are focused on robust design,
with heavy steel walls and floors, rather than more
attractive interiors.

Dumbwaiter

A dumbwaiter is a small freight elevator. It is often used

for the transport of food in restaurants. However, they
can be found in both commercial, public and private
buildings.
Elevator hoist systems

Another important way the type of building influences

elevator design is in selecting the best hoist system.
Understanding the terminology between various types
of elevator hoist systems will help you determine
which models or types of elevators may be the most
appropriate for your building.
Common types of elevator hoist systems include:

Hydraulic Elevators

This type of hoist system is usually only used in low-

rise buildings, typically up to six stories high or to
transport extremely heavy loads Hydraulic elevators
are lifted by pistons from below. These elevators
require more energy to operate than other elevator
models and, due to the introduction of machine-room-
less elevator with high-efficiency machine and drives,
have largely been replaced in the elevator market.
Traction Elevators

This type of elevator operates via a pulley system,

using steel ropes or belts and a counterweight to move
the cabin up and down. There are two types of
traction elevators: Gearless Traction and Geared
Traction. Gearless traction elevators are the more
advanced solution, with a wheel attached directly to
the motor and counterweights are used to operate the
hoisting system. Geared traction uses a gearbox to
turn the hoisting sheave and lift the elevator. These
systems are typically slower than gearless systems.
Overall, traction elevators are typically more energy
efficient and provide a smoother and quieter ride for
passengers.
Overall, traction elevators are typically more energy
efficient and provide a smoother and quieter ride for
passengers. Most modern elevators are typically
gearless traction, which is considered the most energy
and space efficient solution available.
Machine Rooms Options

With advancing technology, it is no longer mandatory

to have an elevator machine room to house the
machine and drive components.

Machine room-less (MRL)

Machine room-less systems can be either traction or
hydraulic. By incorporating more compact hoisting
sheaves, they do not require a machine room to
operate the lift and the machine is located directly in
the elevator hoistway. This provides the optimal use of
space for the building design

Machine Room (MR)

Machine room systems can be either traction or

hydraulic. In traction elevators, the machine room is
typically located above the hoistway. However, the
machine room can also be located at the bottom of
the hoistway or in a room adjacent to the elevator
bank.
Tip #2 - understand how the building is used

Good elevator design is based on a thorough understanding of how a building will be used. This
means scrutinizing the brief and having detailed conversations with your client. They’re probably not
aware of all the factors affecting elevators and the number of decisions that have to be made. It’s
your job to ask the right questions and avoid nasty surprises.

Traffic analysis

Traffic analysis involves modeling expected passenger movement as accurately as possible so the
required lift performance (including handling capacity and waiting time) can be properly judged.
Important factors that must be considered:

-How many people use the lifts?

-What are the peak-use periods?
-Are there busy locations such as restaurants and gyms?
-Do people need to move large items around the building? https://digitalplan.schindler.com/
-Do you need a dedicated lift for firefighters?
-Does the elevator need to serve floors used for parking?
-Should the elevators accommodate people with limited mobility?
https://www.schindler.com/ph/internet/en/about-us/news/2021/top-5-tips-for-effective-elevator-planning.html
Robust elevator performance requires functional planning
Anticipating the practical needs of your building’s occupants is part of the overall elevator planning.
Several key considerations will affect your choice for selections such as:

How many elevators are needed?

Capacity and design
Travel speed
Elevator door type (e.g. side opening, center opening)
Rear opening door (or only front opening)

https://www.schindler.com/ph/internet/en/mobility-solutions/plan-and-design/elevator-design-guide-lift-dimensions-planning.html#dimensions

https://digitalplan.schindler.com/
Lift lobby means a space from which people
directly entered a lift car(s) and into which people
directly enter upon exiting a lift car(s)
A sky lobby is an intermediate interchange floor in a 
skyscraper where people can change from an express 
elevator that stops only at the sky lobby to a local
elevator that stops at a subset of higher floors.
Escalator

An escalator is a conveyor transport device for transporting

 people, consisting of a staircase whose steps move up or down
on tracks that keep the surfaces of the individual steps
horizontal.

Escalators and their "cousins," moving walkways, are powered

by constant speed alternating current motors and move at
approximately 1–2 ft (0.3–0.6 m) per second. The maximum
angle of inclination of an escalator to the horizontal is 30
degrees with a standard rise up to about 60 ft (18 m).
Modern escalators have metal steps in a continuous loop that
move on tracks. Escalators are typically used in pairs with one
going up and the other going down, however in some places,
especially European stores and metro stations, there are no
escalators going down; the escalators only go up. Some modern
escalators in stores and shopping malls have glass sides that
reveal their workings. Although most escalators are straight,
some shopping malls use curved versions.

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/escalator
Components
Top and Bottom Landing Platforms—These two platforms house the curved sections of the tracks, as well as the gears and motors that drive the stairs. The top
platform contains the motor assembly and the main drive gear, while the bottom holds the step return idler sprockets. These sections also anchor the ends of the
escalator truss. In addition, the platforms contain a floor plate and a comb plate. The floor plate provides a place for the passengers to stand before they step onto the
moving stairs. This plate is flush with the finished floor and is either hinged or removable to allow easy access to the machinery below. The comb plate is the piece
between the stationary floor plate and the moving step. It is so named because its edge has a series of cleats that resemble the teeth of a comb. These teeth mesh
with matching cleats on the edges of the steps. This design is necessary to minimize the gap between the stair and the landing, which helps prevent objects from
getting caught in the gap.
The Truss—The truss is a hollow metal structure that bridges the lower and upper landings. It is composed of two side sections joined together with cross braces across
the bottom and just below the top. The ends of the truss are attached to the top and bottom landing platforms via steel or concrete supports. The truss carries all the
straight track sections connecting the upper and lower sections.
The Tracks—The track system is built into the truss to guide the step chain, which continuously pulls the steps from the bottom platform and back to the top in an
endless loop. There are actually two tracks: One for the front wheels of the steps (called the step-wheel track) and one for the back wheels of the steps (called the
trailer-wheel track). The relative positions of these tracks cause the steps to form a staircase as they move out from under the comb plate. Along the straight section of
the truss the tracks are at their maximum distance apart. This configuration forces the back of one step to be at a 90-degree angle relative to the step behind it. This
right angle bends the steps into a stair shape. At the top and bottom of the escalator, the two tracks converge so that the front and back wheels of the steps are almost
in a straight line. This causes the stairs to lay in a flat sheet-like arrangement, one after another, so they can easily travel around the bend in the curved section of track.
The tracks carry the steps down along the underside of the truss until they reach the bottom landing, where they pass through another curved section of track before
exiting the bottom landing. At this point the tracks separate and the steps once again assume a stair case configuration. This cycle is repeated continually as the steps
are pulled from bottom to top and back to the bottom again.
The Steps—The steps themselves are solid, one-piece, die-cast aluminum. Rubber mats may be affixed to their surface to reduce slippage, and yellow demarcation
lines may be added to clearly indicate their edges. The leading and trailing edges of each step are cleated with comb-like protrusions that mesh with the comb plates
on the top and bottom platforms. The steps are linked by a continuous metal chain so they form a closed loop with each step able to bend in relation to its neighbors.
The front and back edges of the steps are each connected to two wheels. The rear wheels are set further apart to fit into the back track and the front wheels have
shorter axles to fit into the narrower front track. As described above, the position of the tracks controls the orientation of the steps.
The Railing—The railing provides a convenient handhold for passengers while they are riding the escalator. It is constructed of four distinct sections. At the center of
the railing is a "slider," also known as a "glider ply," which is a layer of a cotton or synthetic textile. The purpose of the slider layer is to allow the railing to move
smoothly along its track. The next layer, known as the tension member, consists of either steel cable or flat steel tape. It provides the handrail with the necessary
tensile strength and flexibility. On top of tension member are the inner construction components, which are made of chemically treated rubber designed to prevent
the layers from separating. Finally, the outer layer, the only part that passengers actually see, is the rubber cover, which is a blend of synthetic polymers and rubber.
This cover is designed to resist degradation from environmental conditions, mechanical wear and tear, and human vandalism. The railing is constructed by feeding
rubber through a computer controlled extrusion machine to produce layers of the required size and type in order to match specific orders. The component layers of
fabric, rubber, and steel are shaped by skilled workers before being fed into the presses, where they are fused together. When installed, the finished railing is pulled
along its track by a chain that is connected to the main drive gear by a series of pulleys.
Moving walkways

Moving walkways, also known as moving sidewalks,

travelators, and walkalators, are built in one of two
basic styles:

Pallet type—a continuous series of flat metal plates

mesh together to form a walkway. Most have a metal
surface, though some models have a rubber surface
for extra traction.

Moving belt—these are generally built with mesh

metal belts or rubber walking surfaces over metal
rollers. The walking surface may have a solid feel or a
"bouncy" feel.

Both types of moving walkway have a grooved

surface to mesh with combplates at the ends. Also,
all moving walkways are built with moving handrails
similar to those on escalators.
Moving walkways are often used in airports, where
there is a long distance to walk between terminals,
and in metro stations.