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An elevator (or lift in the Commonwealth excluding Canada) is a type of vertical transport
equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors (levels, decks) of a building,
vessel or other structures. 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.
There are three types of convoying methods in buildings, Elevators & Escalators & Ramps, and
they have different dimensions and uses according to building type & number of users in it.
Elevator Types
1.
According to hoist mechanism.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Traction Elevators
3.
Climbing elevator
4.
Pneumatic Elevators
Hydraulic Elevators
Hydraulic elevators are supported by a piston at the bottom of the elevator that pushes the
elevator up. They are used for low-rise applications of 2-8 stories and travel at a maximum
speed of 200 feet per minute. The machine room for hydraulic elevators is located at the
lowest level adjacent to the elevator shaft. Hydraulic elevators have many two main types as
follows:
A- Holed (Conventional) Hydraulic Elevators
They have a piston on either side of the cab. It can be divided to 3 different types as follows:
a- Telescopic Hydraulic Elevators:
C- Machine-Room-Less Elevators:
Machine-Room-Less Elevators
they are typically traction elevators that do not have a dedicated machine room above the
elevator shaft. The machine sits in the override space and the controls sit above the ceiling
adjacent to the elevator shaft. Machine-room-less elevators are becoming more common;
however, many maintenance departments do not like them due to the hassle of working on a
ladder as opposed to within a room.
3- Climbing elevator
Climbing elevator
They hold their own power device on them, mostly electric or combustion engine. Climbing
elevators are often used in work and construction areas.
4- Pneumatic Elevators
Pneumatic Elevators
Pneumatic elevators are raised and lowered by controlling air pressure in a chamber in which
the elevator sits. By simple principles of physics; the difference in air pressure above and
beneath the vacuum elevator cab literally transports cab by air. It is the vacuum pumps or
turbines that pull cab up to the next Floor and the slow release of air pressure that floats cab
down. They are especially ideal for existing homes due to their compact design because
excavating a pit and hoist way are not required.
3.
Agricultural Elevators.
4.
Industrial Elevators.
5.
Commercial Elevators.
6.
1- Hospital Elevators
Hospital Elevators
Passenger Elevators
Domestic elevators which are intended to move passengers up and down stairs in a multilevel
residence are quite similar to those used in large public buildings. They can be built either
inside the home or outside the home and can be pneumatic vacuum, electric, hydraulic or
cable elevators. Most often domestic elevators designed for carrying passengers in a
residential setting only carry perhaps two to four people safely and comfortably.
B- Stairway Elevators
Stairway Elevators
Stairway elevators are generally installed in homes where someone in the family has problems
with mobility. This type of domestic elevators simply runs on a rail up and down and existing
staircase. They can run either in a straight line or around a curved stairway. Stairway
elevators can be constructed both inside and outside the home.
b.1 - Vertical Wheelchair Elevators
Dumbwaiters Elevators
They are small freight elevators intended to carry objects rather than people , Whenever
groceries or laundry need to be sent up and down the stairs without making unnecessary trips
that can quickly tire people , people can simply place what needs to be transported in the
dumbwaiter and press the button to send it up or down stairs. Dumbwaiters are most often
built into or adjacent to a wall.
A simple dumbwaiter is a movable frame in a shaft, dropped by a rope on a pulley, guided by
rails; most dumbwaiters have a shaft, car, and capacity smaller than those of passenger
elevators, usually 100 to 1000 lbs
3- Agricultural applications:
A- Bucket Elevators
Bucket elevator used to move crops which have been newly harvested up and into silo. Bucket
elevators are manufactured in such a way that they can move heavy loads quite easily. They
can be belt driven or chain driven and they can move vertically, horizontally or at an incline.
A.1- Centrifugal discharge elevators
centrifugal force. This type of elevator has lower speeds and the buckets are often placed
relatively closely together.
A.2 Vertical bucket Elevators
4- Industrial Elevators
The most common types of industrial elevators are hoist elevators and incline elevators.
These types of elevators are built to carry huge amounts of weight effortlessly, therefore the
term industrial elevators. This type of elevators is used in construction, warehouses, and
shipyards.
A-Hoist Elevators
Hoist Elevators
Hoist elevators are operated by a pulley or series of pulleys and they can be a simple platform
or a cage in which humans or heavy materials are moved up and down during industrial
applications. Generally, a pulley operates a rope or chain that wraps around a drum causing
the elevator to rise or descend. It is said that hoist elevators are powered by either electricity
or air, but even that isn't quite true because electricity is needed to pump air. Hoist elevators
carrying materials and equipment to upper levels as needed while the building is being
constructed. They are also commonly used to load equipment and supplies on large seagoing
vessels.
B- Incline Elevators
Incline Elevators
The equipment and supplies are placed on a form of conveyor belt that continues turning
bringing the cargo up to its destination where it is quickly unloaded as the belt continues
turning around. This is a much quicker method of loading and unloading cargo than with a
hoist elevator because there is no stopping to unload. Everything happens in one fluid motion.
Incline elevators when used for industrial purposes are usually temporary and mobile. Many
are on wheels and can be easily moved from one dock or location to the next.
5- Parking Elevators
A- Parking Elevators for Passengers
1. Bottom entering type: A type that cars are parted and retrieved at the bottom of parking
equiments.
2. Middle entering type: A type that cars are parked and retrieved at the middle of parking
equiments.
3. Top entering type: This type that cars are parked and retrieved at the top of parking
equiments.
C.4 story Type
A system is featured by using all parking lots on the first floor as the place for car
parking/retrieval. Carriers are arranged on two levels, where cars are parked through both
vertical and horizontal movements. With short construction period and easy installation, it is
fit household use or a small scale parking lot.
C.5 Puzzle Type
The carriers are arranged on 3-storey and more than 3-story, a specific carrier moves both
vertically and horizontally to and from more than one car entrance on the same level, It is an
economical system, has safe structures, and designed to utilize space efficiently to install
parking equipments. As there are few laws and regulations on this system and the installation
period is short. it is fit for utilizing an idle lot in residential areas.
C.6 Turn Table
A turntable is equipment which changes directions itself utilize efficiently a limited space.
The turntable installed in front of parking equipments provides drivers with convenience and
safety.
C.7 Elevator Type
This System is arranged On multi-levels and designed to automatically Carry and park Cars by
a lift and a Carrier installed inside parking lots A pallet for parking is built in independently on
each level, that is Carried by a Cage from parking lots to the lift that moves Vertically to an
entrance/exit. This System one of the most Up-to-date mechanical Car parking System, is
featured With Speedy parking/retrieval, widely installed In a City area, and fit for a large
Scale Car parking equipment that can maximize Utilization of a limited parking Space.
C.8 Lift Traverser Type
This is a full automatically mechanical car parking system that minimizes the time for
parking/retrieval by the simultaneous movements, both horizontally and vertically, of a car
lift. As the utilization of both parking space and floor space can be maximized and easy
forward parking/ retrieval of vehicles is possible from any moving lane, and the convenience
of user can be maximized. The noise level is low and the durability of car bay is semipermanent. The scale of car parking can be proportionally balanced and properly coordinated
with the building's shape.
C.9 Cart Type
This is a multi-leveled car parking system and is designed to park vehicles into each parking
lots by conveying vehicles automatically with both a up-and-down lift and a parking cart. The
carts independently installed on each parking level can retrieve vehicles from parking lots,
and more than one lift move simultaneously for car parking/retrieval. This is one of most upto-date mechanical parking systems with speedy car parking/retrieval and fits a large scale of
car parking that can maximize the utilization of the underground space by installing many
rows of the carts in the underground.
6- Commercial Elevators
C- Commercial Dumbwaiter
Commercial Dumbwaiter
They are economic solution for moving material from floor to floor in a multi-level
commercial environment. They can carry loads up to 750 lbs.
Commercial Dumbwaiter used to Save manpower, save space, save time, save energy and help
avoid workplace injuries.
Typical materials handled in a commercial environment can be Food, Dishes & Cutlery,
Documents, Clothing, Carts or Shoes.
Commercial Dumbwaiter can have one of the following types or configurations:
A- Outdoor Elevators
Common types of outdoor elevators are cargo elevators, platform elevators, and incline and
vertical elevators.
Observation elevator
The observation elevator puts the cab on the outside of the building. Glass-walled elevator
cars allow passengers to view the cityscape or the buildings atrium as they travel. By
eliminating the hoist ways, the observation elevator also offers owners, architects and
builders valuable space-saving advantages.
Incline Elevators
Outdoor elevators built on an incline can also be used to transport passengers or goods.
Incline elevators are most often recognized as passenger elevators called ski lifts. However,
outdoor elevators that move cargo on an incline are generally constructed with a conveyor
belt and most often seen when loading cargo on ships and some types of aircraft.
Platform Elevators
While it is possible to use platform elevators indoors they are generally classified as outdoor
elevators because that is where they are most often used. Platform elevators usually are not
enclosed by having a have a fence or gate running around the perimeter to keep cargo from
slipping off during transport. Platform elevators usually use a system of pulleys as the working
mechanism. Outdoor elevators consisting of a platform are most often used at new
construction sites but they can also be used for such things as elevating workmen renovating
the faade of a building or washing windows on a high-rise.
Freight Elevators
Freight elevators are almost always outdoor elevators even though some smaller versions are
designed for indoor use such as those used in warehouses. They are most often extremely
heavy-duty and can facilitate a great amount of weight. This type of elevator can either be on
an incline or vertical, but will most often be industrial grade to accommodate those heavy
loads. In fact, the first type of elevator which comes to mind when thinking of outdoor
elevators is actually freight elevators.
B- Indoor elevators
All elevators installed inside a building which usually need a hoist ways and pits.
Handicap Elevators
In reality, any type of elevator that can assist a handicapped person in going up and down
various levels of the building could be considered a handicap elevator. However, specific types
of elevators are manufactured with handicapped persons in mind. A good example of this
would be a wheelchair lift that gets a handicapped person in and out of vans. The lift comes
out the sliding doors and descends in order to allow the wheelchair on the platform. Then the
lift is raised up and backs into the vehicle. Most city buses have this type of handicap
elevators installed on them, but they are also manufactured for privately owned vehicles as
well. Most handicap elevators within a home are electric elevators, but some are pneumatic
vacuum models as well and operated by air pressure. Stairway lifts are also considered to be a
type of handicap elevator and this type can either be installed on a straight stairway or a
curved staircase.
B- Grain Elevators
Grain Elevators
A grain elevator is a tower containing a bucket elevator, which scoops up, elevates, and then
uses gravity to deposit grain in a silo or other storage facility. They can be classified as either
country or terminal elevators, with terminal elevators further categorized as inland or
export types. Operations other than storage, such as cleaning, drying, and blending, often are
performed at elevators. The principal grains and oilseeds handled include wheat, corn, oats,
rice, soybeans, and sorghum.
C- Double-deck elevator
Double-deck elevator
Double-deck elevators save time and space in high-occupancy buildings by mounting one car
upon another. One car stops at even floors and the other stops at the odd floors. Depending
on their destination, passengers can mount one car in the lobby or take an escalator to a
landing for the alternate car.
D- Sky Lobby
Sky Lobby
In very tall buildings, elevator efficiency can be increased by a system that combines express
and local elevators. The express elevators stop at designated floors called sky lobbies. There,
passengers can transfer to local elevators that will take them to their desired floor. By
dividing the building into levels served by the express elevators, the local elevators can be
stacked to occupy the same shaft space. That way, each zone can be served simultaneously by
its own bank of local elevators.
In the next Topic, I will explain the Basic Elevator Components. So, please keep following.
Note: these topics about elevators in this course EE-1: Beginner's electrical design course is an
introduction only for beginners to know general basic information about elevators as a type of
Power loads. But in other levels of our electrical design courses, we will show and explain in
detail the Elevator Loads Estimation calculations.