Building

Services
Lecture 5a

Elevators

History of Vertical Circulation

The need for vertical transport is as
old as civilization.
Over the centuries, mankind has
employed ingenious forms of lifting.
The earliest lifts used man, animal
and water power to raise the load.

In ancient Greece, Archimedes developed an

improved lifting device operated by ropes
and pulleys, in which the hoisting ropes were
coiled around a winding drum by a capstan
and levers.

Lifting devices relied on various

forms of physical power till the
Industrial Revolution.

History of Vertical Circulation

By the 18th century, machine power
was being utilized for lifting.

In 1743, a counterweighted personal lift was

commissioned by Louis XV in France for his
personal chambers in Versailles.

By 1833, a reciprocating rods lift system was

used to raise and lower miners in Germanys
Harz Mountains.

The first hydraulic industrial lift

powered by water pressure came
into use in 1846.

But even with usage of more

complex machinery,
the major
hazard in form of breakage of lifting
rope was yet to be answered.

History of Vertical Circulation

In 1852, Elisha Otis was working as a

master
mechanic
at
the
Bedstead
Manufacturing Company, Yonkers, New York.

He was given the assignment to design a

freight elevator to haul the companys
products.

Otis was aware of the inherent problem of

cable failure and sought a solution that would
eliminate the hazard.

He realized that some sort of safety

brake was required.

The brake had to function on its own

(automatically) the instant the cable
broke if it were to save lives and
property.

Elisha Graves Otis

History of Vertical Circulation

Otis had finally invented a safety
brake that would suspend the car
safely in the shaft if an elevator
cable snapped. And the worlds first
safety lift was born.

On September 20, 1853, Otis opened his

own shop at the bankrupt Bedstead plant.

In order to promote his new venture, Otis

decided to stage a dramatic demonstration of
his new safety elevator at the Crystal Palace
Exposition in New York.

But before the platform could fall, the safety

spring locked the lift in place as Otis
reassured the startled crowd with the cry,
All safe, gentlemen. All safe.

 thoughts that revolutionized our world

..gave new meaning to our lives

History of Elevator
Elevators began as simple rope or
chain hoists.
An elevator is essentially a platform
that is either pulled or pushed up by
a mechanical means.

Buildings in major American cities

began rising above the sixth floor,
taking advantage of the elevator.

On March 23, 1857, the worlds first

passenger safety elevator went into service
in a store at Broadway and Broome Street in
New York City.

The elevator was powered by steam through

a series of shafts and belts.

E.V.Haughwout & Company store at Broadway

and Broome Street in New York City, site of the
worlds first passenger safety elevator

History of Elevator
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
hoistway.
Before invention of electricity,
elevators were driven by steam
powered mechanisms powered and
water hydraulic pistons.

In 1878, Otis introduced a hydraulic elevator

that increased speeds to 244 meters
(800 ft) per minute.

The company also introduced a governoroperated safety device that would bring the
car to a gradual stop in an emergency.

History of Elevator
In 1889, Otis created the electric
elevator machine (direct-connect).
This worm-gear electric unit was
primarily used for carrying freight.

With better gearing arrangements, the

speed of the geared electric elevator
increased from 30 to 120 meters (100 to
400 ft) per minute.

Although it offered the advantage of a more

compact installation, it was not yet fast
enough to compete with the steam-powered
hydraulic systems in the taller buildings.

As buildings began to rise higher,

so did the demand for elevators to
meet these new heights.

The Rise of the Modern Elevator

In 1903, Otis introduced a design that

became the standard in the elevator
industry.

Gearless Traction Electric Elevator

broke the barriers of building height
and could deliver higher speeds.

Installed in the Beaver Building, New York

City, and the Majestic Building, Chicago.

These elevators operate at speeds greater

than 500 feet per minute.

Durable lets the elevator control

system be replaced with the most
up-to-date
electronics,
without
replacing the gearless machine.

Gearless Traction
Electric Elevator

Types of Elevators
Based on Working aspects
Gearless Traction Elevators
Geared Traction Elevators
Hydraulic Elevators

Based on Functional aspects

Domestic Elevators
Capsule / Scenic Elevators
Freight / Cargo Elevators
Dumbwaiters / Special Function

Functioning of the
Gearless Traction Elevator
Six to eight Hoisting Ropes are
attached to the top of the elevator.
Hoisting Ropes are wrapped around
the Drive Sheave with grooves.
Counterweight is attached to the
other ends of the cables.
Counterweight moves up and down
in the hoistway on Guiderails.
Combined weight of Elevator Car
and the counterweight press the
cables into the grooves, providing
traction as the sheave turns.

Functioning of the
Gearless Traction Elevator
The counterweight is calculated to
match the weight of the car and a
half-load of passengers.
The Grooved sheave varies in
diameter from 0.6 - 1.2 meters.
The electric motor must be powerful
enough to turn the drive sheave at
50200 revolutions per minute.
The Governing Device provides
safety by engaging the cars brakes.
Upon tension the governor cable
activates two safety clamps
located beneath the car.

The Elevator shaft is

clean & dry before
installation work starts.

The shaft is constructed

as per seismic design
and all entry points are
sealed.
The lifting hooks and duct
for ventilation have been
provided.

3 Phase power supply for

elevator and installation
hoist is provided.

Minimum 50sq.mt. clear

area is provided in front
of the pit and clear
access is provided for.

Functioning of the
Geared Traction Elevator
The electric motor drives a worm
and gear-type reduction unit.

The lift rates are slower than the

gearless elevator.
Gear reduction works with a low
power motor to turn the sheave.

Operation speed varies from 38 to

152 meters per minute .
Can handle loads up to 13,600 kg.
Electronic brakes in between the
motor and the reduction unit stop
the elevator.

Holed

Functioning of the
Hydraulic Elevator

Hydraulic
System

Effective only in buildings up to five

or six stories high.
Operational speeds being
46 meters per minute.

are

Does not require large overhead

hoisting machinery.
Powered by a piston placed inside
a cylinder.
An electric motor pumps oil into the
piston which lifts the elevator car.
Electrical valves control oil release
for ascent and descent.

Roped

Above
Ground

Hydraulic

Hydraulic

System

System

Functioning of the
Machine Roomless Elevator
Designed for buildings between
2 - 20 stories.
Employs a smaller sheave than
conventional elevators.
The machine is mounted within
the hoistway.
Flat polyurethane steel coated
belts are used.
The belts are about 30 mm wide
and only 3 mm thick.
Thin belts reduce space required
for the machine in the hoistway.

Advanced Elevators
Observation Elevators

The cab is fitted outside the building.

Glass-walled cars allow view of cityscape
or the buildings atrium.
Space is being saved due to elimination of
the hoistways.

Double Decker Elevators

Saves time and space by mounting one car

upon another.
One car stops at even floors and the other
stops at the odd floors.

Sky Lobby

Combination of express and local

elevators.
Express elevators stop at designated floors
called Sky Lobbies.
At sky lobbies people transfer to local
elevators.
Local elevators can be stacked to occupy
the same shaft space.

 the future has greater dimensions

. Where do you stand ?