Some forms of elevators have been around for thousands of years in our society. But, we have obviously come a long way from basic pulleys and water wheels. So how exactly do modern elevators work? Let’s dive into the basics of these fascinating machines!
Elevator Parts
The different parts of an elevator include:
- Elevator car & shaft
- The Sheave & Motor
- Control unit
- Counterweight
- Machine drive
- Counterweight guide rails
- Guide rail fixing bracket
- Car guide rail
- Counterweight frame
- Counterweight buffer
- Overspeed governor
- Control cabinet
- Apron
- Landing doors
- Tension pulley
- Car bugger
Most buildings that have at least four floors will require the use of a traction elevator. This particular machine is operated by a motor, located at the top of the shaft. The shaft rotates a sheave (essentially a modern-day pulley), which raises and lowers cables connected to the elevator’s cab. Faster elevators actually have no gears. The sheave is directly coupled in these models. Machinery used by elevators can generally take up an entire room either above or to the side of the shaft. Recent developments in the industry are starting to create space in the head of the shaft to store all this equipment, though.
Saving energy has been a main focus of the industry as of late. Therefore, manufacturers are taking advantage of gravity in order to save energy. A counterweight can match the total weight of the cab, and reduce the motor output needed by nearly 50%. Equal weight resistance is needed when an occupied cab is traveling downward.
Dispatch technology continues to evolve and make the elevator experience more and more efficient. But, as more offices and workers move into building space, elevator service may start to slow down. Many adjustments have been made to increase the ease of this experience. Classic “up” and “down” buttons are being replaced by simple touchpads. The computer will then dispatch the elevator to arrive at the appropriate floor. This modernized system decreases wait time and is more energy efficient.
Source:
- Fischetti, M. (2009, January 01). New Designs Going Up-Working Knowledge on Elevators. Retrieved September 18, 2020, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-elevators-work/
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