Elevators, or lifts, are a form of vertical transportation used primarily in high-rises and skyscrapers to travel between floors. Both people and goods can be transported between floors using these.
Additionally, there are elevators on large ships with multiple decks. Modern high-rises and other large buildings often have elevators installed to help people with mobility issues navigate those using wheelchairs.
Basic principle
Elevators work by synchronizing the movement of traction cables and counterweights in opposite directions. Hence, whenever the traction cables move up, the counterweights, such as hoists, move in the opposite direction. Electric motors or hydraulic fluid pumps typically power this whole system.
Elevator types
There are several types of elevators present in the market, which is a surprise to most people. Elevators can be classified into five types, depending on the hoist mechanism used. Elevators serve various purposes in daily life. They include:
- Traction elevators: They are commonly used for both freight and people transportation in high-rise buildings. Types of traction elevators include:
- The mechanical movement of traction elevators is facilitated and controlled by worm gears, an engineering solution that uses gears.
- Generally low speed elevators, gearless traction elevators use a drive shaft attached directly to the motor.
- Hydraulic elevators: These elevators require less maintenance than traction elevators, so they are perfect for low-traffic or low-rise buildings. These elevators use hydraulics to lift elevator cars against gravity, while they descend under gravity’s influence. They can be categorized into:
- A conventional one uses an underground hydraulic cylinder to transport passengers between two and five-story buildings,
- Holeless ones that use above-ground cylinders are extremely suitable for inexpensive structures or those that are concerned with the environment.
- They can travel much farther than piston elevators because they use both cylinders above ground and ropes.
- Climbing elevators: Using their own propulsion, these elevators climb by themselves. Electric or combustion engines are used for propulsion. Elevators of this type are typically used in towers or guyed masts, in order to facilitate easy maintenance access to different parts of the structure.
- Pneumatic elevator: This elevator uses air instead of vacuum to move the car upwards, and uses a vacuum valve to move the car downwards. It is however a low capacity elevator that can only accommodate 3 people with a combined weight of 525 pounds.
- Electromagnetic propulsion elevators: This kind of elevator uses electromagnetic propulsion to move the car, which can move vertically and horizontally. High-density high-rises are typically fitted with these elevators.
Since the invention of the elevator allowed people to move between floors of a building without having to exert physical effort, the elevator was of great benefit to mankind. It continues to serve a very useful purpose even today.
Vintec elevator provides all kinds of elevators and the quality of their elevators are considered the best in their industry.
