Types of Elevators
Today, elevators are more popular than ever. They are used in commercial buildings all over the world and are also found in many homes. For commercial settings, there are three basic drive types that are used to power an elevator.
The first passenger elevator was unveiled at the Crystal Palace in 1854. The Crystal Palace is a building located in New York, which was a meeting place for inventors from around the world. This early passenger elevator was designed by Elisha Otis, who is considered to be the father of the elevator. It incorporated a special safety mechanism that stopped the elevator from falling in the event of a cable failure.
Traction elevators
There are two types of traction elevators: Geared and gearless. Both of these types of elevators utilize electric motors. Geared traction elevators make use of a special type of gear called a worm gear. Basically a worm gear features a gear, whose teeth make contact with a screw. As the screw turns, the gear is turned by the threads on the screw. The gear in turn controls the hoist cables. Typically these elevators can move at speeds up to 500 feet per minute. The advantage of a worm gear is that it greatly reduces the amount of work that is required to move something.
A gearless traction elevator uses a system similar to a geared one, but the electric engine is attached directly to the hoist cable. These elevators can move much quicker than a geared system. They utilize a drum brake system, which is similar to the type found on the rear brakes for most cars.
Both of these elevators utilize a cable drive system. They also use a counterweight to reduce the amount of effort it takes to move the elevator. The counterweight is attached to the end of the cable and moves up and down the elevator shaft on its own rail.
Hydraulic elevators
One of the first hydraulic elevators was developed by the sons of Elisha Otis in 1870. Their elevator used city water and was able to create a very innovative way of building up water pressure. Today, most hydraulic elevators share a design that is based off of an elevator created by Dover Elevator Company, which is now called ThyssenKrupp Elevator. Hydraulic is a type of fluid power, that today uses a special type of oil.
In addition to the elevator developed by Dover, there are also Roped Hydraulic systems, which utilize a cable in combination with hydraulics, twin post hydraulic elevators, which are able to move higher than a traditional hydraulic elevator, and Holeless Hydraulic elevators. Holeless elevators are unique, because the hydraulic system is located on the elevator, where in other cases, the hydraulics are located on the ground floor.
Climbing Elevator
These elevators are powered by an electric or a combustion engine, which is contained on the elevator. It climbs a guide rail and are often used on ships and construction sites. On a ship, a climbing elevator might be used on a mast.