ELEVATORS

HISTORY The first reference about the elevator is located in the works of the Roman architect Vitruvius, who reported that Archimedes built his first lift or elevator, probably, in 236 B.C. In 1793 Ivan Kulibin created the elevator with the screw lifting mechanism for the Winter Palace of Saint Petersburg.

HISTORY Henry Waterman, of New York, invented the lift (elevator) in 1850. He intended it to transport barrels of flour. In 1853, Elisha Otis introduced the safety elevator, which prevented the fall of the cab if the cable broke. The design of the Otis safety elevator is somewhat similar to one type still used today. A governor device engages knurled roller(s), locking the elevator to its guides should the elevator descend at excessive speed.

HISTORY On March 23, 1857 the first Otis elevator was installed at 488 Broadway in New York City. The first elevator shaft preceded the first elevator by four years. Construction for Peter Cooper's Cooper Union building in New York began in 1853. An elevator shaft was included in the design for Cooper Union, because Cooper was confident that a safe passenger elevator would soon be invented.

HISTORY The first electric elevator was built by Werner von Siemens in 1880. The safety and speed of electric elevators were significantly enhanced by Frank Sprague.

TWO MOST COMMON TYPE OF ELEVATORS Electric Elevators – consists of a car that is mounted on guide rails, supported by hoisting cables, and driven by electric hoisting machinery in a penthouse. Geared Traction Elevators (capable of speeds up to 1.75 meters per second) Gearless Traction Elevators (capable of speeds up to 6 meters per second)

Elevator Car Hoist way Door Driving Sheave is the hoisting pulley Control Panel Contains switches, buttons, and other equipment for regulating the hoisting machinery Idle Sheave tightens and guides the hoisting cables of the elevator system. Elevator Car Hoisting Cable cable or ropes used for raising and lowering an elevator car Traveling Cable is one of the electric cables connecting an elevator car to a fixed electrical outlet in the hoist way Guide rails are vertical steel tracks controlling the travel of an elevator car Counterweights are rectangular cast iron blocks mounted in a steel frame to counterbalance the load placed on the hoisting machine by an elevator car Hoist way Door Buffer is the piston or spring that absorbs the impact of a descending elevator Elevator Pit is the portion of the shaft that extends from the level of the lowest landing to the floor of the hoistway

Hydraulic elevators – consists of a car supported by a piston that is moved by or moves against a fluid under pressure. A penthouse is not required, but the hydraulic elevators’ lower speed and piston length limit its use to buildings up to six stories in height.

Machine Room less Electric Elevators

Electric Elevator Hydraulic Elevator Electric Motor Hoist way Fluid Mechanics Penthouse or Machine Room Buffer Hydraulic Tank Car Ropes and Cables Low-Rise Guide rails Counterweights Elevator Pit Plungers or Cylinders Hi-Rise Traveling Cable Low-Speed High Speed