Elevators - Notes

1. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY
Elevators – Lecture Notes
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 Definition
 Classification of Elevators
o According to hoist mechanism.
 Hydraulic Elevators (Push Elevators)
- Holed (Conventional) Hydraulic Elevators
- Hole - less Hydraulic Elevators
- Telescopic Hydraulic Elevators
- Non-Telescopic Hydraulic Elevator
- Roped Hydraulic Elevator
 Traction Elevators(Pull Elevators)
- Geared Traction Elevators
- Gear-less Traction Elevators
- Machine Room-less Elevators
 Climbing elevator
 Pneumatic Elevators
o According to building height.
 Low-Rise buildings (1- 3 stories)
 Mid-Rise buildings (4 -11 stories)
 High-Rise buildings (12 + stories)
o According to building type.
 Hospital Elevators
- Hospital Bed Elevators
- Hospital Stretcher Lift
 Residential / Domestic Elevators
- Passenger Elevators
- Stairway Elevators
- Dumb-waiter Elevators
 Industrial Elevators
- Hoist Elevators
- Incline Elevators
 Commercial Elevators
- Commercial passenger elevators
- Freight elevators
- Commercial Dumbwaiter
 Parking buildings Elevators
- Parking Elevators for Passengers
- Conventional Parking Elevators
- Auto Car Parking Elevators - C.1 Square Type / - C.2 Level Type / - C.3 Rotary Type / - C.4 Story Type
- C.5 Puzzle Type / - C.6 Turn Table / - C.7 Elevator Type /
- C.8 Lift Traverse Type / - C.9 Cart Type
o According to elevator Location.
 Outdoor Elevators
- Observation elevator
- Incline Elevators
- Platform Elevators
- Freight Elevators
 Indoor Elevators
o According to Special uses
 Handicap Elevators
 Grain Elevators
 Double-deck elevator
 Sky Lobby
 Limited use / limited application (LU/LA)
 Basic Elevators Components
 Elevator Car - Elevator Car Types
- Standard Car Size

2. - Elevator Car Components:
- Car Sling, a metal framework connected to the means of suspension,
- The elevator cabin,
- Mechanical accessories which are:
- Car door and door operator
- Guide shoes.
- Door Protective Device.
 Hoist-way - Guide rails for both the car and counterweight.
- Counter weight
- Suspension (Hoisting) Ropes (Cables)
- Landing (Hoist-way) doors.
- Buffers in the pit.
 Machine/drive system. - Gearless Machine
- Geared Machine
- Drum Machine
 Control system. - Single Automatic operation
- Selective collective operation
- Group automatic operation
 Safety system - Device for locking landing doors (Hoist-way Door Interlock).
- Progressive safety gear.
- Over-speed governor.
- Buffers.
- Final Limit switches.
- Other safety devices and switches.
 Structural Encasing
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DEFINITION
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors
(levels, decks) of a building, vessel or other structures. Elevators are generally powered by electric motors that
either drive traction cables or counterweight systems like a hoist, or pump hydraulic fluid to raise a cylindrical
piston like a jack.
There are three types of convoying methods in buildings, Elevators & Escalators & Ramps, and they have
different dimensions and uses according to building type & number of users in it.
CLASSIFICATION OF ELEVATORS
A. According to hoist mechanism.
B. According to building Height.
C. According to building type.
D. According to elevator Location.
E. According to Special uses.
A - ACCORDING TO THE HOIST MECHANISM
Elevators will be classified according to hoist mechanism to 4 main types as follows:
1. Hydraulic Elevators
2. Traction Elevators
3. Climbing elevator
4. Pneumatic Elevators
1.0 – Hydraulic Elevators (Push Elevators)
Hydraulic elevators are supported by a piston at the bottom of the elevator that pushes the elevator up as
electric motor forces oil or another hydraulic fluid into the piston. The elevator descends as a valve releases the
fluid from the piston. They are used for low-rise applications of 2-8 stories and travel at a maximum speed of 200
feet per minute. The machine room for hydraulic elevators is located at the lowest level adjacent to the elevator
shaft. Hydraulic elevators have many two main types as follows:

3. 1.1 Holed (Conventional) Hydraulic Elevators
Have a sheave that extends below the floor of the elevator pit, which accepts the retracting piston as the
elevator descends. Some configurations have a telescoping piston that collapses and requires a shallower hole
below the pit. Max travel distance is approximately 60 feet.
Holed (Conventional) Hydraulic Elevators Telescopic Hydraulic Elevators Non-Telescopic Hydraulic Elevators
1.2. Hole - less Hydraulic Elevators
Have a piston on either side of the cab. In this configuration, the telescoping pistons are fixed at the base of the
pit and do not require a sheave or hole below the pit. Telescoping pistons allow up to 50 feet of travel distance.
Non-telescoping pistons only allow about 20 feet of travel distance. They have a piston on either side of the cab.
It can be divided to 3 different types as follows:
a. Telescopic Hydraulic Elevators
In this configuration, the telescoping pistons are fixed at the base of the pit and do not require a sheave or hole
below the pit and has 2 or 3 pieces of telescoping pistons. Telescoping pistons allow up to 50 feet of travel
distance.
b. Non-Telescopic Hydraulic Elevators
It has one piston and only allows about 20 feet of travel distance.
c. Roped Hydraulic Elevators
They use a combination of ropes and a piston to move the elevator. Maximum travel distance is about 60 feet.
Hydraulic elevators have a low initial cost and their ongoing maintenance costs are lower compared to the other
elevator types. However, hydraulic elevators use more energy than other types of elevators because the electric
motor works against gravity as it forces hydraulic fluid into the piston. A major drawback of hydraulic elevators is
that the hydraulic fluid can sometimes leak, which can cause a serious environmental hazard. The environmental
risk and high energy use are two main reasons that hydraulic elevators are not being installed as often as in the
past.

4. Roped Hydraulic Elevators Geared Traction Elevators Gear-less Traction Elevators
Hydraulic elevators have a low initial cost and their ongoing maintenance costs are lower compared to the other
elevator types. However, hydraulic elevators use more energy than other types of elevators because the electric
motor works against gravity as it forces hydraulic fluid into the piston. A major drawback of hydraulic elevators is
that the hydraulic fluid can sometimes leak, which can cause a serious environmental hazard. The environmental
risk and high energy use are two main reasons that hydraulic elevators are not being installed as often as in the
past.
2.0 – Traction Elevators (Pull Elevators)
Traction elevators are lifted by ropes, which pass over a wheel attached to an electric motor above the elevator
shaft. They are used for mid and high-rise applications and have much higher travel speeds than hydraulic
elevators. A counter weight makes the elevators more efficient. Traction elevators have 3 main types as follows:
a. Geared Traction Elevators
They have a gearbox that is attached to the motor, which drives the wheel that moves the ropes. Geared
traction elevators are capable of travel speeds up to 500 feet per minute.
b. Gear-less Traction Elevators
They have the wheel attached directly to the motor. Gear-less traction elevators are capable of speeds up to
2000 feet per minute.
c- Machine-Room-Less Elevators
They are typically traction elevators that do not have a dedicated machine room above the elevator shaft. The
machine sits in the override space and the controls sit above the ceiling adjacent to the elevator shaft. Machine-
room-less elevators are becoming more common; however, many maintenance departments do not like them
due to the hassle of working on a ladder as opposed to within a room.

5. 3.0 – Climbing Elevators
They hold their own power device on them, mostly electric or combustion engine. Climbing elevators are often
used in work and construction areas.
Climbing Elevators Pneumatic Elevators
4.0 - Pneumatic Elevators
Pneumatic elevators are raised and lowered by controlling air pressure in a chamber in which the elevator sits.
By simple principles of physics; the difference in air pressure above and beneath the vacuum elevator cab
literally transports cab by air. It is the vacuum pumps or turbines that pull cab up to the next Floor and the slow
release of air pressure that floats cab down. They are especially ideal for existing homes due to their compact
design because excavating a pit and hoist way are not required.

6. B - ACCORDING TO BUILDING HEIGHT
a - Low-Rise buildings (1- 3 stories)
Buildings up to about (1 to 3) stories typically use hydraulic elevators because of their lower initial cost
b - Mid-Rise buildings (4 -11 stories)
Buildings up to about (4 to 11) stories typically use Geared Traction Elevators
c - High-Rise buildings (12 + stories)
Buildings up to about 12+ stories typically use Gear-Less Traction Elevators
C - ACCORDING TO BUILDING TYPE
Elevators will be classified according to building type to 6 main types as follows:
1. Hospital Elevators.
2. Residential /Domestic Elevators.
3. Industrial Elevators.
4. Commercial Elevators.
5. Parking buildings Elevators.
1.0 – Hospital Elevators
a. Hospital Bed Elevators
Hospital bed elevators generally transport patients who are not well enough to sit up even in a wheelchair. One
of the features of bed elevators should be its ability to transport the patient has smoothly as possible with
minimal amount of bumping and jostling. Many contemporary bed elevators are manufactured to consume
extremely low amounts of power and to be durable with a number of safety features built-in. Hospital bed
elevators generally draw very little power so that should there be a power outage they are still operational off
the hospital's backup power supply. Most often there will be a rear and a front entry to the elevator cabin.
b - Hospital Stretcher Lift
They usually are smaller than bed elevators. This particular type of elevator is usually hydraulic or traction based
depending on the location of the machine room. They are specifically manufactured to be low-noise bed
elevators that smoothly transport patients, doctors, nurses and hospital staff between floors, allowing them the
utmost in comfort. Because hospital bed elevators are only used for transporting patients and hospital staff they
arrived at their location quite quickly, eliminating lengthy waits. Many of these bed elevators are key operated
so as to prohibit use by the general public.
2.0 - Residential / Domestic Elevators
They are usually just on a much smaller scale than industrial or commercial elevators
a - Passenger Elevators
Domestic elevators which are intended to move passengers up and down stairs in a multilevel residence are
quite similar to those used in large public buildings. They can be built either inside the home or outside the home
and can be pneumatic vacuum, electric, hydraulic or cable elevators. Most often domestic elevators designed for
carrying passengers in a residential setting only carry perhaps two to four people safely and comfortably.
b - Stairway Elevators
Stairway elevators are generally installed in homes where someone in the family has problems with mobility.
This type of domestic elevators simply runs on a rail up and down and existing staircase. They can run either in a
straight line or around a curved stairway. Stairway elevators can be constructed both inside and outside the
home.
c- Dumbwaiter Elevators
They are small freight elevators intended to carry objects rather than people, whenever groceries or laundry
need to be sent up and down the stairs without making unnecessary trips that can quickly tire people, people
can simply place what needs to be transported in the dumbwaiter and press the button to send it up or down
stairs. Dumbwaiters are most often built into or adjacent to a wall.

7. A simple dumbwaiter is a movable frame in a shaft, dropped by a rope on a pulley, guided by rails; most
dumbwaiters have a shaft, car, and capacity smaller than those of passenger elevators, usually 45 to 450 kg.
3.0 - Industrial Elevators
The most common types of industrial elevators are hoist elevators and incline elevators. These types of elevators
are built to carry huge amounts of weight effortlessly, therefore the term industrial elevators. This type of
elevators is used in construction, warehouses, and shipyards.
a - Hoist Elevators
Hoist elevators are operated by a pulley or series of pulleys and they can be a simple platform or a cage in which
humans or heavy materials are moved up and down during industrial applications. Generally, a pulley operates a
rope or chain that wraps around a drum causing the elevator to rise or descend. It is said that hoist elevators are
powered by either electricity or air, but even that isn't quite true because electricity is needed to pump air. Hoist
elevators carrying materials and equipment to upper levels as needed while the building is being constructed.
They are also commonly used to load equipment and supplies on large seagoing vessels.
b - Incline Elevators
The equipment and supplies are placed on a form of conveyor belt that continues turning bringing the cargo up
to its destination where it is quickly unloaded as the belt continues turning around. This is a much quicker
method of loading and unloading cargo than with a hoist elevator because there is no stopping to unload.
Everything happens in one fluid motion. Incline elevators when used for industrial purposes are usually
temporary and mobile. Many are on wheels and can be easily moved from one dock or location to the next.
4.0 - Commercial Elevators
A passenger elevator is designed to move people between a building's floors. Passenger elevators capacity is
related to the available floor space.
a - Commercial passenger elevators
b - Freight elevators
A freight elevator, or goods lift, is an elevator designed to carry goods, rather than passengers. Freight elevators
are generally required to display a written notice in the car that the use by passengers is prohibited (though not
necessarily illegal), though certain freight elevators allow dual use through the use of an inconspicuous riser.
Freight elevators are typically larger and capable of carrying heavier loads than a passenger elevator, generally
from 2,300 to 4,500 kg. Freight elevators may have manually operated doors, and often has rugged interior
finishes to prevent damage while loading and unloading. Although hydraulic freight elevators exist, electric
elevators are more energy efficient for the work of freight lifting.
Class A: General Freight Loading
Where the load is distributed, the weight of any single piece is not more than 1/4 the capacity of the elevator
and the load is handled on and off the car platform manually or by means of hand trucks.
Class B: Motor Vehicle Loading
The freight elevator is used solely to carry automobile trucks or passenger automobiles up to the rated capacity
of the elevator.
Class C1: Industrial Truck Loading
A four-wheeled vehicle may be used to load and unload the elevator. The combined weight of the vehicle and
the load cannot exceed the rated capacity and may be rolled onto the platform as a single unit.
Class C2: Industrial Truck Loading
During loading and unloading, max load on the platform may be up to 150% of the rated capacity. This enables
you to use a forklift to load a car with freight weighing up to the rated capacity.
Class C3: Other forms of Industrial Truck Loading
During the loading and unloading process, the rated capacity must never be exceeded.

8. Freight elevators Classes
c - Commercial Dumbwaiter
They are economic solution for moving material from floor to floor in a multi-level commercial environment.
They can carry loads up to 350 kg.
Commercial Dumbwaiter used to Save manpower, save space, save time, save energy and help avoid workplace
injuries.
Typical materials handled in a commercial environment can be Food, Dishes & Cutlery, Documents, Clothing,
Carts or Shoes.
Commercial Dumbwaiter can have one of the following types or configurations:

9. Commercial Dumbwaiter Configurations
5.0 - Parking buildings Elevators
a - Parking Elevators for Passengers
Most parking garages have parking elevators for passengers that allow them the convenience of going up or
down several levels without the necessity of climbing stairs. Sometimes these elevators have front and rear
entry and can be built with a number of optional features such as key access to certain floors. Most underground
garages have parking elevators for passengers.
b - Conventional Parking Elevators
The conventional parking elevators are built to move vehicles to upper or lower levels of the building because of
their space saving feature. With ramps on and off parking levels consume a lot of space which could be better
utilized as parking spaces for vehicles. With the addition of parking elevators, vehicles can be transported up and
down as many levels as necessary by taking up only the space required for that vehicle. But maintain the need
for attendants to sit in the car, in the elevator and park it on the floor on which there is space.

10. Conventional Parking Elevators
c - Auto Car Parking Elevators
As against cars being driven (on ramps) or carried (in car lifts) to different levels in conventional multi-level
parking, cars are driven at only one level for parking or retrieval, Cars are parked in steel pallets and a target
pallet comes up or down to the driveway level at the press of a button, for parking or retrieval.
Such car parking systems or auto parking systems are also referred to by various other names in different parts
of the world, such as “auto-parking”, "stack-parking", "mechanized parking", "mechanical parking", "parkomat",
“modular parking” etc.

11. This type can be divided to many different types as follows:
C.1 Square Type
The system arranges many carriers on several intended floors and a lift installed either at both ends or at the
center goes up and down with vehicles loaded. It is designed so that vehicles can be parked and retrieved by
moving a pallet horizontally. It is safer than other systems and the cutting -edge mechanical car parking system,
and operates very smoothly. It is fit for installation in a narrow and long shaped lot or an underground of a
building.
C.2 Level Type
The system is designed so that car parking lots move both horizontally and circulary to park vehicles. Many
carriers are arrayed in more than one row in the car parking lot and the system works by moving both
horizontally and circularly the carriers at both ends of level.
C.3 Rotary Type
A system that two sprockets as a set are fixed; one onto a upper part of a structure and the other onto a lower
part and then a cage hung to a attachment of a special chain circulates with vehicles loaded. This system with
simple operation and low installation cost requires a small lot for installing equipments and may be divided to
subsystems as follows:
1. Bottom entering type: A type that cars are parted and retrieved at the bottom of parking equipments.
2. Middle entering type: A type that cars are parked and retrieved at the middle of parking equipments.
3. Top entering type: This type that cars are parked and retrieved at the top of parking equipments.
C.4 Story Type
A system is featured by using all parking lots on the first floor as the place for car parking/retrieval. Carriers are
arranged on two levels, where cars are parked through both vertical and horizontal movements. With short
construction period and easy installation, it is fit household use or a small scale parking lot.
C.5 Puzzle Type
The carriers are arranged on 3-storey and more than 3-story, a specific carrier moves both vertically and
horizontally to and from more than one car entrance on the same level, It is an economical system, has safe

12. structures, and designed to utilize space efficiently to install parking equipments. As there are few laws and
regulations on this system and the installation period is short. it is fit for utilizing an idle lot in residential areas.
C.6 Turn Table
A turntable is equipment which changes directions itself utilize efficiently a limited space.
The turntable installed in front of parking equipments provides drivers with convenience and safety.
C.7 Elevator Type
This System is arranged On multi-levels and designed to automatically Carry and park Cars by a lift and a Carrier
installed inside parking lots A pallet for parking is built in independently on each level, that is Carried by a Cage
from parking lots to the lift that moves Vertically to an entrance/exit. This System one of the most Up-to-date
mechanical Cars parking System is featured With Speedy parking/retrieval, widely installed In a City area, and fit
for a large Scale Car parking equipment that can maximize Utilization of a limited parking Space.
C.8 Lift Traverse Type
This is a full automatically mechanical car parking system that minimizes the time for parking/retrieval by the
simultaneous movements, both horizontally and vertically, of a car lift. As the utilization of both parking space
and floor space can be maximized and easy forward parking/ retrieval of vehicles is possible from any moving
lane, and the convenience of user can be maximized. The noise level is low and the durability of car bay is semi-
permanent. The scale of car parking can be proportionally balanced and properly coordinated with the building's
shape.
C.9 Cart Type
This is a multi-leveled car parking system and is designed to park vehicles into each parking lots by conveying
vehicles automatically with both a up-and-down lift and a parking cart. The carts independently installed on each
parking level can retrieve vehicles from parking lots, and more than one lift move simultaneously for car
parking/retrieval. This is one of most up-to-date mechanical parking systems with speedy car parking/retrieval
and fits a large scale of car parking that can maximize the utilization of the underground space by installing many
rows of the carts in the underground.
D. ACCORDING TO THE ELEVATOR LOCATION
A – OUTDOOR ELEVATORS
Common types of outdoor elevators are cargo elevators, platform elevators, and incline and vertical elevators.
a.1 - Observation elevator
The observation elevator puts the cab on the outside of the building. Glass-walled elevator cars allow passengers
to view the cityscape or the building’s atrium as they travel. By eliminating the hoist ways, the observation
elevator also offers owners, architects and builders valuable space-saving advantages.
a.2 - Incline Elevators
Outdoor elevators built on an incline can also be used to transport passengers or goods. Incline elevators are
most often recognized as passenger elevators called ski lifts. However, outdoor elevators that move cargo on an
incline are generally constructed with a conveyor belt and most often seen when loading cargo on ships and
some types of aircraft.
a.3 - Platform Elevators
While it is possible to use platform elevators indoors they are generally classified as outdoor elevators because
that is where they are most often used. Platform elevators usually are not enclosed by having a have a fence or
gate running around the perimeter to keep cargo from slipping off during transport. Platform elevators usually
use a system of pulleys as the working mechanism. Outdoor elevators consisting of a platform are most often
used at new construction sites but they can also be used for such things as elevating workmen renovating the
façade of a building or washing windows on a high-rise.
a.4 – Freight Elevators
Freight elevators are almost always outdoor elevators even though some smaller versions are designed for
indoor use such as those used in warehouses. They are most often extremely heavy-duty and can facilitate a

13. great amount of weight. This type of elevator can either be on an incline or vertical, but will most often be
industrial grade to accommodate those heavy loads. In fact, the first type of elevator which comes to mind when
thinking of outdoor elevators is actually freight elevators.
B – INDOOR ELEVATORS
All elevators installed inside a building which usually need a hoist ways and pits.
E. ACCORDING TO THE SPECIAL USES.
a - Handicap Elevators
In reality, any type of elevator that can assist a handicapped person in going up and down various levels of the
building could be considered a handicap elevator. However, specific types of elevators are manufactured with
handicapped persons in mind. A good example of this would be a wheelchair lift that gets a handicapped person
in and out of vans. The lift comes out the sliding doors and descends in order to allow the wheelchair on the
platform. Then the lift is raised up and backs into the vehicle. Most city buses have this type of handicap
elevators installed on them, but they are also manufactured for privately owned vehicles as well. Most handicap
elevators within a home are electric elevators, but some are pneumatic vacuum models as well and operated by
air pressure. Stairway lifts are also considered to be a type of handicap elevator and this type can either be
installed on a straight stairway or a curved staircase.
b - Grain Elevators
A grain elevator is a tower containing a bucket elevator, which scoops up, elevates, and then uses gravity to
deposit grain in a silo or other storage facility. They can be classified as either “country” or “terminal” elevators,
with terminal elevators further categorized as inland or export types. Operations other than storage, such as
cleaning, drying, and blending, often are performed at elevators. The principal grains and oilseeds handled
include wheat, corn, oats, rice, soybeans, and sorghum.
c - Double-deck elevator
Double-deck elevators save time and space in high-occupancy buildings by mounting one car upon another. One
car stops at even floors and the other stops at the odd floors. Depending on their destination, passengers can
mount one car in the lobby or take an escalator to a landing for the alternate car.

14. d - Sky Lobby
In very tall buildings, elevator efficiency can be increased by a system that combines express and local elevators.
The express elevators stop at designated floors called sky lobbies. There, passengers can transfer to local
elevators that will take them to their desired floor. By dividing the building into levels served by the express
elevators, the local elevators can be stacked to occupy the same shaft space. That way, each zone can be served
simultaneously by its own bank of local elevators.
e - Limited use / limited application (LU/LA)
The limited-use, limited-application (LU/LA) elevator is a special purpose passenger elevator used infrequently,
and which is exempt from many commercial regulations and accommodations. For example, a LU/LA is primarily
meant to be handicapped accessible, and there might only be room for a single wheelchair and a standing
passenger.
BASIC ELEVATOR COMPONENTS
The standard elevators will include the following basic components:
A. Elevator Car
B. Hoist-way
C. Machine/drive system.
D. Control system.
E. Safety system
A. Elevator Car
Elevator Car is the vehicle that travels between the different stops carrying passengers and/or goods, it is usually
A heavy steel frame surrounding a cage of metal and wood panels.

15. 1. Elevator Car Types:
Standard elevator car/cabin can be classified according to the number of entrances and their locations as
follows:
a. Normal Cabin
b. Open Through Cabin
c. Diagonal Cabin
2. Standard Car Size:
 To prevent overloading of the car by persons, the available area of the car shall be limited and related to the
nominal/rated load of the elevator.
 The following image shows the standard car sizes related to the elevator nominal loads.
The number of passengers shall be obtained from the formula: Number of passengers = rated load /75
(Where 75 represent the average weight of a person in Kilo grams)
The value obtained for the number of passengers shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.
The following definitions for the car dimension are very important:
Car Width (CW): The horizontal dimensions between the inner surfaces of the car walls measured parallel to the
front entrance and at 1m above the car floor.

16. Car Height (CH): The inside vertical distance between the entrance threshold and the constructional roof of the
car. Light fittings and false ceilings are accommodated within this dimension.
Car Depth (CD): The horizontal dimensions between the inner surfaces of the car walls measured at right angles
to the car width and at 1m above the car floor.
3. Elevator Car Components:
Elevator Car is composed of the following components:
a. Car Sling, a metal framework connected to the means of suspension,
b. The elevator cabin,
c. Mechanical accessories which are:
 Car door and door operator
 Guide shoes
 Door Protective Device
a - Car Sling:
Car Sling

17. Car Sling is load carrier element in the elevator car as well as its function of isolating vibrations due to running.
Car Sling Types:
Car slings have two main types as follows:
- (1-1) Suspension
- (2-1) Suspension
They may come with braking or without braking system.
Car Sling Main Components:
i - Upper Transom:
The upper transom is the suspension element of the car it can be (1-1) type or (2-1) using a couple of polyamide
pulleys 360 mm diameter, it is designed also to mount sliding or roller guide shoes. Braking system catch clamps
are mounted also in the upper transom.
Upper Transom
ii - Lower Transom:
Lower transom is the carrier of car flooring through an exactly arranged pressure springs mounted in the lower
isolation subassembly. Safety gear catch clamps are also mounted in the lower transom and their actuation
action is done by a shearing linkage system.

18. Lower Transom
iii - Side Frame:
The adjustable height side frame is two pieces bolted together and fastened to both upper and lower transom.
b - The elevator cabinet:
Elevator cabinets shall be completely enclosed by walls, floors and ceiling. The only permissible opening being
the car door, emergency trap door and ventilation apertures.
i - Car Floor:
Car floor shall have sufficient mechanical strength to sustain forces which will be applied during normal
operation, safety gear operation and impact of the car to its buffers.

19. Floor size is the same size of the car (width & depth) and Floor extension defines door opening, location and side
portal depth.
Floor will be recessed and covered by PVC covering or marble stone or granite and it can be also customized
according to client requirements.
ii - Car Ceiling:
Car ceiling is designed to be able to support two persons during maintenance operation without permanent
deformation.
Car ceiling is prepared also to mount emergency trap door, blower fan and balustrade.
iii - Car Walls:
Folded steel panels are used to enclose elevator car with different types, sizes and finishing
There are three main types of car panels as follows:
 Side panels, which are the most common used panels, they can be used in side walls and in the
intermediate back wall.
 Back panels, which are used only in right hand and left hand back corners.
 COP panels, which is used to mount COP unit.
Car walls can be lined with stainless steel with different styles or painted in selected color upon client
requirements.
iv - Front Panels:
The front panel assembly defines door opening height and location. There are two types of front panels, side and
upper panels.

20. v - Car Operating Panel COP
Car operating panel COP is A panel mounted in the car containing the car operating controls, such as call register
buttons, door open and close, alarm emergency stop and whatever other buttons or key switches are required
for operation.
vi - Hand Rail
 Hand Rail is a rail within the elevator car which passengers can use for support.
 Elevator car in most cases is provided by a handrail at one side, two sides or on all sides of the cabin.
 At least one side of the car has a hand rail installed in case of using the elevator for passengers including
persons with disabilities.
 Hand Rails come with different finishes like stainless steel styles or painted in selected color upon client
requirements.
 There are two types of hand rail, cylindrical handrail and flat type hand rail.

21. vii - False Ceiling
 False ceiling is the main source of lighting in the elevator car, there are many different designs for elevator
lighting.
 Fluorescent lighting and spot lights are the most common lighting elements used for elevator lighting and a
combination of the two types can be used also.
viii - Emergency Trap Door Assembly
 Emergency trap door can be easily opened from inside the car by using triangular key (1) and from outside
the car without a key by turning the link (2) to pull locking arms (3).
 Electrical safety switches (4) that is fixed to the side frame of trap door causes the lift to stop if the locking
ceases to be effective; restoring the lift to service shall only be possible after deliberate relocking.
 Emergency trap door size is 600x400 mm to permit the rescue and evacuation of passengers.
ix - Balustrade
 Car roof shall be provided with a balustrade where the free distance between the car ceiling and the shaft
wall exceeds 0.3 m.
Emergency Trap Door Assembly Balustrade

22. x - Car Apron/Toe Guard
A Car Apron/toe guard is present at the bottom of some cars. This guard protects the passengers from being
exposed to the open hoist-way under the car if the doors are opened when it is not at the landing. The guard is
between 21” and 48” long.
c - Mechanical accessories
Are:
i - Car door and door operator
Car Door types - There are (4) common types of car doors as follows:
 Single slide door: consists of one power operated single panel sliding doors.
 Single speed center opening: consist of two power operated panels that part simultaneously with a brisk,
noiseless motion. faster passenger loading than side opening
 Two speed side opening: consist of two power operated panels that are geared together. One door moves
twice as fast as the other door so that both doors will meet concurrently in the open position.
 Two speed center opening doors: same as one speed center opening doors but it consist of four power
operated panels.
Door operation method:
Elevator doors are normally opened by a power unit that is located on top of the elevator car. When an elevator
car is level with a floor landing, the power unit moves the car door open or closed. A pick-up arm (clutch, vane,
bayonet, or cam) contacts rollers on the hoist-way door which releases the door latch on the hoist-way door. The
power unit opens the car door which in turn opens the hoist-way door. The door rollers and pick-up arm may be
different on various elevators but they all work on the same principle.
Door Operator:
A motor-driven device mounted on the elevator car that opens and closes the car doors.

23. ii - Guide shoes
Guide shoes are Devices used mainly to guide the car and counterweight along the path of the guide rails. They
also assure that the lateral motion of the car and counterweight is kept at a minimum as they travel along the
guide rails.
There are two types of guiding shoes as follows:
1- Roller Guides:
Guide shoes which use rollers that rotate on guide rails (A set of three wheels that roll against the guide rails)
rather than sliding on the rails.
2- Sliding Guides:
Guide shoes which simply slide along the faces of the rails; the sliding insert or gib may be metal, requiring the
guide rails to be lubricated, or may be plastic material which is self-lubricating.
iii - Door Protective Device
Any type of device used with automatic power operated doors that detect obstructions to the normal closing of
the elevator doors (though contact may occur) and either causes the doors to change the door motion by either
stopping it, or causing it to reverse (reopen) or go into some other mode of operation, such as nudging. A safe
edge, a safety astragal, a photoelectric device (safe ray), and electrostatic field device are examples of door
protective devices.
B. Hoist-way
Hoist-way is the space enclosed by fireproof walls and elevator doors for the travel of one or more elevators,
dumbwaiters or material lifts. It includes the pit and terminates at the underside of the overhead machinery
space floor or grating or at the underside of the roof where the hoist-way does not penetrate the roof. (Hoist-
way is sometimes called "hatchway" or "hatch".)

24. A simple definition for the hoist-way is the shaft that encompasses the elevator car.
Note: Generally the Hoist-way serving all floors of the building but in high-rise buildings hoist-ways may be banked with
specific hoist-ways serving only the lower floors and others serving only middle or upper floors while traveling in a blind
hoist-way until reaching the floors that it serves. A blind hoist-way has no doors on the floors that it does not serve.
Hoist-way components:
Hoist-way is equipped with the following components:
i. Guide rails for both the car and counterweight.
Guide Rails are Steel Tracks in the form of a “T” that run the length of the hoist-way, round, or formed sections
with guiding surfaces to guide and direct the course of travel of an elevator car and elevator counterweights and
usually mounted to the sides of the hoist-way.
Car Guide rails are fixed to the hoist-way by means of steel brackets which consists as shown in the below image

25. Guide Rails Steel brackets
While counterweight guide rails are fixed to the hoist-way by means of side steel brackets, which consists as
shown in the below image
Counter-weight side steel brackets
And the guide rails are fixed to these brackets by means of clips which usually have (3) types as follows:
i. (M Clips) Hot Forhed Clips.
ii. (SL Clips) Sliding Clips.
iii. (SH Clips) Combined Clips.
Guide Rails Brackets Clips
Some special brackets are used in special cases as follows:
A - Combined Bracket:
Combined bracket is used only when the arrangement of the lift equipments (Car and Counterweight) are too
closed and perpendicular to each other in a specific point.
Combined Bracket

26. B - Combination Bracket:
Combination bracket is used to mount both rails of counterweight with one rail of the car as shown in the below
image.
ii. Counterweight.
Counterweight is a tracked weight that is suspended from cables and moves within its own set of guide rails
along the hoist-way walls.
Counterweight is used for the following:
 Balancing the mass of the complete car and a portion of rated load, and it will be equal to the dead weight of
the car plus about 40% of the rated load.
 Reducing the necessary consumed power for moving the elevator.
Counterweight components:
The counterweight composed of a steel frames that can be filled with cast iron fillers above one another to get
the required and it is usually composed of the following parts:

27. A- Top Part Assembly:
Top part consists of main bent sheet metal 4 mm and hitch plate 8 mm thickness for ropes attachment drilled
with holes pattern to ropes size and quantity.
B- Bottom Part Assembly:
Bottom part consists of two halves made of steel 4 mm, the two halves are screw connected using vertical
profile with buffer plate welded to one of the two halves, the buffer plate made of sheet metal 8 mm thickness
to buffer the buffer loads.
C- Vertical Profile:
The vertical profile consists of U-shaped, bent sheet metal components. The vertical profiles are screw-
connected to the upper and bottom parts.
Standard vertical profiles are available for 60 filler weights above one another, variable vertical profile lengths
are possible for special versions.
The fillers can be inserted through the side cut in the vertical profile.
D- Filler Weights:
Filler weights are made of cast iron, there are standard lengths for fillers depend on the counterweight size and
gauge. Ends of filler weights prepared to be guided in the vertical profile.
E-Guide Shoes:
The counterweight has a separate guide rails (as indicated above in the guide rails paragraphs) , which will keep
counterweight running without twisting and avoid colliding with car or other lift components.
The counterweight equipped with sliding guides to ensure smooth running along the travel height Variable
gauges between counterweight rails are possible.
iii. Suspension (Hoisting) Ropes (Cables)
Suspension Ropes are Suspension means for car and counterweight, which are represented by steel wire ropes.
They are Used on traction type elevators, usually attached to the crosshead and extending up into the machine
room looping over the sheave on the motor and then down to the counter weights.
Hoisting cable are generally 3 to 6 in number. These ropes are usually 1/2”or 5/8” in diameter.
The term Roping system can be defined as the arrangement of cables supporting the elevator and which has
many types or arrangements as follows:

28.  Single wrap: rope passes over sheave once and connected to counterweight.
 Double wrap: rope wound over sheave twice in high speed elevators for additional traction.
 1:1 roping: when rope connected to counterweight where cable travels as far as car in opposite direction.
 2:1 roping: rope wraps sheave on counterweight and connects to top of the shaft, rope moves twice as far as
cab.
Note: A variety of roping systems can be employed dependant on the particular conditions of each and which are
summarized in the below image.
iv. Landing (Hoist-way) doors.
There are four basic types of hoist-way doors used on elevators as follows:
 Automatic Door: Center opening doors consist of two power operated panels that part simultaneously with a
brisk, noiseless motion.
 Swing Door: A Swing hall door consists of a hoist-way door that is manually opened and a single slide car door
that is power operated.
 Telescopic Door: It consists of two power operated panels that are geared together. One door moves twice as
fast as the other door so that both doors will meet concurrently in the open position.
 Collapsible Gate: Constructed from double channel rolled pickets 16mm wide x 2.5mm thick interconnected
by 6mm thick galvanized steel solid lattice bars.
v. Buffers in the pit.
A Buffer is a device designed to stop a descending car or counterweight beyond its normal limit and to soften
the force with which the elevator runs into the pit during an emergency. They may be of polyurethane or oil type
in respect of the rated speed.
There are two principal types of buffers in existence:
 Energy accumulation: accumulate the kinetic energy of the car or counterweight.
 Energy dissipation: dissipate the kinetic energy of the car or counterweight.
Polyurethane buffers which are energy accumulation type with non-linear characteristics are used for our lifts
that have rated speed not more than 1 m/sec.
Polyurethane buffers have three shapes as shown in the below image.

29.  A Spring Buffer is one type of buffer most commonly found on hydraulic elevators or used for elevators with
speeds less than 200 feet per minute. These devices are used to cushion the elevator and are most always
located in the elevator pit.
 An Oil Buffer is another type of buffer more commonly found on traction elevators with speeds higher than
200 feet per minute. This type of buffer uses a combination of oil and springs to cushion a descending car or
counterweight and are most commonly located in the elevator pit, because of their location in the pit buffers
have a tendency to be exposed to water and flooding. They require routine cleaning and painting to assure
they maintain their proper performance specifications. Oil buffers also need there oil checked and changed if
exposed to flooding.
C. Machine / Drive System.
Driving machine, this is the power unit of the elevator, and usually located at the elevator machine room.
The Driving machine used to refer to the collection of components that raise or lower the elevator. These include
the drive motor, brake, speed reduction unit, sheaves and encoders.
Types of Driving Machines:
Generally, there are three standard types of driving machines provided for elevators. These are;
1- Gearless Machine
 It used in high rise applications whereby the drive motor and drive sheave are connected in line on a common
shaft, without any mechanical speed reduction unit located between the drive motor and drive sheave.
 Generally, Gearless machines are used for high speed lifts between 2.5 m/s to 10 m/s and they can be also
used for lower speeds for special applications.
 Their sizes and shapes vary with load, speed and manufacture but the underlying principles and components
are the same.
The Gearless machines comprise the following components:

30.  Electrical Motor.
 Traction Sheave or drum.
 Direct current armature in case of DC motor.
 Rotor in case of AC motor.
 Brake.
 Machine Bedplate.
 Supporting bearings.
 Deflector or double warp sheave
2- Geared Machine
 It used in low and mid rise applications. This design utilizes a mechanical speed reduction gear set to reduce
the rpm of the drive motor (input speed) to suit the required speed of the drive sheave and elevator (output
speed).
 Generally, geared machines are used for speeds between 0.1 m/s and 2.5 m/s and are suitable for loads from
5 Kg up to 50,000 Kg and above.
 Their sizes and shapes vary with load, speed and manufacture but the underlying principles and components
are the same.
Essentially, a geared machine includes the following components:

31.  Drive motor.
 Brake.
 Speed reduction unit or gearbox.
 Drive sheave.
 Bedplate.
 Deflector sheave (if mounted as integral
part of the bedplate assembly).
Types of geared machine drive according to location of installation:
A- The drive machine located directly over top its hoist-way or shaft is commonly referred to as “Overhead
traction” as in the below image.
Overhead Traction Basement Traction
B- The drive machine located at a basement is commonly referred to as “basement traction”.
C- The drive machine located at the side of the hoist-way is commonly referred to as an “offset traction” as in
the below image.

32. Note: Basement and offset applications require
additional deflector sheaves to properly lead
suspension ropes off the drive sheave and to
the car top or counterweight.
3- Drum Machine
It widely used in older passenger and freight elevator applications, though now rarely seen except for
dumbwaiters. For many years now the Elevator Safety Code has disallowed the use of such machines for
passenger applications. A drum design has one end of the suspension rope affixed to the inside of the winding
drum’s drive sheave, and then allows to rope to reel in or off the outer surface of its sheave, depending upon the
car direction of travel.
D. Control System.
Elevator Control System is the system responsible for coordinating all aspects of elevator service such as travel,
speed, and accelerating, decelerating, door opening speed and delay, leveling and hall lantern signals.
It accepts inputs (e.g. button signals) and produces outputs (elevator cars moving, doors opening, etc.).

33. Aims of the control system
The main aims of the elevator control system are:
 To bring the lift car to the correct floor.
 To minimize travel time.
 To maximize passenger comfort by providing a smooth ride.
 To accelerate, decelerate and travel within safe speed limits.
Types of elevator control systems: There are 3 main types for elevator control systems as follows:
1- Single Automatic operation:
 First automated system w/o single call button on each floor and single button for each floor inside car.
 Called if no one is using it.
 Passenger has exclusive use of the car until rip is complete.
2- Selective collective operation:
 Most common, remembers and answers calls in one direction then reverses. When trip complete,
programmed to return to a home landing.
3- Group automatic operation:
 For large buildings with many elevators which are controlled with programmable microprocessors to respond.
E. Safety System
The following list describes all the safety components used in electrical traction elevator safety system:
a. Device for locking landing doors (Hoist-way Door Interlock).
 It shall not be possible in normal operation to open the landing door (or any of the panels in the case of a
multi-panel door) unless the car has stopped, or is on the point of stopping, in the unlocking zone of the door.
 The unlocking zone shall not extend more than 0.2 meter above and below the landing level.
 The hoist-way door locking mechanism provides a means to mechanically lock each hoist-way door and the
elevator cannot leave a landing unless the doors are fully closed and secured.
 They are also interconnected electrically to prevent operation of the elevator if any of the elevator’s hoistway
doors are open. Should the doors be forced open, the interlock circuit will be broken, causing the elevator to
immediately stop.
 Each landing door shall be provided with a locking device satisfying the previous conditions. This device shall
be protected against deliberate misuse.
 Landing doors shall be capable of being unlocked from the outside with the aid of key , which fit the unlocking
triangle (Hoist-way Emergency Door Keys).
Layout of Elevator Safety System

34. b. Progressive safety gear.
 Safety gear is a mechanical device for stopping the car (or counterweight) by gripping the guide rails in the
event of car speed attaining a pre-determined value in a downward direction of travel, irrespective what the
reason for the increase in speed may be.
 Progressive safety gear retardation is affected by a breaking action on the guide rails and for which special
provisions are made so as to limit the forces on the car, counterweight o balancing weight to a permissible
value.
 Pair of safety gears is mounted in the lower part of car sling and operated simultaneously by a linkage
mechanism that actuated by over-speed governor.
c. Over-speed governor.
 Over-speed governor function is to actuate the safety gear if the car speed exceeds 115% of its rated value.
 Usually a cable is attached to the safeties on the underside of the car, called the governor rope. This rope
runs down through a pulley at the bottom of the shaft and back up to the machine room and around the
governor sheave.
 When over-speeding is detected, the governor grips the cable which applies the safeties that wedge against
the guide rails and stops the car.
 The over-speed governor works on the floating principle with a cam curve and roller guided rocker.
 It is situated either in the machine room or in the head room.
 Over-speed governor is provided by a factory adjusted switch activated when the tripped speed is reached to
disconnect the machine drive starting with governor pulley blocking.

35. d. Buffers.
A Buffer is a device designed to stop a descending car or counterweight beyond its normal limit and to soften
the force with which the elevator runs into the pit during an emergency. They may be of polyurethane or oil type
in respect of the rated speed.
There are two principal types of buffers in existence:
A- Energy accumulation: accumulate the kinetic energy of the car or counterweight.
B- Energy dissipation: dissipate the kinetic energy of the car or counterweight.
Polyurethane buffers which are energy accumulation type with non-linear characteristics are used for our lifts
that have rated speed not more than 1 m/sec.
Polyurethane buffers have three shapes as shown in the below image.
e. Final Limit switches.
 Final limit switches shall be set to function as close as possible to the terminal floors (the highest or lowest
landing of lifts), without risk of accident.
 Final limit switches shall operate before the car comes into contact with the buffers. The action of the final
limit switches shall be maintained whilst the buffers are compressed.
 After the operation of final limit switches, the return to service of the lift cannot occur automatically.
f. Other safety devices and switches.
a. Overload Device
Load weighing device or the overload sensor is mounted on the lower transom to sense the nearness of car floor
during loading of car isolation springs. The sensor is operated by altering the distance between car floor and sling
dependent on the load. A distance screw shall be provided close to the sensor for protection purposes. Set the
distance screw in such a way that it projects the sensor by a approximately 1 mm, so that the sensor is protected
in the case of shock motions which raise during safety gear operation of the car.
b- Door Protective Device
Any type of device used with automatic power operated doors that detect obstructions to the normal closing of
the elevator doors (though contact may occur) and either causes the doors to change the door motion by either
stopping it, or causing it to reverse (reopen) or go into some other mode of operation, such as nudging. A safe
edge, a safety astragal, a photoelectric device (safe ray), and electrostatic field device are examples of door
protective devices.
Photo-electric and infrared sensors: A sensor between the hoist-way and car doors that detects objects in their
path and prevents the doors from closing.

36. Safety edges: movable strips on edge of door that activates a switch to reopen if something contacts it
c. Emergency stop switch:
The red switch inside some cars that cuts off the power to the car except for the lights, alarm and
communication system.
d. Seismic switch/device
 Seismic switch is a motion sensing device on some elevators installations. If it is activated the elevator will
move away from the counter weights to the next landing with its doors open and inoperable.
 This device overrides phase (I) and phase (II) operation unless phase (II) operation is already in effect.
 If this device has been activated it can mean that an unsafe structural condition exists.
 This device is located in the machine room
e. Emergency Alarm Switch:
It will sound an alarm when activated by a passenger and in most elevators; an emergency telephone or
intercom can serve as a link to assistance if the car should stall.
f. Anti-Egress Lock Device - Allows car doors to open from inside by only 4 inches unless car is near landing.
g. Pit Safety Switch
This device, strategically located at elevator pit entry and exit points, greatly enhances safety for personnel who
work in the elevator pit by preventing unexpected elevator movement.
h. Fire Fighter Services Devices/Switches - It includes two types of switches as follows:
i- Phase I Switch
ii- Phase II Switch
STRUCTURAL ENCASING
The Standard Elevators Layouts:
Standard elevators can be arranged in the following four layouts:
Arrangement (A) - Car with side opening door and the counterweight is located at the back wall.
Arrangement (B) - Car with central opening door and the counterweight is located at the back wall.

37. Arrangement (C) - Car with side opening door and the counterweight is located at one side.
Arrangement (D): Car with central opening door and the counterweight is located at one side.

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Written Assignments 04a
[One Week Period]
01. What do you mean by Elevators?
02. What are the kinds of Elevators?
03. What are the types of Elevators based on Hoist Mechanism?
04. What are the basic components of an Elevator?
05. What is the difference between Hydraulic and Traction Elevators?
06. Explain Industrial Elevators and what are their types?
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Homework – Research 04a
[One Week Period]
Students shall do Research and Document on any one of these topics
01. Hospital Elevators (Stretcher Elevator)
02. Typical Residential Elevators (Passenger Elevators)
03. Commercial Elevators
04. Industrial Elevators
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Term Test Questions 04a
[45.00 – 60.00 Minutes]
01. Describe and draw all possible Elevator Layouts.
02. Explain basic functioning of Elevators.
03. What is a Dumb Elevator and where it is used?
04. Draw basic structural layout with dimensions of a typical Four Passenger Elevator.
05. Write a Short Note on Residential Elevator