Individual Background Information

Name: WILSON TAY

Id: 18WVD06364

Lift also known as elevator is a lifting device consisting

of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in
a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another
in building which people usually install in high rise building.
(Farlex.com, 2014)

Figure 1.4.1 A lift or elevator

Back in the history, the first lift was designed in 1743 by King
Louis in France. It does not look like lift of today but it was called as a flying chair.
The flying chair was used to travel from one floor to another and it was operated
manually by King’s command. Soon in 1850, another lift was introduced which was
called hydraulic and steam elevator. It was built by Elisha G Otis, introduced first ever
safety lift because in case of rope failure, spring pushed ratchet to bring forward saw
tooth iron bar, securing the lift. (EngineersGarage, 2014)

Figure 1.4.2 flying chair Figure 1.4.3 Elisha G Otis's lift

According to hoist mechanism, lift was classified to 4 main types which are
hydraulic elevators, traction elevators, climbing elevators and pneumatic elevator.

Figure 1.4.4 hydraulic elevators

Hydraulic elevators also known as push elevators, it is support by piston at the bottom
of elevator that pushes the elevator up. (Knowhow, 2016)
Traction elevators also known as pull elevators which the elevators are lifted by
ropes, which pass over a wheel attached to an electric motor above the elevator shaft.
(Knowhow, 2016)
The next one will be climbing elevator, this type of elevators usually uses in
construction area. (Knowhow, 2016)
The last one is pneumatic elevators, which are raised and lowered by controlling
air pressure in a chamber which the elevator sits. (Knowhow, 2016)

Figure 1.4.5 traction elevators Figure 1.4.6 climbing elevators Figure 1.4.7 pneumatic elevators

References:
 EngineersGarage, 2014. EngineersGarage | Inspiring Creations. [Online]
Available at: http://www.engineersgarage.com/invention-stories/elevator-
history [Accessed 24 July 2016].

 Farlex.com, 2014. Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free

Dictionary. [Online] Available at:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Lift+(elevator) [Accessed 24 July 2016].
 Knowhow, E., 2016. Electrical Knowhow. [Online] Available at:
http://www.electrical-knowhow.com/2012/04/elevators-types-and-
classification-part.html [Accessed 24 July 2016].
Introduction
Lift is appliance designed to transport or move persons or materials between two or
more levels in a vertical or substantially vertical direction. Lift had been considered as
the most important building services system for high rise building. They provide
convenience, safe, fast, and economical movement for people and goods, and they are
able to cater to all kinds of traffic patterns. (Zahurul 2011) The word ‘elevator’ is also
synonymously used for ‘lift’. Lift are generally powered by electric motors that either
counterweight systems like a hoist or drive traction cables or pump hydraulic fluid to
raise a cylindrical piston like a jack. In accordance with CIBSE Guide D [1], a lift is a
permanent piece of lifting equipment, serve two or more landing levels, provided with
a guided car or platform for the transportation of passengers. The lift is either running
in vertical or inclined less than 15º from the vertical. (Springer 2009) From the major
view of operation, lifts can be categorised into five types which namely passenger
lifts, goods lifts, service lifts, fire fighting lifts and vehicle lifts. For the special
applications, there are the other lifts such as stretcher lifts, scissor lifts, observation
lifts, paternoster and dumbwaiters.
Equipment

A lift system demonstrator, with six floors height complete with lift lobby floor slab
on each level

Figure 1 Lift demonstrator