Qurat-ul-ain

[ELEVATORS AND SHAFTS]

103 4th Yr

Submitted to: Sir Shuja Engineering Systems

 ELEVATORS AND SHAFTS
Elevator
An elevator is a conveying device used to move people or freight vertically, usually between floors of a
building. They became commonplace in the 1850s as steel and iron structural frames allowed taller
construction; however it was Elisha Otis's safety mechanism that prevented the car from falling that
made elevators popular. In almost all modern multi-floor buildings, elevators are required to provide
universal access.

Types of Elevators
There are two main types of elevator based on their working mechanism

 Hydraulic elevator
 The cable system

Hydraulic 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. 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. 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. Roped Hydraulic Elevators use a
combination of ropes and a piston to move the elevator. Maximum travel distance is about 60 feet.

Pros and Cons of Hydraulic Elevator

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.

The Cable System

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 by offsetting the weight
of the car and occupants so that the motor doesn't have to move as much weight.
Geared Traction Elevators 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. The
maximum travel distance for a geared traction elevator is around 250 feet.

Gear-less Traction Elevators have the wheel attached directly to the motor. Gear-less traction elevators
are capable of speeds up to 2,000 feet per minute and they have a maximum travel distance of around
2,000 feet so they are the only choice for high-rise applications.

Geared traction elevators are middle of the road in terms of initial cost, ongoing maintenance costs, and
energy consumption. Gear-less traction elevators have a high initial cost, medium ongoing maintenance
costs, and use energy a bit more efficiently than geared traction elevators.

It is important that traction elevator ropes and sheaves are checked for wear on a regular basis. As they
wear, the traction between the sheave and the cables is reduced and slippage becomes more regular,
which reduces the efficiency and can become dangerous if left unchecked.

Traction elevators have height restrictions that are governed by the length and weight of the cables or
ropes. New materials that are stronger and lighter, such as carbon fiber, will allow traction elevators to
achieve new heights.

Capacity of Elevators
The capacity for standard, commercial elevators will depend on the type of building and its usage.
Residential elevators will have the lowest capacity requirements while freight elevator capacities will
have the highest. Capacity requirements will ultimately be determined by the intended use of the
elevator, state and local codes and the elevator’s functionality.

Hoist way dimensions rely on a number of factors including:

 Capacity
 Expected number of passengers
 Speed
 Number of elevator cabs
 Floor layout

In hospitals wheelchairs and ambulance stretchers must be able to enter and exit an elevator with ease,
most states require a minimum opening width must be 36 inches, but some states vary. The depth of
the car should be at least 51 inches and the width should be 68 inches. If the elevator’s doors open in
the center, a width of at least 80 inches is required.

Commercial elevators must be available to visitors in easily accessible areas. Elevator call buttons must
be 42 inches from the floor and should readily indicate which direction the elevator is traveling.

Minimum elevator cab requirements include Opening Width 36″, Depth of Cab 51″, Width of Cab 68″,

Width of Cab(Center-opening doors) 80″.

Elevator Shaft
An elevator shaft is a vertical shaft in a building to permit the passage of an elevator from floor to floor.
A steel structure, called the sling, extends down the sides of the car from the crosshead and cradles the
floor, or platform. The sides of a passenger elevator car are usually made from steel sheet and are
trimmed on the inside with decorative paneling.

Parts of an Elevator Shaft

There are four basic parts of the elevator shaft:

Pit
The elevator pit is the depression below the surface of the lowest landing that allows the elevator floor
to be level with the floor of the lowest landing. The carriage or sling, which holds the car, consumes
space below the floor of the car. This means that the material which is below the car floor must be
recessed into the floor to provide proper leveling. The pit depth may need to be increased to provide a
safe space under the car, intended to protect a technician while working under the car. The pit floor is a
critical design element, because the majority of the force imposed by the elevator will be transferred to
the pit floor.

Overhead
The overhead is the area from the top of the upper finished floor to the nearest overhead obstruction
within the shaft. This space is required to provide a place for the elevator and its operational machinery
when the floor of the car is level with the upper finished floor. Additional overhead may be required to
protect a technician while working on top of the car.

Rail wall
Residential and limited use limited application (LU/LA) elevators are rated at lower capacity than
commercial elevators and are typically a cantilever design. This construction applies force to a wall as
well as to the pit floor. When the elevator is installed, guide rails will be anchored into backing within
the wall, this wall is called the rail wall. The guide rails perform two primary functions; first to guide the
elevator in a plane that is parallel to the entrances of the hoistway. The second is to provide a surface on
which the car safeties can deploy. Adequate backing ensures stability in the function and wear of the
elevator.

Hoisting beam
Some jurisdictions will require the installation of a hoisting beam at the top of the shaft. The hoisting
beam can be used during installation to support, raise, and lower components of the elevator. It can also
be utilized as a connection point for fall suppression devices used by elevator technicians. Because the
requirements for each of these applications vary so greatly, the structural characteristics and installation
of the hoisting beam should be discussed with the authority having jurisdiction and the elevator
installation company.
Shaft Dimensions
The shaft must have a pit with a depth of at least 4 feet and a ceiling height of at least 150 inches. These
elevators can carry between 2,100 and 5,000 pounds. The inner dimensions are between 5 feet 8 inches
by 4 feet 3 inches and 5 feet 8 inches by 7 feet 11 inches.

Elevator Shaft Characteristics

Elevator shafts in multifamily dwellings and in office complexes are best located in a separate utility core
that is not contiguous to occupied spaces. Even if an elevator equipment room is remotely located, the
elevator passage itself can cause noise levels in the 50 dabs range due to the vibration transmitted
through the vertical guide rails. Where elevator shafts are located adjacent to occupied spaces a double
stud double drywall wall has been used. Even in these cases vibration may still be transmitted into the
adjacent space via the direct coupling of the rails to the slab or floor system.

Elevator equipment is either hydraulic or electric. Hydraulic equipment is located near the bottom of the
shaft and consists of a pump, associated piping, and a thrust cylinder. Electric winches control the
elevator height by a cable wound on a drum located at the top of the shaft.