DUMBWAITER

A DUMBWAITER IS ESSENTIALLY A MINIATURE ELEVATOR, OPERATED WITH A PULLEY SYSTEM. DUMBWAITERS

WERE DESIGNED TO TRANSPORT FOOD AND OTHER NECESSITIES BETWEEN FLOORS IN LARGE HOUSES. A DUMBWAITER
TYPICALLY CONSISTS OF A SMALL CART, WHICH TRAVELS UP AND DOWN A SHAFT ON RAILS TO DELIVER ITEMS TO
FLOORS ABOVE AND BELOW, ESSENTIALLY PERFORMING THE VERY BASIC TASKS OF—YOU GUESSED IT—A MUTE
WAITER.

DUMBWAITERS FIRST GAINED POPULARITY IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE MID-19TH-CENTURY. IN 1883, NEW
YORK INVENTOR GEORGE W. CANNON SECURED A PATENT FOR THE FIRST MECHANICAL DUMBWAITER. THESE
AUTOMATIC MODELS WERE ESPECIALLY USEFUL IN THE BROWNSTONES AND TOWNHOUSES OF NEW YORK CITY,
WHERE VERTICAL LIVING MEANT STAFF OFTEN HAD TO LUG ITEMS UP AND DOWN SEVERAL FLIGHTS OF STAIRS.

 WINDOW TYPE DUMBWAITER – THESE ARE OUR MOST POPULAR OPTION. THEY’RE SMALL GOODS LIFTS THAT
ARE INSTALLED AT CHEST HEIGHT FOR EASILY LOADING GOODS BY HAND. THEY’RE MOST OFTEN USED FOR THE
TRANSPORT OF FOOD FROM THE KITCHENS TO THE TABLE, GOODS FROM THE WAREHOUSE TO THE STORE, AND
BOOKS, OR DOCUMENTS FROM ONE FLOOR TO ANOTHER.
 FLOOR TYPE DUMBWAITER – THESE ARE INSTALLED WHERE THERE ARE GOODS THAT NEED TO BE LOADED
ONTO A FORKLIFT, OR PALLET TRUCK. THEY ARE MOST OFTEN USED FOR THE MOVEMENT OF BULKY ITEMS
SUCH AS LAUNDRY, FURNITURE FOR PUBLIC EVENTS, OR BOXES OF DOCUMENTATION FOR CONFERENCE
VENUES.
 GOODS LIFT DUMBWAITER – THIS IS A LARGER MODEL, AND IT LOOKS MORE LIKE A TRADITIONAL ELEVATOR. IT
FEATURES A MODULAR STRUCTURE WITH A SELF-SUPPORTING DESIGN, WHICH MEANS IT’S EASY TO INSTALL AS
IT DOESN’T NEED A PIT AND SHAFT. THE CONTROLS ARE ON THE OUTSIDE BECAUSE THESE LIFTS ARE NOT
DESIGNED TO CARRY PEOPLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

ELEVATOR
ALSO CALLED LIFT, CAR THAT MOVES IN A VERTICAL SHAFT TO CARRY PASSENGERS OR FREIGHT BETWEEN THE
LEVELS OF A MULTISTORY BUILDING. MOST MODERN ELEVATORS ARE PROPELLED BY ELECTRIC MOTORS, WITH THE AID
OF A COUNTERWEIGHT, THROUGH A SYSTEM OF CABLES AND SHEAVES (PULLEYS). BY OPENING THE WAY TO HIGHER
BUILDINGS, THE ELEVATOR PLAYED A DECISIVE ROLE IN CREATING THE CHARACTERISTIC URBAN GEOGRAPHY OF MANY
MODERN CITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE UNITED STATES, AND PROMISES TO FILL AN INDISPENSABLE ROLE IN FUTURE CITY
DEVELOPMENT.

THE PRACTICE OF LIFTING LOADS BY MECHANICAL MEANS DURING BUILDING OPERATIONS GOES BACK AT LEAST
TO ROMAN TIMES; THE ROMAN ARCHITECT-ENGINEER VITRUVIUS IN THE 1ST CENTURY BC DESCRIBED LIFTING
PLATFORMS THAT USED PULLEYS AND CAPSTANS, OR WINDLASSES, OPERATED BY HUMAN, ANIMAL, OR WATER
POWER. STEAM POWER WAS APPLIED TO SUCH DEVICES IN ENGLAND BY 1800.

TYPES OF ELEVATOR

 PASSENGER ELEVATOR

A PASSENGER ELEVATOR IS ANY ELEVATOR INTENDED FOR THE TRANSPORT OF PEOPLE THROUGH A BUILDING. THESE
ELEVATORS CAN VARY DRASTICALLY IN TERMS OF SIZE, SPEED AND INTERIOR OPTIONS DEPENDING ON THE USE OF THE
ELEVATOR.

 SERVICE ELEVATOR

A SERVICE ELEVATOR IS FOUND IN MANY COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND IS INTENDED FOR THE TRANSPORT OF GOODS
THROUGH THE BUILDINGS BY EMPLOYEES, SUCH AS THE HOUSEKEEPING STAFF MOVING CLEANING CARTS THROUGH A
HOTEL.
  FREIGHT ELEVATOR

A FREIGHT ELEVATOR IS INTENDED TO MOVE VERY HEAVY LOADS, SUCH AS CARS OR CARGO IN INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS.

 DUMBWAITER

A DUMBWAITER IS A SMALL FREIGHT ELEVATOR. IT IS OFTEN USED FOR THE TRANSPORT OF FOOD IN RESTAURANTS.
HOWEVER, THEY CAN BE FOUND IN BOTH COMMERCIAL, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS.

ELEVATOR OPERATING SYSTEMS

 HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS

THIS TYPE OF HOIST SYSTEM IS USUALLY ONLY USED IN LOW-RISE BUILDINGS, TYPICALLY UP TO SIX STORIES HIGH OR TO
TRANSPORT EXTREMELY HEAVY LOADS.

 TRACTION ELEVATORS

THIS TYPE OF ELEVATOR OPERATES VIA A PULLEY SYSTEM, USING STEEL ROPES OR BELTS AND A COUNTERWEIGHT TO
MOVE THE CABIN UP AND DOWN.

ESCALATOR
ESCALATORS ARE MECHANICAL DEVICES USED FOR TRANSPORTING PEOPLE VERTICALLY BETWEEN DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
BUILDINGS. TYPICALLY, THEY TAKE THE FORM OF A MOVING STAIRCASE, CONSISTING OF A 'CHAIN' OF SINGLE-PIECE
ALUMINIUM OR STAINLESS STEEL STEPS GUIDED BY A SYSTEM OF TRACKS IN A CONTINUOUS LOOP.

ESCALATORS ARE COMMONLY USED IN BUILDINGS WHERE THE MOVEMENT OF A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IS
REQUIRED, SUCH AS SHOPPING CENTRES, AIRPORTS, TRANSIT SYSTEMS, EXHIBITION HALLS, HOTELS, ARENAS, PUBLIC
BUILDINGS, AND SO ON.

A VARIATION OF THE ESCALATOR IS THE MOVING WALKWAY, WHICH TRANSPORTS PEOPLE HORIZONTALLY.

DIFFERENT ESCALATOR ARRANGEMENT

 SINGLE ESCALATOR ARRANGEMENT (ONE-WAY TRAFFIC FLOW)

 PARALLEL/INTERRUPTED ARRANGEMENT (TWO-WAY TRAFFIC FLOW)
 SCISSOR ARRANGEMENT
 CRISSCROSS ARRANGEMENT


ESCALATOR COMPONENTS

THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS MAKE UP AN ESCALATOR SYSTEM:

 LANDING PLATFORMS
 TRUSS
 BALUSTRADE
 HANDRAIL
 TRACKS
 STEPS
 MOTOR