VERTICAL CIRCULATION

LIFTS
An appliances designed to transport persons or materials between two or more levels in a
vertical direction by means of a guided car platform is called lifts/ elevators.
OR
An elevator or lift is a vertical transport vehicle that efficiently moves people or goods between
floors of a building. They are generally powered by electric motors that either drive traction
cables and counterweight systems, or pump hydraulic fluid to raise a cylindrical piston.

COMPONENTS OF LIFT
The main components of an electric traction lift are in the following :
1. CAR
The car is a cage having an external frame of steel channels , which is supported at the top by
suspension ropes . The bodywork , which is fixed to the frame , may consist of suitable paneling
material such as plywood , laminated board etc. with appropriate surface finishes to facilitate
cleaning . A metal flushing sliding door (about 32 mm thick) is generally provided ; an electric
door operator automatically opens and closes the door of the car.

2. GUIDE RAILS
The steel guide rails , generally of tee section , up and down which the car traverses , must be
truly vertical . They are screwed to brackets , which are rag bolted to the enclosure walls . Guide
shoes of phosphor bronze or gun metal ,are self acting and spring loaded and are fitted
centrally at the top and bottom of both sides of the car. These shoes fit the smooth surfaced rails
to ensure that the car doesnt jump the rails when in motion. Instead of sliding guide shoes ,
roller guide shoes may be used which have the advantage of not requiring lubrication of rail
guides and thus promote cleanliness and reduce the fire risk.

3. COUNTERWEIGHT
The counterweight consisting of thick steel plates balances the weight of the car together with
40-50% of live load. Self-acting guide shoes (two at each side) are bolted to the top and the
bottom of the counterweight . It is usual for the counterweight to to be at the back of the car.

4. LIFT WIRE ROPES

Suspension wire ropes have a high factor of safety are kept well oiled and are frequently
inspected. The driving sheave or traction drive is mounted and connected to the motor. V
shaped grooves are formed on the face of the sheave and the suspension ropes from the car
pass over the sheave in these grooves to the counterweight after they have been offset by the
diverting pulley.

5. BUFFERS
Spring buffers are provided on the pit floor with suitable foundations symmetrically underneath
both car and counterweight to absorb or reduce the impact of both at the extreme bottom
limit of travel. Only oil buffers shall be used with lifts having rated speed in excess of 1.5m/s.

6. OPERATION OF LIFT
The ropes raise and lower the car in the lift well. The winding machine consisting of the motor ,
brakes , reduction gear and sheave are installed on a rigid base in the machine room above the
lift well or in the basement. Motive power is electricity. Controller starts the motor in the
required direction with the necessary acceleration and deceleration. There are four methods of
control,
a) Full automatic control by push button, b) car switch control,
c) dual control , d)semi-automatic control
every passenger and good lift must be provided with an emergency stop switch , a press
button alarm and automatic safety gear on the car, which in the event of rope failure ,
will stop and sustain fully loaded car in the guides. If a car during its descent exceeds the
maximum speed , the over speed governor comes into operation to the rope and
thereby activating the safety gear.
 TYPES OF LIFTS
Passenger lifts
Goods lifts
Hospital lifts
Panoramic lifts

1. PASSENGER/TRACTION LIFTS
A passenger elevator is designed to move people between a building's floors.

SR.No. LOAD CAR INSIDE LIFT WELL ENTRANCE

PERSONS KG A B C D E
1 4 373 1100 700 1900 1300 800
2 6 408 1100 1000 1900 1600 800
3 8 544 1300 1100 1900 1900 800
4 10 680 1350 1300 1900 2100 800
5 13 884 2000 1100 2500 1900 900
2. GOODS / FREIGHT LIFTS
A freight elevator, or goods lift, is an elevator designed to carry goods, rather than
passengers.
Freight elevators may have manually operated doors, and often have rugged interior
finishes to prevent damage while loading and unloading.

SR.No. LOAD CAR INSIDE LIFT WELL ENTRANCE

KG A B C D E
1 500 1100 1200 1900 1500 1100
2 1000 1400 1800 2300 2100 1400
3 1500 1700 2000 2600 2300 1700
3.4 HOSPITAL
2000 LIFTS1700 2500 2600 2800 1700
For
5 simple2500
transportation of a patient2500
2000 on wheelchair2900
to wheeling 2800
away a critical patient
2000
on bed without disturbing his life support system with doctors & nurses attendance,
smoothly & silently, without jerks & shocks.

SR.No. LOAD CAR INSIDE LIFT WELL ENTRANCE

PERSONS KG A B C D E
1 15 1020 950 2400 1700 3000 800
2 20 1360 1300 2400 2200 3000 1200
3 26 1768 1600 2400 2300 3000 1200
4. DUMBWAITER LIFTS
Dumbwaiters are small freight elevators that are
intended to carry food rather than passengers.
They often link kitchens with rooms on other floors.

4. PANORAMICS LIFTS
The panoramic lift applies both to external lifts on the
facades of imposing business premises from which
passengers ca enjoy the view and internal lifts in
department stores or in foyers of large hotels where they
look out on to the sales floors and displays.

TYPES OF HOIST MECHANISM

Passenger lifts generally employ two kinds of hoist mechanisms :-
1. Traction lifts
2. Hydraulic lifts

1. TRACTION ELEVATOR :
This type of lift is driven by Wire ropes passing over a driving wheel or sheave and
connected to the lift car and a counterweight.
The speed of these lifts can range from 0.5 m/s up to a maximum of 10 m/s.
These machines are generally the best option for basement or overhead traction use for
speeds up to 500 ft/min (2.5 m/s).
Ropes are attached to the elevator car and looped around a hoist machine with deep
grooves in its circumference known as a sheave.
The sheave grips the hoist ropes, so when the sheave, which is connected to an electric
motor, rotates, the ropes move too.
 When the motor turns one way, the sheave raises the elevator; when the motor turns the
other way, the sheave lowers the elevator.
The counterweight is located in the hoist-way and rides a separate rail system; as the car
goes up, the counterweight goes down, and vice versa.
This action is powered by the traction machine which is directed by controller, typically a
relay logic or computerized device that directs starting, acceleration, deceleration and
stopping of the elevator cab.

The advantages of the traditional traction lift

include:-
n
Fast speeds and efficient performance.
Quiet, smooth ride.
Available for high-rise applications.

The drawbacks of the traditional traction

elevator include:-
Higher installation cost.
Significant structural loads at the top of the hoist way.
Elevator machine room required.
Traction elevator.
2. HYDRAULIC LIFTS
Hydraulic lifts work by the action of a pumped fluid, normally oil. Within a cylinder driving a
piston which is attached to the lift car.
The hydraulic lift is used in applications where the maximum travel distance is about 20m.
The maximum traveling speed of commercially available hydraulic lifts is limited to about
0.75m/s.
The hydraulic lift has the advantage of
lower capital cost when compared with
a traction lift Hydraulic systems are
commonly used in low-rise buildings up
to five stories.
Speeds rarely exceed 150 feet per
minute (fpm).

WORKING METHOD :
Originally the fluid used to drive the
piston was water, hence the name
hydraulic; today, the fluid is typically
an oil-based hydraulic fluid.
There are four major components to
the hydraulic system: a tank (fluid
reservoir); a pump powered by an electric motor; a valve between the cylinder and the
reservoir; and the cylinder.
The pump forces fluid from the tank into the cylinder. As the fluid collects in the cylinder, it
pushes the piston up, lifting the elevator car.
When the valve is opened, the pressurized fluid will take the path of least resistance and return
to the fluid reservoir.
When the car approaches the correct floor, the control system sends a signal to the electric
motor to gradually shut off the pump and close the valve.
With the pump off, there is no more fluid flowing into the cylinder, but the fluid that is already
in the cylinder cannot escape (it can't flow backward through the pump, and the valve is still
closed).
The piston rests on the fluid, and the car stays where it is.
To lower the car, the elevator control system sends a signal to the valve.
When the valve opens, the fluid that has collected in the cylinder can flow out into the fluid
reservoir.
The weight of the car and the cargo pushes down on the piston, which drives the fluid into the
reservoir.
The car gradually descends.
To stop the car at a lower floor, the control system closes the valve again.
TYPES OF HYDRAULIC LIFTS :
1. In-ground system
2. Holeless system
3. Roped system

THE ADVANTAGES OF THE HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR INCLUDE:-

No overhead machine room is necessary.
Elevator hoist way dimensions are optimized.
Loads are distributed to load bearing wallsthere are no overhead structural requirements.
Machine rooms can be located remotely.
Installation costs are generally less than those for conventional traction roped systems.

THE DRAWBACKS OF THE HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR INCLUDE:-

Machine room needed for pump unit and control system.
Limited speed and performance.
High noise levels as compared to other systems.
Odour from heated oil.
Environmental concerns due to significant use of oil.
Poor ride quality as compared with other systems.

ESCLATORS
An escalator is a conveyor type transport device that moves people. It is a moving staircase with
steps that move up or down using a conveyor belt and tracks keeping each step horizontal for
the passenger.
They are provided where it is necessary to move large number of people from floor to floor in
minimum of space. For example , at railway stations , airports etc.
The escalators operate at a constant speed , serve only two levels and have a known maximum
capacity , which varies from 3200 to 6400 persons per hour depending on the width of the
escalators.
Escalators are reversible in direction.
They are generally operated at a speed of not more than 38m/minute.

COMPONENTS OF ESCALATORS :
An escalators consists of trusses or girders , the balustrade and handrails , and an endless belt
with step treads and landings.
At the upper end of the escalators there is a pair of motor driven sprocket wheels and a worn
gear driving machine.
At the lower end also there is a matching pair of sprocket wheels. Two precision made roller
chains travel over the sprockets pulling the endless belt of step supported on four resilient
rollers.
The structural framing is housed in escalator enclosure which is suitably rendered from outside
to provide an aesthetic appearance.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS:
ANGLE OF INCLINATION
It shall not be in excess of 30 from the horizontal excepting that with an escalators having a
vertical rise not exceeding 6m an angle upto 35 may be allowed.

WIDTH
The width of the escalators is reckoned . The minimum and maximum width of the step tread
being 400mm and 1020mm respectively.

BALUSTRADE
Escalators shall be provided on each side with solid balustrade. Each balustrade shall be
provided
with a handrail moving in the same direction at substantially the same speed as the steps. Each
moving handrail shall extend at normal handrail height not less than 30cm beyond the line of
points of combplate teeth at the upper and lower landing.
Hand or finger guards shall be provided at the point where the handrail enters the
balustrade.
The clearance on either side of the steps between the steps and the adjacent skirt guard of
balustrade shall be not more than 5mm and the sum of the clearances on both sides shall not
be
more than 6mm.

COMBPLATES
There shall be a combplate at the entrance and exit of every escalators. It is a pronged plate
that forms part of an escalator landing and engages with the cleats of the steps at the limits of
travel. The combplate teeth shall be meshed with and send into slots in the tread surface so that
the point of the teeth are always below the upper surface of the treads.
TRUSSES OR GIRDERS:
The truss or girder shall be designed to safely sustain the steps and the running gear in
operation. In event of failure of the track system it shall retain the running gear in its guides.

STEP WHEEL TRACKS:

These shall be so designed to prevent displacement of the steps and the running gear if a step
chain breaks.

SAFETY DEVICES:
Safety devices shall be provided to cause automatic interruption of power supply in case of
failure of step chain , drive chain etc. An electrically released brake shall automatically stop the
escalator when any of the safety device functions.

EMERGENCY STOP BUTTONS:

These are manually operated switches having red buttons or handles conspicuously marked
STOP PUSH OR STOP SWITCH. These shall be located at or near the top and bottom landings of
each escalators.
DESIGN AND LAYOUT CONSIDERATIONS
A number of factors affect escalator design, including physical requirements, location,
traffic patterns, safety considerations, and aesthetic preferences.
Foremost, physical factors like the vertical and horizontal distance to be spanned must be
considered.
These factors will determine the pitch of the escalator and its actual length.
The ability of the building infrastructure to support the heavy components is also a critical
physical concern.
Location is important because escalators should be situated where they can be easily seen
by the general public.
Furthermore, up and down escalator traffic should be physically separated and should not
lead into confined spaces.
The carrying capacity of an escalator system must match the expected peak traffic
demand, presuming that passengers ride single file.
 MODEL SIZES AND OTHER SPECIFICATIONS
Escalator step width Energy usage

Width (Between Width (Between Energy Energy

Size Balustrade Balustrade Single-step capacity Applications consumption, in consumption, in
Panels), in mm Panels), in Inches Kilowatts Horsepower

A rare historic design,

One passenger, with
Very small 400 mm 16 in especially in older 3.75 kW 5 HP
feet together
department stores

Low-volume sites,
uppermost levels of
Small 600 mm 24 in One passenger 3.75 kW 5 HP
department stores,
when space is limited

One passenger + one Shopping malls,

Medium 800 mm 32 in package or one piece department stores, 7.5 kW 10 HP
of luggage. smaller airports

Mainstay of metro
Two passengers
systems, larger airports,
Large 1000 mm 40 in one may walk past 7.5 kW 10 HP
train stations, some
another
retail usage

ARRANGEMENTS OF ESCALATORS

Multiple parallel layout

Parallel layout
Crisscross layout
Escalators have three typical configuration options:-
parallel (up and down escalators "side by side or separated by a distance", seen often in

multilevel motion picture theatres),

crisscross (minimizes structural space requirements by "stacking" escalators that go in one
direction, frequently used in department stores or shopping centers), and
multiple parallel (two or more escalators together that travel in one direction next to one
or two escalators in the same bank that travel in the other direction).
Escalators are required to have moving handrails that keep pace with the movement of
the
steps.
The direction of movement (up or down) can be permanently the same, or be controlled
by personnel according to the time of day, or automatically be controlled by whoever
arrives first, whether at the bottom or at the top (the system is programmed so that the
direction is not reversed while a passenger is on the escalator).