Green Energy

Types of Elevators

There is a world full of architectural genius that envelops our lives, often going unnoticed throughout our daily activities. One of the elements that is taken for granted in our daily lives is the modern elevator. Many people do not know the different kinds of elevators that transport us each any every day. Its technology is complex and has come a long way from pulley systems developed in 236 A.D. powered by hand and animal. In 1852, Elisha Otis introduced the safety elevator which prevented the fall of the cab if the rope were to break. We’ve come a long way, baby.

Today, we have passenger, freight, stage lift, vehicle, boat, aircraft and residential elevators, just to name a few. They are mainly powered by hydraulic and geared systems. Hydraulic elevators are common for low rise buildings ranging from 2 to 8 stories. They rely on underground cylinders with a fluid mounted piston. They include three parts which include a tank, pump and valve. This system is simple and highly effective but the disadvantage is the size of the equipment and that it must be buried below the elevator stop. It takes a lot of energy to power a hydraulic elevator, but if you have the space and ground available, it is a good choice.

Geared systems are a twist on a roped elevator design raised and lowered by traction steel ropes attached to an elevator car and looped around a sheave which is connected to an electric motor. A gear train rotates the sheave. Gear trains are present in spinning parts such as transmissions, VCRs and pendulum clocks. Unlike the hydraulic elevator where the machine room is housed below the elevator, the machine room in a geared system is housed above the elevator shaft. These tend to be the most versatile and efficient type of elevator system.

With just a basic introduction to the types of elevators available for commercial and residential use, it is up to you to find a reliable elevator installation company to make your dream a reality in terms of elevating your ideas to new heights. Whether you choose a hydraulic elevator or a geared elevator, if you do your research and find a reliable elevator company, you can rest assured that with modern technology, you will be able to build the most efficient transportation system available.

About the Author

As the marketing manager for Indiana elevator repair company and a Nationwide industrial elevator leasing company called Metro Elevator, Brian Kearnaghan and his team work together to make sure every clients elevator service needs are met specifically and installed with proficiency.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 4th, 2011 at 4:02 am and is filed under Green Energy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.