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Category: Commercial Elevators

Recent Innovations in Elevator Technology

elevator technologyWhen people think about transportation infrastructure, they tend to think of roads, bridges, and railways. Vertical transportation is becoming increasingly important as cities expand. There have been several technological innovations in recent years.

The Shanghai New World Daimaru Store has the largest spiral escalator in the world. The system is located in the shopping mall’s main atrium and extends up six stories. It consists of 12 escalators arranged in a helix. Mitsubishi Electric, which designed the system, has been producing spiral escalators for 30 years. It uses customized chains that can respond to movement angles to produce smooth, consistent motion and can adjust the center of the spiral to maintain a consistent speed.

A sustainable social housing project in Reze, France will have a solar powered elevator from Otis. The Gen2 Switch elevator will get over 80 percent of its power from four solar panels on the roof of the Les Bouderies housing project. It will be able to make up to 100 trips during a blackout by using energy from solar-powered batteries.

One World Trade Center will have 71 elevators from ThyssenKrupp. Five super-fast elevators can transport passengers to the observation deck at speeds of up to 37 kilometers per hour, reaching the 102nd floor in as little as a minute. The elevators can reduce noise and minimize vibrations.

ThyssenKrupp has also developed multi-directional elevators that use a magnetic motor to travel both laterally and vertically. The elevators travel through a system of horizontal and vertical loop structures. This could dramatically increase elevator efficiency and convenience and save space.

Thoth Technology, a Canadian company, patented a design for an inflatable space elevator that would rise 20 kilometers from the Earth’s surface. It would have a free-standing tower made from Kevlar-polyethylene tubes held in place with helium. Cars could transport cargo and people from the Earth to a platform at the summit.

Scientists Might Be Able to Build a Diamond Space Elevator

space elevator diamondsHumans traveling to space have traditionally needed to have supplies sent to them from Earth. This requires the launching of rockets to space, which is very costly. Scientists around the world have been working on designing an elevator to transport humans and cargo to space.

The space elevator concept calls for a 60,000-mile cable anchored at the Earth’s equator and extending up into space. Gravity at the lower end and centrifugal force at the upper end would hold the cable in place and allow vehicles to travel into space without the need for rockets. Creating a material that is strong enough and could be made into a long enough cable has been a challenge.

One design that may seem far-fetched but might be feasible involves using diamonds. Researchers at Penn State University discovered that applying enormous pressure to benzene with a machine called a Paris-Edinburgh device produced tiny diamond nanothreads, or chains of atoms made of the same carbon crystals that make up diamonds and are just as strong.

So far, the diamond nanothreads have only been produced by the lab at Penn State. It is unclear whether scientists would be able to mass produce them. There are also concerns that the nanothreads could get brittle as they become longer.

A team at Queensland University of Technology recently completed a modeling study that showed that inserting molecular defects into a repetitive benzene ring structure of a diamond nanothread causes the fiber to become highly ductile. The researchers believe that the right molecular design could allow them to create extremely strong three-dimensional nano-architectures. The structures could potentially be used in many applications, including nanotechnology, electronics, and possibly even a space elevator.

The Benefits of Using an Elevator Access Control System

elevator access controlElevator access control systems grant certain people access to specific floors in a building at predetermined times. Systems can control various numbers of elevators, depending on the control panel that is chosen. This can improve a business’s security and reduce costs.

An identification device can be issued to each person who works in the facility to grant access to specific floors within the building. Elevator access can be integrated with CCTV cameras to see who is attempting to use elevators to access various floors.

Elevator access can be granted or denied based on the user’s classification, the time of day, the elevator the person is attempting to use, and the armed state of a department. The status of a zone can be changed to grant or deny access. Elevator access control systems can be created that are both flexible and secure.

A company’s staff can change frequently. Employees can lose keys or not turn them in when their employment ends. By assigning each person a proximity card or key fob, an individual device can be removed from the system, which eliminates the need to change the locks in each elevator.

Many businesses require a supervisor to be present before other employees are allowed into the building. An elevator access control system can be set up so that only supervisors can disarm elevators and allow other personnel access.

Different departments can operate on different schedules. An access control system can allow access to individual elevators only at specific times.

The general public needs to be kept out of restricted areas. This can be accomplished by automatically locking and unlocking lobby elevators at specific times.

Employing guards to protect a business can be expensive. Using an elevator access control system, intercoms, and cameras can reduce the need for guards and lower costs.

ThyssenKrupp Builds Model of Multi Ropeless Elevator

ThyssenKrupp Multi elevatorsThyssenKrupp announced a year ago that it was developing the Multi elevator system, which has multiple cabins per shaft that are moved with linear motors instead of ropes. It allows cabins to move horizontally and could dramatically change the way people travel in buildings.

Multi operates with a multi-level brake system and inductive power that is transferred from the shaft to the cabin. Several self-propelled cabins can operate in a loop, similar to a subway system. This can increase shaft capacity by up to 50 percent, which would make it possible to reduce the elevator footprint in buildings by up to half.

Since it requires smaller shafts than conventional elevators, Multi could increase a building’s usable area by up to 25 percent. ThyssenKrupp believes this is important since elevators and escalators currently take up as much as 40 percent of a building’s floor space, depending on its height.

Due to the increased efficiency of the elevator system, Multi could reduce the need for escalators and additional elevator shafts. This could significantly reduce construction costs and increase rent revenues, since more usable space would be available.

There are currently over 180 buildings under construction around the world that will be over 250 meters tall. About 50 are completed every year. There are also about 800 buildings under construction that will be over 150 meters.

ThyssenKrupp has created a 1:3 scale model at its Innovation Center in Gijon, Spain. The model has two 10-meter shafts with four cabins that move in a loop. It uses linear motor technology based on the system used in Transrapid magnetic levitation trains. CEO Andreas Schierenbeck said ThyssenKrupp is on track to make Multi a reality.

How Alexander Miles Changed Elevators

Alexander Miles electric elevatorOn October 11, 1887, Alexander Miles patented his revolutionary invention, the electric elevator. Miles did not invent the first elevator, but he made improvements that are still in use today. Before Miles invented the electric elevator, elevators were generally powered by steam.

Miles invented shaft doors that opened and closed automatically along with the elevator doors. Before his invention, an elevator conductor had to manually pull the doors closed. If the conductor forgot to do that, or if there was no conductor, the shaft was exposed, creating a safety hazard for passengers in the elevator and people on other floors.

If the shaft door was not closed, it would sometimes lead to accidents with people falling down an elevator shaft when they expected to step into the elevator. Miles’ invention dramatically improved safety by protecting passengers from the elevator shaft.

Miles attached a flexible belt to the elevator cage. When the belt came in contact with drums just above and below the floors along the elevator shaft, the elevator shaft doors opened at appropriate times. The doors were automated with a series of levers and rollers.

Miles met and married his wife in the early 1870s. The couple had a daughter and moved to Duluth, Minnesota. It is said that while he was riding in an elevator with his daughter he recognized the dangers in the design and then came up with the idea for automatic doors.

Miles also worked as a barber and invested in real estate in Duluth. He was once the wealthiest man in the Northwest. In 2007, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Nationwide Lifts Introduces New App for iPad

iPad app screenshotNationwide Lifts is excited to announce that we recently launched a new app called Nationwide Lifts Elevator Guide for the iPad. This multifunctional app makes it easy for homeowners, business managers, and architects to learn about elevators so they can make decisions about what lifts and features suit their needs.

The app can be used by home and business owners who are in the market for elevators. Users can educate themselves about how various types of elevators work, the requirements for each, and all of the optional features that are available. The app includes pictures of each elevator model. There is at least one video for each product, as well as planning guides. The app also contains a section with a product catalog.

Users can look at a variety of cab configurations. They can choose from an assortment of cab finishes and take a video walk-through to get a 3D representation of what the elevator design they have chosen would look like.

Architects can look at all of the options available with various elevator models to assist them in their planning. Our sales team can also use the app to demonstrate elevators to customers.

We have been working on the Nationwide Lifts Elevator Guide app for approximately a year. It was introduced for the iPad about a month ago and will be released for Android in late October and for the iPhone in late December. All of the information that can be found with the app can be shared easily via email or text.

Freight Elevator Classes

Every elevator is assigned a classification related to its weight capacity and the type of loading method that can be used. The loading classification must match the elevator’s intended use for it to operate safely.

 

Most passenger elevators and standard freight elevators are assigned to Class A, or “General Freight Loading.” The weight of a one-piece load being moved on or off the elevator cannot be more than 25 percent of the elevator’s capacity. Freight can only be loaded or unloaded manually or with a hand truck. If a hand truck is used, its weight must be considered as part of the 25-percent loading restriction.

 

Standard elevators are designed for Class A loading. Other types of loading place more stress on the elevator. If an elevator’s loading class is not known, it should be treated as if it is Class A. Using a loading method from any other class could be dangerous.

 

Class B applies to freight elevators that are intended only to transport motor vehicles. These elevators can transport a vehicle with a weight up to the stated capacity of the elevator.

 

Class C1 allows for the use of an industrial truck to load or unload an elevator. The combined weight of the truck and the load cannot total more than the weight capacity of the elevator. The truck can remain in the elevator while it is in operation.

 

Class C2 allows for loading at the platform up to 150 percent of the elevator’s stated capacity. A one-piece load with a weight equal to the capacity of the elevator can be loaded with a forklift or lift truck onto the platform. The loading device must be removed before the elevator can be operated.

 

 

Class C3 allows for heavy concentration loading where the static weight during loading and unloading is not more than the rated load. The weight of the load and the equipment used to move it must not be more than the elevator’s stated capacity. Class C3 elevators are usually used to transport one-piece loads equal to the capacity of the elevator.

 

Class C loading is not permitted for limited use/limited application (LULA) elevators or accessibility lifts.

MRL Elevators Gaining Popularity in Commercial Buildings

The machine room-less elevator is a relatively new design that is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. This type of elevator offers several advantages compared to more traditional lifts.

MRL elevators use electric motors that are significantly smaller than those used in conventional elevators. These permanent magnet motors allow the manufacturers to position them in the hoistway overhead, without the need for a machine room over the hoistway.

MRLs can use as much as 70 to 80 percent less energy than hydraulic elevators. The power feeders for MRLs are significantly smaller because of their more efficient design and the counter-balancing of the traction equipment.

Many people don’t want to use hydraulic elevators in their buildings due to environmental concerns.

The prices of machine room-less elevators are competitive with those of traditional geared traction elevators. This is another reason for their growing popularity.

MRLs have been used in the United States for about 15 years. They were slow to catch on because of their initially limited applications, but they are now becoming the standard for low- and mid-rise buildings as technology advances and local code officials become more receptive to their use.

Choosing an Elevator Maintenance Company and Contract

Elevator maintenance is a critical task for a building owner or manager to ensure the safety of residents, employees, and visitors. If you own or operate a building that uses elevators, it is essential to have your lifts serviced by competent professionals. You have several options for this.

Many elevators use proprietary software and require specialized tools, which means that only the manufacturer can provide maintenance. If this is the case with your building’s elevators, you will probably have to pay a premium for maintenance service, but you should be able to get parts quickly and minimize downtime for repairs.

Some elevator manufacturing companies maintain elevators manufactured by other companies. Their service contracts are often comparable to the contracts offered by the company that manufactured the elevator. You might be able to get a better price or get a discount if the company maintains elevators at multiple properties.

Another option is to hire an independent elevator maintenance company. Independent companies often charge less for their services than manufacturers. Look into a company’s level of technical expertise and ability to obtain spare parts quickly.

Some large facilities, such as universities and hospitals, maintain their own elevators. If you are considering this option, think about the availability of skilled, licensed labor and the ability to handle major repairs.

Elevator Maintenance Contract Prices

Typically, you’ll pay a few hundred dollars a year for an elevator maintenance contract, an investment that can be well worth it. You can choose from a variety of contract types, which vary in terms of the amount of financial responsibility the property owner assumes. The more risk you assume, the lower the cost will be.

Under a full maintenance contract, an elevator service company decides when and how to service the elevator and assumes total responsibility for its functioning. This type of contract is like an insurance policy for the building owner. It allows the owner to budget elevator repair costs and eliminates concerns about major repairs.

How Much Does Lift Maintenance Cost?

The home elevator maintenance cost is usually between $150 and $700, depending on the terms of your contract. With a parts, oil, and grease lift maintenance contract, cost is typically lower, but it does not cover many specific items, such as controllers, elevator machines, motor-generator sets, and cables. The contract should clearly stipulate the work that is covered, parts to be supplied, and frequency of inspections and trouble calls to be answered. POG contracts cost less per month than full elevator maintenance contract prices, but they provide less coverage. Many elevator maintenance companies no longer offer POG contracts because of increases in the costs of components.

An oil and grease or examination and lubrication contract covers lubrication of moving parts and minor adjustments on a regular basis. If other services are needed, the maintenance company notifies the building owner, who is responsible for the cost of the repairs. The price of an OG contract is low, but if major repairs are needed, it can cost significantly more than other types of service agreements.

Page maintained by Andy Darnley

Elevator Maintenance Checklist

Have you ever wondered what an elevator mechanic is doing while servicing your elevator? Here is an insider’s look at the steps that most elevator companies use in their inspections. These are general guidelines. The steps the elevator mechanic takes during an inspection can get much more involved.

Inside the Car:

• Examine the interior of the elevator car for damage to the walls, ceiling, and handrails.
• Examine the position indicator lights and replace any burned out lights.
• Operate the elevator going up and down and check the leveling accuracy, acceleration, and deceleration. Make any adjustments deemed necessary.
• Check to make sure that the door moves smoothly and does not slam or bounce.
• Make sure the door restrictor operates properly and make any necessary repairs.

Outside the Car:

• Check the hall stations and lights and replace any burned out lights.
• Inspect the door panel and clearances.
• Test the Phase 1 firefighters’ service.

Machine Room:

• Make sure the machine room does not contain any material unrelated to the elevator.
• Check components for leaks, unusual vibration, or wear.
• Inspect electrical components for evidence of overheating or failure.
• Lubricate components, if necessary.
• Check the oil level.
• Make any necessary adjustments or schedule follow-up service.

Top of Car:

• Check that the stop switch and inspection station function properly.
• Remove any debris from the top of the car.
• Inspect any visible components, including rollers, guide rails, and leveling devices.
• Check the traveling cables for wear and inspect connections.
• Inspect the door operator and its components.
• Check the hoistway for evidence of rodents, fire safety, and vandalism.

Pit:

• Make sure that the stop switch, lights, and GFI outlet function properly.
• Clean the pit and check for signs of leaks.
• Inspect the spring buffers for signs of corrosion, alignment, and secure attachment.
• Inspect all visible components, including rollers, guide rails, safeties, and switches.
• Check the travel cable for wear, pinches, and snags.
• Make sure the sump pump is clean and operating correctly.

The elevator mechanic must fill out a log and note any observations, problems, and recommendations.