Elevators are basically built in order to allow the residents or passengers to have an easy access to and from the different floors in a building without having to walk any steps. Since the elevator is important and plays to the convenient of anyone who enters the building, it s therefore critical that the elevator interiors are kept neat, clean and also functional all the time. You would want to make sure that the elevator is safe and that every component on the machine complies with the necessary codes.
Different Types of Elevators
Since the development to traction elevator in the year 1853, there have been other types of elevators which emerged in the market. The two most prevalent types of elevators include the hydraulic and traction. The traction system lifts the elevator cab by the use of cables. This system also makes use of counterweights in order to minimize the expenditure of energy. Hydraulic systems on the other hand push the van up with the help of a shaft which is filled with compressed oil.
Hydraulic Elevators
These type of elevator operate at a much slower speed compared to the traction elevators and are deemed suitable only in low-demand/ low-rise situation like in small apartments or buildings. Additionally, the hydraulic systems cost ten to fifteen percent less and they also require lesser space to install compared to the traction type systems. These are the four parts that consist the hydraulic elevators: a pump which is powered by an electric motor, a tank which is often times referred to as a reservoir, a directional valve that is piped in between the reservoir and the cylinder and a cylinder.
The hydraulic elevator contains a tube that is connected to a fluid pumping system. The fluid pumping system in turn usually makes use of oil but there are other non-compressible fluids that are sometimes used. The pump will create a vacuum in the hydraulic tank and then force the fluid to discharge piping. Depending on the position of the directional valve, the fluid will be either directed to the cylinder or it can be returned back to the tank.
Traction Drive
The traction drive will depend upon the friction or traction between the hoisting cables as well as the traction sheave. The hoisting cables will roll over the traction sheave and then down to the counter weight. This particular arrangement compensates for the weight of the elevator cab which is typically empty and also will significantly reduce the power needed by the hoisting motor. While any particular length of cable may be used, those above 100 stories the weights of the used cable become a very crucial factor.
The invention of the traction kind of drive removed most of the limits on the height of the buildings which enable the construction of skyscrapers. Today, nearly all kinds of elevators which are above six stories are traction drive. You will notice that every floor of the elevator hall station has two buttons with the exception of the bottom and top floors.