How The Elevator Works

By Joseph Mackay Plaxco

The University of the South
Sewanee, TN 37383
 Why?

 I find the elevator “cool.”

 Phobia when younger

 Gets people to destinations fast.

 Large cities wouldn’t be the same.

 Different Types
 Freight Elevators
 Stage Elevators
 The Basic Design
 The basic design is a compartment
that is somehow lifted
 Two Types of Elevators:

• Hydraulic
• Rope-Geared
 The Hydraulic Elevator
 The car is moved up and
down using “a fluid piston
mounted inside a cylinder”
(Harris).
 Consists of three parts:
• Tank
• Pump
• Valve
 Hydraulic Elevators
A Closer Look

 The car is placed on a piston.

 Fluid Pumping System
 A tank (off to the side) holds the fluid.
 When the valve closes, the car is lifted.
 When the valve opens, the car is lowered.
 Diagram of Hydraulic Elevator
 The following link is from the website
“How Stuff Works” written by Tom
Harris.
• How Elevators Work - Hydraulic
 Hydraulic Disadvantages

 Two Disadvantages
• Must Have Enough Room
• Energy Inefficient
 Rope-Geared Elevators

 These are the most popular types of

elevators.
 Rather than being pushed from

below, these types of elevators are

moved using cables
 Rope-Geared Design

 Cables attach to the car and through a sheave.

 The sheave is connected to an electric motor.
 Motor turns one way, elevator moves up. Motor
turns the other way, elevator moves down.
 The ropes are connected to a counterweight.
 The counterweight system serves as a means for
conserving energy.
 Rope-Geared Design (Cont’d)

 Rails are used to guide the elevator

 Keep elevator and counterweights steady.
 Rope-geared elevators are much more efficient
and safer.
 Diagram of Rope-Geared
Elevator
 The following link came from the
“How Stuff Works” webpage written
by Tom Harris
• Rope-Geared Elevator Diagram
 Safety Systems
 More ropes than needed
 Built-in brake systems
 Governor prevents the elevator from falling to the
bottom of the shaft.
Centrifugal force causes a brake system to
activate.
 Also has an electromagnetic brake that is activated if
the elevator loses power.
 Automated Brake System at the top and bottom of the
shaft.
 Moving To Destinations
 Modern elevators use computers.
 Slows down
 Only answer “up calls” as going up and the same
for going down.
 Modern “Smart” systems take into account the
busiest parts of the day.
 Press the floor you want in the lobby.
 Load Sensor
 Works Cited
 Harris, Tom. “How Elevators Work”.
www.howstuffworks.com/elevator
2002.