ACE 16

• Vertical transportation equipment


  Equipment like passenger, service, and freight elevators that are critical in the design of multistory structures
• Vertical transportation equipment can account for up to 10% of a building's construction cost
• Architectural decision-makers


  • Have the final say on equipment selection
  • Collaborate with elevator experts to make informed design choices
• Traction elevators


  Use cables and a traction machine to lift the car
• Hydraulic elevators


  Use a hydraulic piston to lift the car
• Key components of traction elevator installations

  • Car
  • Cables
  • Elevator machine
  • Control equipment
  • Counterweights
  • Hoistway
  • Rails
  • Penthouse
  • Pit
• Traction elevator car


  • Fire-resistant cage supported by a structural frame
  • Incorporates safety features, control systems, floor-level indicators, illumination, emergency exits, and ventilation
  • Emphasizes longevity, quiet operation, and minimal maintenance
• Traction elevator cables


  • Support the car and its load
  • Specially designed steel wires with multiple ropes for increased traction area and safety
• Traction elevator counterweights


  • Counterbalance the car, offering traction and minimizing power demand
  • Comprise cut steel plates and/or concrete slabs
• Traction elevator energy regeneration

  • Approximately 75% of lifting energy is regenerated during descent, minimizing consumption
• Traction elevator control equipment

  • Divided into drive, operating, and supervisory control
  • Ensures efficient, safe, and comfortable vertical transportation
• Traction elevator hoistway


  • Facilitates car and counterweight movement, housing guide rails, mechanical, and electrical auxiliaries
  • Machine room typically located above the hoistway

  
• Gearless traction machines


  • Employ DC or AC motors
  • Directly connected to brake wheels and driving sheaves
  • Operate efficiently for medium and high-speed elevators
  • Offer enhanced efficiency, reduced maintenance, and longer life
• Geared traction machines


  • Have a worm and gear transmission between motor and hoisting sheave
  • Suitable for car speeds up to 450 fpm and a maximum rise of about 300 ft
  • Provide a high-quality, smooth ride with appropriate drive and control systems
• Roping and sheave arrangements


  • Single-wrap, double-wrap 1:1, and 2:1 roping
  • These configurations influence traction, mechanical advantage, and suitability for specific applications
• Elevator safety mechanisms


  • Centrifugal governors or electronic speed sensors
  • Dual safety rail clamps
  • Oil or spring buffers in the pit
• Hydraulic elevator advantages


  • Inherent simplicity and cost-effectiveness
  • Suitable for low-speed (up to 200 fpm [1 m/s]), low-rise (up to 65 ft [20 m]) applications
  • No elaborate controllers, safety devices, or penthouse equipment required
  • Affordability compared to traction elevators
• Conventional plunger-type hydraulic elevators

  • Originally used water, modern hydraulic elevators universally adopt oil
  • Absence of an overhead machine room and penthouse
  • Only guide rails project above the car, creating a freestanding illusion
  • Practical application in large, open spaces like shopping malls with glass-enclosed cars

  
• Drawbacks of conventional plunger-type hydraulic elevators

  • Operating expense due to the lack of counterweights
  • Relatively large motors needed for the oil pump, resulting in energy loss
  • Limitations in suitability for low-rise, low-speed applications
  • Potential inferior ride quality compared to traction units
  • Need for temperature control due to oil viscosity changes
  • High inrush current during pump startup demands a robust power supply
• Hole-less hydraulic elevators


  • Introduce features like a telescoping plunger or roping arrangement to overcome the need for a plunger hole
  • Simplify maintenance with easy accessibility along the entire length of the jack
  • Trade-off in ride smoothness due to the telescoping jack arrangement
• Roped hydraulic elevators


  • Employ a 2:1 roping mechanism, allowing the elevator car to travel twice the distance covered by the piston
  • Utilize a rope passing over a pulley in the piston crosshead, with one end anchored to the pit and the other to the base of the car
• Elevator doors

  • Pivotal in determining the speed and quality of service in vertical transportation
  • Adhere to safety regulations, limiting kinetic energy and closing pressure
  • Commercial installations typically employ a clear opening of 42 inches for simultaneous loading and unloading

  
• Two-speed door design


  • Employed in scenarios requiring wider openings, where the two halves of the door must travel at different speeds to synchronize their movement effectively
• Advanced electronic sensing in elevator doors

  • Capable of detecting passengers in a broad area on the landing, extending beyond the direct path of the door
• Elevator car design and signals

  • Architects play a pivotal role in shaping the aesthetic aspects, with a focus on car decor and signal selection
  • Car interiors serve as a canvas for creative expression, featuring various materials and illumination choices
  • Car and hallway signals are designed to balance functionality and aesthetics, considering the needs of individuals with disabilities
• ADA compliance and additional conveniences are required for elevators to enhance accessibility and inclusivity
• Hall Lantern and Audible Signal

  • The hall lantern at each car entrance visually indicates the approaching elevator's direction and location
  • An audible signal announces imminent arrival, aiding passengers in navigating towards the arriving car, particularly in scenarios with multiple elevators
• Specialized Hall Stations

  • Hall stations can be equipped with specialized switches for fire, priority, and limited-access service
  • Inside the car, indicators convey travel direction and location, with voice synthesizers enhancing safety and emergency communications
• Seamless Integration

  The marriage of aesthetics and functionality ensures seamless integration of elevators into the broader architectural vision of a building, creating an efficient, inclusive, and user-friendly elevator experience
• ADA Compliance and Additional Conveniences

  • Elevator manufacturers adhere to ADA requirements, setting a baseline for accessibility
  • They may include extra features to align with specific architectural visions or local codes
• Code and Standard Review

  Before planning, it is crucial for project architects to assemble and review all relevant codes and standards, ensuring compliance with ADA and other regulations
• Physical Limitations Addressed by ADA

  • ADA primarily addresses physical limitations related to ambulation, sight, and hearing
  • Requirements include excellent car leveling, clear door openings, delayed door closing, detection beams, and strategically placed controls for passengers using wheelchairs or walking aids
• Visual Impairment Considerations

  • For individuals with visual impairment, ADA mandates audible signals, visible and recognizable cues inside the car and at landings, voice synthesizers, Braille plates, and large symbols for passenger-controlled emergency controls
• Features designed for passengers with disabilities often enhance the overall experience for everyone, emphasizing inclusivity
• Caution on Delayed Door Closing

  • While delayed door closing is crucial for accessibility, it may extend overall travel time significantly
  • In buildings with high traffic, this factor requires careful consideration during elevator system design
• Intersection of Compliance, Design, and Inclusivity

  The intersection of ADA compliance, thoughtful design, and inclusivity ensures that elevators go beyond functional components to become welcoming spaces for everyone
• Three different systems

  • Supervisory system
  • Operational control system
  • Operating control system (Drive Control)
• Supervisory system

  Controls a bank of elevators as a group and dictates which car answers which call
• Operational control system


  Determines when and where physical motion of a car and its doors should occur
• Operating control system (Drive Control)

  Passes information about car and door control to the motion control system