Vertical Transportation or Conveying Systems

Flashcards covering the vocabulary and definitions related to vertical transportation systems like elevators and escalators.

Elevator

A hoisting and lowering mechanism equipped with a car or platform which moves in guides in a vertical or diagonal direction serving two or more floors of a building or structure.

Dumbwaiter

A hoisting and lowering mechanism equipped with a car not to exceed 3861 sq. cm in area and a maximum height of 1.20 m., the capacity of which does not exceed 277 kg, used exclusively for carrying materials.

Inclined Lift

A chair or platform installed on a steel guide rail and driven by a motor for raising or lowering a person; Often used to increase accessibility for the disabled.

Paternoster

A device which consists of open-fronted two-person cars suspended by hoisting chains. These chains run over sprocket wheels at the top and bottom of the lift shaft.

Sir William Thomson

Developed the first modern hydraulic elevator in 1845.

Elisha Graves Otis

Invented safety brakes for use in elevators and the installation of the first successful passenger elevator.

Elevonics 101

Onboard microcomputer system designed to adjust elevator speeds, position, and direction in accordance with a building’s pedestrian traffic.

Average Lobby (Waiting) Time

Average time spent by passenger(s) between arriving in the lobby and leaving the lobby in the car.

Average Trip/Travel Time (AVTRP)

Average time spent by the passenger in the lobby to leaving the car at an upper floor.

Callback

In contact service, a customer request which requires a check of an elevator other than scheduled maintenance.

Car Operating Station/Panel

A panel mounted in the car containing car operating controls which govern the operations of the elevator.

Car Top Inspection Station

A control panel on top of an elevator which, when activated, renders normal service and allows the elevator to run at inspection speed from the car top station only.

Code

A system of regulations pertaining to the design, manufacture, installation, and maintenance of dumbwaiters, escalators, and moving walks.

Controller

A (group of) device(s) which serves to control (in a predetermined manner) the system to which it is connected to.

Cylinder

The outermost lining of a hydraulic jack or plunger.

Door Lock

Any type of mechanical lock designed to prevent the opening of a hoistway door from being opened.

Door Operator

A motor-driven device mounted on the car that opens and closes the door.

Drive Machine

The power unit which supplies the energy necessary to raise and lower an elevator or dumbwaiter, or to drive an escalator, inclined lift, or moving walk.

Drive Sheave

The grooved wheel of a traction-type hoisting machine over which the hoist rope’s motion is imparted to the car, and counterweighed by the hoist ropes.

Elevator Landing

The portion of a floor, balcony, or platform for the loading or discharging of passengers or freight to or from the computer.

Generator

An electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Holding Capacity

Maximum number of passengers that can be handled in a given period.

Interval (I) or Lobby Dispatch Time

Average time between departure of cars from the lobby.

Registration Time

Waiting time after registering a call.

Relay

An electric device designed to interpret input conditions in a prescribed manner, and if conditions are met, to respond and cause contact operation or create a change in an associated electrical system.

Round Trip Time (RT)

Average time required for a car to make a round trip.

Traveling Cable

A cable made of electrical conductors which provide electrical connections between dumbwaiter car/material lit and a fixed outlet in the hoistway/machine room.

Zone

A group of floors.

Passenger Elevator

A conveying device used to transport people to and from building floors.

Service or Freight Elevator

An elevator used for carrying materials and cargo.

Electric Elevator

An elevator consisting of a car mounted on guide rails, suspended by tension cables and operated by electric hoisting machinery.

Hydraulic Elevator

An elevator system where the car or cab is dependent on the pressure applied through a system of retractable tubes containing oil that is pumped into the system from a reservoir.

Winding Drum Machine

An elevator with cables fastened to and wound around a drum; counterweights are not necessary.

Traction Machine

An elevator in which the movement of the car is derived by means of direct contact between the traction sheave and the hoisting cables, caused by friction between the two machines.

Gearless Traction Machine

Consists of a DC motor (shaft of which is directly connected to the break wheel and driving sheave).

Geared Traction Machine

This machine consists of a worm and a gear interposed between the driving motor and the hoisting sheave, with the power from the motor being transmitted through reduction gears.

Car or Cab

The load-bearing unit of an elevator, including its platform, frame, and enclosure.

Cables

Steel wire ropes used for the suspension of a car and its counterweight.

Elevator Machine

Machine that turns the sheave and lifts or lowers the car.

Counterweight

Rectangular blocks of cast iron stacked inside a frame, which is supported at the opposite ends of the cables to which the car is attached.

Guide Rails

Vertical tracks that guide the car and counterweight.

Shaft or Hoistway

The vertical passageway for the car and counterweight to move through.

Penthouse/Elevator Machine Room

The room usually directly above the hoistway in which the elevator machine is located.

Elevator Pit

The portion of the hoistway extending below the level of the bottom landing to provide for over-travel and clearance for parts which require space below the bottom of the car travel.

Control Equipment

A combination of push-buttons, contacts, relays, cams, and devices, which are operated manually or automatically, to initiate the door operation, starting, acceleration, retardation, leveling, or stopping of the car.

Control Panel

Onboard interface that registers calls and governs response to elevator.

Motor Generator

Supplies direct current (dc) to the motor; used with generator field control.

Generator Field Control

Uses an individual generator for each elevator so that voltage applied to the hoisting motor is adjusted by varying the strength of the generator field.

Guide Shoes

Devices fastened to the car frame and counterweight at the top and bottom, used to secure their motion along the guide rails.

Brake Shoe

The moving component of the brake lined with frictional material; when in contact, holds the elevator at floor level when power is applied on the hoist motor.

Compensator Chains/ropes

Chains/ropes hung from the bottom of the car and counterweight in order to balance the weight of hoist ropes.

Buffer

A device installed at the bottom of a shaft (the elevator pit) used to absorb impact from the car and counterweight at the lower limit of travel.

Brake

The electromechanical device used to prevent the device from moving when car motion is applied to the hoist motor; also stops the elevator when the sole source of power is the hoist motor.

Brush

A device usually of carbon or graphite composition, used to connect a circuit with a DC motor, generator, or other electrical device.

Governor

A device that causes car and counterweight (if required) to stop in case of an emergency by actuating the safety.

Secondary Sheave

Provides a double wrap of ropes for traction and leads rope over to the counterweight.

Safety Switch

A device incorporated in the bottom beam of the car frame and counterweight; exerts retarding force in case of over-speed by gripping the guide rails.

Limit Switches

Automatic devices that stop the car within the overtravel, independently of the operating device.

Operating Devices

Refers to any of the car switches, push-buttons, wheels, levers, etc. which enables the operator control actuation.

Tension Sheave

A component of an elevator that gives stability to a governor rope.

Car Leveling Device

A mechanism or control which will move the car to within a limited zone, and stop it at the landing.

Landing Zone

This is measured within 18” above or below the landing.

Rheostatic Control

A direct current (dc) system of control by varying resistance and reactance in the field circuit of the hoisting motor, alternating current motor starts across the line.

Winding Drum machine

A machine wherein the ropes are fastened to and wound around a drum.

Travelling Cable

One of the electric cables connecting an elevator car to a fixed electrical outlet in the hoistway, moving along with the car.

Hydraulic Elevator

A type of elevator that is raised or lowered quite simply by means of a movable rod (plunger) rigidly fixed to the bottom of the elevator car.

Single Automatic Push-Button Control

Handles only one call at a time, providing an uninterrupted trip for each call.

Collective Control

Elevator system control that does not have any call storage provision. The elevator stops at each floor that has registered a call to collect the waiting passenger.

Selective Collective Operation

Collective operation that is selective in that it is arranged to collect all waiting up calls on the trip up and all waiting down calls on the trip down.

Computerized System Control

Control system which continuously monitors demand and controls each car’s motion in response to demand only

Escalator

A power-driven inclined continuous stairway for raising or lowering passengers; also referred to as a moving stairway or an electric stairway.

Moving walk

A type of passenger-carrying service on which passengers stand or walk, with its surface remaining parallel to its direction of motion and is uninterrupted.

People Mover

Any forms of mass transit, as moving sidewalks or automatic driverless vehicles, used for shuttling people around airports or in congested urban areas.

Truss

A three-section (3) built-up welded steel trussed framework which supports the moving stairway equipment.

Sprocket Assemblies

Includes the top and bottom sprocket wheel the endless belt passes around while in operation

Driving Machine

Provides the motive power of the unit.

Balustrade Assembly

Designed for maximum safety of persons stepping on or off the escalator. Includes all enclosures consisting of deckboards, concave.

Balustrade

The side of the escalator extending above the steps. Also includes the skirt and interior panels.

Endless Belt

A continuous belt (chain) attached to the handrail and indirectly connected to the steps.

Step Assembly

A continuous assembly of steps which supports the passengers.

Emergency Brake

Located at the top sprocket. Will safely stop a loaded escalator in the event of a break in the chain.

Controller

Consists of relays and a circuit breaker normally located near the driving machine.

Emergency Stop Button

Wired to the controller and placed near or on the escalator housing which will stop the driving machine and apply the brakes.

Key-Operated Control Switches

Located at the top and bottom newels, these switches start, stop, and reverse the movement of the escalator steps.

Combplate

The toothed portion of the threshold plate at both ends of an escalator or moving walk, designed to mesh with the grooved surface of the moving steps or treadway.

Escalator Arrangement

Parallel (No walkaround) Parallel (With walkaround)  Crisscross

Mechanical Regulations (Rule X – National Building Code) – Escalators

The angle of inclination of an escalator shall not exceed 30° from the horizontal.width between balustrades shall neither be less than 558 mm nor more than 1200 mm.