CHAPTER 03

ELEVATOR COMPONENTS

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3.0 ELEVATOR COMPONENTS

Basic Elevator Components

The standard elevators will include the following basic components:

1. Elevator Car.
2. Hoistway.
3. Machine/drive system.
4. Control system.
5. Safety system.

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3.1 ELEVATOR CAR
Elevator Car is the vehicle that travels between the different elevator stops carrying
passengers and/or goods, it is usually A heavy steel frame surrounding a cage of metal and
wood panels.

Elevator Car Components

Elevator Car is composed of the following components:
i. Car Sling
ii. The elevator cabin
iii. Mechanical accessories which are:
a. Car door and door operator.
b. Guide shoes.
c. Door Protective Device.

3.1.1 CAR SLING

Car Sling is a metal framework connected to the means of suspension
Car Sling is load carrier element in the elevator car as well as its function of isolating
vibrations due to running.

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3.1.1.1 Upper Transom
The upper transom is the suspension element of the car it can be (1-1) type or (2-1) using a
couple of polyamide pulleys 360 mm diameter, it is designed also to mount sliding or roller
guide shoes. Braking system catch clamps are mounted also in the upper transom.
3.1.1.2 Lower Transom
Lower transom is the carrier of car flooring through an exactly arranged pressure springs
mounted in the lower isolation subassembly. Safety gear catch clamps are also mounted in
the lower transom and their actuation action is done by a shearing linkage system.
3.1.1.3 C- Side Frame
The adjustable height side frame is two pieces bolted together and fastened to both upper
and lower transom.

3.1.2 THE ELEVATOR CABIN

Elevator cabinets shall be completely enclosed by walls, floors and ceiling, the only
permissible opening being are the car door, emergency trap door and ventilation apertures.

Elevator Car Components

3.1.2.1 Car Floor
Car floor shall have sufficient mechanical strength to sustain forces which will be applied
during normal operation, safety gear operation and impact of the car to its buffers.
Floor size is the same size of the car (width & depth) and Floor extension defines door
opening, location and side portal depth.
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Floor will be recessed and covered by PVC covering or marble stone or granite and it can be
also customized according to client requirements.
3.1.2.2 Car Ceiling
Car ceiling is designed to be able to support two persons during maintenance operation
without permanent deformation.
Car ceiling is prepared also to mount emergency trap door, blower fan and balustrade.
3.1.2.3 Car Walls
Folded steel panels are used to enclose elevator car with different types, sizes and finshing
3.1.2.4 Hand Rail
Hand Rail is a rail within the elevator car which passengers can use for support.
Elevator car in most cases is provided by a handrail at one side, two sides or on all sides of
the cabin.
At least one side of the car has a hand rail installed in case of using the elevator for
passengers including persons with disabilities.
Hand Rails come with different finishes like stainless steel styles or painted in selected color
upon client requirements.
There are two types of hand rail, cylindrical handrail and flat type hand rail.
3.1.2.5 False Ceiling
False ceiling is the main source of lighting in the elevator car, there are many different
designs for elevator lighting.
Fluorescent lighting and spot lights are the most common lighting elements used for elevator
lighting and a combination of the two types can be used also.
3.1.2.6 Emergency Trap Door Assembly
Emergency trap door can be easily opened from inside the car by using triangular key (1)
and from outside the car without a key by turning the link (2) to pull locking arms (3).
Electrical safety switches (4) that is fixed to the side frame of trap door causes the lift to stop
if the locking ceases to be effective; restoring the lift to service shall only be possible
after deliberate relocking.
Emergency trap door size is 600x400 mm to permit the rescue and evacuation of
passengers.
3.1.2.7 Balustrade
Car roof shall be provided with a balustrade where the free distance between the car ceiling
and the shaft wall exceeds 0.3 m.
3.1.2.8 Car Operating Panel COP
Car operating panel COP is A panel mounted in the car containing the car operating
controls, such as call register buttons, door open and close, alarm emergency stop and
whatever other buttons or key switches are required for operation.

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 Car Operating Panel COP

3.1.2.9 Car Apron/Toe Guard

A Car Apron/toe guard is present at the bottom of some cars. This guard protects the
passengers from being exposed to the open hoistway under the car if the doors are opened
when it is not at the landing. The guard is between 21” and 48” long.

Car Apron/Toe Guard

3.1.3 Mechanical accessories

Mechanical accessories are as follows,

3.1.3.1 Car door and door operator

Car Door types
There are four common types of car doors as follows:
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Single slide door
Single slide door consists of one power operated single panel sliding doors.
Single speed centre opening
Single speed centre opening consist of two power operated panels that part simultaneously
with a brisk, noiseless motion. faster passenger loading than side opening
Two speed side opening
Two speed side opening consist of two power operated panels that are geared together.
One door moves twice as fast as the other door so that both doors will meet concurrently in
the open position.
Two speed centre opening doors
Two speed centre opening doors is same as one speed center opening doors but it consist
of four power operated panels.

Car Door types

Elevator doors are normally opened by a power unit that is located on top of the elevator
car. When an elevator car is level with a floor landing, the power unit moves the car door
open or closed. A pick-up arm (clutch, vane, bayonet, or cam) contacts rollers on the
hoistway door which releases the door latch on the hoistway door. The power unit opens the
car door which in turn opens the hoistway door. The door rollers and pick-up arm may be
different on various elevators but they all work on the same principle.

3.1.3.2 Guide Shoes

Guide shoes are Devices used mainly to guide the car and counterweight along the path of
the guide rails. They also assure that the lateral motion of the car and counterweight is kept
at a minimum as they travel along the guide rails.

There are two types of guiding shoes as follows:

Roller Guides:
Guide shoes which use rollers that rotate on guide rails (A set of three wheels that roll
against the guide rails) rather than sliding on the rails.
Sliding Guides:

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Guide shoes which simply slide along the faces of the rails; the sliding insert or gib may be
metal, requiring the guide rails to be lubricated, or may be plastic material which is self-
lubricating.

Roller Guides Sliding Guides

3.1.3.3 Door Protective Device

Any type of device used with automatic power operated doors that detect obstructions to the
normal closing of the elevator doors (though contact may occur) and either causes the doors
to change the door motion by either stopping it, or causing it to reverse (reopen) or go into
some other mode of operation, such as nudging. A safe edge, a safety astragal, a
photoelectric device (safe ray), and electrostatic field device are examples of door protective
devices.

3.2 HOISTWAY
Hoistway is the space enclosed by fireproof walls and elevator doors for the travel of one or
more elevators, dumbwaiters or material lifts. It includes the pit and terminates at the
underside of the overhead machinery space floor or grating or at the underside of the roof
where the hoistway does not penetrate the roof. Hoistway is sometimes called "hatchway" or
"hatch".
A simple definition for the hoistway is the shaft that encompasses the elevator car.
Note: Generally the Hoistway serving all floors of the building but in high-rise buildings
hoistways may be banked with specific hoistways serving only the lower floors and others
serving only middle or upper floors while travelling in a blind hoistway until reaching the
floors that it serves. A blind hoistway has no doors on the floors that it does not serve.

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Hoistway Components
Hoist way is equipped with the following components:
i. Guide rails for both the car and counterweight.
ii. Counterweight.
iii. Suspension (Hoisting) Ropes (Cables).
iv. Landing (Hoist way) doors.
v. Buffers in the pit.

3.2.1 Guide Rails

Guide Rails are Steel Tracks in the form of a “T” that run the length of the hoistway, round,
or formed sections with guiding surfaces to guide and direct the course of travel of an
elevator car and elevator counterweights and usually mounted to the sides of the hoistway.
Car Guide rails are fixed to the hoistway by means of steel brackets while counterweight
guide rails are fixed to the hoistway by means of side steel and the guide rails are fixed to
these brackets by means of clips.

Guide Rails

3.2.2 Counterweight
Counterweight is a tracked weight that is suspended from cables and moves within its own
set of guide rails along the hoistway walls.
Counterweight is used for the following:
 Balancing the mass of the complete car and a portion of rated load, and it will be
equal to the dead weight of the car plus about 40% of the rated load.
 Reducing the necessary consumed power for moving the elevator.

Counterweight

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 Counterweight Components
The counterweight composed of a steel frames that can be filled with cast iron fillers above
one another to get the required weight and it is usually composed of the following parts:
3.2.2.1 Top Part Assembly
Top part consists of main bent sheet metal 4 mm and hitch plate 8 mm thickness for ropes
attachment drilled with holes pattern to ropes size and quantity.
3.2.2.2 Bottom Part Assembly
Bottom part consists of two halves made of steel 4 mm, the two halves are screw connected
using vertical profile with buffer plate welded to one of the two halves, the buffer plate made
of sheet metal 8 mm thickness to buffer the buffer loads.
3.2.2.3 Vertical Profile
The vertical profile consists of U-shaped, bent sheet metal components. The vertical profiles
are screw-connected to the upper and bottom parts.
Standard vertical profiles are available for 60 filler weights above one another, variable
vertical profile lengths are possible for special versions.
The fillers can be inserted through the side cut in the vertical profile.
3.2.2.4 Filler Weights
Filler weights are made of cast iron, there are standard lengths for fillers depend on the
counterweight size and gauge. Ends of filler weights prepared to be guided in the vertical
profile.
3.2.2.5 Guide Shoes
The counterweight has a separate guide rails which will keep counterweight running without
twisting and avoid colliding with car or other lift components.

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The counterweight equipped with sliding guides to ensure smooth running along the travel
height Variable gauges between counterweight rails are possible.

3.2.3 Suspension (Hoisting) Ropes (Cables)

Suspension Ropes are Suspension means for car and counterweight, which are represented
by steel wire ropes.
They are used on traction type elevators, usually attached to the crosshead and extending
up into the machine room looping over the sheave on the motor and then down to the
counter weights.
Hoisting cable are generally 3 to 6 in number. These ropes are usually 1/2”or 5/8” in
diameter.

The term Roping system can be defined as the arrangement of cables supporting the
elevator and which has many types or arrangements as follows:

Roping system

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3.2.4 Landing (Hoistway) Doors
The door that is seen from each floor of a building is referred to as the outer or hoistway
door. This hoistway door is a part of the building (each landing). It is important to realize that
the car door does all the work; the hoistway door is a dependent. These doors can be
opened or closed by electric motors, or manually for emergency incidents.
Safety devices are located at each landing to prevent inadvertent hoistway door openings
and to prevent an elevator car from moving unless a door is in a locked position.
The difference between the car doors and the hoistway doors is that the elevator car door
travels through the hoistway with the car but the hoistway doors are fixed doors in each
landing floor.

Hoistway Door Types:

There are four basic types of hoistway doors used on elevators as follows:

Hoistway Door Types

3.2.5 Buffers in the pit

A Buffer is a device designed to stop a descending car or counterweight beyond its normal
limit and to soften the force with which the elevator runs into the pit during an emergency.
They may be of polyurethane or oil type with respect to the rated speed.

There are two principal types of buffers in existence:

 Energy accumulation: accumulate the kinetic energy of the car or counterweight.
 Energy dissipation: dissipate the kinetic energy of the car or counterweight.

Types Of Elevator Buffers

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3.2.5.1 A Spring Buffer is one type of buffer most commonly found on hydraulic elevators
or used for elevators with speeds less than 200 feet per minute. These devices are used to
cushion the elevator and are most always located in the elevator pit.
3.2.5.2 An Oil Buffer is another type of buffer more commonly found on traction elevators
with speeds higher than 200 feet per minute. This type of buffer uses a combination of oil
and springs to cushion a descending car or counterweight and are most commonly located
in the elevator pit, because of their location in the pit buffers have a tendency to be exposed
to water and flooding. They require routine cleaning and painting to assure they maintain
their proper performance specifications. Oil buffers also need there oil checked and changed
if exposed to flooding.

3.3 ELEVATOR MACHINE AND DRIVE SYSTEM

Driving machine, this is the power unit of the elevator, and usually located at the elevator
machine room.
The Driving machine used to refer to the collection of components that raise or lower the
elevator.
These include the drive motor, brake, speed reduction unit, sheaves and encoders.

Types of Driving Machines:

Generally, there are two standard types of driving machines provided for elevators. These
are,
i. Geared Machine
ii. Gearless Machine

Geared Machine
 It is used in low and mid rise applications. This design utilizes a mechanical speed
reduction gear set to reduce the rpm of the drive motor (input speed) to suit the
required speed of the drive sheave and elevator (output speed).
 Generally, geared machines are used for speeds between 0.1 m/s and 2.5 m/s and
are suitable for loads from 5 Kg up to 50,000 Kg and above.
 Their sizes and shapes vary with load, speed and manufacture but the underlying
principles and components are the same.

A geared machine includes the following components:

 Drive motor
 Drive sheave
 Deflector sheave (if mounted as integral part of the bedplate assembly)
 Brake
 Speed reduction unit or gearbox
 Bedplate

Gearless Machine
 It is used in high rise applications whereby the drive motor and drive sheave are
connected in line on a common shaft, without any mechanical speed reduction unit
located between the drive motor and drive sheave.
 Generally, Gearless machines are used for high speed lifts between 2.5 m/s to 10
m/s and they can be also used for lower speeds for special applications.

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  Their sizes and shapes vary with load, speed and manufacture but the underlying
principles and components are the same.

The Gearless machines comprise the following components:

 Electrical Motor
 Traction Sheave or drum
 Secondary Sheave
 Deflector or double wrap sheave
 Brake
 Speed reduction unit or gearbox
 Machine Bedplate
 Direct current armature in case of DC motor
 Rotor in case of AC motor

Geared Machines Components Gearless Machines Components

Elevator Machine Room for Electric Traction Type

Elevator Machine Room

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Main Components of machine drive system

3.3.1 Electrical Motor

Electrical Motor is used to raise and lower the elevator cab, the direction of motor rotation
and speed (revolutions per minute) are directed and supervised by devices located within
the elevator controller, The motor component of the elevator machine can be either a DC
motor or an AC motor as follows:
3.3.1.1 DC motor
Direct current motors use carbon brushes to control or regulate the operational speed of its
motor. It is an important maintenance task to regularly inspect, repair and replace these
brushes. Failure to do so in a timely fashion can result in equipment mis-operation and lead
to significant motor damage. the advantages of use DC motors are as follows:
 Has a good starting torque.
 Ease of speed control using a DC generator with a variable output or static
converters.
3.3.1.2 AC motor
The advantages of use AC motors are as follows:
 More regularly used because of its ruggedness and simplicity.
 More ride quality.

3.3.2 Traction Sheave or Drum

The powered pulley connected to either the elevator drive motor’s outputshaft (gearless) or
to the output side of the mechanical speed reduction unit (geared). The circumference of the
sheave has a series of “U” or “V” shaped grooves cut into it (as shown in below image), in
which sit the elevator suspension or hoist ropes. The friction loads created as the
suspension ropes pass over the grooved surface of the sheave causes motion to be
transmitted from the drive motor to the elevator cab or counterweight.

“U” or “V” shaped grooves

3.3.3 Secondary Sheave

Pulley that is normally used on gearless elevators and is located directly beneath the
machine or drive sheave. It too has a grooved surface over which pass the suspension or
hoist ropes.
3.3.4 Deflector or double wrap sheave
Pulley used to offset or direct the vertical drop or location of the steel hoist ropes running
between the elevator car and its counterweight. Where the horizontal distance between the
hitch point for the car and the counterweight is larger than the diameter of the drive sheave,
one or more deflector sheaves are used to guide the hoist ropes.
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These devices are grooved sheaves that lead elevator suspension ropes off the drive
sheave down to the car top and counterweight. The number and size of deflector sheaves
will be a function of the elevator’s size, machine placement and roping arrangement.
Many installations having carrying capacities of 1,136 kg or less, are provided with drive
sheaves of sufficient diameter that do not require the use of deflector sheaves in a typical
overhead arrangement as shown in the below image#1.
Will require the use of deflector sheaves, and these are now normally located within the
main elevator machine room space as shown in the below image#2.
One can see the suspension ropes angling off the back side of a geared traction drive
sheave as shown in the below image#3. Note how they travel away from the drive sheave
and then down to its deflector sheave.
3.3.5 Brake
Traction and drum machines are provided with a mechanical brake, designed to stop and
safely hold an elevator. A centrifugal force governor is provided on most elevators to guard
against overspeeding (when a car travels in excess of 20% of top speed, the governor will
activate a safety stop device). Safeties are installed at the bottom of an elevator car and
occasionally on counterweights to provide positive emergency stopping when activated by
the governor.
3.3.6 Speed reduction unit or gearbox
The most common type of speed reduction unit consists of a hardened steel worm shaft,
mated with a bronze ring or crown gear (worm-gear set). The mating surfaces of these two
elements are contained within an oil bath for lubrication. Regular access to the machine to
check the level of oil, as well as the condition of the oil and the ring gear is an important
aspect of ongoing equipment maintenance.
3.3.7 Machine Bedplate
The gear box, motor and brake may be assembled on a common bedplate. This fabricated
steel structure serves to keep all parts in accurate alignment and allows one-piece
shipment.
Some machines have the motor and brake as an integral part of the gear case, removing the
need for a separate bedplate.

3.4 Elevator Control System

Elevator Control System is the system responsible for coordinating all aspects of elevator
service such as travel, speed, and accelerating, decelerating, door opening speed and
delay, levelling and hall lantern signals.
It accepts inputs (e.g. button signals) and produces outputs (elevator cars moving, doors
opening, etc.).
Aims of the control system
The main aims of the elevator control system are:
 To bring the lift car to the correct floor.
 To minimize travel time.
 To maximize passenger comfort by providing a smooth ride.
 To accelerate, decelerate and travel within safe speed limits.

Prof. Yasmeen Syed, B.Arch., DSCA, Bangalore. 15AT6BS - Building Services(VI Sem)
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 Simple Elevator Control System Inputs and Outputs

Types of elevator control systems

There are 3 main types for elevator control systems as follows:
Single Automatic operation
 First automated system w/o single call button on each floor and single button for
each floor inside car.
 Called if no one is using it.
 Passenger has exclusive use of the car until rip is complete.
Selective Collective Operation
 Most common, remembers and answers calls in one direction then reverses. When
trip complete, programmed to return to a home landing.
Group Automatic Operation
 For large buildings with many elevators which are controlled with programmable
microprocessors to respond.
Note: the Traffic management systems which combine visual monitoring, interactive
command control, and traffic analysis to ensure that the elevators are running properly will
be discussed in another course for planning and design of elevators traffic management
systems.

Elevator Control System Components

The elevator as a control system has a number of components. These can basically be
divided into the following:
i. Inputs
a. Sensors
b. Buttons
c. Key controls
d. System controls
ii. Outputs
a. Actuators
b. Bells
c. Displays
iii. Controllers

Prof. Yasmeen Syed, B.Arch., DSCA, Bangalore. 15AT6BS - Building Services(VI Sem)
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3.4.1 Inputs
3.4.1.1 Sensors
Magnetic and/or photo electric
These pick up signals regarding the location of the car. This sensor is usually placed on the
car itself and reads the position by counting the number of holes in the guide rail as they
pass by in the photo-electric sensor or in the case of the magnetic sensor, the number of
magnetic pulses.
This is used to detect people entering or leaving the elevator.
Weight sensor (Overload Device)
This is placed on the car to warn the control system if the design load is exceeded.
PVT (primary velocity transducer)
Velocity of the drive sheave is sensed with this encoder.
3.4.1.2 Buttons
Hall Buttons
These buttons are on a button panel on the outside of the elevator shafts and are used by
potential passengers to call an elevator cab to the floor that the pressed summon button is
located on. There are two Hall buttons on each floor – one for up, another for down, except
on the top floor where there is only down and on the bottom floor where there is only up. The
controller interacts with these buttons by receiving press and release signals indicating the
requested direction and floor number. It also sends light on/off signals to indicate the status
of the buttons.
Floor Request Buttons
This particular elevator controller will be controlling elevator cabs that are in a building with 6
floors. Consequently, each cab has 6 floor request buttons labeled 1 through 6 that
passengers can use to direct the elevator cabs to the floor that they would like to go to.
These buttons are located on a button panel on the interior of each elevator cab. The
controller interacts with these buttons by receiving pressed signals indicating the desired
floor number and elevator cab which they were pressed from. It also sends light on/off
signals to indicate the status of the buttons.
Open Door Button
This button is on the interior button panel of each cab. A passenger can press this button to
open the elevator doors or keep pressing it to keep them open, but only when the elevator
cab is stopped at a floor. Some elevator systems also have a close door button, but this one
does not. The controller interacts with this button by receiving a signal when it is pressed
and when it is released. Both of these signals include the cab from which they came from.
Emergency Stop Button
This button is on the interior button panel of each cab. A passenger can press this button to
stop the elevator no matter where it is in a shaft. The controller interacts with this button by
receiving a signal from it that indicates that it was pressed, as well as the cab that it came
from.
Emergency Bell Button
This button is on the interior button panel of each cab. A passenger can press this button to
sound a bell to alert people outside of the elevator shaft that someone is trapped inside the
elevator cab in case of a malfunction. The controller interacts with this button by receiving a
signal from it that indicates that it was pressed.

Prof. Yasmeen Syed, B.Arch., DSCA, Bangalore. 15AT6BS - Building Services(VI Sem)
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Registration panel

In destination control systems, the conventional hall call buttons (Up and Down arrows)
located at the elevator lobby are replaced by the registration devices. Passengers register
their destination floor through these registration devices at the lobby instead of in the
elevator. The registration device will display the elevator that has been assigned for
transporting the passenger. As the passenger has already registered the desired destination
floor, there is no need to input the destination floor in the elevator.

3.4.1.3 Key Controls

Key controls may only be activated by the proper keys, and their use is thus restricted to
repair people, elevator operators or firemen. It is used in place of or in conjunction with a
pushbutton to restrict access to a floor. Keypads and card readers are also available.
Examples for these keys are as follows:
 Fireman's service, phase II key switch.
 An inspector's switch, which places the elevator in inspection mode (this may be
situated on top of the elevator).
 Manual up/down controls for elevator technicians, to be used in inspection mode, for
example.
 An independent service/exclusive mode Switch (also known as "Car Preference"),
which will prevent the car from answering to hall calls and only arrive at floors
selected via the panel. The door should stay open while parked on a floor. This mode
may be used for temporarily transporting goods. The controller interacts with the
switch by receiving a signal from it when it has been toggled to either AUTO or HOLD
mode. AUTO is for normal operation; HOLD is to keep the elevator cab from moving
and its doors from opening or closing.
 Attendant service mode switch.
3.4.1.4 System Controls
System controls are used to turn the elevator system on or off, system controls are only
accessible from an elevator control room. They would typically be used quite infrequently –
perhaps the system would be turned on early in the morning and turned off late at night, or
turned off at the start of holidays and turned on once the next term begins.

Prof. Yasmeen Syed, B.Arch., DSCA, Bangalore. 15AT6BS - Building Services(VI Sem)
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3.4.2 Outputs
3.4.2.1 Actuators
Door Opening Device
On top of each elevator cab is a door opening device. This device opens the inner door of
the elevator cab and the outer door of the elevator shaft simultaneously at each floor. The
controller interacts with the door opening device by sending signals to open or close the
doors and by receiving signals when the doors have been completely opened or closed. The
signals that the controller receives also indicate which cab they are coming from.
Electric motor
The elevator motor is responsible for moving an elevator cab up and down between floors.
As this elevator system uses a roped mechanism, the elevator engine is connected to a
sheave which the ropes are looped around. The controller interacts with the elevator engine
by sending it a signal that specifies at which speed and in what direction the engine should
be going in. A stop signal is simply constructed by setting the speed parameter of the signal
to zero.
Brakes
There a few brake systems in a typical elevator system. These include the electromagnetic
and mechanical brakes. The electromagenetic brakes activate automatically if there is a
sudden loss of power or when the car is stationary. The mechanical brakes at the sheave
itself also stop the car from moving when the car is inactive.

Prof. Yasmeen Syed, B.Arch., DSCA, Bangalore. 15AT6BS - Building Services(VI Sem)
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3.4.2.2 Bells
Emergency Bell
In the elevator system is an emergency bell that is used to alert people outside of the
elevator system that someone is trapped inside an elevator cab. The controller interacts with
the emergency bell by sending it a signal to ring.
Load Bell
Each cab has a load bell that is used to alert the passengers inside the cab that there is too
much weight in it to operate it safely. The controller interacts with the load bell be sending it
a signal to ring.
3.4.2.3 Displays
Car Position Display
The interior of each elevator cab has a display that indicates to its passengers which floor
the elevator cab is currently on. Some elevator systems have this floor number display on
every floor outside of the elevator doors, but this system does not. The controller interacts
with this display by sending a signal that tells it which floor number to display. Can be either
analog (individual indicators for each floor) or digital ( a dot matrix or segmented LED that
changes to indicate the floor level)
Direction Display
The interior of each elevator cab has a display that indicates the current direction of an
elevator cab; it is either up or down. The controller interacts with this display by sending it a
signal that tells it which direction to display.

3.4.3 Controllers
The controller is a device which manages the visual monitoring, interactive command control
and traffic analysis system to ensure the elevators are functioning efficiently.

The primary function of the elevator controller

The primary function of the elevator controller is essentially to receive and process a variety
of signals from several different components of a whole elevator system. It is able to send
signals in response to the ones it receives in order to operate all of the other components in
the system. This exchange of signals is how the elevator controller is able to keep the
elevators running smoothly on a day-to-day basis.
Here are a few of the following ways the controller interacts with the other components of the
elevator system:
 Controls the speed of elevator engines in order to move elevator cabs up and down
their respective shafts.
 Queues and processes elevator summons and floor requests from passengers
through the signals provided to it by several buttons.
 Processes information sent to it by load sensors in order to ensure that the load of a
cab never exceeds the safety limit.
 Processes information sent to it by position marker sensors in order to keep track of
where the elevator cabs are at all times, as well as their speed.
 Provides feedback to passengers through the lights on some of the buttons and the
floor number and direction displays in each cab.
 Can sound alarm bells that are either invoked by trapped passengers or required to
warn of excess load in a cab.
 Controls the operation of the elevator doors of a cab through communication with
door opening devices.
Prof. Yasmeen Syed, B.Arch., DSCA, Bangalore. 15AT6BS - Building Services(VI Sem)
44
3.5 Safety System

Layout of Elevator Safety System

The following list describes all the safety components used in electrical traction elevator
safety system:
i. Device for locking landing doors (Hoistway Door Interlock).
ii. Progressive safety gear.
iii. Overspeed governor.
iv. Buffers.
v. Final Limit switches.
vi. Other safety devices and switches.

3.5.1 Device for locking landing doors (Hoistway Door Interlock)

 It shall not be possible in normal operation to open the landing door (or any of the
panels in the case of a multi-panel door) unless the car has stopped, or is on the
point of stopping, in the unlocking zone of the door.
 The unlocking zone shall not extend more than 0.2 meter above and below the
landing level.
 The hoistway door locking mechanism provides a means to mechanically lock each
hoistway door and the elevator cannot leave a landing unless the doors are fully
closed and secured.
 They are also interconnected electrically to prevent operation of the elevator if any of
the elevator’s hoistway doors are open. Should the doors be forced open, the
interlock circuit will be broken, causing the elevator to immediately stop.
 Each landing door shall be provided with a locking device satisfying the previous
conditions. This device shall be protected against deliberate misuse.
 Landing doors shall be capable of being unlocked from the outside with the aid of key
, which fit the unlocking triangle (Hoistway Emergency Door Keys).

3.5.2 Progressive safety gear

 Safety gear is a mechanical device for stopping the car (or counterweight) by
gripping the guide rails in the event of car speed attaining a pre-determined value in
a downward direction of travel, irrespective what the reason for the increase in speed
may be.
Prof. Yasmeen Syed, B.Arch., DSCA, Bangalore. 15AT6BS - Building Services(VI Sem)
45
  Progressive safety gear retardation is affected by a breaking action on the guide rails
and for which special provisions are made so as to limit the forces on the car,
counterweight o balancing weight to a permissible value.
 Pair of safety gears is mounted in the lower part of car sling and operated
simultaneously by a linkage mechanism that actuated by overspeed governor.

Safety Mechanism
The progressive safety gear and the braking device are activated by means of a linkage with
a shearing mechanism as shown in below image.
The release lever can be mounted on the right-hand or left-hand side, in front or at the rear
dependent on the type of installation.
Operation of Safety Mechanism
Dependent on the direction the safety lever is pulled upwards or downwards; the movement
of the lever is transmitted to the shearing mechanism by means of a rocker. The grip wedges
of progressive safety gear or braking device which are linked with the safety-gear levers are
released from their rest position between rail and jaw body which is maintained by a spring
assembly. The safety-gear lever assembly which is arranged in the form of a shearing
mechanism ensures that the progressive safety gears and/or braking device are activated
simultaneously and in pairs.

3.5.3 Over-speed governor

 Over-speed governor function is to actuate the safety gear if the car speed exceeds
115% of its rated value.
 Usually a cable is attached to the safeties on the underside of the car, called the
governor rope. This rope runs down through a pulley at the bottom of the shaft and
back up to the machine room and around the governor sheave.
 When over-speeding is detected, the governor grips the cable which applies the
safeties that wedge against the guide rails and stops the car.
 The overspeed governor works on the floating principle with a cam curve and roller
guided rocker.
 It is situated either in the machine room or in the head room.
 Overspeed governer is provided by a factory adjusted switch activated when the
tripped speed is reached to disconnect the machine drive starting with governor
pulley blocking.

3.5.4 Buffers
A Buffer is a device designed to stop a descending car or counterweight beyond its normal
limit and to soften the force with which the elevator runs into the pit during an emergency.
They may be of polyurethane or oil type in respect of the rated speed.

3.5.5 Final Limit Switches

 Final limit switches shall be set to function as close as possible to the terminal floors
(the highest or lowest landing of lifts), without risk of accident.
 Final limit switches shall operate before the car comes into contact with the buffers.
The action of the final limit switches shall be maintained whilst the buffers are
compressed.
 After the operation of final limit switches, the return to service of the lift cannot occur
automatically.
Prof. Yasmeen Syed, B.Arch., DSCA, Bangalore. 15AT6BS - Building Services(VI Sem)
46
3.5.6 Other Safety Devices and Switches
3.5.6.1 Overload Device
Load weighing device or the overload sensor is mounted on the lower transom to snse the
nearness of car floor during loading of acr isolation springs. The sensor is operated by
altering the distance between car floor and sling dependent on the load. A distance screw
shall be provided close to the sensor for protection purposes. Set the distance screw in such
a way that it projects the sensor by a approximately 1 mm, so that the sensor is protected in
the case of shock motions which raise during safety gear operation of the car.
3.5.6.2 Door Protective Device
any type of device used with automatic power operated doors that detect obstructions to the
normal closing of the elevator doors (though contact may occur) and either causes the doors
to change the door motion by either stopping it, or causing it to reverse (reopen) or go into
some other mode of operation, such as nudging. A safe edge, a safety astragal, a
photoelectric device (safe ray), and electrostatic field device are examples of door protective
devices.
Photo-electric and infrared sensors : A sensor between the hoistway and car doors that
detects objects in their path and prevents the doors from closing.
Safety edges: movable strips on edge of door that activates a switch to reopen if something
contacts it
3.5.6.3 Emergency stop switch:
he red switch inside some cars that cuts off the power to the car except for the lights, alarm
and communication system.
3.5.6.4 Seismic switch/device
 Seismic switch is A motion sensing device on some elevators installations. If it is
activated the elevator will move away from the counter weights to the next landing
with its doors open and inoperable.
 This device overrides phase (I) and phase (II) operation unless phase (II) operation is
already in effect.
 If this device has been activated it can mean that an unsafe structural condition
exists.
 This device is located in the machine room
3.5.6.5 Emergency Alarm Switch
It will sound an alarm when activated by a passenger and in most elevators; an emergency
telephone or intercom can serve as a link to assistance if the car should stall.
3.5.6.6 Anti-Egress Lock Device
Allows car doors to open from inside by only 4 inches unless car is near landing.
3.5.6.7 Pit Safety Switch
This device, strategically located at elevator pit entry and exit points, greatly enhances safety
for personnel who work in the elevator pit by preventing unexpected elevator movement.
3.5.6.8 Fire Fighter Services Devices/Switches
It includes two types of switches as follows:

Prof. Yasmeen Syed, B.Arch., DSCA, Bangalore. 15AT6BS - Building Services(VI Sem)
47