Elevator structure & common elevator types

Elevators can be divided into two main groups; cable elevators and hydraulic elevators. Cable elevators are suspended from support cables while hydraulic elevators have one or more hydraulic cylinders that lift the elevator car in the same way as a jack.

There are also lifts that are manufactured in accordance with the Machinery Directive. They are called platform lifts and have a maximum speed of 0.15 m/s. Platform lifts are divided into different groups, such as chain-driven lifts whose lift car is supported by roller chains, screw-driven lifts whose lift car is supported by one or more screws with support nuts, and hydraulic lifts.

Common elevator types

Elevators are also divided into different groups based on the transport task that the elevator is to perform. The two main groups are passenger elevators and passenger-restricted elevators.

Examples of passenger lifts are:

Passenger elevator, intended for passenger transport (most common in apartment buildings)
Freight elevator, intended for freight and passenger transport (most common in commercial properties)
Platform lifts with small installation dimensions and low rated speed of max. 0.15 m/s. Classified as machinery, according to the Machinery Directive
Stair lifts, special inclined elevator that follows the stairs
Rescue elevator, passenger elevator in tall buildings specially equipped for firefighting and rescue
Car lift, intended for cars with accompanying people
Forklift, reinforced to withstand unloading and loading with a forklift

Examples of restricted elevators are:

Small goods elevators, also called food trucks
Goods elevators

An elevator consists of the following parts:

Equipment cabinets, the brain of the elevator that controls and monitors the elevator
Elevator machinery, whose task is to give the elevator car the necessary movement
Lifting device, which can consist of ropes, chains, screws or hydraulic cylinders
Elevator car, used to transport people, goods or cargo. Often equipped with cage doors.
Counterweight, which in many cases is used to balance the elevator car and the appropriate part of the load
Guides, i.e. vertical rails for guiding the elevator car and any counterweight
Shaft door, equipped with a shaft door lock on each landing

Elevators