Certain elevators work best depending on the height of the building. Basically, there are two categories of elevators: traction and hydraulic. Some traction elevators have a machine room and others do not. Hydraulic elevators work with an electric motor that pours hydraulic fluid into a piston. The piston is located at the bottom of the elevator and pushes it up. When the elevator is coming down, a valve releases fluid from the piston. Hydraulic elevators are generally used in buildings with a maximum of eight stories.
There are pros and cons surrounding hydraulic elevators. First, they are less expensive than other models and cheaper to maintain. On the downside, this elevator uses more energy. Further, hydraulic fluid can leak, which causes a nasty spill. Many contractors work with companies like Elevator Technologies Inc in Washington DC. It takes a cooperative effort to find the best and safest elevator for a project.
Cables are used to lift traction elevators that are used in taller buildings. The cables are attached to a wheel and electric motor above the elevator shaft. Additionally, traction elevators are much faster than the hydraulic type. Elevator Technologies Inc in Washington DC sells two types of traction elevators. One type utilizes a gearbox that drives the wheel to move the ropes. A traction elevator with a gearbox has a maximum speed of 500 feet per minute. In the other type, the wheel is joined to the motor. They travel up to 2,000 feet a minute and are preferred for high-rises.
The use of machine roomless elevators, or MRLs, is becoming popular in the U.S. That is because many governments only recently started permitting them. The machine is placed in the override space rather than a room. Elevator controls are situated in a control room next to the elevator shaft. MRLs travel up to 250 feet a minute and are used in mid-rise buildings. Many builders prefer MRLs because they are energy efficient and require less space. Learn more about different types of elevators by visiting . Elevators were first developed in the early 1800s, and the technology has grown a lot since then.
