As the ELEVATOR WORLD editor who is responsible for online news, among many other responsibilities, I spend a large portion of my workday searching the Internet. There are numerous sites I visit daily, including CNN and other generic news outlets, plus industry-related sites (I also check Tom Sybert’s Elevator Radio Show on Wednesdays). In addition, I use a daily online news service to track the latest reports relating to the industry.
This news search engine seeks items containing certain industry-related terms, such as “elevator” and “escalator.” What makes my job entertaining is that while those words are obviously very important to EW and the industry, they are also used in many non-industry-related ways. For example, I get a lot of hits for news stories about grain “elevators” and “escalator” clauses as part of contract negotiations. Not to mention the use of elevators and escalators as reference points in news stories (”Britney Spears was seen getting on an elevator at the Waldorf Hotel” or “The assault took place near the down escalator on the second level of the Riverside Mall”).
Then, there are the numerous references to “elevator pitches,” which get their name from first appearing in elevators. For the uninformed, an “elevator pitch” is a brief and to-the-point sales pitch to potential customer that could be successfully completed within the length of an elevator ride in an office building.
And let’s not forget “elevator music,” which you hardly hear anymore, but is still used as a term to describe bland music. While on the subject of music, you might be interested to know there are several bands with the word “elevator” in their names (The 13th Floor Elevators, for example). I receive all of their concert dates and album release announcements.
Occasionally, I run across a news item that lists “The 20 Most Annoying Things You Can Do in an Elevator.” Often times the list is longer than 20 items, and it never fails to bring at least a smile to my face, if not a hearty guffaw! Some examples: Greet everyone getting on the elevator with a warm handshake and ask them to call you Admiral, meow occasionally, smack your forehead repeatedly and say, “Shut up! All of you shut up!” and put a sock on your hand and talk to the other passengers with it. One of my favorites is: When the doors close, announce to the others, “It’s okay. Don’t panic, they open up again.”
Another enjoyable part of my job comes from reading some of the headlines generated by my news search. As a former newspaper editor and reporter, I know most headlines are written by copy editors working the “graveyard shift,” who can get a little punchy from the late hours and deadline pressures. Therefore, I have to smile when I see some of the headlines associated with (usually vaguely) industry-related news stories.
As an example, two recent headlines brought a smile to my face:
A news brief in The Worthington (Minnesota) Daily Globe was titled: “Windom Man Admits to Bean Theft.” Obviously a slow news day in Windom, until you read the story and discovered the man in question stole not just one bean but two truckloads of legumes from a nearby grain elevator.
The second example tops that one in the unusual crime department. Part of the reason I liked it was that I love a good pun. It comes from television station WWJ in Detroit, Michigan: “‘Urine’ Trouble for Elevator Prank.” Upon reading the story, which ran on numerous other news websites, you would have learned that a contractor was arrested after a surveillance camera caught him doing something in an elevator that you normally would do in the restroom. What makes the story even more amusing, at least to me, was that the man was doing work for the Internal Revenue Service when he was caught.
Try this for yourself, use your favorite search engine, type “elevator” or “escalator” into the news search space and see if you find something that will top these news headlines. Let us know what you find. And if your boss sees you laughing at work, just explain that you were searching for news items related to the industry.
21 Haziran 2009 Pazar
Elevator World Magazine
$363.40… that’s the profit the company that became Elevator World, Inc. made in its first year of operation in 1953. EW founder William C. Sturgeon once stated, “ELEVATOR WORLD, the industry’s first trade publication, was created and sustained as a hobby, the bulk of activity by my wife, Mary Sands, and myself being at night and on weekends.” In fact, until 1963, Sturgeon was wearing two hats, as partner and president of Mobile Elevator & Equipment Company and part-time publisher of ELEVATOR WORLD magazine. That year, he became the full-time publisher and began shaping the vision of the magazine, which was to give the industry an effective means to communicate. Now, in 2009, EW has 22 employees and produces two magazines (ELEVATOR WORLD & ELEVATOR WORLD India), two directories (The ELEVATOR WORLD Source & The Euro Source), an online network of websites and more than 100 educational publications. And, with new and exciting things on the horizon, Sturgeon’s vision continues.
"Top of the Rock" Elevators
Guests ascending to the 67th, 69th, and 70th level observation decks (dubbed "Top of the Rock") atop the GE Building at Rockefeller Center in New York City ride a high-speed glass-top elevator. When entering the cab, it appears to be any normal elevator ride. However, once the cab begins moving, the interior lights turn off and a special blue light above the cab turns on. This lights the entire shaft, so riders can see the moving cab through its glass ceiling as it rises and lowers through the shaft. Music plays and various animations are also displayed on the ceiling. The entire ride takes about 60 seconds.
Luxor Inclinator Elevator
In Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Luxor Hotel, is the Inclinator. The shape of this casino is a pyramid. Therefore, the elevator travels up the side of the pyramid at a 39 degree angle. Although people refer to this "inclined elevator" as an inclinator, this is incorrect. An inclinator is a stairlift developed by Inclinator Company of America many years ago. Therefore the Luxor installation is just Otis Elevator's version of a generic "Inclined Elevator".
Elevator Convenience Features
Elevators may feature talking devices as an accessibility aid for the blind. In addition to floor arrival notifications, the computer announces the direction of travel, and notifies the passengers before the doors are to close.
In addition to the call buttons, elevators usually have floor indicators and direction lanterns. The former are almost universal in cab interiors with more than two stops and may be found outside the elevators as well on one or more of the floors. Floor indicators can consist of a dial with a rotating needle, but the most common types are those with successively illuminated floor indications or LCDs. Likewise, a change of floors or an arrival at floors is indicated by a sound, depending on the elevator.
Direction lanterns are also found both inside and outside elevator cars, but they should always be visible from outside because their primary purpose is to help people decide whether or not to get on the elevator. If somebody waiting for the elevator is going up but a car comes first indicating that it is going down, then the person may decide not to get on the elevator. If the person waits, then one will still stop going up. Direction indicators are sometimes etched with arrows or shaped like arrows and/or use the convention that one that lights up red means "down" and green means "up". Since the color convention is often undermined or overrided by systems that do not invoke it, it is usually used only in conjunction with other differentiating factors. An example of a place whose elevators use only the color convention to differentiate between directions is the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, where a single circle can be made to light up green for "up" and red for "down." Sometimes directions must be inferred by the position of the indicators relative to one another.
In addition to lanterns, most elevators make a chime to indicate if the elevator is going up or down either before or after the doors open, usually in conjunction with the lanterns lighting up. Universally, one chime is for up, two is for down, and none indicates an elevator that is 'free'.
Observatory service elevators often convey other facts of interest, including elevator speed, stopwatch, and current position,as with the case for Taipei 101's service elevators.
In addition to the call buttons, elevators usually have floor indicators and direction lanterns. The former are almost universal in cab interiors with more than two stops and may be found outside the elevators as well on one or more of the floors. Floor indicators can consist of a dial with a rotating needle, but the most common types are those with successively illuminated floor indications or LCDs. Likewise, a change of floors or an arrival at floors is indicated by a sound, depending on the elevator.
Direction lanterns are also found both inside and outside elevator cars, but they should always be visible from outside because their primary purpose is to help people decide whether or not to get on the elevator. If somebody waiting for the elevator is going up but a car comes first indicating that it is going down, then the person may decide not to get on the elevator. If the person waits, then one will still stop going up. Direction indicators are sometimes etched with arrows or shaped like arrows and/or use the convention that one that lights up red means "down" and green means "up". Since the color convention is often undermined or overrided by systems that do not invoke it, it is usually used only in conjunction with other differentiating factors. An example of a place whose elevators use only the color convention to differentiate between directions is the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, where a single circle can be made to light up green for "up" and red for "down." Sometimes directions must be inferred by the position of the indicators relative to one another.
In addition to lanterns, most elevators make a chime to indicate if the elevator is going up or down either before or after the doors open, usually in conjunction with the lanterns lighting up. Universally, one chime is for up, two is for down, and none indicates an elevator that is 'free'.
Observatory service elevators often convey other facts of interest, including elevator speed, stopwatch, and current position,as with the case for Taipei 101's service elevators.
Material Handling Belts And Belt Elevators
A different kind of elevator is used to transport material. It generally consists of an inclined plane on which a conveyor belt runs. The conveyor often includes partitions to prevent the material from sliding backwards. These elevators are often used in industrial and agricultural applications. When such mechanisms are used to elevate grain for storage in large vertical silos, the entire structure is called a grain elevator.
There have occasionally been lift belts for humans; these typically have steps about every seven feet along the length of the belt, which moves vertically, so that the passenger can stand on one step and hold on to the one above. These belts are sometimes used, for example, to carry the employees of parking garages, but are considered too dangerous for public use.
There have occasionally been lift belts for humans; these typically have steps about every seven feet along the length of the belt, which moves vertically, so that the passenger can stand on one step and hold on to the one above. These belts are sometimes used, for example, to carry the employees of parking garages, but are considered too dangerous for public use.
Aircraft Elevators
An F/A-18C on an aircraft elevator of the USS Kitty Hawk
On aircraft carriers, elevators carry aircraft between the flight deck and the hangar deck for operations or repairs. These elevators are designed for much greater capacity than any other elevator ever built, up to 200,000 pounds of aircraft and equipment. Smaller elevators lift munitions to the flight deck from magazines deep inside the ship.
Upon some passenger double-deck aircraft such as the Boeing 747 or other widebody aircraft, lifts transport flight attendants and food and beverage trolleys from lower deck galleys to upper passenger carrying decks.
On aircraft carriers, elevators carry aircraft between the flight deck and the hangar deck for operations or repairs. These elevators are designed for much greater capacity than any other elevator ever built, up to 200,000 pounds of aircraft and equipment. Smaller elevators lift munitions to the flight deck from magazines deep inside the ship.
Upon some passenger double-deck aircraft such as the Boeing 747 or other widebody aircraft, lifts transport flight attendants and food and beverage trolleys from lower deck galleys to upper passenger carrying decks.
Vehicle Elevators
Vehicular elevators are used within buildings with limited space (in lieu of ramps) to move cars into the parking garage. Geared hydraulic chains (not unlike bicycle chains) generate lift for the platform and there are no counterweights. To accommodate building designs and improve accessibility, the platform may rotate so that the driver always drives forward instead of in reverse.
Freight Elevators
A freight elevator, or goods lift, is an elevator designed to carry goods, rather than passengers. Freight elevators are generally required to display a written notice in the car that the use by passengers is prohibited, though certain freight elevators allow dual use through the use of an inconspicuous riser. Freight elevators are typically larger and capable of carrying heavier loads than a passenger elevator, generally from 2,300 to 4,500 kg. Freight elevators may have manually operated doors, and often have rugged interior finishes to prevent damage while loading and unloading. Although hydraulic freight elevators exist, electric elevators are more energy efficient for the work of freight lifting.
Stage and Orchestra lifts are specialized lifts for use in the performing arts, and are often exempt from some requirements[citation needed]. Local jurisdictions may govern their use, installation and testing; however they are often left out of local code enforcement provisions due to their infrequent installation.
Stage and Orchestra lifts are specialized lifts for use in the performing arts, and are often exempt from some requirements[citation needed]. Local jurisdictions may govern their use, installation and testing; however they are often left out of local code enforcement provisions due to their infrequent installation.
Hydraulic Elevators
Past problems with early hydraulic elevators meant those built prior to a code change in 1972 were subject to possible catastrophic failure. The code had previously required only single-bottom hydraulic cylinders. In the event of a cylinder breach, an uncontrolled fall of the elevator might result. Because it is impossible to verify the system completely without a pressurized casing,it is necessary to remove the piston to inspect it. The cost of removing the piston is such that it makes no economic sense to re-install the old cylinder; therefore it is necessary to replace the cylinder and install a new piston.Another solution to protect against a cylinder blowout is to install a "life jacket." This is a device which, in the event of an excessive downward speed, clamps onto the cylinder and stops the car. This device is also known as a Rupture Valve in some parts of the world.
In addition to the safety concerns for older hydraulic elevators, there is risk of leaking hydraulic oil into the aquifer and causing potential environmental contamination. This has led to the introduction of PVC liners around hydraulic cylinders which can be monitored for integrity.
In the past decade, recent innovations in inverted hydraulic jacks have eliminated the costly process of drilling the ground to install a borehole jack. This also eliminates the threat of corrosion to the system and increases safety.
In addition to the safety concerns for older hydraulic elevators, there is risk of leaking hydraulic oil into the aquifer and causing potential environmental contamination. This has led to the introduction of PVC liners around hydraulic cylinders which can be monitored for integrity.
In the past decade, recent innovations in inverted hydraulic jacks have eliminated the costly process of drilling the ground to install a borehole jack. This also eliminates the threat of corrosion to the system and increases safety.
Elevator Safety
Cable-borne elevators
Statistically speaking, elevators are extremely safe. Their safety record is unsurpassed by any other vehicle system. In 1998, it was estimated that approximately eight 100-millionths of one percent of elevator rides resulted in an anomaly, and the vast majority of these were minor things such as the doors failing to open. For all practical purposes, there are no cases of elevators simply free-falling and killing the passengers inside; of the 20 or 30 elevator-related deaths each year, most of them are maintenance-related - for example, technicians leaning too far into the shaft or getting caught between moving parts, and most of the rest are attributed to easily avoidable accidents, such as people stepping blindly through doors that open into empty shafts or being strangled by scarves caught in the doors.In fact, prior to the September 11th terrorist attacks, the only known free-fall incident in a modern cable-borne elevator happened in 1945 when a B-25 bomber struck the Empire State Building in fog, severing the cables of an elevator cab, which fell from the 75th floor all the way to the bottom of the building, seriously injuring the sole occupant - the female elevator operator.While it is possible for an elevator's cable to snap, all elevators in the modern era have been fitted with several safety devices which prevent the elevator from simply free-falling and crashing. An elevator cab is typically borne by six or eight hoist cables, each of which is capable on its own of supporting the full load of the elevator plus twenty-five per cent more weight. In addition, there is a device which detects whether the elevator is descending faster than its maximum designed speed; if this happens, the device causes bronze brake shoes to clamp down along the vertical rails in the shaft, stopping the car quickly, but not so abruptly as to cause injury.In addition, a hydraulic buffer is installed at the bottom of the shaft to cushion any impact somewhat.
Statistically speaking, elevators are extremely safe. Their safety record is unsurpassed by any other vehicle system. In 1998, it was estimated that approximately eight 100-millionths of one percent of elevator rides resulted in an anomaly, and the vast majority of these were minor things such as the doors failing to open. For all practical purposes, there are no cases of elevators simply free-falling and killing the passengers inside; of the 20 or 30 elevator-related deaths each year, most of them are maintenance-related - for example, technicians leaning too far into the shaft or getting caught between moving parts, and most of the rest are attributed to easily avoidable accidents, such as people stepping blindly through doors that open into empty shafts or being strangled by scarves caught in the doors.In fact, prior to the September 11th terrorist attacks, the only known free-fall incident in a modern cable-borne elevator happened in 1945 when a B-25 bomber struck the Empire State Building in fog, severing the cables of an elevator cab, which fell from the 75th floor all the way to the bottom of the building, seriously injuring the sole occupant - the female elevator operator.While it is possible for an elevator's cable to snap, all elevators in the modern era have been fitted with several safety devices which prevent the elevator from simply free-falling and crashing. An elevator cab is typically borne by six or eight hoist cables, each of which is capable on its own of supporting the full load of the elevator plus twenty-five per cent more weight. In addition, there is a device which detects whether the elevator is descending faster than its maximum designed speed; if this happens, the device causes bronze brake shoes to clamp down along the vertical rails in the shaft, stopping the car quickly, but not so abruptly as to cause injury.In addition, a hydraulic buffer is installed at the bottom of the shaft to cushion any impact somewhat.
Elevator Doors
Elevator doors protect building tenants from falling into the shaft. The most common configuration is to have two panels that meet in the middle, and slide open laterally. In a cascading configuration,the doors run on independent tracks so that while open, they are tucked behind one another, and while closed, they form cascading layers on one side.
What Elevator
An elevator or lift is a vertical transport vehicle that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building. They are generally powered by electric motors that either drive traction cables and counterweight systems, or pump hydraulic fluid to raise a cylindrical piston.
Languages other than English may have loanwords based on either elevator or lift.
Because of wheelchair access laws, elevators are often a legal requirement in new multi-storey buildings, especially where wheelchair ramps would be impractical.
Languages other than English may have loanwords based on either elevator or lift.
Because of wheelchair access laws, elevators are often a legal requirement in new multi-storey buildings, especially where wheelchair ramps would be impractical.
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