Types of Freight Elevators
Elevators come in all shapes and sizes, each serving its own purpose. Passenger and freight elevators have their distinct differences, being that one is for people and the other for materials and equipment. However, did you know that there are also different types of freight elevators that should be used specifically for a project or building type?
Here are the three primary types of freight elevators, each with different features and uses that you may not have been aware of. It is important to keep in mind that the main differences are in height, weight, and use:
Hydraulic elevators
These type of elevators are one of the most common elevators in low-rise (2-8 floors) buildings. They are operated by a piston that's located at the bottom of the elevator that moves the elevator up and down by pumping liquid into a pressurized cylinder that is then released through a valve. These elevators typically move no faster than 200 feet per minute.
They're designed to move heavy materials from floor to floor, so their weight capacity is significantly greater than passenger elevations; one of the reasons why they move slower than passenger elevators. They come in two main classification types:
- holed
- hole-less
The difference in these being where the cylinder is located. Hole-less elevators are not able to travel as far as holed. Aside from that, these are the elevators of choice for most industrial buildings.
Traction elevators
These elevators are lifted and lowered on a rope system, which run through a reduction gear connected to a motor above the elevator shaft. The electric motor drives the ropes through the gear and the elevator begins to move. These elevators still have a higher loading capacity than passenger elevators; however, they do not offer the same weight capacity as hydraulic ones because they're used to travel to higher distances.
They come in two main classification types:
- geared
- gear-less
The difference is that with gear-less traction elevators, the gear is attached directly to the motor which means it's not able to travel as fast as a gear-operated system. These freight elevators are perfect for industrial builds of high-rises.
Climbing elevators
Most climbing elevators are built with an entire directly attached to the elevator itself. They are used on construction sites and typically do not travel very quickly, nor can they go as high as hydraulic or traction elevators. Contact a company that deals with elevators to learn more.