Different types of Elevators in the Philippines

An elevator or also called lift is a platform that can be opened and closed and moves in a vertical shaft to carry people and goods among the floors of a building. Most elevators in the Philippines are powered by electric motors with the help of a counterweight in a system of cables and pulleys. In essence, an elevator is a metal box that is connected to a strong metal rope.  This metal rope is attached to a sheave in an engine room that is located above the elevator. Like a pulley wheel, the sheave has groves that can hold the metal rope tightly.  When a passenger pushes a floor button, the motor is activated and either goes up or down.

Today there are numerous kinds of elevators that are categorized according to how they work, some of these are:

• Passenger Elevator: This type of elevator is primarily designed to move people through the different floors of a building. This elevator has varying size, speed, capacity, and interior.
• Service Elevator: Considered as a modified passenger elevator, service elevators are situated in an employee’s area of a commercial building. This is mainly used to move goods in various building floors by employees and its main feature is, it has the traditional horizontal doors.
• Residential Elevators: This kind of elevator is also referred to as a home elevator. This is intentionally designed for houses, small buildings, or private residential buildings. Residential elevators are like any other elevators found in buildings, but one big difference is that they operate slowly and move a lesser number of people.
• Freight Elevator: Instead of moving people, freight elevators are designed to move goods and materials in a building. This kind of elevator moves at a slower pace but can carry heavier materials and can endure intense working conditions.

Common Kinds of elevator

There are elevators that are operated through a hoist system. Basically, a hoist is a device that is used to lift and lower loads using chains and wheels. But with today’s innovation, elevators have become more advanced that some are using electric pumps, air pumps and others. These have brought a rise to different kinds of elevators such as:

• Hydraulic Elevator: This kind of elevator utilizes an electric pump that mobilizes a hydraulic jack, which are fluid pistons that move inside a cylinder. The compression of fluids is responsible for the movement of an elevator. The presence of a hydraulic jack and its large capacity, make this elevator apt to move heavy loads especially in factories and warehouses.  
• Traction Elevator: Also called electric elevators, traction elevators are the most common kind of elevator. The elevator car is pulled using rolling steel ropes through a grooved pulley. This elevator uses a counterweight to balance the weight of the cab and the passengers. This means that the motor does not need to move as much weight that makes it more energy efficient.
• Machine-Room-Less (MRL) traction Elevator: Either a traction or hydraulic elevator, this elevator does not entail a room needed for the traction machine, instead it is situated inside the shaft of a building. This elevator entails a counterweight that aids the machine in turning the elevator sheave which results in the moving of the cab through the hoistway.
• Vacuum Elevator: This type of elevator is operated by using air-pressure. By using a vacuum pump or turbine that is positioned under the lift of a compartment, air pressure is created. This air pressure is used to move the cab within the shaft of an elevator and to reach the desired floor.
• Screw-driven lift: A screw-driven elevator is a kind of elevator wherein the cabin or the platform is attached to a drive nut that is responsible for moving the screw up and down. An electric motor powers this kind of elevator, wherein the motor turns one way and the drive nut enables the elevator to travel upward. On the other hand, when the motor turns the other way, the drive nut will make the elevator travel downward.

Elevators have been used for decades. It has brought a lot of benefits to users, whether it be large corporations, small-scale business, or residential places. The progress of years has also improved and shifted the elevator when it comes to how it is used and how they operate. If one is planning to purchase or install an elevator, it is important to research for a credible and trusted elevator provider. In the Philippines, HD Homelift offers Filipinos a series of elevator services from installation to maintenance. They offer various kinds of elevators such as a PWD-Lift. To know more call 8573 3348 or 0965 729 8396.