ELEVATOR OPERATING SYSTEM

I have just completed the task given as part of the syllabus required for this subject. The task requires me to get the information on the technology being used directly from a selected company. I have chosen the “Elevator Operating System” operated by ThyssenKrupp Elevator Malaysia Sdn Bhd for my topic. On 16th March 2016 I have interviewed their representative from Penang office branch, Mr. Muhammad Muazam. He is the Maintenance Technician for the company.

Here, I would like to share with you the general information about the elevator system so that we can have the basic knowledge on the machine and technology that we are using in our daily activities.

WHAT IS ELEVATOR?

Elevator is a platform, compartment, or cage raised or lowered in a vehicle shaft to transport persons or goods in a building (Collins online dictionary, n.d.) while Oxford online dictionary (n.d) defined elevator as a machine consisting of an endless belt with scoops attached used for raising grain to an upper storey for storage. For more details, Cambridge online dictionary (n.d.) defined elevator as a device like a box that moves up and down, carrying people or goods from one floor of a building to another or taking people up and down underground in a mine while from the business perspective, it is a small room in tall building which carries people or goods up and down to different levels of the building.

ELEVATOR SYSTEM

HOW ELEVATOR WORKS?

For daily elevator operations at any locations, the elevator service will only start to operate when there is the request on the elevator service by the passenger. The operations of the elevator for normal use are as follows:

1. Once the passenger press the selected button on the hall call indicator, the controller will register the request.
2. Then, the controller will send the request signal to the elevator and it will move to the requested floor.
3.  As the lift car arrived at the requested floor, the controller will then send the signal to door controller to open the doors at the requested floor to allow passenger to get into the lift car.
4. There is an overload switch which consists of bracket and the sensor located at the bottom of the lift car. The bracket will get closer to the sensor as the weight of the load increasing.
5. If the lift car is overloaded, the bracket will touch the sensor and the signal will be sent to Lift Monitoring System (LMS). LMS will then turn on the alarm and hold the doors from closing until the lift car load reduces to its maximum capacity.
6. The controller will send the signal to door controller to close the doors.
7. Passenger will just need to push the button inside the lift car to choose the destination floor.
8. Controller will register the request and send the signal to lift car to move either upwards or downwards to the requested floor.
9. Once the lift arrives at the requested floor, the controller will send signal to door controller to open doors.
10. After few seconds, the controller will send the signal to door controller to close doors. But, if the door sensor is blocked by any tangible object between the doors, it will not close and the lift car is not going to move as the landing door lock is not attach to the contact point.

HOW ELEVATOR WORKS DURING EMERGENCY?

If the building is involved in fire emergency due to the external factors, the Fire Return System needs to be activated by pressing the emergency button outside of the elevator. But, if the fire emergency causes by short circuit, the Fire Return System will be activated automatically. Once it is activated, this system will send the signal to all the elevators to move directly to the lowest floor in the building. Once arrived at the lowest floor the doors will open continuously and the elevator system will stop the operation except for the evacuation lift.

The other situation is when the elevator is not able to function due to technical problems or power failure. If that happened, there are two (2) systems that will be automatically activated which are Emergency Battery Operated Power Supply (EBOPS) and Emergency Rescue Device (ERD). Both systems will give the temporary power supply to the elevators. EBOPS will supply the electricity for the fan and the lamp (one unit each) for the period of one (1) hour for passengers to breathe while waiting for rescuer. While, ERD will supply the power to the elevator to move to the closest floor and open up the doors to allow the passenger move out from the elevator. However, not all elevators are equipped with ERD system.

How the elevator work video from YouTube: