Hydraulic Type: Speeds 100 FPM to 150 FPM. Higher speeds available but not recommended. Several types are available.
Direct Plunger type with clyinder/plunger in the ground. Travel distance up to 50'-0".
Holeless plunger type where the cylinder/plunger is within the hoistway. Travel distance up to 21'-0", but requires additional overhead height above top landing or additional pit below bottom landing from that of the direct plunger.
Roped Holeless type which is similar to the holeless except the elevator is suspended on hoist cables that are wrapped around a sheave mounted to the top of the plunger. Travel distanceup to 70 to 80 feet and a standard overheadheight and pit depth as that for the direct plunger type. Additional hoistway width is required from that of the standard direct plunger type.
Traction Type: Speeds from 200 FPM to 2000 FPM. Higher speeds available for special high rise applications.
Gearded Traction type utilizes a machine with a motor that turns a worm and gear (or helical gear assembly) to transmit motion to a drive sheave. Typically utilized for medium rise buildings from 4 stories to 28 stories. Speeds of 200 FPM to 450 FPM. Some manufacturers have speeds up to 500 FPM to 800 FPM for the helical geared application.
Gearless Traction type utilizes a machine where the drive sheave is mounted directly to the motor. (Gearless= No Gears). Used for high rise applications from 12 floors on up. Speed from 500 FPM to 2000 FPM or more for special high rise applications.
Machine Room-less (MRL) type is the most contemporary and requires less space and is run by a variable-speed permanent magnet motor. Its compact motor and sheave system can be built into the "bedplate" (elevator suspension at the top of the hoistway) and mounted as a unit at the top of the hoistway, thereby eliminating the machine room. Since MRLs run off of belts, no lubrication is required, so no toxic waste is generated. MRL systems vibrate less and are quieter and use significantly less energy. MRLs are suitable replacements for traditionally used Hydraulic elevator systems in low rise buildings. MRL systems equipped with regeneration (dissipation of heat & conversion to electrical energy) make cooling systems essentially unnecessary and signifcantly reduce energy costs. MRLs can be used in low, mid and high-rise buildings.
