The terms below appear in builder's work drawings, lift technical passports and maintenance contracts. We have collected the ones clients ask about most often and explained them in plain language.
Shaft and car design
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lift shaft (hoistway) | The vertical space in which the car and counterweight travel |
| Pit | The recess below the lowest landing level - it houses the buffers and the tensioning device |
| Headroom (top floor height) | The distance from the top landing level to the ceiling slab above the shaft |
| Car depth | The distance between the inner surfaces of the car walls, measured perpendicular to the car width |
| Through-type car | A car with two or more entrances; emergency doors do not count |
| Counterweight | A weight that balances the car and reduces the load on the drive |
| Guide rails | Rigid vertical rails along which the car and counterweight travel |
Drive and control
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Traction machine | An electromechanical unit with a motor that provides the traction force to move the car |
| Control system | The set of devices that make the lift operate |
| Combined control | Start commands are given both from the car and from the landings |
| Group control | A system that coordinates the operation of two or more lifts |
| Inspection mode | Operating the lift from the car roof during inspection and repair of equipment in the shaft |
| Variable frequency control | Smooth control of motor speed - a softer start and more accurate stopping |
Safety
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Safety gear | A device that brakes, stops and holds the car or counterweight on the guide rails |
| Overspeed governor | Trips when the car overspeeds and actuates the safety gear |
| Buffers | Shock absorbers in the pit that cushion the impact if the car travels past its end position |
| Stopping accuracy | The difference between the car floor level and the landing floor level after the car stops |
Operation
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | A set of activities that keep the lift in good working order during operation, downtime, storage and transport |
| Repair | Restoring damaged or worn components to working condition |
| Reconstruction | Changing the kinematic layout, rated load or speed of a lift that is already in service |
| Designated service life | The period after which an expert assessment is required - usually 25 years |
| Remote monitoring | A system for communicating with the car and monitoring equipment status from the dispatcher's console |
Lift types by purpose
- Passenger lift - designed to carry people up and down.
- Goods lift with attendant - carries goods together with an accompanying person.
- Goods lift with monorail - the car has mountings for an overhead track.
- Push-type goods lift - the car is raised by a force acting on it from below.
- Dumbwaiter (service lift) - serves designated floors; people do not enter the car.
- Panoramic lift (glass elevator) - has a transparent car and shaft that give a view of the surroundings.