I live on the 5th floor of my building. I have 2 options to get up on my floor, an elevator, and the stairs; guess which one do I use every time, the elevator. It saves me time and energy to go up and down my building.
Imagine a world without elevators (lift), it's going to be a place without tall buildings (skyscrapers). There won't be innovation and we will not even dream of it.
What is an elevator or lift
Elevator, also called lift, a car that moves in a vertical shaft to carry passengers or freight between the levels of a multistory building. Most modern elevators are propelled by electric motors, with the aid of a counterweight, through a system of cables and sheaves (pulleys).
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Let's dig some historical facts about elevators
The modern-day elevators were developed during the 1800s but our ancestors are already using this technology in the 3rd century BC. They are called "Hoist" which is powered by humans, animals, and also water-driven mechanisms. Below is a graphical representation of the ancient version of an elevator.
Among the many modern elevator brands, Otis is probably the most recognizable. It was in 1852 when Elisha Graves Otis introduce a hydraulic elevator with safety as the main consideration. The earlier versions of elevators were used in conveying materials in factories, warehouses, and mines.
Today, Otis Elevator Factory standardized and modernized elevator production and is currently the largest in the world.
How does an elevator
For a passenger, as you enter the elevator you will be given the option to select which floor you will head and then will be provided with options to close/open/hold the door through the buttons on the panel. It's simple and easy to learn.
The magic happens behind the scene. Here's a diagram of an elevator to understand what happens when you push the button.
The modern electric elevator simply works as a pulley system. The car is suspended through a series of ropes which is then attached to the motor on top of the shaft. The motor will only function in 2 ways, to hoist the car up and down. On the other end of the rope is a counterweight. The approximate weight of the counterweight is equivalent to the weight of the car and 50% of the passenger's weight. This is to prevent the motor from working too hard hoisting the car with the passengers up the building.
To complete my #blurtech post, let's view some clips showing the motor in action: