Mechanical Layout and Details

CONVEYOR SYSTEM

A conveyor system is often the lifeline to a company’s ability to effectively

move its product in a timely fashion. The steps that a company can take to ensure
that it performs at peak capacity, include regular inspections, close monitoring of
motors and reducers, keeping key parts in stock, and proper training of personnel.
Increasing the service life of your conveyor system involves: choosing the
right conveyor type, the right system design and paying attention to regular
maintenance practices.
A conveyor system that is designed properly will last a long time with
proper maintenance. Here are six of the biggest problems to watch for in
overhead type conveyor systems including I-beam monorails, enclosed track
conveyors and power and free conveyors.

Escalators, Conveyors, and Elevators

An escalator is a moving stairway, thus it is sometimes called a moving

stairway or an electric stairway. There are two classes of escalators available – the
32 inches and 48 inches. The normal speed is 90 Ft/Min. (FPM) the 120 FPM
speed is used for express escalators. Angle of inclination is normally 30˚.

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Components of an Escalator Installation
The major components of an escalator installation are:
a. Truss is a welded steel frame which supports the moving stairway
equipment.
b. Track refers to steel angles attached to the truss on which the step rollers
are guided, thus controlling the motion of the steps.
c. Controller consists of contactors, relay and a circuit breaker.
d. Sprocket Assemblies, Chains and Machine provide the motive power for
the unit.
e. Handrail is driven by two sheaves and is powdered from the top sprocket
assembly.
f. The balustrade assembly.

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Arrangements of Escalators
There are generally two types of arrangements employed in an escalators
design.

a. Parallel Arrangement
b. Crisscross Arrangement

The crisscross arrangement is generally favored because of lower cost,

minimum floor space occupied and lower structural requirement.

Moving Walks and Ramps

Moving walks and ramps are different from moving stairways. While moving
stairways(Escalators) have the primary function of moving a large number of
people vertically, moving walk or ramp serves a dual function, that is, horizontal
transportation only, or a combined function of horizontal and vertical transportation
not only of people but also of wheeled vehicles and large parcels.

By definition, a moving walk is one with an inclination not exceeding 5

degrees, where the principal function is horizontal motion and inclined motion is
incidental to the horizontal.

A moving ramp is a device with an inclination limited to 15 degrees where

vertical motion is as important, or more so, than the horizontal component.

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ELEVATORS

An elevator or lift (in British English) is a vertical transport vehicle that

efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building. They are generally
powered by electric motors that either drive traction cables and counterweight
systems, or pump hydraulic fluid to raise a cylindrical piston.

Lifts began as simple rope or chain hoists. A lift is essentially a platform that
is either pulled or pushed up by a mechanical means. A modern day lift consists of
a cab (also called a "cage" or "car") mounted on a platform within an enclosed
space called a shaft or sometimes a "hoist way". In the past, lift drive mechanisms
were powered by steam and water hydraulic pistons. In a "traction" lift, cars are
pulled up by means of rolling steel ropes over a deeply grooved pulley, commonly
called a sheave in the industry. The weight of the car is balanced with a
counterweight. Sometimes two lifts always move synchronously in opposite
directions, and they are each other's counterweight. The friction between the ropes
and the pulley furnishes the traction which gives this type of lift its name.

Passenger Elevators
Passenger elevators are used to carry passenger traffic in buildings where
several peak periods occur each day. Residential elevators may be small enough
to only accommodate one person while some are large enough for more than a
dozen. Wheelchair, or platform lifts, a specialized type of elevator designed to
move a wheelchair 6 ft (1.8 m) or less, often can accommodate just one person in
a wheelchair at a time with a load of 1000 lb (455 kg).

The elements of an electrical elevator installation are:

1. Hoistway is the shaft or vertical passageway for the travel of the car and its
counterweights.
2. Elevator Car is a cage of light metal supported on a structural frame to the
top member of which the cables are fastened. The car is fixed on its vertical
travel in the shaft by means of rail shoes on the guide rails.
3. Cables which lift the car usually 3 to 8 in number are placed in parallel, the
weight of the car is being equally distributed over the cables which are
fastened to the top of the car by cables sockets.
4. Elevator Machine turns the sheave and thus lifts or lowers the car. In most
modern installations, the electric driving motor receives its energy from a
separate motor- generator set.
5. Machine Room is the place where the elevators machine is housed, usually
directly above the elevator shaft or hoistway.

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 6. Counterweights are rectangular blocks of cast iron stacked in one frame
which is supported at the opposite ends of the cables to which the car is
fastened.
7. Guide Rails are the vertical tracks that guide the car and its counter weight.
8. Control Equipment is a combination of push buttons contacts, relays, cams
and devices which are operated manually or automatically to initiate door
opening, starting, acceleration, leveling and stopping of the car.
9. Safety Devices include:
a. Main Brake is mounted directly on the shaft of the elevator machine.
b. Safety System is controlled by the speed governor mounted on or
near the elevator machine.
c. Electrical Final Limit Switches de-energize the traction motor and
set the main brake if the car over travels.
d. Oil or Spring Buffers are always placed in the elevators pit. Their
purpose is not to stop a falling car but to bring it to a partially
cushioned stop if it over travels the lower terminal.

Elevators Machines
Two types of elevator machines
a. Gearless Traction Machine
b. Geared Traction Machine.

Systems of Elevator Operation and Supervision

There are three systems of operation involved with elevators. These are:
a. Single Automatic Push Button Control. This is the simplest since it
handles only one call at a time, providing for an uninterrupted trip for each
call.
b. Collective Control. It is arranged to collect all waiting “up” calls on the trip
up and all waiting “Down” calls on the trip down, the control system “store”
all calls until they are answered and automatically reverses the direction of
travel at the highest and lowest calls.
c. Electronic Group Supervisory Dispatching and Control. Under this
system, the entire group or bank of cars in a given group of elevators is in
automatic operation at peak periods; and automatically shuts down
successively as the number of car passengers become very low and
electronic control system performs all commands, thus no operator is
needed.

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Kinds of Elevators
There are different kinds of elevators as to their purpose these are:
1. Freight Elevators. They are of two types.
a. General Purpose Freight Elevator
b. Light Duty Freight Elevators
c. Sidewalk Elevators
2. Dumbwaiters – they are small freight for the transport of relatively small
articles between levels.
3. Plunger Elevators. These are oil – hydraulic elevators which are raised
and lowered by means of a movable rod rigidly fixed at the bottom of the
car. The system is hydraulic and operates the same as a hydraulic jack

When choosing an elevator, prioritize safety features, consider the building's

purpose and size, evaluate load capacity and speed, assess the aesthetics and
design to match the building, and research the vendor's reliability for
maintenance and service, while also factoring in the overall cost and potential
long-term expenses.

Key factors to consider choosing elevator:

• Safety and Compliance:
Ensure the elevator meets all safety regulations and has features like emergency
alarms, fire-resistant materials, and overload protection.
• Building Purpose and Size:
Select an elevator that can accommodate the expected passenger traffic and the
building's layout.
• Load Capacity:
Choose an elevator with a load capacity that can handle the anticipated weight of
passengers and cargo.
• Speed and Efficiency:
Consider the desired travel speed and energy efficiency of the elevator system.
• Aesthetics and Design:
Select an elevator design that complements the building's style and aesthetics.
• Maintenance and Service:
Choose a vendor with a strong reputation for reliable maintenance and prompt
service.
• Cost and Financing:
Compare initial costs, potential maintenance costs, and available financing
options.
• Technological Advancements:
Explore options like smart elevator controls, destination dispatch systems, and
accessibility features.

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Standard Bed Elevators

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