Elevator Types

In Ground Hydraulic

This is the traditional design used for hydraulic elevators. It utilizes a single hydraulic jack installed in the ground. The hydraulic jack is located directly below the elevator car, near the center of the platform.

Advantages
- Usually the most economical solution
- Accommodates front and rear openings with any configuration
- No extensive pit or overhead clearance is required
- Easiest to install
Disadvantages
- If the hydraulic cylinder leaks oil contamination in the ground is possible.
- The hydraulic jack goes down into the ground the same distance as the travel of the elevator. Jack hole drilling can be expensive and not always possible in some conditions

In Ground Rear/Side Slung

This application is used to accommodate a side opening in addition to a front opening.

Advantages
- Accommodates front and side openings
- No extensive pit or overhead clearance is required
Disadvantages
- Since the rail and rail brackets are mounted to one wall, additional rail forces are applied
- If the hydraulic cylinder leaks oil contamination in the ground is possible
- The hydraulic jack goes down into the ground the same distance as the travel of the elevator. Jack hole drilling can be expensive and not always possible in some conditions

Twin Jack Holeless

This application utilizes two hydraulic jacks and provides maximum structural stability. The two jacks are located on each side of the elevator car.

Advantages
- No jack hole drilling is required which eliminates cost and the possibility of ground contamination
- Accommodates front and rear openings
Disadvantages
- Requires more overhead than a conventional application
- Requires a wider hoistway
- Higher material cost than a conventional application

Cantilever Roped Hydraulic

This application is a holeless design where wire ropes are utilized in conjunction with a hydraulic jack. The elevator car is lifted with a 2:1 ratio which means that for every foot that the hydraulic jack rises, the elevator car rises two feet.

Advantages
- No jack hole drilling is required which eliminates cost and the possibility of ground contamination
- Travel can be as great as 100 feet without drilling for a hydraulic jack
- Accommodates front and side openings
- No extensive pit or overhead clearance is required
Disadvantages
- Because the rail and hydraulic jack equipment is located on the side or rear of the elevator additional hoistway space is required
- Since the rail and rail brackets are mounted to one wall, additional rail forces are applied
- Greater installation time than a conventional installation

Twin Jack Roped Hydraulic

This application is a holeless design where wire ropes are utilized in conjunction with two hydraulic jacks. The elevator car is lifted with a 2:1 ratio which means that for every foot that the hydraulic jack rises, the elevator car rises two feet. The use of two jacks, one on each side of the elevator, provides maximum structural stability.

Advantages
- No jack hole drilling is required which eliminates cost and the possibility of ground contamination
- Travel can be as great as 100 feet without drilling for a hydraulic jack
- Accommodates front and side openings
- No extensive pit or overhead clearance is required
- Large platform designs and higher capacities can be accommodated
Disadvantages
- Because the rail and hydraulic jack equipment is located on the side or rear of the elevator additional hoistway space is required
- Greater installation time than a conventional installation

Traction Low Rise Geared

This application utilizes a geared machine, ropes, and a counterweight. The main guide rails are mounted on the side of the elevator car and two additional guide rails are mounted on one side or the rear for the counterweight. The geared machine is generally located above the hoistway. In a non-typical application the geared machine can be located at a lower landing next to the hoistway.

Advantages
- No risk of oil contamination
- Accommodates front and side openings
- Nearly unlimited floor travel
- Has a greater energy efficiency than hydraulic applications
- Allows for significantly greater car speeds than a hydraulic application
- Superior performance to that of a hydraulic application
Disadvantages
- Substantially higher material cost than hydraulic applications
- Greater structural considerations because the elevator is supported at the top of the hoistway

Traction Gearless

This application utilizes a gearless machine, ropes, and a counterweight. The main guide rails are mounted on the side of the elevator car and two additional guide rails are mounted on one side or the rear for the counterweight. The gearless machine is generally located above the hoistway.

Advantages
- No risk of oil contamination
- Accommodates front and side openings
- Nearly unlimited floor travel
- Has a greater efficiency than a typical geared traction application
- Superior speed and performance to that of a typical geared traction application
Disadvantages
- Substantially higher material cost than hydraulic applications
- Greater structural considerations because the elevator is supported at the top of the hoistway
- Elevator maintenance costs are generally higher

Machine Roomless

Advantages
- No risk of oil contamination
- Has a greater efficiency than a typical geared traction application
- Superior performance to that of a typical geared traction application
- Flexible elevator location and layout
- Superior building efficiency
- No machine room which allows more productive & rentable building space
Disadvantages
- Substantially higher material cost than hydraulic applications
- Elevator maintenance costs are generally higher
- Newest of all elevator technologies
- Depending on the authority having jurisdiction code issues may arise