Glossary

A device meant to bring a lift stuck between floors due to loss of power, to the nearest landing level in either direction and open the doors in order to allow trapped passengers to be evacuated. Such a device may use some form of internal auxiliary power source for such purpose, complying with all the safety requirements of the lift during normal run. The speed of travel is usually lower than the normal speed. On reaching the level, in case of manual door lifts, the device shall allow the door to be opened and in case of power operated door lifts the device shall automatically open the door.

The distance between the counter weight buffer striker plate and the striking surface of the counterweight buffer when the car is in level with the top terminal landing.

A buffer using oil as a medium which absorbs and dissipates the kinetic energy of the descending car or counterweight.

The oil displacing movement of the buffer plunger or piston, excluding the travel of the buffer plunger accelerating device.

A buffer which stores in a spring the kinetic energy of the descending car or counterweight.

The load required to compress the spring by an amount equal to its stroke.

The distance, the contact end of the spring can move under a compressive load until the spring is compressed solid.

A visual and audible device in the car to indicate to the attendant the lift landings from which calls have been made.

The enclosing bodywork of the lift car which comprises the sides and roof and is built upon the car platform.

An electric device, the function of which is to prevent operation of the driving machine by the normal operating device of the lift unless the car door is in the closed position.

The supporting frame or sling to which the platform of the lift car, its safety gear, guide shoes and suspension ropes are attached.

The part of the lift car which forms the floor and directly supports the load.

The part of the lift car which forms the floor and directly supports the load.

The clear vertical distance from the pit floor to the lowest structural or mechanical part, equipment or device installed beneath the car platform, except the guide shoes, rollers, safety jaw blocks and platform apron or guard located within 300 mm, measured horizontally from the sides of the car platform when the car rests on its fully compressed buffers.

The shortest vertical distance between the top of the car crosshead, or between the top of the car where no crosshead is provided, and the nearest part of the overhead structure or any other obstruction when the car floor is level with the top terminal landing.

The shortest vertical distance between any part of the counterweight structure and the nearest part of the overhead structure or any other obstruction when the car floor is level with the bottom terminal landing.

The system governing starting, stopping, direction of motion, acceleration, speed and retardation of moving member.

A control for a driving machine induction motor which is arranged to run at a single-speed.

A control for a two-speed driving machine induction motor which is arranged to run at two different synchronous speeds either by pole changing of a single motor or by two different armatures.

A system of control which is accomplished by varying resistance or reactance or both in the armature or field circuit or both of the driving machine motor.

A system of control which is accomplished by the use of an individual generator for each lift wherein the voltage applied to the driving machine motor is adjusted by varying the strength and direction of the generator field.

A system of control which is accomplished by the use of electronic devices for driving the lift motor at variable speed.

A system of speed control which is accomplished by varying the driving and braking torque by way of voltage variation of the power supply to the driving machine induction motor.

A system of speed control which is accomplished by varying the voltage and frequency of the power supply to the driving machine induction motor.

A solid-state system of speed control which is accomplished by varying the voltage and direction of the power supply to the armature of driving machine d.c. motor.

An idler pulley used to change the direction of a rope lead.

A door which slides horizontally and consists of two or more panels which open from the centre and are usually so interconnected that they move simultaneously.

A collapsible door with vertical bars mounted between the normal vertical members.

A door arrangement whereby more than one panel is used such that the panels are connected together and can slide over one another by which means the clear opening can be maximized for a given shaft width. Multi panels are used in centre opening and two speed sliding doors.

A single panel door which slides horizontally.

A door which slides horizontally and consists of two or more panels, one of which moves at twice the speed of the other.

A door which slides vertically and consists of two panels or sets of panels that move away from each other to open and are so interconnected that they move simultaneously.

A single panel door, which slides in the same plane vertically up to open.

A swinging type single panel door which is opened manually and closed by means of a door closer when released.

A device which automatically closes a manually opened door.

A power-operated device for opening and closing doors.

A lift with a car which moves in guides in a vertical direction; has a net floor area not exceeding 1 m2 , total inside height of 1.2 m, whether or not provided with fixed or removable shelves; has a capacity not exceeding 250 kg and is exclusively used for carrying materials and shall not carry any person.

A device provided to prevent simultaneous operation of both up and down relays or power contactors.

A device which combines in one unit, electrical contact and a mechanical lock jointly used for the landing and/or car doors.

A switch for bringing the car to level at slow speed in case of double speed or variable speed machines.

A mechanism forming a part of the control equipment, in certain automatic lifts, designed to operate controls which cause the lift car to stop at the required landings.

A switch or combination of switches arranged to bring the car to rest automatically at or near any pre-selected landing.

A machine in which the power is transmitted to the sheave through worm and worm wheel or spur reduction gearing.

A lift machine in which the motive power is transmitted to the driving sheave from the motor without intermediate reduction gearing and has the brake drum mounted directly on the motor shaft.

A lift designed primarily for the transport of goods, but which may carry a lift attendant or other personnel necessary for the loading or unloading of goods.

The members used to guide the movement of a lift car or counterweight in a vertical direction.

The complete assembly comprising the guide rails bracket and its fastenings.

An attachment to the car frame or counterweight for the purpose of guiding the lift car or counter weight frame.

A beam, mounted immediately below the machine room ceiling/machinery space ceiling, to which lifting tackle can be fixed for raising or lowering parts of the lift machine.

A lift normally installed in a hospital, dispensary or clinic and designed to accommodate one bed or stretcher along its depth, with sufficient space around to carry a minimum of three attendants in addition to the lift operator.

A push button fitted at a lift landing, either for calling the lift car, or for actuating the call indicator.

The hinged or sliding portion of a lift well enclosure, controlling access to a lift car at a lift landing.

A space extending from a horizontal plane 400 mm below a landing level to a plane 400 mm above the landing level.

Any mechanism which either automatically or under the control of the operator, moves the car within the levelling zone towards the landing only, and automatically stops it at the landing.

A device which corrects the car level only in case of under run of the car but will not maintain the level during loading and unloading.

A device which corrects the car level on both under run and over-run and maintains the level during loading and unloading.

A device which corrects the car level on both under run and over run but will not maintain the level during loading and unloading.

A device which corrects the car level on both under run and over run but will not maintain the level during loading and unloading.

The limited distance above or below a lift landing within which the levelling device may cause movement of the car towards the landing.

An appliance designed to transport persons or materials between two or more levels in a vertical or substantially vertical direction by means of a guided car. The word ‘elevator’ is also synonymously used for ‘lift’.

The load carrying unit with its floor or platform, enclosing bodywork, and car door.

That portion of a building or structure used for discharge of passengers or goods or both into or from a lift car.

The part of the lift equipment comprising the motor and the control gear therewith, reduction gear (if any), brake(s) and winding drum or sheave, by which the lift car is raised or lowered.

The space in the lift well below the level of the lowest lift landing served.

The unobstructed space within an enclosure provided for the vertical movement of the lift car(s) and any counterweight(s), including the lift pit and the space for top clearance.

Any structure which separates the lift well from its surroundings.

The method of actuating the control of lift machine.

A method of operation in which by a momentary activation of a call button the lift car is set in motion and caused to stop automatically at any required lift landing.

Automatic operation by means of one button in the car for each landing level served and one button at each landing, wherein all stops registered by the momentary actuation of landing or car buttons are made irrespective of the number of buttons actuated or of the sequence in which the buttons are actuated. With this type of operation, the car stops at all landings for which buttons have been actuated making the stops in the order in which the landings are reached after the buttons have been actuated but irrespective of its direction of travel.

Automatic operation by means of one button in the car for each landing level served and one button at each landing so arranged that if any car or landing button has been actuated, the actuation of any other car or landing operation button will have no effect on the movement of the car until the response to the first button has been completed.

Automatic operation of two or more non-attendant lifts equipped with power-operated car and landing doors. The operation of the cars is coordinated by a supervisory operation system including automatic dispatching means whereby selected cars at designated dispatching points automatically close their doors and proceed on their trips in a regulated manner.

Automatic operation of two or more non-attendant lifts equipped with power-operated car and landing doors. The operation of the cars is coordinated by a supervisory operation system including automatic dispatching means whereby selected cars at designated dispatching points automatically close their doors and proceed on their trips in a regulated manner. Typically, it includes one button in each car for each floor served and up and down buttons at each landing (single buttons at terminal landings). The stops set up by the momentary actuation of the car buttons are made automatically in succession as a car reaches the corresponding landings irrespective of its direction of travel or the sequence in which the buttons are actuated. The stops set up by the momentary actuation of the landing buttons may be accomplished by any lift in the group, and are made automatically by the first available car that approaches the landing in the corresponding direction.

Method of operation by which the movement of lift car is directly under the operation of the attendant by means of a handle.

Same as collective operation, except that the closing of the door is initiated by the attendant.

Operation by means of buttons or switches in the car and at the landings any of which may be used to control the movement of the car as long as the button or switch is manually pressed in the actuating position.

A car switch, push button or other device employed to actuate the control.

The members, usually of steel, which immediately support the lift equipment at the top of the lift well.

An automatic device which brings the lift car and/or counter weight to rest by operating the safety gear in the event of the speed in a descending direction exceeding a predetermined limit.

A device which indicates on the lift landing or in the lift car or both, the position of the car in the lift well or the direction in which the lift car is travelling or both.

The maximum load for which the lift car is designed and installed to carry safely at its rated speed.

The mean of the maximum speed attained by the lift car in the upward and downward direction with rated load in the lift car.

A device which prevents the landing doors from being unlocked by the lift car unless it stops at a landing.

A system of roping where, in order to obtain a multiplying factor from the machine to the car, multiple falls of rope are run around sheave on the car or counterweight or both. It includes roping arrangement of 2 to 1, 3 to 1, etc.

A mechanical device attached to the lift car or counterweight or both, designed to stop and to hold the car or counterweight to the guides in the event of free fall, or, if governor operated, of over-speed in the descending direction. Any anticipated impact force shall be added in the general drawing or layout drawing.

A passenger cum goods lift meant to carry goods along with people.

A rope wheel, the rim of which is grooved to receive the suspension ropes but to which the ropes are not rigidly attached and by means of which power is transmitted from the lift machine to the suspension ropes.

Switch provided to open the control circuit in case of slackening of rope(s).

The ropes by which the car and counter weight are suspended.

A switch when actuated shall compulsorily cut off the high speed and switch on the circuitry to run the lift in levelling speed before reaching on terminal landings.

Switch for cutting off all the energizing current in case of car travelling beyond the top or bottom terminal landing or a switch that cuts off the energizing current so as to bring the car to a stop at the top or bottom terminal landing level in the respective direction of travel.

A device which automatically causes the power to be removed from an electric lift driving machine motor and brake, independent of the functioning of the normal terminal stopping device, the operating device or any emergency terminal stopping device, after the car has passed a terminal landing.

The vertical distance from the level of the top lift landing to the bottom of the machine room slab.

The vertical distance between the bottommost and topmost lift landings served by the lift

Maximum angle to the horizontal in which the steps, the pallets or the belt move.

Fail safe brake, which is used to stop an escalators/moving walk under all normal conditions or under certain fault conditions only, typically situated on one side of the main drive shaft.

Part of the escalator/moving walk which ensures the user’s safety by providing stability, protecting from moving parts and supporting the handrail.

Transverse member of the balustrade which meets the handrail guidance profile and which forms the top cover of the balustrade.

Load on the step/pallet/belt for which the brake system is designed to stop the escalator/moving walk.

Pronged section at each landing that meshes with the grooves of the steps

Small flush light panels located in the skirt panels on both sides of the escalators/moving walk unit at both upper and lower landing and immediately adjacent to the comb teeth to illuminate the comb and step tread and assist passengers boarding and alighting the escalators/moving walk.

Platform at each landing to which the combs are attached.

Switch in safety circuit that opens when excessive force is detected in vertical and/or horizontal direction on the comb or comb plate of escalators/moving walk.

Series of teeth which ride the grooves of the escalators/moving walk step tread as the step passes underneath and are designed so as to allow them to break off if a wedging action should occur at their point of contact with step tread.

Auxiliary mechanically automatically operated brake, which will stop a fully loaded escalator, if the drive chain breaks.

Separate stop button usually located in adjacent walls, columns or within the balustrade providing the facility to stop the escalator/moving walk, in the event of emergency.

Means of access to equipment areas and other spaces pertaining to an escalators/moving walk installation such as machinery spaces etc. And with access usually restricted to authorized persons.

Part of a safety circuit consisting of safety switches and/or fail safe circuits.

Power-driven, inclined, continuous moving stairway used for raising or lowering persons in which the user carrying surface (for example, steps) remains horizontal.

Part of the exterior side of the enclosure of an escalator or moving walk.

Power-driven moving rail for persons to grip while using the escalator or moving walk.

Panel located between the skirting or lower inner decking and the handrail guidance profile or balustrade decking.

Profile that connects the skirting with the interior panel when they do not meet at a common point.

Profile that connects the exterior panels with the interior panel.

Escalator or moving walk machine(s) mechanisms and associated equipment.

Space(s) inside or outside of the truss where the machinery as a whole or in parts is placed.

Power-driven installation for the conveyance of persons in which the surface carrying the users remains parallel to its direction of motion and is uninterrupted (for example, pallets, belt).

End of the balustrade.

Speed in the direction of the moving steps, pallets or the belt stated by the manufacturer for which the escalator or moving walk has been designed, without load on the steps/pallets/belt at nominal frequency and nominal voltage.

Recess in the floor to receive that portion of the lower landing and the lower end of the incline section which occurs below the floor line when there is no floor under the escalator such as in a basement.

Load which the equipment is designed to move.

Vertical distance between the upper and lower finished floor levels.

Part of the electric safety system consisting of electrical safety devices.

Vertical part of the balustrade interfacing with the steps, pallets or belt.

Device to minimize the risk of trapping between the step and the skirting.

Values of acceleration or vibration within defined boundaries or limits, in which 95 percent of observed values fall. This value is used statistically to estimate typical levels.

Rate of change of z-axis velocity, attributed to lift motion control.

Orthogonal reference axes for the measurements as follows: X axis – axis perpendicular to the plane of the car front door (that is back to front) Y axis – axis perpendicular to X and Z (that is side to side) Z axis – axis perpendicular to the car floor (that is vertical)

Average A-weighted sound pressure level, using frequency weighting A and time weighing ‘fast’, determined within defined boundaries.

Rate of change of z-axis acceleration, attributed to lift motion control. It is expressed in metre per second cube (m/s3).

Sound levels in the car, and vibration of the car floor, relevant to passenger perception, associated with lift motion.

Sum of the magnitudes of two peaks of opposite sign separated by a single zero crossing.

A-weighted sound pressure level measured in decibels (dB).

Ten times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the square of the sound pressure measured (pA) to the square of the reference sound pressure (p0).

Value of velocity within defined boundaries or limits, in which 95 percent of observed values fall. This value is used statistically to estimate typical levels.

Rate of change of z-axis displacement, attributed to lift motion control.

Variation with time of the magnitude of acceleration, when the magnitude is alternately greater and smaller than a reference level. It is expressed in m/s2.