instantaneous safety gear -The instantaneous safety gear is designed to stop the lift car within a short distance. It is not used on lifts with speeds greater than onemetre per second as s sudden stop from higher speeds would cause severe shock to passengers.

Automobile elevator — This is a type of elevator that's car is adjusted to carry automobiles Elevator Lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people or things. Elevator hoistway An opening for the elevator, in the floor of a wareroom. The car and the counterweight –if there is any- stands in this opening.

Lift Shaft - A vertical shaft in a building to permit the passage of an elevator from floor to floor

Rated speed - Preset speed level for that elevator

Rated Load - Preset load level for that elevator

Counterweight - Balancing weight which equal the weight of the elevator plus 40% of its maximum rated load. This counter-weight reduces the weight the motor must lift and ensures that the elevator cannot fall out of control while the cable is intact. Safety Gear and Overspeed Governor: On traction lifts there is a device called a "Safety Gear" that is fitted to the bottom of the lift car frame. This device connects to another device commonly known as a "Overspeed Governor." There is a separate rope from the main lifting ropes that connects the safety gear to the overspeed governor. The Overspeed Governor usually has a pulley which the safety rope runs on. The overspeed governor usually has an arm type latch. If the device spins too quickly, the arm is forced out from the middle of the unit by centrifugal force. This locks the pulley, which stops the rope. Once the rope stops and the car is still moving down, the rope pulls up on the safety gear causing a wedge type friction roller or a solid plate to clamp very tightly on the lift running guides. This causes the lift to stop suddenly ("instantaneous" safety gear) or in a progressive slowing motion ("progressive" safety gear). There are many different versions of these but they all work in the same way.

AC - Alternating Current (a type of power for an elevator machine).

Acceleration - A period which the elevator moves at an ever increasing rate of speed, usually referring to that period from standstill to full speed.

AC System - A control system for an AC motor which has a single synchronous speed or two different synchronous speeds.

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) - The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was signed into law by President Bush on July 26, 1990. The ADA is designed to give civil rights protection to people with disabilities, similar to those granted by the Civil Rights Act.

Babbitt - A soft metal used to fill scratching of a plunger surface. It is also used to secure hoist ropes to shackles.

Baked Enamel - An enamel paint that must be baked to adhere to the surface.

Balustrade - The side of an escalator extending above the steps. It includes skirt panels, interior panels, decks and handrails.

Bolster - The bottom member of a sling for a hydraulic elevator.

Brace Rod - Supports for the outer corners of the platform, each of which tie to upper portions of the stile.

Brackets (Guide Rail) - The device used to attach the rails firmly to the hoistway.

Brake - An electro-mechanical device used to prevent the elevator from moving when the car is at rest and no power is applied to the hoist motor. On some types of control, it also stops the elevator when power is removed from the hoist motor with a spring-loaded clamping device that holds the elevator car when the machine is turned off.

Brake Drum - A round, machined surface on the motor shaft, which the brake clamps.

Brake shoe - Moving member(s) of a brake, lined with friction material which, when in contact with the brake drum, holds the elevator at floor level. On some types of control, it will stop the elevator when power is removed from the hoist motor.

Brush - A device, usually of carbon or graphite composition, used to connect a circuit with the rotating or moving portion of a DC motor, generator or other electrical device. It carries current to and from the non-moving parts of connections.

Buffer -A device designed to stop a descending car or counterweight beyond its normal limit of travel by storing or by absorbing and dissipating the kinetic energy of the car or counterweight.

Cab - The decorative room in which people ride in a passenger elevator.

Cable (Rope) - Usually 4 to 6 in number, it is used to support the car and (passing over the drive sheave to the counterweight) pull the car.

Cable Wrap - That amount of the drive sheave actually in contact

Callback - In contract elevator service, a customer request which requires a check of an elevator other than the regularly scheduled maintenance.

Call Cancellation - The circuitry that clears a registered call using selector switching, hoistway switches, or moveable brushes or contacts.

Capacity - Indicates the amount of weight a given elevator is able to support safely.

Car (elevator) - The load-carrying unit, including its platform, frame, enclosure, and car door or gate.

Car Counterweight - A set of weights roped directly to the elevator car of a winding-drum type installation. In practice, this weight is equal to approximately 70 percent of the car weight.

Car Operating Panel - A panel mounted in the car containing the car operating controls, such as call register buttons, door open and close, alarm, emergency stop and whatever other buttons or key switches are required for operating.

Car Operating Station - A panel mounted in the car containing the car operating controls, such as call register buttons, door open and close, alarm emergency stop and whatever other buttons or key switches are required for operation.

Car Riding Lantern - A fixture mounted in either the entry column, soffit or back wall which shows the direction of car travel.

Car Top Inspection Station - A control panel on top of an elevator car which, when activated, removes the car from normal service and allows the car to run at inspection speed from the car top station only.

Center Opening Doors - A door type, which consists of two horizontal sliding panels, which move in opposite directions.

Clutch -A device used in elevator power door operation to engage the car door to the landing door by a grasping and holding movement.

Code - A system of regulations pertaining to the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators and moving walks. The most widely recognized and used is ANSI A-17.1 sponsored by the National Bureau of Standards, The American Institute of Architects, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and published by ASME. It has been adopted by many states. Some states and cities have written their own codes, most of which are based on the ANSI A-17.1. In California, the governing code is Title 8 and 24.

Compensating Chain -A welded-link chain used for hoist rope weight compensation. One end of the chain is attached to the underside of the elevator car, and the other end is fastened to the counterweight or stationary fastening in the hoistway.

Compounding Sheave - A pulley located on the car, and on the counterweight, under which the hoist cables run to double the capacity and reduce the speed of an elevator.

Control Valve - The device, which, on hydraulic elevators, controls the oil flow to and from the jack.

Controller - A device, or group of devices, which serves to control, in a predetermined manner, the apparatus to which it is connected. An electrical panel, which uses electro mechanical relays or a computer to control the operation of an elevator.

Conventional Car Station - A car-operating panel with a faceplate that is mounted in a fixed (non-swing) panel or sidewall.

Cable (Rope) - Usually 4 to 6 in number, it is used to support the car and (passing over the drive sheave to the counterweight) pull the car.

Cable Wrap - That amount of the drive sheave actually in contact

Callback - In contract elevator service, a customer request which requires a check of an elevator other than the regularly scheduled maintenance.

Call Cancellation - The circuitry that clears a registered call using selector switching, hoistway switches, or moveable brushes or contacts.

Capacity - Indicates the amount of weight a given elevator is able to support safely.

Car (elevator) - The load-carrying unit, including its platform, frame, enclosure, and car door or gate.

Car Counterweight - A set of weights roped directly to the elevator car of a winding-drum type installation. In practice, this weight is equal to approximately 70 percent of the car weight.

Car Operating Panel - A panel mounted in the car containing the car operating controls, such as call register buttons, door open and close, alarm, emergency stop and whatever other buttons or key switches are required for operating.

Car Operating Station - A panel mounted in the car containing the car operating controls, such as call register buttons, door open and close, alarm emergency stop and whatever other buttons or key switches are required for operation.

Car Riding Lantern - A fixture mounted in either the entry column, soffit or back wall which shows the direction of car travel.

Car Top Inspection Station - A control panel on top of an elevator car which, when activated, removes the car from normal service and allows the car to run at inspection speed from the car top station only.

Center Opening Doors - A door type, which consists of two horizontal sliding panels, which move in opposite directions.

Clutch - A device used in elevator power door operation to engage the car door to the landing door by a grasping and holding movement.

Code - A system of regulations pertaining to the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators and moving walks. The most widely recognized and used is ANSI A-17.1 sponsored by the National Bureau of Standards, The American Institute of Architects, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and published by ASME. It has been adopted by many states. Some states and cities have written their own codes, most of which are based on the ANSI A-17.1. In California, the governing code is Title 8 and 24.

Compensating Chain - A welded-link chain used for hoist rope weight compensation. One end of the chain is attached to the underside of the elevator car, and the other end is fastened to the counterweight or stationary fastening in the hoistway.

Control Valve - The device, which, on hydraulic elevators, controls the oil flow to and from the jack.

Controller - A device, or group of devices, which serves to control, in a predetermined manner, the apparatus to which it is connected. An electrical panel

Corner Post - A method of mounting rails in opposite corners of the hoistway, usually to accommodate doors in adjacent hoistway walls.

Counterweight -A weight which counterbalances the weight of an elevator car plus approximately 40% of the capacity load.

Crosshead - (1) The upper member of the car frame. (2) The traveling member of a selector.

Cylinder -The outermost lining of a hydraulic jack.

DC - Direct Current (a source of power for an elevator machine).

Deceleration - A period during which the elevator moves at an ever decreasing rate of speed, usually referring to that period from full speed to leveling speed.

Deflector Sheave - A pulley, aligned with the drive sheave, which provides a path for the cables to drop straight to the counterweight.

Direct Current (DC) - An electric current flowing in one direction only and substantially constant in value.

Dispatch Control System - A system that controls two or more elevators by governing assignments in response to hall calls. Also controls zoning, peak traffic demands and parking.

Door Gibs - Devices at the bottom of horizontal sliding door panels, which stick into sill grooves and eliminate door panels swinging in or out.

Door Hanger -A rolling assembly fastened to the top of a door panel which supports and allows horizontal sliding movement of the door panel. The door track on which the hanger rolls is part of the door hanger assembly.

Door Lock - Any type of mechanical lock designed to prevent the opening of a hoistway door from the landing side.

Door Open Time -Length of time doors stand open after reaching full open position, until doors start to close provided no signal is received to shorten door time.

Door Operator -A motor-driven device mounted on the car which opens and closes the car doors.

Door Panel - A portion of the door or gate, which covers the opening and moves to uncover the opening.

Door Protective Device -Any type of device used with automatic power operated doors that detects obstructions to the normal closing of the elevator doors and either causes the doors to reopen or go into some other mode of operation, such as nudging. A safe edge, a safety astragal, a photoelectric device (safe ray), and electrostatic field device are examples of door protective devices.

Door Sill - The threshold of a door opening with grooves to guide the bottom of the car door.

Door Track -A rail which accepts the rolling assembly of the door hanger and allows the horizontal movement required to open and close the doors. The door track is a part of the door hanger assembly.

Drip Ring - A flange on the guide used to collect oil from the plunger so it can drain into a container.

Drive - The pulley or wheel, grooved for each hoist cable, which drives the elevator up or down.

Drive Machine - The power unit which applies the energy necessary to raise and lower an elevator, material lift, or dumb waiter car or to drive an escalator, an inclined lift or a moving walk.

Drive Sheave - The grooved wheel of a traction-type hoisting machine over which the hoist ropes pass, and by which motion is imparted to the car and counterweight by the hoist ropes.

Enclosure - The ruggedly built room on a freight elevator in which the material being carried is located.

Encoder -A device used to convert an analog signal into digital information.

End Post - A method of mounting the two stacks of rails on a common wall at the end of the hoistway.

Escalator - A power-driven, inclined, continuous stairway used for raising or lowering passengers.

Faceplate - The decorative cover which houses control devices such as position indicators, pushbuttons, key switches, etc.

Feedback -The transmission of current or voltage from the output of a circuit or device back to the input, where it interacts with the input signal to modify the operation of the circuit or device.

Firefighter's Service - A device or group of devices which provide (1) a signal for immediate recall to a designated landing in order to remove cars from normal use, and (2) to permit special operation for firefighters or other authorized emergency personnel.

Fishplate - A steel plate, which spans the joint where two lengths of guide rails in a stack meet.

Floor Selector -A mechanical, electrical, or microprocessor driven device which initiates and/or controls some or all of these functions: establish direction of travel, acceleration, deceleration, leveling, stopping, call cancellation, door operation, position indicators, and hall lanterns for an individual elevator.

FPM - Feet per minute.

Freight Elevator - An elevator used to carry material rather than people and provided with vertical bi-parting doors.

Full Speed - The contract speed at which the elevator should run.

Gates (Double Blade Gate) - A vertical sliding, counterweighted device used to provide entrance protection on freight elevators. It consists of two panels usually made of expanded metal. The blades telescope to reduce overhead space requirements.

Gear -A toothed wheel designed to mesh or engage with another wheel or part for transmitting or changing motion.

Geared Traction Machine - A traction machine in which the power from the motor is transmitted to the drive sheave through reduction gears.

Gearless Traction Machine - A type of elevator hoisting machine on which the hoist ropes pass over a traction drive sheave, which is an integral part of the armature. Called gearless because no geared reduction unit is utilized.

Generator - An electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy (usually direct current).

Governor - (1) A mechanical speed control mechanism. For elevator, it is a wire rope driven centrifugal device used to stop and hold the movement of its driving rope. This initiates the activation of the car safety device. It opens a switch, which cuts off power to the drive motor and brake if the car travels at a preset overspeed in the down direction. Some types of governors will also open the governor switch and cut off power to the drive motor and brake if the car overspeeds in the up direction. (2) On escalators, a direct-driven centrifugal device which, when activated by overspeed, cuts off power to the drive motor and service brake.

Governor Rope - A wire rope attached to an elevator car frame that drives the governor and, when stopped by the governor, initiates setting of the car safety.

Groove - "Vee" - A groove in the drive sheave which produces a pinching or wedging effect on the cable, used on gearless machines. "U" - A groove in the drive sheave, which relies on friction between groove and cable, used on gearless machines.

Group Supervisory Control System -A system that controls two or more elevators by governing assignments in response to hall calls. Also controls zoning, peak traffic demands and parking.

Guide - An assembly, bolted to the upper end of the cylinder, which centers the plunger in the cylinder.

Guide Rails - Steel T-, round, or formed sections with guiding surfaces installed vertically in a hoistway to guide and direct the course of travel of an elevator car and elevator counterweights.

Guide Shoes - (1) Devices used mainly to guide the car and counterweight along the path of the guide rails. They also assure that the lateral motion of the car and counterweight is kept at a minimum as they travel along the guide rails. (2) Guiding projections mounted on the bottom edge of horizontally sliding doors or gates, or on the sides of vertically sliding doors or gates to guide them.

Hall Call - A call registered at a landing button or fixture.

Hall Lantern - A corridor mounted signal light indicating that an elevator car is approaching that landing and the direction in which the car is to travel.

Hall Station - Device located in hall usually near the elevator to be used when calling the elevator to that floor.

Handrail - (1) The moving handhold provided for escalator passengers, which moves over the top of the balustrade and newels. (2) A railing serving as a support.

Handrail Guard - A guard, usually made of rubber, that fits over the outside of the handrail at a point where the handrail enters or leaves the balustrade. It is designed to keep a person's fingers out of the handrail opening.

Hanger Rollers - Rollers (two per panel) from which horizontal door panels are suspended.

Hitch Plate - A plate (on traction elevators) clamped to the underside of the crosshead and to which the shackles are attached.

Hoist Rope -The wire ropes used to raise and lower an elevator car.

Hoistway -The space enclosed by fireproof walls and elevator doors for the travel of one or more elevators, dumbwaiters or material lifts. It includes the pit and terminates at the underside of the overhead machinery space floor or grating, or at the underside of the roof where the hoistway does not penetrate the roof. (Hoistway is sometimes called "hatchway" or "hatch".)

Hoistway Enclosure - The fixed structure, consisting of vertical walls or partitions, which isolates the hoistway from all other areas or from an adjacent hoistway, and in which the hoistway doors and door assemblies are installed.

Hydraulic - One of two methods by which an elevator is moved, whereby the elevator is "pushed" up by oil.

Hydraulic Elevator - A power elevator where the energy is applied, by means of a liquid under pressure, in a cylinder equipped with a plunger or piston. by an elevator constructor to operate the car at inspection speed. It provides a means of operating an elevator from on top of the car at slow speed during adjustment, inspection, maintenance and repair.

Torque - (1) A force that produces or tends to produce rotation or torsion. The pressure, measured in foot pounds, exerted by a rotating shaft. (2) The turning power of a motor.
(3) The turning effort a brake is designed to stop.

Traction Machine - An electric machine in which the friction between the hoist ropes and the machine sheave is used to move the elevator car with the cable.

Traction - One of two methods by which the elevator is moved, whereby the elevator is "pulled" up by cables.

Traveling Cable - A cable made up of electric conductors, which provides electrical connection between an elevator or dumbwaiter car, or material lift, and a fixed outlet in the hoistway or machine room.

Two Speed AC - A type of traction machine powered by an AC-driven motor (actually 2 motors built into one), which has 2 distinct speeds.

Two Speed Door - A type of door consisting of two horizontal sliding panels, which move, in the same direction.

Variable Voltage - A method of controlling a DC-driven machine, which produces many different speeds.

Worm -A shaft on which a spiral groove is cut.

Worm Gear - The gear wheel which engages the revolving worm. The rotating motion of the worm is transmitted through the worm gear to the drive sheave.