Understanding Specialized Equipment: Types and Forms of Elevators

By structural characteristics

• Lift (elevator), refers to a permanent transportation device serving several specified floors within a building, with the car move along at least two rigid rails that are vertically aligned or have an inclination angle to the vertical line of less than 15°.

• Escalator, refers to fixed power-driven equipment with circulating steps, used for transporting passengers in an inclined direction either upwards or downwards.

• Passenger conveyor, refers to fixed power-driven equipment with a circulating (board or belt) walkway, used for transporting passengers horizontally or with an inclination angle of no more than 12°.

By driving method

• Traction lift, refers to an elevator driven by the friction between the traction machine and the wire ropes.

• Positive lift, refers to an elevator driven without friction, where the drive is achieved by chains or wire ropes suspension.

• Hydraulic lift, is powered by a hydraulic system that pumps fluid into a cylinder, causing a plunger piston to move in a linear motion. This motion drives the car either directly or indirectly through wire ropes.

By application

• Passenger elevators: Designed for transporting passengers.

• Freight elevators (passenger freight elevators): Primarily used for transporting goods, but also allows for accompanying personnel.

• Dual-purpose elevator: Mainly designed for passenger transport, but capable of carrying goods with distributed loads.

• Hospital bed elevator (medical elevator): Used for transporting hospital beds (including patients) and related medical equipment.

• Residential elevator: Used in residential buildings for public use.

• Dumbwaiter: A fixed lifting device that serves specific floors. It includes a small car, but due to its design and limited size, entry by personnel is strictly prohibited. (Special purpose).

• Explosion-proof elevator: An elevator designed with appropriate measures for use in explosive hazard areas (special purpose).

• Fireman elevator: Primarily installed for passenger use, but equipped with additional protections, controls, and signal systems to  to enable operation under the direct control of firefighting services [special purpose].

• Observation elevator: An elevator with a transparent side on at least one side of the shaft and the car wall, allowing passengers to view outside scenes.

• Home use elevator: Installed in a private residence and used only by members of a single household. It can also be installed in a multi-family building to provide dedicated access for a single household to their residence unit.

IFE's elevator products include residential elevators, observation elevators, high-speed elevators, home elevators, medical elevators, freight elevators, and escalators. As a professional company focused on elevators and escalators, we always prioritize quality because every elevator embodies our commitment to excellence.