Breakdowns are a common part that can hinder the daily functioning of your elevators, and rarely these breakdowns are major because modern elevator technology is made up of extremely durable components, and even rarer is a chance where elevator break down can result in a catastrophic event, still there is a chance of it happening. Hence it is always recommended for people who work with elevators or people who have elevators at their residence to know about elevator components that make your elevators accident-proof. So without further ado here are must-have elevator spare parts to ensure your elevator safety.

Elevator Brakes

Riding an elevator before 1853 used to be a daring task until Elisha Otis from the famous Otis company came to the rescue, by inventing the very first elevator brakes. The first-generation elevator brakes kept the elevator from free-falling in case of the hoisting rope breaks. If the rope became slack, the safety brake, a massive leaf spring that snapped into notches cut into the rails that supported the elevator on opposing sides of the elevator vehicle, was activated.

On the other hand, modern elevator breaks are much more badass because they can take a lot of punishment and use modern science in the form of electromagnetic braking. These kinds of brakes are enabled automatically in case of any major breakdown, hence bringing the elevator to an immediate halt. Furthermore, there are more automatic breaks present on the top and the bottom of the elevator shaft, reinforced by the shock absorbers, hence increasing the survival chances of elevator accidents.

Overspeed Governors

Elevator Overspeed governors are safety devices that limit the speed of the elevator. They work in tandem with the elevator brakes. The majority of governor systems are based on a sheave at the elevator shaft’s top. The governor rope is looped around the governor sheave as well as a weighted sheave at the shaft’s bottom. The rope is likewise connected to the elevator car and moves up and down with it. The governor accelerates in tandem with the car. As the governor’s rotating movement increases, centrifugal force pushes the flyweights outward and against the spring. The centrifugal force will be powerful enough to push the ends of the flyweights to the governor’s outer edges if the elevator car falls quickly enough.

The hooked ends of the flyweights catch hold of ratchets connected to a stationary cylinder enclosing the sheave while spinning in this configuration. This is effective in stopping the governor.

Door Sensors

The elevator door sensor controls the motion of elevator doors, the elevator doors consist of infra-red sensors that scan infra rays in the surrounding of the doors. 

If a person or thing blocks the entryway and the sensors detect the obstruction, the door will reopen and remain open until the person or object goes away or the object is removed from the doorway. 

If the doors are left open for longer than the specified time, the elevator will enter nudge mode, slowly closing the doors with a continuous beep. Some door sensors (such as the WECO) have LED light lamps built into them that signal door movement, usually flashing green for door opening and flashing red for door closing.

Whilst some door sensors used by Otis, Schindler, and Kone produce a continuous beep, blocking the entryway.

Pit Buffers

Pit buffers are shock absorbers that are attached at the end of the elevator shaft. A buffer is a device that softens the force with which the elevator goes into the pit during an emergency. It is designed to stop a falling car or counterweight beyond its normal limit. In terms of the rated speed, they can be polyurethane, spring, or oil.  

Polyurethane buffer

For lifts with a rated speed of less than 1 m/sec, energy accumulation polyurethane buffers with non-linear properties are employed.

Spring buffer

A spring buffer is one of the most common types of buffer found in hydraulic elevators or in elevators that travel at less than 200 feet per minute. These devices are usually found in the elevator pit and are used to cushion the elevator.

Oil buffer

Another form of buffer typically seen on traction elevators with speeds more than 200 feet per minute is an oil buffer. This sort of buffer cushions the descending car or counterweight with a combination of oil and springs and is most usually found in the elevator pit; however, buffers are prone to flooding due to their location in the pit.

To ensure that they maintain their proper performance parameters, they must be cleaned and painted regularly. Oil buffers should also have their oil checked and changed if they have been flooded.

These are the spare parts that make your elevator’s accident prove and safe. EPANZ (elevator parts Australia and New Zealand) can source these parts from the top brands globally, at the most affordable rates, just visit our product and catalogue page and please contact us for enquiries.