Understanding More About A Cargo Lift

By Patrick Hughes


Lifts refer to systems that are installed permanently in buildings to serve for transport of goods such as cars, animal, furniture, household appliances, and equipment. They usually move in a perpendicular direction or they may move at an angle that is not more than 15 degrees from the perpendicular. Cargo lift systems move upwards and downwards.

All lifts have a travel course that comprises three sections, that is, the travel, headroom, and the pit. The headroom is the part of the shaft that is located between the position of the highest stop of the setup and the ceiling of the shaft. This space holds the lift into position well and facilitates the lighting and boarding of passengers. The upper pulleys which power the lift are held into position by this part.

The length the cabin travels is referred to as the length of travel. This is located between the position of the highest and the lowest. The cabin moves along the travel as it carries the cargo. The pit is the lowest potion of the shaft and it is also a representation of the lowest stop in the entire system. It is also made up of pulleys and the mechanism which powers the whole system and those placed at the highest stop.

All luggage elevators are normally made to carry a certain maximum weight of the load. Such a load is known as the rated load and the units of measurement are in kilograms. Loading the cabin according the rated load is very vital as it helps avoid overloading. Exceeding the caring capacity of the cabin may make the system to fail. In the worst occasions, tragic accidents may occur when the cords that hold and move the cabin break.

Lifts can be classified based on various criteria, and the two main criteria are hydraulic and traction lifts. In hydraulic lifts, the drive unit is made of a hydraulic pump, an electric motor, and a tank. The electric motor starts a piston, which drives the lift cabin. Pistons may have an indirect ratio of 1 to 2 or a direct ratio of 1 to 1.

The machine powering a hydraulic system does not need to necessarily be situated adjacent or close to the system. The system can still function well if the machine is located several meters from the shaft. In most instances it is designed to as a free standing cabinet while in some instances as a separate room. On the other hand, the drive can be located inside the pit.

The drive unit of traction lifts normally comprises an electric motor and friction wheel. The drive runs the cables that enable the movement of the elevator cabin as well as some counterweight. These systems have an indirect drive of 4 to 1 or a direct drive of 1 to 1.

Since it is a system, a cargo lift is made up of various parts. These parts include machine room, car frame, drive unit, shaft, cabin, T-guides, piston and controller among other parts. Each component performs a special purpose in the system and if a problem is experienced in one of them, it may cause the entire system to fail.




About the Author: