Kencor Remembers Elevator History
At Kencor Elevator Systems, we work with the latest technology and standards in elevator repair and maintenance. But all of our progressive technology had to start somewhere. Rudimentary elevators or hoists were being operated by animal, human power, and even by water-driven mechanisms clear back in the third century B.C. and into the Middle Ages. The mechanisms were created by a rope strung through a pulley system to with the weight on one end and the pulling force on the other.
The elevators we know today were developed in the 1800s and relied on steam or hydraulic plungers to move the cab. Liquid was forced into or removed from an underground cylinder to either lift or lower the cab. The U.K. traction elevators, created later, utilize a rope running through a pulley and a counterweight track along the shaft wall, similar to the original hoists. Power elevators debuted in the U.S. in the mid-19th century with the refinement of electricity.
Elevator designs continued progressing, and later in the 1800s, the electric motor was integrated into the elevator by German inventor Werner von Siemens. Motor control technology evolved rapidly, and multi-speed replaced single to make a smoother ride. Electromagnetic technology replaced manual switching and braking and push-button controls were integrated.
Today, there are intricate governors and switching systems to carefully control cab speeds, micro-chips that precisely operate banks of elevators with maximum efficiency and safety.
At Kencor Elevator Systems we are proud to be a part of engineering magnificence that keeps evolving to become more efficient and safe. Click here or call us today at (800) 220-4046 to learn more about our Pennsylvania elevator maintenance and repair services.