The Elevator

By: William Faulkner and Juliet Bier

Introduction to Engineering Design
Period 1

The Elevator: Essential Knowledge

The Elevator was created by Archimedes, the Greek mathematician, in twohundred thirty six years before Christ.
The first Steam Powered Elevator was invented by British architects Burton and
Homer in the eighteen- hundreds.
Elisha Otis invented a brake system in eighteen sixty- one that made passenger
elevators safe.
One of the first passenger elevators in France was used by the monarchy and was
called a Flying Chair.
The Elevator mainly was designed by structural engineers.

The Uses of the Elevator

The Elevator was generally used for:
Public Use. This involved passengers being brought
from a lower or higher floor down or up to a
higher/ lower floor.
Raising the sick, elderly, and/or disabled.
Carrying Cargo.
Residential and Small Business use.

Patents
Some patents of note include:

Elisha Otiss Patent for a Safety

Brake on the elevator.
SS Wheelers Patent for an
Electronic Elevator

Major Design Changes and

Innovations
Obviously, Elevators are no longer manually operated or powered by steam but are instead
operated using electricity. This is to allow the elevator to be more efficient.
Elevators no longer require attendants in the cabin to operate the elevator. This is for ease of
use to the users and to reduce cost for the owners. They are low-maintenance.
Elevators have much more safety features today designed to make the elevator safer that
include and encompass:
Stronger metal cables that differ from the ropes that were used in Ancient Rome.
More cables than there were in Elisha Otiss Elevator Design.
A shock absorber on the bottom of the elevator that prevents serious threat to life and property in
the event that the elevators cables do snap and break.

How We Would Improve It

Improvement of Ventilation in the Elevator Shaft.
Bigger and More Comfortable Cabin
More powerful engines would be added to support the extra weight and to make the ride quicker.

Improvement of Safety Features:

More Ropes and Cables.
Improved Braking System.
More reliable emergency contact method while inside the elevator.

Backup Battery System

Events Leading to the Creation of

the Elevator
The image to the right is
a timeline describing
important moments that
led to our modern day
elevator.

Interesting Facts About the

Elevator
Today, the largest elevator producer is the Otis Elevator Company that was
founded by Elisha Otis.
Ancient Day Elevators were largely novelty and most were not eager to ride due
to few available safety features.
Although a Hydraulic Elevator that used water for power was available, it was not
as popular since it required a pit the size relative to the height that the elevator
would be moving upward.

APA Citations
(2012). The Elevator Museum: Timeline. Retrieved October 16, 2015, from http://www.theelevatormuseum.org/timeline.php
All Patents of Type: Elevators and Lifts. Retrieved October 16, 2015, from http://www.datamp.org/patents/search/xrefType.php?
cat=160&type=0&class=3800
Otis, E. (1861, January 15). Hoisting Apparatus. (, Trans., , Ed., )United States Trademark and Patent Office. Retrieved from
http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=00031128&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser
%3FSect1%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526d%3DPALL%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO
%25252Fsrchnum.htm%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526s1%3D0031128.PN.%2526OS%3DPN
%2F0031128%2526RS%3DPN%2F0031128&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page
Otis, E. (1861, January 15). Elisha Otiss Elevator Patent. Retrieved October 17, 2015, from https://research.archives.gov/id/305889

APA Citations continued

Upton, E. (2014, May 05). Who Invented the Elevator? Retrieved October 16, 2015, from
http://gizmodo.com/who-invented-the-elevator-1570745196

Wheeler, S. (1883, February 27). Electric Elevator. (, Trans., , Ed., ). Retrieved from
http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=00273208&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%
3FSect1%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526d%3DPALL%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsrchnum
.htm%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526s1%3D0273208.PN.%2526OS%3DPN%2F0273208%2526RS%3DPN%2F0273208&P
eNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page
History.com. (2014). Who invented the elevator? - Ask History. History.com. Retrieved from
http://www.history.com/news/ask-history/who-invented-the-elevator

Harris, T. (2002, ). How Elevators Work. Retrieved October 19, 2015.