The convenience and ease of taking an elevator up and down in a building are usually taken for granted. However, the elevator today is a marvel of modern technology.
Elevators Defying Gravity
Elevators possess the ability to carry thousands of pounds skyward in a matter of seconds, seamlessly defying gravity in the process.
Origins in Industrial Needs
Today’s elevators evolved from the practical need to move raw materials efficiently through vertical spaces or across steep terrain. During the Industrial Revolution, workers needed a streamlined way to transport commodities such as coal and lumber down from hillsides. This need led to the development of antiquated steam-powered “elevators” used primarily to transport raw materials in bulk. This technology quickly became common in factories and mines.
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Evolution of Elevator Technology
Over time, engineers introduced new ways to power elevators. They created belt-driven applications and added counterweights to give elevators an extra surge of power.
Otis Elevator history: Elisha Otis’ Revolutionary Safety Mechanism
In 1852, Elisha Otis introduced the most innovative elevator system to date. What made Otis’ application stand out from all others was the fact that he had installed a safety mechanism (now commonly known as a “safety governor”) to stop the elevator from free-falling if the cables broke for any reason. Otis’s 1852 safety innovation remains in use today, continually refined and perfected over time.
Modern Elevators: Ubiquitous and Essential
Today, elevators are the most widely used form of transportation with millions of different applications throughout the world.