Elevator Buffers
Elevator buffers are safety devices that prevent the downward motion of the elevator carriage by absorbing the kinetic energy.
Elevator buffers can be hydraulic or spring-based and are usually located in the elevator pit. They are often used to stop an elevator that is being loaded or unloaded.
Safety
Elevator buffers are safety devices that help to soften the force that a descending elevator car or counterweight can exert on the pit floor. They also help to stop the elevator car from traveling beyond the limit switch, which helps prevent it from crashing into the roof or floor of the building.
Buffers come in a variety of different materials and designs. They can be made of springs or oil and are often located in the elevator pit. They are designed to cushion a falling car or counterweight and can be of different sizes, depending on the height of the pit.
The most common type of elevator buffer is a spring buffer. These are typically found on hydraulic elevators or traction elevators with a speed of less than 200 feet per minute.
Another type of buffer is an oil buffer, which uses a combination of oil and springs to cushion the descending elevator car or counterweight. They are usually found in the elevator pit but can be prone to flooding due to their location.
Both of these types of buffers are tested and inspected to ensure that they meet the specifications set out by the manufacturer. They are also subjected to drop tests, where a mass is dropped in freefall and monitored for a period of time.
This is important because it allows the manufacturer to determine if the buffer can absorb enough energy to bring an elevator car or counterweight to a stop. The test must be conducted under a wide range of conditions, including temperatures and pressures.
The test should be performed by a representative of the division, who should be familiar with the lift and the location of the buffers. They should also know how to perform the test safely and effectively. In addition, they should have the necessary equipment and personnel to conduct the test. The test should be able to be repeated as needed, and the test should take place at least once each year to ensure that the buffers are operating properly.
Reliability
The reliability of an elevator buffer is a major consideration in safety systems. This feature prevents the descending car or counterweight from exceeding its rated speed, which could lead to damage or even injury to passengers in an emergency. It also reduces the force of an impact if it is struck by a falling object, such as a firefighter’s axe.
In general, reliability is the probability that a product elevator buffer or system will perform its intended function well for a period of time or in a specified environment. A reliable product or system can also mean a system that is safe, effective, and efficient.
For example, a car engine that starts every time you turn the key or an airplane that flies safely through turbulence is reliable. A medical device that is effective and safe to use on patients is reliable as well.
Reliability is the degree of consistency in results that are obtained through testing or research. For example, if you measure a person’s weight on the same scale three times and get the same results each time, you can be confident that the test is reliable.
Another way to determine the reliability of a test is to look at its coefficient of error. This number ranges from 0 to 1 and is a good indicator of the repeatability or reliability of a test score.
However, this is not a perfect measurement of reliability and should only be used as a guide when deciding which tests to choose for a given project. Ideally, you should look at the test manual and any independent reviews to determine if a test’s reliability is acceptable.
Reliability in the laboratory is often measured using a statistic called standard error of measurement (SEM). This statistic gives the margin of error that you should expect in an individual test score because of imperfect reliability.
In addition to SEM, you can also determine the reliability of a test by looking at its coefficient of repeatability. This value is expressed as a decimal, for example, r =.80, and indicates how reliable the results are likely to be.
Performance
An elevator buffer is a safety device that is required to be mounted at the base of an elevator shaft. Its primary function is to stop an impacting car or counterweight from progressing to a serious accident. The way in which an elevator buffer does this depends on many different specifications but largely, all require the buffer to bring an elevator car to a stop using a minimum of force and for a minimal period of time.
There are several different types of elevator buffers, one of which is a spring buffer that uses a combination of oil and springs to cushion a descending car or counterweight from impacting the floor. These are commonly found on traction elevators that have speeds higher than 200 feet per minute.
Another type of elevator buffer is an oil buffer, this is used on traction elevators that have speeds between 200 and 500 feet per minute. This type of buffer uses a combination of oil and springs that are most commonly found in the elevator pit. They tend to be exposed to water and flooding and so are subject to regular cleaning and painting to ensure they maintain their performance specifications.
Finally, there are hydraulic buffers which dissipate the kinetic energy of an impacting car or counterweight. These are usually found on traction elevators that have speeds over 1.6m/s and are designed to slow down the elevator to a minimum of 1g or less with an average deceleration of less than 2.5g for a maximum of 0.04 seconds, and therefore meet all of the requirements of an elevator code specification.
Oleo has a comprehensive in-house testing facility and uses computer modelling to optimise the performance of its elevator buffers. Simulations are compared directly with test results from the in-house dynamic test facility, thus enabling Oleo to fine tune performance to improve both cost and safety.
Oleo has a dedicated team of engineers who are dedicated to the design and manufacture of high quality elevator buffers. Their knowledge of the latest technology elevator buffer in hydraulic buffers enables them to provide unsurpassed force control which reduces passenger discomfort. Their innovative approach to design and development has made them the preferred choice for lift manufacturers worldwide.
Design
Elevator buffers are a safety device designed to protect passengers from injury when an elevator stops suddenly or is struck. They have a range of design features including being able to absorb the kinetic energy of the elevator carriage to prevent it from falling down the pit and softening the force with which the carriage hits the ground.
They have been developed in response to the increasing number of buildings being constructed worldwide and the need to enable efficient movement of larger numbers of people. The HSL buffer range has been designed in order to meet the requirements of global safety regulations and a dedicated test tower has been built at Oleo’s site in Coventry, England to ensure that the buffers meet all international standards.
There are a number of types of elevator buffers available on the market today. These include oil, polyurethane and spring buffers.
In addition to their design characteristics, all of these elevator buffers are subject to extensive testing in order to prove that they comply with all the relevant European safety regulations. These tests are carried out using freefalling masses and a variety of measurements are taken during the test.
For example, the average deceleration is measured to ensure that it does not exceed 1g. Additionally, the amount of time that a deceleration is allowed to continue beyond a specific threshold is also recorded so that the maximum possible deceleration can be established.
Unlike other safety devices, the design of an elevator buffer must be calculated by considering a wide variety of risks. For example, it is important to consider how the deceleration will affect passengers who are using an elevator in both fully loaded and lightly loaded conditions.
These calculations are then implemented into the hydraulic buffer design in order to reduce the deceleration that is experienced by passengers during a stop. This is a key part of the design process as it can lead to passenger discomfort and pain.
As the deceleration of an elevator increases with load, it is important to try and minimise this as much as possible. This can be done by designing the buffer to have a high retardation force when it is fully loaded and a low retardation force at lower loads.
