Elevator Systems of the Eiffel Tower, 1889

Elevator Systems of the Eiffel Tower, 1889

This article traces the evolution of the powered passenger elevator from its initial development in the mid-19th century to the installation of the three separate elevator systems in the Eiffel Tower in 1889. The design of the Towers elevators involved problems of capacity, length of rise, and safety far greater than any previously encountered in the field; and the equipment that resulted was the first capable of meeting the conditions of vertical transportation found in the just emerging skyscraper. The 1,000-foot tower that formed the focal point and central feature of the Universal Exposition of 1889 at Paris has become one of the best known of mans works. It was among the most outstanding technological achievements of an age which was itself remarkable for such achievements. Second to the interest shown in the towers structural aspects was the interest in its mechanical organs. Of these, the most exceptional were the three separate elevator systems by which the upper levels were made accessible to the Exposition visitors. The design of these systems involved problems far greater than had been encountered in previous elevator work anywhere in the world. The basis of these difficulties was the amplification of the two conditions that were the normal determinants in elevator designpassenger capacity and height of rise. In addition, there was the problem, totally new, of fitting elevator shafts to the curvature of the Towers legs. The study of the various solutions to these problems presents a concise view of the capabilities of the elevator art just prior to the beginning of the most recent phase of its development, marked by the entry of electricity into the field. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 32282
Author: Vogel, Robert M.
Release Date: May 7, 2010
Format: eBook
Language: English