Lifts, stairlifts, ramps and all similar purpose devices are usually adopted to solve the prob- lems related to mobility in a punctual manner. Even if the lift is, among all those devices, the most popular one, its operation is still based on the same principle since when, more than 160 years, Otis made the current “hosting apparatus” suitable for the transport of people, patenting the parachute safety device. The first applications and experiments were recorded in the tall building type, where the technological progress of the elevator sector pushed their development and, on the other hand, the will to build higher led to a constant search for improvement in the performance of lifts. In addition to the more conventional solutions, aimed at improving system performance and quality of service, some “out of the box” approaches to the vertical transportation systems have been developed, with the common purpose of releasing the cabin from one-way direction, thus removing the most limiting elements: cables and counterweights. Among the most interesting proposals, the Odyssey patent from Otis and the recent MULTI technology from thysenkrupp are noteworthy. Both, although in a different way, free the cab- ins from their constraints, allowing them to move along vertical and horizontal paths, but also to move several cabins simultaneously along the same circuits. Although the idea of Odyssey was later abandoned for cost reasons, the Multi device is still under study and development. A PhD thesis from the Iuav University of Venice conducted some research regarding the im- plications in the building design that a ropeless elevator system should determine in the design of the circulation within buildings and the urban environment. The topic of mobility in the built space would be completely renewed and the installation of devices capable of following multiple directions of motion would allow to approach the theme of accessibility in a global way, without limiting to punctual applications. The goal of this paper is to encourage a dia- logue between the academic sector and elevator companies to start looking at the accessibility problems taking into account the innovative technological solutions proposed in the past and actually under development.
Verso l’accessibilità multidirezionale: gli ascensori ropeless
Martina Belmonte;Dario Trabucco;Elena Giacomello
2020-01-01
Abstract
Lifts, stairlifts, ramps and all similar purpose devices are usually adopted to solve the prob- lems related to mobility in a punctual manner. Even if the lift is, among all those devices, the most popular one, its operation is still based on the same principle since when, more than 160 years, Otis made the current “hosting apparatus” suitable for the transport of people, patenting the parachute safety device. The first applications and experiments were recorded in the tall building type, where the technological progress of the elevator sector pushed their development and, on the other hand, the will to build higher led to a constant search for improvement in the performance of lifts. In addition to the more conventional solutions, aimed at improving system performance and quality of service, some “out of the box” approaches to the vertical transportation systems have been developed, with the common purpose of releasing the cabin from one-way direction, thus removing the most limiting elements: cables and counterweights. Among the most interesting proposals, the Odyssey patent from Otis and the recent MULTI technology from thysenkrupp are noteworthy. Both, although in a different way, free the cab- ins from their constraints, allowing them to move along vertical and horizontal paths, but also to move several cabins simultaneously along the same circuits. Although the idea of Odyssey was later abandoned for cost reasons, the Multi device is still under study and development. A PhD thesis from the Iuav University of Venice conducted some research regarding the im- plications in the building design that a ropeless elevator system should determine in the design of the circulation within buildings and the urban environment. The topic of mobility in the built space would be completely renewed and the installation of devices capable of following multiple directions of motion would allow to approach the theme of accessibility in a global way, without limiting to punctual applications. The goal of this paper is to encourage a dia- logue between the academic sector and elevator companies to start looking at the accessibility problems taking into account the innovative technological solutions proposed in the past and actually under development.
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