The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-03-02
ELECTRIC ELEVATORS.
A New Departure Projected in Passen-
ger Lifts.

A New Departure Projected in Passen-
ger Lifts.
One of themost important of the applica-
tons of electricity to mechanical contriv-
ances is the adaptation of electric power to
house, store and office building elevators.
says the Electrical ReuielU. The general
public are PROBABLY brought into mora init
mate contact with this class of machinery
than almost any other, and much energy
and brain work have been expended to pre-
duce mechanical devices which are practi-
cal, safe and economical in the consump-
tion OF power. In the past year electricity
mas been applied in numerous instances to
the operation of the main valve of hydrau-
lie elevators by the use of small unbalanced
auxiliary valves operated by electro-mag-
nets connected to push-buttons or switch
III the car. In many cases these devices
give good satisfaction, but it is apparent
that with the substitution of balanced
valves, independent of the water pressure.
even better results could be obtained
For some time past considerable activity
has been exercised among experts in the
endeayor to produce suitable adaptation
OF electrical power and principles 10 the
already Weil-established principles of the
modern elevator. The decrease IN the nun
Der OF isolated steam plants, owing 10 sub
Sutltlon OF electricity. has been so marked
IL the past few years that engineers have
been led to see the direction the march Of
its progress has taken, and the necessary
increase in the rapidity and length of its
strides in the past few years
The advantages of an elevator operated
entirely by electricity are numerous, aud
lnasmuch as the elevator is of vital import
ance and constant expense to building
these advantages will ne, essarily be of in
tereSt TO owners.
The first cost of well-designed electric
elevator is apparently below that of any
other form OF elevator with the necessary
engine attached TO run it, for in a recently
invented elevator the application of elec-
trlclty to the automatics has stripped the
machine OF much OF its completely. Its
economy to operate is undoubtedly pro-
nopnced when we consider that the con
sumption Of coal 10 develop one indicated
horse power IN the average steam plant in
buildings is from six to ten pounds per hour
and some cases even more, while with cen
trail stations Tor the generation of electric
lty, equipped vito modern triple-expansion
engines and located along q water front
where the engines could be made condens-
ing horse power can be developed with
an expenditure of about one and netenth
pounds of coal per hour, or less than one
quarter the present cost. A company with
such stations could furnish power for much
less than individual owners could afford 10
produce it.
Other advantages are the absence of high
pressure steam and its attendant dangers.
IN many cases the entire ahsenceo OF "a boiler
with its repairs and the utilization for
other purposer of its floor space, and the
ability TODD away With licensed engineer.
In this class OF machine advantage can OBJ
viously be taken of balancing the car from
the winding drum, feature of much econ
omy.
Possessing these advantages, many new
fields, such as small apartment houses,
small stores and private dwellings,, will be
opened to the electric elevator.