Shaftless Elevators
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I'm Talking About Shaftless
Shaftless elevators are an interesting and unique product in the universe of vertical lifting equipment. The word shaftless is used to highlight the fact that these lifts, unlike most other vertical lifts, do not require a hoistway. Shown here is a shaftless elevator made by Savaria called the Telecab. Now you may be wondering how, without a hoistway, we keep people from falling through the hole in the floor through which the lift travels. In the next picture you will begin to see how the Telecab solves this problem.
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Going, going ....
OK, this picture reveals the secret method used by shaftless elevators to cover the opening in the floor after the cab passes through. As you can see, on top of the Telecab there is a plate covered with material that matches the floor around the opening. As the Telecab descends the plate is caught and supported by a metal rim attached to the perimeter of the opening. The rim is recessed and supports the plate so it is flush with the surrounding floor. Check the next picture for the final result.
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Gone!
Pretty neat trick! The opening in the floor gets covered as the cab travels to the lower level. The Telecab has a number of built-in devices to ensure its safe operation. One device detects the amount of weight on the cover and will stop the lift immediately if too much resistance is encountered.
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The Minivator From ThyssenKrupp Access
TKAccess also manufactures a shaftless elevator shown here called the Minivator. The Minivator is very similar to the Savaria Telecab and works in much the same way.
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Here we can see the interior of the Minivator cab. The cab measures 30" wide by 46" deep by 73 1/2" high. The Minivator has a rated load capacity of 450 lbs. It runs on standard 115VAC power.
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Is a Shaftless Elevator the Right Product For You?
Shaftless elevators have a number of strengths that make them an ideal accessibility solution in certain situations. Eliminating the hoistway means less time, less money and less space will be needed to complete the project. This makes shaftless elevators an attractive alternative when space is limited, time is short and budgets are tight.
However, despite their strengths, shaftless elevators are too limited to ever be more than a niche product. Their biggest drawback is that they can only make two stops. A standard residential elevator can make up to five stops, can carry a heavier load, and has a larger cab. But given the right circumstances a shaftless elevator may be a good solution
As with much of our other equipment it is impossible to give a precise price for a shaftless elevator without visiting your home and gathering more information. The cost for a typical shaftless installation project starts at about $15,000 and will vary based on the amount of site preparation required. To get a free written estimate for your project just call our office and schedule an appointment with one of our representatives.
