Homemade elevator

[Mark_Chenail]

Someone posted on one of my Homesteading forums asking about ideas and plans for a homemade elevator.  Most folks suggested it was a bad idea because of the liability issues, but the poster lives in an unregulated area and isnt worried about inspectors.  One of the replies gave this link for a homemade lift:  

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/96391689EtQsiO

What do you guys think?  Any ideas on how to do your own home elevator system?

This seems like the sort of problem our Glenn ought to be able to solve with a few spare parts from the shed.

[glenn kangiser]

I can see that it would work but the liability issue would make me want a bit stronger of a system.  The winch is similar to a common Harbor Freight item but they are not rated for lifting or hoisting people.  They are made more for pulling boats or RV's up hills, again probably more of a liability issue.  I could see possibly using this one as a dumb waiter, but don't think I'd like to ride along.  

I would want an automatic closing door when the elevator was down so small children - etc didn't drop in.  I have considered building one but don't have a real need yet.

[Mark_Chenail]

I once took a look at an underground house that had been built like an underground garage.  All poured concrete roof and piers and it had a small elevator made from on old hydraulic car hoist  from a garage fitted with a platform.
Worked quite well and seemed perfectly safe.  The house owner had got the lift cheap at auction and built the house around it.

Ive seen a few old buildings here in town that had freight lifts that were all ropes and wheels and counterweights.  No power involved.  No idea where you might find plans for such a thing, but I bet you could make a dandy counter weight with an old  water heater filled with concrete.

Or you could go the old elephant and pulley mode like Tarzan.

[bayview]

Yes, a definite liability problem . . . It would be impossible to get insurance.  

[Amanda_931]

I've mentioned before the place I lived in Honolulu that was 89 steps above the parking area.  The next house on the street had a two-person-plus-a-few-packages-sized inclined railway.  Not, I think a funicular railway (which has two cars, according to Wikipedia, one counterbalancing the other).  I think I could handle some sort of incline rail car.  Not that sub-hundred dollar rising platform.

But I expect that in order to bring books or tools down from a loft, I'd find a chain hoist with a platform underneath pretty useful.  Not one with me on it though.

They're still making these things.  Presumably at great expense.

http://www.hillhiker.com/residential.html

With a handful of pictures--here:

http://www.hillhiker.com/res_cs05.html

[John_M]

"... I could see possibly using this one as a dumb waiter"

I had one of those at AppleBee's last week.....kept bringing me the wrong order!!  


...sorry guys!  

[glenn kangiser]

Ouch :-/

[firefox]

I remember when I was just a wee tyke, going in an elevator in NYC that was man powered.
The oprator had to keep pulling on a rope that went to some kind of geared pully system.
He didn't seem to have to work too hard, but it did look like he was earning his keep.
Bruce

[JRR]

Of course, elevators are more complex than what most of us expect to have in out homes, but if I wanted one .....

I would give the big brands, Otis and the like, a call before going too far.  ... Or perhaps elevator service folks in the area.  Ask for component catalogues, etc.

I have had a bit of experience designing and installing hydraulic elevators for conveying auto bodies ... also converted two old "people" elevators from overhead cable drive to underneath hydraulic drive.  By using off-the-shelf components from Otis (and others), and including all design considerations suggested by them ... I ended up with certifiable elevators.  Otis-trained serviced folks were then contracted to do monthly inspections (on all, people and non-people) on all elevators.  This kept the 20, or so, units near trouble-free.  The service folks were "on call 24-7" ... but rarely needed.  The municipal inspectors were quite happy.

The in-house folks I worked with did all the steel structures, including the "cabins" or "platforms" and the electric-controls.  The non-people elevators were incidental to the conveyor system which was mostly made in-house.

If you purchase:
1. Guide rails
2. Guide roller clusters
3. Hydraulic in-ground cylinder (installed)
4. Hydraulic pump unit and controls  

... you will have spent a few thousand, but you will be on the way to a quality unit.  Elevators have become very competitive ... the drive/control components will not be as expensive as you might think.... though I haven't priced anything for years.  Even the cylinders as usually farmed out to small specialty shops that fabricate and install the units.  The cylinders, BTW, are super-simple.  The rest can be DIY made.  

The elevator enclosure shaft must be super rigid ... either well braced wood or reinforced concrete block walled.  This will all require an engineer's stamp for sure.  Alignment and "plumbness" is very important for smooth operation

I would bet Otis, and the other big names, have a home elevator system ... complete or in components.

[glenn kangiser]

Here are a couple of home elevator links I looked up before.  Around $25000 as I recall -used?

http://www.tkaccess.com/residential-elevators/
Residential elevators, Residential elevator manufacturer, ThyssenKrupp Access

http://www.thelev.com/index.html
LEV Home Elevator â€" Official Website - ThyssenKrupp Access Elevator

[JRR]

Here's the Otis offering:
.
http://www.otis.com/products/detail/0,1355,CLI1_PRD8108_PRT30_PST72_RES1,00.html
.
I'm surprised to see the hydraulic cylinder "offset".  I'm used to the cylinder being directly aligned with the car and underneath ... and a simple guide rail on two sides of the car.
.
The following webpage has an interesting video showing the offset hydraulic cylinder in action:
.
http://www.concordelevator.com/infinity-elevator.htm#specifications
.

[John Raabe]

An interesting read is the invention of the safety elevator by Otis. As a demonstration he put himself into the cage and started it up the shaft. Then he had a worker chop the supporting cable in two. With a gasp from the audience, the automatic brakes clamped onto the side rails and stopped the cage safely before it got up much momentum.

That dramatic demonstration was the basis of all early elevator design and must be a minimum for anything carrying people.

[glenn kangiser]

An interesting read is the invention of the safety elevator by Otis. As a demonstration he put himself into the cage and started it up the shaft. Then he had a worker chop the supporting cable in two. With a gasp from the audience, the automatic brakes clamped onto the side rails and stopped the cage safely before it got up much momentum.

That dramatic demonstration was the basis of all early elevator design and must be a minimum for anything carrying people.

Well --- OK--- but if I build it and do this dramatic test,  it'll be your fault if wet myself when they cut er' loose. :-/

[Dustin]

You could be like the Jetsons and get an air-powered elevator tube...

http://www.daytonaelevator.com/Pneumatic%20Vacuum%20Elevator%20Main%20Page.htm

[mark_chenail]

DANG:  The pneumatics arent wheelchair accessible, but I still want one.  The library here has one of those old pneumatic delivery systems like bank drive ups.
They dont use it any more.  Maybe the libary will sell me the old equipment on the cheap and I can make my own home version.  I'd feel a bit like a big fat hamster in a habit-trail though.

[JRR]

Please ... don't try pneumatics for moving people about!  You can never achieve the consistent, safe control; using compressed air or vacuum, that is easily achieved with a "non-compressable" fluid like oil.