elevators

[CasioTech]

I was doing some research on elevator crashes. Are all old and new elevators built with safety brakes? If the cords break, will one plummet to their death? Anyone know anything, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[robothouse77]

you should use your lottery winnings to find out...

 

[aircooled]

I was under the impression that even old elevators had safety brakes to keep them from falling.

 

[ElFenix]

if the elevator starts to fall, what is the best position to be in for the impact? laying down to spread out the force? crouching with your knees bent so your legs can absorb some shock?

 

[CasioTech]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
if the elevator starts to fall, what is the best position to be in for the impact? laying down to spread out the force?

I don't think it will matter falling 30 floors your brain will compress against your skull and squirt out of your ears.

 

[CasioTech]

Originally posted by: aircooled
I was under the impression that even old elevators had safety brakes to keep them from falling.

How do they know if it's falling to apply breaks?

 

[So]

Originally posted by: CasioTech

Originally posted by: aircooled
I was under the impression that even old elevators had safety brakes to keep them from falling.

How do they know if it's falling to apply breaks?

The tension of the cable keeps the brakes disengaged. When the cable snaps, no more tension, and the brakes engage in a second or less.

 

[darkxshade]

If there are no breaks... you're dead. During the freefall your body will be stuck to the ceiling and upon impact you will hit the floor of the elevator @ very fast speeds instantly killing you so it doesn't really matter how you're positioned.

 

[CasioTech]

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: CasioTech

Originally posted by: aircooled
I was under the impression that even old elevators had safety brakes to keep them from falling.

How do they know if it's falling to apply breaks?

The tension of the cable keeps the brakes disengaged. When the cable snaps, no more tension, and the brakes engage in a second or less.

so elevators are pretty fool proof and nearly 100% safe it seems?

 

[So]

Originally posted by: CasioTech

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: CasioTech

Originally posted by: aircooled
I was under the impression that even old elevators had safety brakes to keep them from falling.

How do they know if it's falling to apply breaks?

The tension of the cable keeps the brakes disengaged. When the cable snaps, no more tension, and the brakes engage in a second or less.

so elevators are pretty fool proof and nearly 100% safe it seems?

Yes.

The first practical elevator was invented in the late 19th century by otis. Before that, even back to the ancient era, there WERE elevators, but people generally didn't ride them since if the cable broke, you were indeed dead. Otis famously demonstrated his safey elevator by standing on the exposed elevator platform (ie no box so you could see what happened) and cutting the cable himself, the elevator did not fall, and the public began to trust elevators.

 

[jtvang125]

Originally posted by: darkxshade
If there are no breaks... you're dead. During the freefall your body will be stuck to the ceiling and upon impact you will hit the floor of the elevator @ very fast speeds instantly killing you so it doesn't really matter how you're positioned.

Are you sure you'll get stuck to the top of the ceiling? I mean gravity is pulling on you just the same as the elevator. So the moment the elevator falls, you'll fall too.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: jtvang125

Originally posted by: darkxshade
If there are no breaks... you're dead. During the freefall your body will be stuck to the ceiling and upon impact you will hit the floor of the elevator @ very fast speeds instantly killing you so it doesn't really matter how you're positioned.

Are you sure you'll get stuck to the top of the ceiling? I mean gravity is pulling on you just the same as the elevator. So the moment the elevator falls, you'll fall too.

Of course you won't hit the ceiling (the most rudimentary physics class will tell you that, so I'll give darkxshade the benefit of the doubt and say that was sarcasm), it'd actually be pretty cool, because in the 10 or so seconds that you have (assuming a reasonably tall building) you'd get to enjoy what it's like to be in space. And I'd wager that you'd get badly injured but quite possibly not die.

 

[herm0016]

you will not be stuck to the ceiling. you will feel weightless, you are falling at the same rate as the elevator. just like a feather and a bowling ball will fall at the same rate, and yes. . . The tension of the cable keeps the brakes disengaged. When the cable snaps, no more tension, and the brakes engage in a second or less.

 

[darkxshade]

well I'm no physics expert, I'm prolly wrong but I only said this due to the fact that my ass got lifted off the seat and my shoulders being held down by the harness @ a six flags free fall ride.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: CasioTech

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: CasioTech

Originally posted by: aircooled
I was under the impression that even old elevators had safety brakes to keep them from falling.

How do they know if it's falling to apply breaks?

The tension of the cable keeps the brakes disengaged. When the cable snaps, no more tension, and the brakes engage in a second or less.

so elevators are pretty fool proof and nearly 100% safe it seems?

Yes.

The first practical elevator was invented in the late 19th century by otis. Before that, even back to the ancient era, there WERE elevators, but people generally didn't ride them since if the cable broke, you were indeed dead. Otis famously demonstrated his safey elevator by standing on the exposed elevator platform (ie no box so you could see what happened) and cutting the cable himself, the elevator did not fall, and the public began to trust elevators.

I remember learning that in my middle school American History class. Wow, that was like 12 years ago...

The exact year was 1852 when Elisha Graves Otis invented the first truly safe elevator.

Link for those who don't know

 

[CasioTech]

are they run on chords or gear now days for high rises?

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
if the elevator starts to fall, what is the best position to be in for the impact? laying down to spread out the force? crouching with your knees bent so your legs can absorb some shock?

Well the best position would be on the landing after deciding to use the stairs!!

But they say that the safest position if your in a falling lift is to lie flat on the floor as the impact is destributed over a wider area of your body.

Personally I'd say that if your in the lift your buggered!

 

[Midlander]

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: jtvang125

Originally posted by: darkxshade
If there are no breaks... you're dead. During the freefall your body will be stuck to the ceiling and upon impact you will hit the floor of the elevator @ very fast speeds instantly killing you so it doesn't really matter how you're positioned.

Are you sure you'll get stuck to the top of the ceiling? I mean gravity is pulling on you just the same as the elevator. So the moment the elevator falls, you'll fall too.

Of course you won't hit the ceiling (the most rudimentary physics class will tell you that, so I'll give darkxshade the benefit of the doubt and say that was sarcasm), it'd actually be pretty cool, because in the 10 or so seconds that you have (assuming a reasonably tall building) you'd get to enjoy what it's like to be in space. And I'd wager that you'd get badly injured but quite possibly not die.

Ignoring the fact that this cannot happen....

The rate of fall of the elevator will be limited by friction, mainly with the air in the shaft. Your body will not be impacted by that same friction. Therefore, you will be on the floor during the fall. You will not feel weightless.