Elevator

For other uses, see Elevator (disambiguation).

Outside of typical elevators, shown in an office building in Portland, Oregon
This elevator to the Alexanderplatz U-Bahn station in Berlin is built with glass walls and doors, exposing the inner workings.

An elevator (American English) or lift (Commonwealth English) is a machine that vertically transports people or freight between levels. They are typically powered by electric motors that drive traction cables and counterweight systems such as a hoist, although some pump hydraulic fluid to raise a cylindrical piston like a jack.

Elevators are used in agriculture and manufacturing to lift materials. There are various types, like chain and bucket elevators, grain augers, and hay elevators. Modern buildings often have elevators to ensure accessibility, especially where ramps aren't feasible. High-speed elevators are common in skyscrapers. Some elevators can even move horizontally.[1]

  1. ^ "This German Company Is Inventing an Elevator That Goes Sideways". Construction Week Online. 18 February 2019. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2019.