How Elevators Work

The concept of an elevator is incredibly simple -- it's just a compartment attached to a lifting system. Tie a piece of rope to a box, and you've got a basic elevator. Of course, modern passenger and freight elevators are a lot more elaborate than this. They need advanced mechanical systems to handle the substantial weight of the car and its cargo. Additionally, they need control mechanisms so passengers can operate the elevator, and they need safety devices to keep everything running smoothly. There are two major elevator designs in common use today: hydraulic elevators and roped elevators.

Hydraulic Elevators

Roped Elevators

Safety Features

Computers in Elevators

Elevator Doors

How elevators work was used with permission from How Stuff Works.