Elevator Rails

2024 June 18

Read time : 11 m

Elevator rails are essential and practical components in elevator systems, responsible for guiding the cabin and balancing the weight frame during vertical movement. These rails also restrict horizontal movements of the cabin across different floors. All elevator rails are manufactured from high-quality, premium steel and must be produced without bends, or twists, and with a smooth surface to ensure optimal performance and system safety.

Elevator rails are produced in various thicknesses, with a T-shaped cross-section, and in 5-meter branches. These rails can stop the cabin during the operation of safety mechanisms and prevent oscillations caused by forces displacing passengers away from the center.

To connect the rails, a component called a fishplate is used, while brackets and plates secure the rails to the elevator shaft structure. It’s important to note that the balance weight bracket differs from the rail bracket; therefore, a corner bracket is used for the balance weight and an OTC bracket for the rails. Appropriate brackets are selected depending on the size and type of rails, each accompanied by two plates to hold the rail securely.

These details and considerations in the production and installation of elevator rails play a crucial role in enhancing the safety and efficiency of elevator systems.

Elevator Rail Features

To install elevator rails, suitable rails with the following features must be selected:

The rails should be made of high-quality ST-37 structural steel.
The rail surface must be completely smooth, uniform, and without any curvature.

Note: According to the specifications of the purchased rail catalog, the tensile stress number of the rail should be between 370 and 520 Newtons per square millimeter.

Safety considerations in elevator rail installation calculations:

The surface of the rails should be free of twists and bends.
Guide rails and their parts and connections must have high resistance to applied forces.
Rails must be installed in the elevator shaft parallel and perfectly plumb.
During rail installation, the tongue and groove at both ends of the rail must fit together well.

Functions of Elevator Rails

Elevator rails are designed in a T-shape and play an important role in the vertical movement of the elevator cabin. Generally, the primary functions of elevator rails are to guide the movement of the cabin and the counterweight along a specified path, reduce lateral movements of the cabin, and ensure its safe movement.

Reviewing the complete specifications of various elevator rail dimensions:

To accurately procure elevator rails, their technical specifications must be reviewed according to the table of different rail dimensions and the methods of producing hot-rolled and cold-rolled rails.

Elevator Rail Bracket

Elevator rail brackets are essentially used as mounting bases for the rails. By using these brackets and fishplates, the elevator rail is installed onto the wall or shaft structure. Various factors such as cabin capacity, rail dimensions, parachute, and elevator speed determine the type and size of the bracket.

Elevator rail brackets serve multiple purposes, including securing the counterweight and cabin rails, connecting the guide rails to the metal structure of the shaft, attaching the rails to the concrete wall of the shaft, and ensuring the proper alignment of the elevator shaft wall.

The location for installing the elevator rail bracket determines the position for installing the elevator rail after the brackets are mounted. Therefore, the brackets must be installed in the correct and precise positions.

Elevator Clamp

The elevator clamp varies depending on the type of elevator and the length of the rail, and it must remain firmly and securely in place over the years of elevator use. There are various sizes of clamps available for different rails.

Conditions for installing the elevator rail clamp include:

Place the entire surface of the clamp on the rail bracket.
Welding on the sides of the clamp near the surface of the bracket is prohibited.

For installing the elevator clamp and bracket, the bracket and clamp must be ordered based on the type of elevator rail and the method of securing it. First, the elevator bracket, including the weight bracket and cabin bracket, should be installed. Then, place the clamp against the bracket’s bolt holes and insert the specified bolt. Next, for distance adjustment, insert the required shim, flat washer, spring washer, and nut onto the bolt and tighten it securely.