Machine-room-less elevators are elevators that do not require a dedicated, enclosed machine room in the building to house the elevator drive unit, control cabinet, speed governor, and other equipment. Machine-room-less elevators represent a significant technological revolution, not just a simple improvement on traditional elevators. This is because some of the key technologies they employ will be applied to other elevator products, thereby driving technological advancements across the entire elevator industry.
Machine-room-less elevator technology began commercial application in the late 20th century, aiming to save building space and improve energy efficiency.
In recent years, the elevator industry has shifted from machine-room elevators to machine-room-less elevators. Machine-room-less elevators utilize variable frequency speed control and microcomputer control, resulting in significant structural differences from traditional vertical elevators. To save space, machine-room-less elevators install control cabinets, drive units, speed governors, and other equipment-previously located in a machine room above the shaft-inside the shaft, eliminating the need for a dedicated machine room. This effectively increases building space utilization while reducing construction costs. The elevator utilizes a miniaturized gearless motor and a 2:1 traction system for transportation, eliminating machine room noise caused by traditional gear meshing. The slim control cabinet is installed in the hoistway near the first floor, effectively waterproofing the elevator while allowing for quick and convenient installation, commissioning, data reading and writing, routine maintenance, and passenger rescue operations from outside the hall. Its minimum thickness of only 130 mm maximizes hoistway space savings. The slim permanent magnet synchronous door operator, employing a dual closed-loop control system of current and speed, achieves a highly efficient and smooth door opening and closing speed curve, reducing opening and closing time and improving traffic flow. Multiple intelligent operating curves are preset for selection, adapting to different needs. The highly integrated module technology combining the microcomputer control system and inverter system comprehensively improves system response speed and reliability. The car suspension method has been changed, significantly improving the operating comfort of the machine room-less elevator and reducing the intensity of installation, maintenance, and repair work. It also saves materials and reduces the height of the top floor.
Because the machine room-less elevator does not have a machine room, its control system offers greater flexibility, convenience, and reliability compared to ordinary elevators.
