Elevator Systems of the Eiffel Tower, 1889 Informative Summary

Overview:

This article explores the creation of the elevator systems for the Eiffel Tower in 1889, providing a fascinating glimpse into the state of elevator technology at the time. It traces the evolution of the powered passenger elevator from its initial development in the mid-19th century, highlighting key innovations such as Elisha Otis’ safety device that prevented cars from falling.

The article delves into the unique engineering challenges posed by the Tower’s design, particularly the need to accommodate the curved legs. It discusses the various proposals and solutions offered, including the unconventional screw-hoisting system by Backmann and the ultimately chosen hydraulic systems from Otis, Roux, Combaluzier, Lepape, and Edoux. The article provides detailed descriptions of each system, their advantages and drawbacks, and the remarkable lengths to which engineers went to ensure safety and functionality in this unprecedented project.

Key Findings:

• The Eiffel Tower presented unique challenges for elevator design, particularly due to its curved legs.
• The elevator systems installed were a testament to the ingenuity and capabilities of engineers at the time, pushing the boundaries of existing technology.
• Safety was a paramount concern in the design of the elevator systems, as the Tower was intended to be a major public attraction.
• The article highlights the contrast between American and European elevator technology at the time, with American firms leading in rope-geared hydraulic systems while European engineers favored direct plunger systems.

Learning:

• The history of the elevator: The article provides a detailed account of elevator development in the 19th century, focusing on the transition from manually operated hoists to steam and hydraulic systems.
  • Elisha Otis’s invention: Learn about Otis’s revolutionary safety device that revolutionized elevator technology, making them safe for passengers.
  • The limitations of steam power: Discover why steam elevators were limited in their rise and why hydraulic systems became the preferred choice for taller buildings.
  • The emergence of hydraulic elevators: Explore the different types of hydraulic elevators, including the rope-geared and direct plunger systems, and their respective advantages and disadvantages.
• The importance of engineering in large-scale projects: Understand the immense challenges and intricate considerations involved in designing and implementing elevator systems for a structure like the Eiffel Tower, emphasizing the role of engineering in overcoming these obstacles.
• The influence of tradition and innovation: Learn how pre-existing technologies and traditional practices influenced the design of the Eiffel Tower’s elevators, while also demonstrating the innovative solutions that were developed to meet the unique demands of the project.

Historical Context:

The Eiffel Tower was built for the Universal Exposition of 1889 in Paris, a time of tremendous technological advancement and a celebration of industrial progress. The world was witnessing the rise of steel and iron structures, and the Eiffel Tower was a monumental example of these new possibilities.

Facts:

1. The Eiffel Tower was one of the most outstanding technological achievements of its time. It was a testament to the capabilities of engineering in the late 19th century.
2. The Tower’s structural rationale involved concentrating the weight in the four corner columns and connecting them only at two points with deep bands of trussing. This design contributed to the Tower’s stability and graceful beauty.
3. Elisha Otis’s safety device, introduced in 1854, was a pivotal invention in elevator technology. It prevented the car from falling in case of rope failure, making elevators safe for passengers.
4. The steam elevator was limited in its rise by the size and capacity of the winding drum. This limitation ultimately led to the adoption of hydraulic systems for taller buildings.
5. The rope-geared hydraulic elevator, a direct descendant of Sir William Armstrong’s hydraulic crane, became the “standard of the industry” by the late 1880s. It offered advantages in speed, safety, and rise compared to steam elevators.
6. The Baldwin-Hale water balance elevator, while popular for its speed and simplicity, was considered preposterously unsafe. It relied solely on a brake to control the car’s descent, making it prone to accidents.
7. The direct plunger hydraulic elevator, favored in Europe, was less popular in the US due to the high cost of drilling a well equal in depth to the elevator rise.
8. The Eiffel Tower’s elevator systems were the first capable of meeting the demands of vertical transportation in the emerging skyscraper.
9. The Commission insisted on unconditionally safe elevator systems for the Eiffel Tower. They were concerned about the safety of visitors being transported to the Tower’s upper levels.
10. Backmann’s proposed screw-hoisting system was similar to the Miller Patent Screw Hoisting Machine, which had a brief life in the United States around 1865. The system was deemed impractical and ultimately rejected.
11. The Eiffel Tower’s legs imposed a unique challenge for elevator design, as vertical shafts were impossible. This led to the adoption of inclined runs for the elevators.
12. Otis Brothers initially submitted a proposal for the Eiffel Tower’s elevators, but it was rejected due to a clause in the fair’s charter prohibiting foreign materials. They eventually won the contract after a lengthy bidding process.
13. The Otis system incorporated a massive hydraulic cylinder and an elaborate system of pulleys and cables to lift the car. The system was far more complex than typical elevators of the time.
14. The French elevators placed in the east and west legs of the Tower used a chain-based system designed by Roux, Combaluzier, and Lepape. The system was novel but ultimately inefficient and noisy.
15. Edoux’s direct plunger system was used for the section of the Tower above the juncture of the four legs. It employed two cars and two driving rams to overcome the challenge of the extremely high rise.
16. The Edoux system incorporated a safety brake designed by Backmann, but it was considered ineffective by Edoux and Eiffel. The primary safety measure relied on the strength of the supporting cables, which had a high safety factor.
17. The Eiffel Tower elevators carried a large number of passengers. The Otis system could transport 40 people, while the Roux system could carry 100.
18. The Otis and Roux systems drew water supply from the same tanks. They used similar distributing valves operated from the cars.
19. The Edoux system used Worthington (American) pumps to return the water to the supply tanks. This was a notable exception to the fair’s rule prohibiting foreign materials.
20. The Eiffel Tower’s elevators were a significant engineering achievement. They were among the first elevators capable of handling the demands of high-rise buildings, showcasing the advancements in elevator technology at the time.

Statistics:

1. The Eiffel Tower is approximately 1,000 feet tall.
2. The first platform of the Eiffel Tower is 377 feet above the ground.
3. The second platform is 643 feet above the ground.
4. The observation platform, also known as the third platform, is 896 feet above the ground.
5. The Otis system’s hydraulic cylinder had a bore of 38 inches and a length of 36 feet.
6. The Otis system’s counterweight carriage was loaded with pig iron and traveled on a separate set of rails beneath the main track.
7. The Otis elevator traveled at a speed of 400 feet per minute.
8. The Roux system’s driving sprockets were 12.80 feet in diameter.
9. The Roux elevator traveled at a speed of 200 feet per minute.
10. The Edoux system’s two driving rams were placed beneath the upper car and extended downward only 262 feet.
11. The Edoux system’s four supporting cables had a total sectional area of 15.5 square inches.
12. The Edoux system’s cables had a safety factor of 46.
13. The Edoux elevator carried a maximum of 60 people.
14. The Otis elevator had a capacity of 40 people, all seated.
15. The Roux elevator had a capacity of 100 people, some standing.
16. The Otis system required an excess tractive effort of 2,665 pounds to overcome friction.
17. The Roux system required an excess tractive effort of 13,856 pounds to overcome friction.
18. The Edoux system required an excess tractive effort of 5,090 pounds to overcome friction.
19. The Eiffel Tower’s elevators were a significant engineering achievement. They were among the first elevators capable of handling the demands of high-rise buildings, showcasing the advancements in elevator technology at the time.
20. The Eiffel Tower, completed in 1889, was a monumental structure for its time. It was a symbol of French technological prowess and a popular tourist destination.

Terms:

1. Elevator: A mechanical device used to transport people or goods vertically between different levels of a building or structure.
2. Hydraulic elevator: An elevator system that uses water pressure to move the car.
3. Direct plunger elevator: A type of hydraulic elevator where the car is directly attached to a vertical plunger, which is moved by water pressure.
4. Rope-geared hydraulic elevator: A type of hydraulic elevator where the car is suspended by cables and the cables are wound on a drum driven by a hydraulic piston.
5. Counterweight: A weight used to balance the car in an elevator system, reducing the power required to move it.
6. Safety device: A mechanism that prevents the elevator car from falling in case of rope failure or other malfunctions.
7. Pitch chain: A chain consisting of interconnected links with a specific pitch, used for power transmission.
8. Sprocket: A toothed wheel used to engage with a chain.
9. Piston: A cylindrical component that moves within a cylinder, used to convert fluid pressure into linear motion.
10. Hydraulic head: The pressure exerted by a column of water due to its height.

Examples:

1. Elisha Otis’s safety device demonstration: Otis famously demonstrated his invention at the New York Crystal Palace Exhibition in 1854 by cutting the hoisting rope of a suspended platform he was standing on, assuring the onlookers, “All safe, gentlemen!”
2. The Miller Patent Screw Hoisting Machine: This early screw-hoisting elevator system, similar to Backmann’s proposed design, was used in the United States around 1865 but ultimately failed to gain widespread adoption.
3. The Baldwin-Hale water balance elevator: This system, while initially popular for its speed, was eventually abandoned due to its unsafe design, as it relied solely on a brake for descending, making it prone to accidents.
4. The Otis elevator in the Eiffel Tower: This system used a massive hydraulic cylinder, a complex system of pulleys and cables, and a double-decked cabin to transport passengers to the second platform.
5. The Roux, Combaluzier, and Lepape system: This innovative system employed a chain of articulated links to move the car, providing safety but suffering from excessive friction and noise.
6. The Edoux direct plunger system: This system utilized two cars and two driving rams, each traveling half the distance to the observation platform, to overcome the challenge of the extremely high rise.
7. The Fives-Lilles hydraulic elevators: These elevators replaced the Roux systems in 1900, offering enhanced power, control, and self-leveling cabins to compensate for the varying track inclination.
8. The electric elevator installed in 1912: This small electric elevator was added to accommodate visitors during the winter when the hydraulic systems were shut down due to freezing weather, but it was eventually removed in 1922 due to its limited capacity.
9. The Edoux system’s safety brake: This brake, designed by Backmann, was considered ineffective and was not the primary safety measure in the Edoux system, which relied heavily on the strength of the supporting cables.
10. The use of Worthington (American) pumps in the Edoux system: This was a notable exception to the fair’s rule prohibiting foreign materials, possibly due to Edoux’s influence.

Conclusion:

The Eiffel Tower’s elevator systems, a testament to the ingenuity and capabilities of engineers at the time, were a marvel of engineering. The article highlights the unique challenges posed by the Tower’s design, the various solutions proposed, and the ultimately chosen hydraulic systems that successfully transported visitors to the upper levels.

The text provides valuable insights into the state of elevator technology in the 19th century, highlighting the transition from steam to hydraulic systems and the emergence of safety devices that revolutionized the industry. It demonstrates the importance of engineering in overcoming significant obstacles and implementing innovative solutions, and underscores the influence of both tradition and innovation in the development of technology.

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