Given the Otis locking mechanism which I assume is standard worlwide
2007-03-29 12:56:01 · 5 answers · asked by coomraider 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
ah! the otis locking mechanism!almost fail safe(where it "latches onto the side"...but alas..not used world wide....as there are many different versions of the lift! so yes it is possible for a lift to fall...(or go down very very quickly)
2007-03-29 13:06:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is, for all intents & purposes, impossible for an elevator to "freefall" down the shaft (like in the movies) because of the clutch mechanism and additional fail-safes on these devices. Gravity would force the "lift" to stop moving since it would be stuck to the shaft walls.
But it makes for good cinema, right?
2007-03-29 20:01:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think I've only heard of people being injured in a falling lift once in as long as I can remember - they have so many safety mechanisms.
I think the one I heard about was due to faulty maintenance rather than mechanical failure. Gotta be one of the safest ways to travel!
2007-03-29 20:01:05 · answer #3 · answered by Barry S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't fall if the locking mechanism is maintained, but not all elevators are maintained. The weak link in any machine is alway the human who takes care of it.
2007-03-29 20:18:13 · answer #4 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yep. Also a mechanism that locks up if the cable goes slack or breaks.
2007-03-29 20:01:00 · answer #5 · answered by steve.c_50 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋