Elevator technology

Elevators must be safe and comfortable. Encoders from HEIDENHAIN, AMO, and RENCO make this possible. When installed on the main motor, brakes, shaft copying system, and doors, these encoders help the elevator car start gently, stop at just the right height, rapidly open and close its doors, and smoothly speed off again, all while meeting the highest safety standards. They also deliver the data needed for operational monitoring.

Motor control

Ruggedness, reliability, and high resolution are key qualities of HEIDENHAIN rotary encoders. These characteristics make them proven and dependable motor control solutions on conventional traction elevators, able to meet the following elevator manufacturer requirements:

  • High speed
  • High travel height
  • Compact design
  • Low operating cost
  • Numerous electrical interfaces to downstream electronics

Traction elevators no longer need microswitches for brake monitoring..And future cableless elevators will move horizontally.
All thanks to encoders from HEIDENHAIN.

Find out more about KCI 419 Dplus and LINA 200

Shaft copying

For properly timed, jerkless braking, and exact positioning of the elevator car, its position in the shaft must be precisely measured and transmitted to the control. Absolute rotary encoders from HEIDENHAIN enable digital shaft copying with clear advantages:

  • The absolute position of the car is continuously available, even after a power outage.
  • Thanks to this continuously available actual position information, the car can be moved straight to its destination. 

EQN 400

For particularly high shaft loads of up to 150 N axially and 350 N radially, the EQN 400 is available with a bearing assembly. This assembly decouples the encoder’s bearing from the forces and prevents overloading.

Door motors

Shorter elevator stopping times and higher transport volume can be attained if doors are opened and closed with speed and precision. The key to this is accurate and dynamic position measurement. HEIDENHAIN rotary encoders for door motors deliver the necessary rotational speed and position feedback in a highly compact design, with all models featuring an outside diameter smaller than 40 mm.

Easy implementation with EnDat

EnDat is the ideal interface for digital drive systems and position control loops using position encoder feedback. In particular, the interface’s purely serial design offers numerous benefits of great value to applications in the elevator industry. Purely serial data transmission via EnDat is:

  • Universal
  • High-performance
  • Communicative
  • Diagnostic
  • Safe

Implementation is made easier with the EnDat Master, or in the elevator industry, the EnDat Master Mini. Designed specifically for fast and cost effective implementation, it handles communication between the purely serial EnDat encoder and the higher-level application. For more information, see the Implementation Guide.