Lift Guide Rails

Lift guide rails provide guidance for the elevator car and counterweight during elevator operation, and also provide support during safety brake activation. They are an important component of the elevator system.

1) Safety: The main factor affecting elevator safety is the material of the guide rails. If the guide rail material is too hard or uneven (locally too hard), the clamping force during safety brake activation will not provide sufficient friction, leading to brake failure and the most serious elevator accident: the elevator car falling. The guide rails must also have sufficient strength to support the elevator car and the impact force during safety brake activation.

2) Comfort: The factors affecting elevator comfort include the following:

a. Guide rail connection accuracy: The connection accuracy of solid guide rails is ensured by the end dimensions of the guide rails and the symmetry of the male and female joints. The connection accuracy of hollow guide rails and escalator guide rails is ensured by the end dimensions and geometric tolerances of the guide rails. The connection accuracy of the guide rails directly affects the smoothness and comfort of elevator operation.

b. Guide rail guiding surface roughness: The roughness of the guide rail guiding surface directly affects whether the guide shoes can run smoothly on the guiding surface, and also affects the storage of lubricating oil, thus affecting the running quality of the elevator car.

c. Guide rail straightness and twist: Any bending or twisting at any point on the guide rail will give the elevator car a lateral force, affecting the linear movement of the elevator car up and down, causing the elevator car to feel shaky. As the elevator speed increases, the elevator car will vibrate, thus affecting comfort.