How did elisha otis elevator work

Elisha Graves Otis

BORN: August 3,
DIED: April 8,

INVENTED
Improvement in Hoisting Mechanism (elevator safety brake)

Patent No. 31,

In Elisha Graves Otis invented a safety brake for elevators.

He called the elevator with the safety brake system the safety elevator. This safety brake stopped the elevator from plummeting to the ground in the unfortunate event of the elevator hoisting cables breaking. The safety brake consisted of toothed guide rails on the sides of the elevator.

If the elevator hoisting cables broke, the toothed guide rails would catch and stop the elevator from falling.

In , at the Chrystal Palace Exposition in New York, Otis dramatically revealed his safety elevator to the public.

Elisha otis family tree

Otis rose up in his safety elevator as the crowd below watched. When he was far above the crowd, he told is assistant to cut the elevators hoisting cables. The crowd was astonished when the elevator stopped after only dropping a few inches.

BIOGRAPHY
Elisha