Air Vacuum Elevators
Gone are the days of science fiction when people traveled in transparent bubbles.
Today, this is no longer a product of our imagination.
There is a bubble that can carry you without cables, pulleys or pistons. It is our self-supporting vacuum elevator; a light and resistant structure built in aluminum and polycarbonate. By simple principles of physics you are literally transported by air. The vacuum pumps or turbines pull you up to the next floor.
For Elevator Specifications send a Email to:
Just decide where you would like it! It can be your home, apartment, office or boat, and forget about hoist ways, carrying cases, clamping bolts, underground pits and engine rooms. This extraordinary technology made your dream of the future come true.
Three main parts make up the Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator:
Exterior Cylinder:
A clear, self-supporting tube built out of specially designed sections. The walls of this tube are made of curved sheets of polycarbonate while the structure is aluminum. The doors are made of the same material; they are airtight and provided with safety magnetic locks. The roof of the tube, made of steel, ensures airtight closures with suction valves and inlets.
Elevator Car:
That travels inside the tube are made of transparent polycarbonate and is mounted on a steel structure. The roof includes airtight joints that ensure normal pressure and air conditions for the passenger. An anchoring system that activates on reaching the indicated floor provides exact stops and locks the car mechanically.
The Suction Assembly:
Can be built and placed in different ways, either on the same tube that holds the car or separately (split) at distances between 3’-5’ from the lift. It can hold up to 6 suction turbines that ensure a smooth ride.
- Technical specs
- Power supply: 220 Volts / 60 hertz
- Current: 30 amps
- Size:........................................Model 37.................Model 52
- External cylinder diameter....37" (950mm).........52 -11/16" (1338.3mm)
- Internal Cabin diameter........32" (820mm).........44"(1117.6mm)
- Internal cabin height.............77"(1950mm)........79"(2006.6mm)
- Entrance width opening: 37 1/2" (852.5mm)
- Lift Capacity: 525 lbs (238.14 kg)
- Velocity: 450 lbs (204kg).......30 fpm(9m/min......20 fpm(6.1m/min.)
- Illumination: Halogen lights
- Electrical: 24 volts
- Lubrication: none
- Sound level: 87 DBA
Questions and Answers
Q: Can you customize the elevator to use a brass colored framing?
A: Not at the present time, they are trying to standardize in order to bring the costs down.
Q: What Color is the elevator available in?
A: The standard color for the metal portion is gray, or as an option you can upgrade to a silver color. The polycarbonate panels (plexiglass) are all tinted dark except for the doors which are clear.
Q: Do elevator codes restrict the installation of these residential units?
A: In some states and localities, these elevators are not permitted because the have not yet been reviewed by the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). However, most states do not have restrictive codes for residential elevators as they do with commercial elevators.
Q: What maintenance is needed?
A: After about 15,000 elevator trips the liner, which helps provide an air-tight chamber above the unit, must be replaced. Cost of the liner is approximately $200 plus labor. The vacuum pumps (5) are the only other parts that may need replacement as the unit ages. Under normal operating conditions, they should last many years. It is also recommended that the exterior of the cylinder be "wiped down" with an anti-static solution approximately once a month, or as needed. WINDEX OR ANY OTHER AMMONIA PRODUCTS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED. We recommend you visit www.brillianize.com for an excellent product designed for plastics cleaning.
Q: Where is the pump box located?
A: It fits on top of the elevator tube and is about 11" H with the same diameter as the elevator cylinder. The top floor height must be at least 107 inches (8'11") to install a direct mount pump box.. If the ceiling height is lower than that, the pump box must be mounted in the attic along with a specially designed device to regulate the airflow to-and-from the cylinder.. The entire remote pump box is t 37" in diameter abd 11" tall plus an attached air diverter with the measurements of 29" x 18" x 21" box (see picture). This needs to be mounted in attic within 25' of the top of the cylinder and connected by two 4" PVC pipes.
Q: What happens in case of a power failure?
A: The unit does not require power when descending; therefore, if the power goes out, the elevator car automatically descends at a rate slower than normal speed to the lowest level because air will not be induced into the upper chamber as with normal operations. The door opens automatically.
Q: How noisy is it?
A: The pump box is insulated and does a great job of minimizing noise caused by the pump motors. The attic mounted remote pump box is even quieter.
Q: Does the upper chamber depressurize upon descent?
A: No, a vacuum is always maintained to reduce the work required by the pumps.
Q: How does the emergency ventilation system work?
A: The cab and the space below are always kept at normal atmospheric pressure. There is enough air infiltration within the tubing to provide fresh air under all circumstances.
Q: What is the interior height and width of the car?
A: Cabin internal diameter: 32 inches (2'6". Internal height: 77 inches (6' 5"). Door width: 21 inches. Door height: 75 inches (6'3").
Q: What is the weight of the unit?
A: For a two stop rise of 10 feet it is approximately 660 lbs. For a three stop it is about 1/3 more.
Q: Are there any home preparation literature or drawings available to provide the builder/remodeler with requirements before and after installation?
A: Yes, they will be made available upon request.
Q: Does the elevator have any means of supporting the floor or ceiling when the floor joists or support boards don't fit flush against the outer edge of the tube?
A: No, proper support must be provided by the contractor/remodeler around the 39 inch area surrounding the elevator installation.
Q: Will a house on a crawl space need additional support underneath the elevator?
A: Typically not, the Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator is very light compared to traditional home elevators. Consult your builder/remodeler to determine if your home meets current building codes designed to withstand approximately 660 lbs. for a two stop or 990 lbs. for a three stop elevator plus passenger weight.
Q: Can these elevators be placed outdoors?
A: At this time outdoor models are not available. However, future plans include production of an outdoor model.
Q: Can the elevator polycarbonate panels scratch?
A: Yes, if not properly taken care of. When cleaning, an cloth designed for surfaces susceptible to scratches is recommended dampened with an anti-static cleaning solution.We recommend you use brillianize plastics cleaners available for purchase on-line.
Q: Can the elevator polycarbonate panels be easily replaced?
A: Yes, it is very simple and does not take much time to remove and replace a panel.
A: Not at the present time, they are trying to standardize in order to bring the costs down.
Q: What Color is the elevator available in?
A: The standard color for the metal portion is gray, or as an option you can upgrade to a silver color. The polycarbonate panels (plexiglass) are all tinted dark except for the doors which are clear.
Q: Do elevator codes restrict the installation of these residential units?
A: In some states and localities, these elevators are not permitted because the have not yet been reviewed by the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). However, most states do not have restrictive codes for residential elevators as they do with commercial elevators.
Q: What maintenance is needed?
A: After about 15,000 elevator trips the liner, which helps provide an air-tight chamber above the unit, must be replaced. Cost of the liner is approximately $200 plus labor. The vacuum pumps (5) are the only other parts that may need replacement as the unit ages. Under normal operating conditions, they should last many years. It is also recommended that the exterior of the cylinder be "wiped down" with an anti-static solution approximately once a month, or as needed. WINDEX OR ANY OTHER AMMONIA PRODUCTS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED. We recommend you visit www.brillianize.com for an excellent product designed for plastics cleaning.
Q: Where is the pump box located?
A: It fits on top of the elevator tube and is about 11" H with the same diameter as the elevator cylinder. The top floor height must be at least 107 inches (8'11") to install a direct mount pump box.. If the ceiling height is lower than that, the pump box must be mounted in the attic along with a specially designed device to regulate the airflow to-and-from the cylinder.. The entire remote pump box is t 37" in diameter abd 11" tall plus an attached air diverter with the measurements of 29" x 18" x 21" box (see picture). This needs to be mounted in attic within 25' of the top of the cylinder and connected by two 4" PVC pipes.
Q: What happens in case of a power failure?
A: The unit does not require power when descending; therefore, if the power goes out, the elevator car automatically descends at a rate slower than normal speed to the lowest level because air will not be induced into the upper chamber as with normal operations. The door opens automatically.
Q: How noisy is it?
A: The pump box is insulated and does a great job of minimizing noise caused by the pump motors. The attic mounted remote pump box is even quieter.
Q: Does the upper chamber depressurize upon descent?
A: No, a vacuum is always maintained to reduce the work required by the pumps.
Q: How does the emergency ventilation system work?
A: The cab and the space below are always kept at normal atmospheric pressure. There is enough air infiltration within the tubing to provide fresh air under all circumstances.
Q: What is the interior height and width of the car?
A: Cabin internal diameter: 32 inches (2'6". Internal height: 77 inches (6' 5"). Door width: 21 inches. Door height: 75 inches (6'3").
Q: What is the weight of the unit?
A: For a two stop rise of 10 feet it is approximately 660 lbs. For a three stop it is about 1/3 more.
Q: Are there any home preparation literature or drawings available to provide the builder/remodeler with requirements before and after installation?
A: Yes, they will be made available upon request.
Q: Does the elevator have any means of supporting the floor or ceiling when the floor joists or support boards don't fit flush against the outer edge of the tube?
A: No, proper support must be provided by the contractor/remodeler around the 39 inch area surrounding the elevator installation.
Q: Will a house on a crawl space need additional support underneath the elevator?
A: Typically not, the Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator is very light compared to traditional home elevators. Consult your builder/remodeler to determine if your home meets current building codes designed to withstand approximately 660 lbs. for a two stop or 990 lbs. for a three stop elevator plus passenger weight.
Q: Can these elevators be placed outdoors?
A: At this time outdoor models are not available. However, future plans include production of an outdoor model.
Q: Can the elevator polycarbonate panels scratch?
A: Yes, if not properly taken care of. When cleaning, an cloth designed for surfaces susceptible to scratches is recommended dampened with an anti-static cleaning solution.We recommend you use brillianize plastics cleaners available for purchase on-line.
Q: Can the elevator polycarbonate panels be easily replaced?
A: Yes, it is very simple and does not take much time to remove and replace a panel.
Should you have other questions please call us by phone or send us an email?
- Universal Elevator Co.
- 452 Yacht Club Dr.
- P.O. Box 848
- Rockwall, TX 75032 USA
- Phone:1.800.547.0747
- 1.972.722-8001
- Fax:1.877.810.7806
