A belt manlift or manlift is a device for moving passengers between floors of a building. It is a simple
belt with steps or platforms and handholds rather than an
elevator with cars. Its design is similar to that of a
paternoster lift. The belt is a loop that moves in a single direction, so one can go up or down by using the opposite sides of the loop. The belt moves continuously, so one can simply get on when a step passes and step off when passing any desired floor without having to call and wait for a car to arrive.
Although not technically a paternoster, it has many of the same design features and hazards associated with its use. There are several companies still making belt manlifts
[American Belt Manlift http://www.americanbeltmanlift.com/] They are used in
grain elevator
A grain elevator is a facility designed to stockpile or store grain. In the grain trade, the term "grain elevator" also describes a tower containing a bucket elevator or a pneumatic conveyor, which scoops up grain from a lower level and deposits ...
s and
parking garages
A multistorey car park (British and Singapore English) or parking garage (American English), also called a multistory, parking building, parking structure, parkade (mainly Canadian), parking ramp, parking deck or indoor parking, is a build ...
where space is limited. In Canada, manlifts were retrofitted in the early 1990s with safety features after fatal accidents. Safety concerns have led to a decline in their use.
In popular culture
The opening sequence of the 1978 film ''
The Driver'' features
Ryan O'Neal ascending through a parking garage on a manlift. A manlift is clearly visible in the silent film ''
Metropolis''. The film ''
Our Man Flint'' (1966) features an operational manlift within the volcanic island complex, shot at the
LADWP Scattergood Generating Station. Hitman Bruce Willis dispatches a bookie from a manlift, while ascending through a parking garage in the opening scene of ''
Lucky Number Slevin''.
See also
*
Man engine
References
External links
Endless Belt Manlifts
Elevators
Vertical transport devices
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