Abstract:
A stairlift is a mechanical device for lifting man and material up and down on the stairs, who
may find difficulty in doing so themselves. A stairlift can be used as Material Handling System.
For sufficiently wide stairs, a rail is mounted to the treads of the stairs. A chair or lifting
platform is attached to the rail. Stairlift can be mounted on the stair without altering civil
structure. This lift runs on electric power and consists of a motor, reduction gear box, chain
drive, a saddle/carriage sliding on the rail.
In this system, we use DC motor for changing the polarity of the power supply which will make
the motor run in reverse direction. The carriage run towards upward or downward direction
with the help of Toggle switches and push buttons. As guide wheel roller bearings are attached
with carriage, the movement of the carriage is like a linear tracking system. In compared with
the conventional hydraulic lift, there are some advantages like no civil structure and alteration
is required, low cost, less bulkiness, less power, less maintenance requires, easy design, easy
installations. Though some drawbacks due to weight carrying capacity which completely
depend upon the capacity of motor, there is lot of scope for further modification in the project
as using monorail, use of belt drive or chain drive instead of chain drive. Rack and pinion
arrangement can also be used for stairlift.
