a question about lifts...

cm1179 · 26 Oct 2011 at 18:57

the 'surviving fatal situations' thread prompted me on this.
in 2004/5 i remember watching a tv programme mid morning where they were in an office building in germany.
from memory, they had a lift system where there were 2 lifts on each floor with multiple lifts in each shaft but there were no doors on the access and the lifts were constantly going up and down so, in effect, one would not have to wait longer than about 3 seconds before a lift going either up or down was available and one would simply walk into the lift going either up or down.
very efficient but i've never seen it anywhere else .... or did i dream the whole thing?

geuben · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:00

If I understand what you are explaining correctly. Sheffield uni arts tower had a system like this known as the patanosta (spelling may be incorrect)

Cosimo · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:02

One of these:

cm1179 · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:03

you are correct! i knew i hadn't imagined it

Archaius · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:03

This sounds exactly like the paternoster that they had at the University of Sheffield's Arts Tower. Man we had some good times on those things...

Hyburnate · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:04

So couldn't you just jump down?

PapaLazaru · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:05

What happens if you fall out of it with your legs still in side? :eek:

cm1179 · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:05

Hyburnate said:
So couldn't you just jump down?

my next question (now i know they exist) was going to be, aren't they a bit dangerous?

Cosimo · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:06

Hyburnate said:
So couldn't you just jump down?

You can jump off but not down to the next floor.

H0ax! · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:07

They have them in the library at Essex Uni... Could never bring myself to go over the top! It was also always awkward getting into one when someone else was in it o.0

cm1179 · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:08

H0ax! said:
Could never bring myself to go over the top!

wow i never even thought of that

UK-AL05 · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:08

Archaius said:
This sounds exactly like the paternoster that they had at the University of Sheffield's Arts Tower. Man we had some good times on those things...

What happens if you stay on?

Hyburnate · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:11

They seem really cool, but sound expensive.

Liampope · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:16

UK-AL05 said:
What happens if you stay on?

You just go round the top or bottom. Awesome fun. Various bits of the floor outside and the floor of the carriages are hinged so they just lift out of the way if you try and chop your arm off or something. Plus even before that you'd stop the thing by tripping a safety wire. Would be pretty difficult, if not impossible to kill yourself.

And what's all this Sheffield Uni had a paternoster??!! You mean the Arts Tower lift is no more?!! :eek:

Nooooooooooo!!

Dunks · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:16

Those things seem extremely dangerous :eek:

UK-AL05 · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:18

"In 1989, the paternoster in Newcastle University's Claremont Tower was taken out of service after a passenger undertaking an up-and-over journey became caught in the drive chain, necessitating a rescue by the Fire Service"

mmmmm...ok

MisChief · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:19

Wow they look scary o_O
What if you're really tall?? Must be quite dangerous..

cm1179 · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:21

MisChief said:
Wow they look scary o_O
What if you're really tall?? Must be quite dangerous..

or someone pushes you out as you're hopping in?

Nossmayo · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:24

From wiki.

UK-AL05 · 26 Oct 2011 at 19:28

Hahah Theres one at my university.... Just realised