電梯有一個轎廂和一個對重，通過鋼絲繩將它們連接起來，鋼絲繩通過驅動裝置（曳引機）的曳引帶動，使電梯轎廂和對重在電梯內導軌上做上下運動。

固(gu)定在(zai)轎(jiao)(jiao)廂(xiang)上(shang)的導靴可以沿著安裝(zhuang)(zhuang)在(zai)建筑物井道墻(qiang)體(ti)上(shang)的固(gu)定導軌往(wang)復(fu)升降運(yun)動(dong)(dong)(dong)，防止轎(jiao)(jiao)廂(xiang)在(zai)運(yun)行中偏斜或擺動(dong)(dong)(dong)。常閉塊式制(zhi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)器在(zai)電動(dong)(dong)(dong)機工(gong)作時(shi)松(song)閘，使(shi)電梯運(yun)轉(zhuan)，在(zai)失電情(qing)況下制(zhi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)，使(shi)轎(jiao)(jiao)廂(xiang)停(ting)(ting)止升降，并(bing)在(zai)指(zhi)定層站(zhan)上(shang)維持其靜止狀(zhuang)態，供(gong)人(ren)員和(he)(he)貨物出入。轎(jiao)(jiao)廂(xiang)是運(yun)載(zai)(zai)乘客或其他載(zai)(zai)荷(he)的箱體(ti)部件，對重(zhong)用來平衡轎(jiao)(jiao)廂(xiang)載(zai)(zai)荷(he)、減少電動(dong)(dong)(dong)機功率。補(bu)償裝(zhuang)(zhuang)置(zhi)用來補(bu)償曳(ye)引(yin)繩運(yun)動(dong)(dong)(dong)中的張力和(he)(he)重(zhong)量(liang)變(bian)化，使(shi)曳(ye)引(yin)電動(dong)(dong)(dong)機負(fu)載(zai)(zai)穩定，轎(jiao)(jiao)廂(xiang)得(de)以準確停(ting)(ting)靠。電氣系(xi)統(tong)實現(xian)對電梯運(yun)動(dong)(dong)(dong)的控制(zhi)，同時(shi)完成選層、平層、測速(su)、照明工(gong)作。指(zhi)示(shi)呼叫系(xi)統(tong)隨時(shi)顯示(shi)轎(jiao)(jiao)廂(xiang)的運(yun)動(dong)(dong)(dong)方向(xiang)和(he)(he)所在(zai)樓層位置(zhi)。安全裝(zhuang)(zhuang)置(zhi)保證電梯運(yun)行安全。