Elevator refurbishing method

In an elevator refurbishing method in which a hydraulic elevator in which a hydraulic jack is installed in an equipment installation zone is refurbished into a machine-roomless elevator that uses a two-to-one (2:1) roping method, the equipment installation zone being a region inside a hoistway on either a left side or a right side of a car when viewed from directly above, at least one guide rail from a pair of counterweight guide rails is installed in the equipment installation zone while leaving the hydraulic jack in position, the hydraulic jack is removed from the hoistway, the hoisting machine is installed in a lower portion of the equipment installation zone using a space that is created by removal of the hydraulic jack, and a car return sheave and a counterweight return sheave are installed on an upper portion of the counterweight guide rails.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an elevator refurbishing method by which a hydraulic elevator is refurbished into a machine-roomless elevator that uses a two-to-one (2:1) roping method.

BACKGROUND ART

In conventional elevator refurbishing methods, a pair of counterweight guide rails are installed behind a car hoisting zone inside a hoistway so as to line up with an existing hydraulic jack. A supporting beam is installed in an upper portion of the hoistway directly above the hydraulic jack. A hoisting machine is installed on top of this supporting beam. After refurbishing, the hydraulic jack remains inside the hoistway (see Patent Literature 1 and 2, for example).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

In conventional elevator refurbishing methods such as those described above, because it is necessary to lift the hoisting machine, which is a heavy load, to the upper portion of the hoistway, it is necessary to install a large lifting beam in the upper portion of the hoistway, increasing the scale of construction work, and making the construction work time-consuming. Top portion dimensions of the hoistway are also reduced, sometimes making it impossible to install the hoisting machine.

The present invention aims to solve the above problems and an object of the present invention is to provide an elevator refurbishing method that can reduce labor time for the refurbishing work.

Means for Solving the Problem

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator refurbishing method in which a hydraulic elevator in which a hydraulic jack is installed in an equipment installation zone is refurbished into a machine-roomless elevator that uses a two-to-one (2:1) roping method that includes a hoisting machine, a counterweight, and a pair of counterweight guide rails, the equipment installation zone being a region inside a hoistway on either a left side or a right side of a car when viewed from directly above, wherein the elevator refurbishing method includes steps of: installing at least one guide rail from the pair of counterweight guide rails in the equipment installation zone while leaving the hydraulic jack in position; removing the hydraulic jack from the hoistway; installing the hoisting machine in a lower portion of the equipment installation zone using a space that is created by removal of the hydraulic jack; and installing a car return sheave and a counterweight return sheave on an upper portion of the counterweight guide rails.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator refurbishing method in which a hydraulic elevator in which a hydraulic jack and a pair of hydraulic jack rails are installed in an equipment installation zone is refurbished into a machine-roomless elevator that uses a two-to-one (2:1) roping method that includes a hoisting machine, a counterweight, and a pair of counterweight guide rails, the equipment installation zone being a region inside a hoistway on either a left side or a right side of a car when viewed from directly above, wherein the elevator refurbishing method includes steps of: installing the hoisting machine in a lower portion of the equipment installation zone while leaving the hydraulic jack in position; removing the hydraulic jack from the hoistway; and using the hydraulic jack rails as the counterweight guide rails, disposing the counterweight between the hydraulic jack rails, and installing a car return sheave and a counterweight return sheave on an upper portion of the hydraulic jack rails.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator refurbishing method in which a hydraulic elevator in which a hydraulic jack is installed in an equipment installation zone is refurbished into a machine-roomless elevator that uses a two-to-one (2:1) roping method that includes a hoisting machine, a counterweight, and a pair of counterweight guide rails, the equipment installation zone being a region inside a hoistway on either a left side or a right side of a car when viewed from directly above, wherein the elevator refurbishing method includes steps of: installing the hoisting machine in a lower portion of the equipment installation zone while leaving the hydraulic jack in position; removing the hydraulic jack from the hoistway; installing the counterweight guide rails in the equipment installation zone, and disposing the counterweight between the counterweight guide rails, using a space that is created by removal of the hydraulic jack; and installing a car return sheave and a counterweight return sheave on an upper portion of the counterweight guide rails.

Effects of the Invention

In the elevator refurbishing method according to the present invention, because it is not necessary to lift the hoisting machine to the upper portion of the hoistway, the scale of the work is reduced, and labor time in the refurbishing work can also be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1is an oblique projection that shows a machine-roomless elevator that has been refurbished by a refurbishing method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. First through third bases2through4are fixed to a floor surface in a bottom portion of a hoistway1.

A pair of (first and second) car guide rails5aand5bare installed above the first base2so as to be parallel to each other and vertical. A car6is disposed between the car guide rails5aand5b, and is raised and lowered inside the hoistway1so as to be guided by the car guide rails5aand5b. A pair of (first and second) car suspending sheaves7aand7bare disposed on a lower portion of the car1.

A pair of (first and second) counterweight guide rails8aand8bare installed above the second base3so as to be parallel to each other and vertical. A counterweight9is disposed between the counterweight guide rails8aand8b, and is raised and lowered inside the hoistway1so as to be guided by the counterweight guide rails8aand8b. A counterweight suspending sheave10is disposed on an upper portion of the counterweight9.

A hoisting machine12is installed on the third base4so as to have a hoisting machine base11interposed. The hoisting machine12is disposed in a lower portion inside the hoistway1. A thin hoisting machine in which an axial dimension is smaller than dimensions that are perpendicular to an axial direction is used as the hoisting machine12.

The hoisting machine12has a driving sheave13and a hoisting machine main body14. Disposed on the hoisting machine main body14are: a hoisting machine motor that rotates the driving sheave13; and a hoisting machine brake that brakes rotation of the driving sheave13. A controlling board (not shown) that controls the hoisting machine12is installed inside the hoistway1.

An upper portion supporting beam15is fixed horizontally in a vicinity of the upper end portion of the counterweight guide rails8aand8b. A car return sheave16is supported on a lower portion of the upper portion supporting beam15. A counterweight return sheave17is supported on the upper portion supporting beam15. The car return sheave16and the counterweight return sheave17face a back surface of the second car guide rail5b.

A car rope fastener portion18is fixed in a vicinity of an upper end portion of the first car guide rail5a. The car rope fastener portion18may alternatively be fixed to an existing rope fastener beam in an upper portion of the hoistway1. A counterweight rope fastener portion19is disposed on the upper portion supporting beam15.

The car6and the counterweight9are suspended inside the hoistway1by a suspending body20, and are raised and lowered by the hoisting machine12. A plurality of ropes or a plurality of belts are used as the suspending body20. The suspending body20has: a first end portion (a car end portion)20athat is connected to the car rope fastener portion18; and a second end portion (a counterweight end portion)20bthat is connected to the counterweight rope fastener portion19.

The suspending body20is wound from near the first end portion20asequentially around the car suspending sheaves7aand7b, the car return sheave16, the driving sheave13, the counterweight return sheave17, and the counterweight suspending sheave10. In other words, the car6and the counterweight9are suspended using a two-to-one (2:1) roping method.

The car guide rails5aand5bare disposed on left and right sides of the car6at an intermediate portion in a depth direction of the car6. The counterweight guide rails8aand8b, the counterweight9, the hoisting machine12, the upper portion supporting beam15, the car return sheave16, and the counterweight return sheave17are disposed in an equipment installation zone1a(FIG. 4), which is a region inside the hoistway1on either the left or the right side of the car when viewed from directly above (in this example, near the second car guide rail5b).

When viewed from a landing side, the counterweight9is disposed at a front of the equipment installation zone1a, and the hoisting machine12is disposed at a back of the equipment installation zone1a. In addition, the hoisting machine12is disposed such that a rotating shaft of the driving sheave13is horizontal and parallel to a width direction of the car6(a lateral direction inFIG. 4). Furthermore, the hoisting machine12is disposed such that the hoisting machine main body14is positioned nearer to the hoisting zone of the car6than the driving sheave13.

A straight line that connects centers of the car guide rails5aand5bis parallel to the width direction of the car6when viewed from directly above. In addition, a straight line that connects centers of the counterweight guide rails8aand8bis parallel to the depth direction of the car6(a vertical direction inFIG. 4) when viewed from directly above.

The first car suspending sheave7ais disposed in front of the car guide rails5aand5bin the depth direction of the car6. The second car suspending sheave7bis disposed behind the car guide rails5aand5bin the depth direction of the car6. Rotating shafts of the car suspending sheave7aand7bare parallel to each other and horizontal.

The car suspending sheaves7aand7bare disposed such that the suspending body20that passes between the car suspending sheaves7aand7bis inclined relative to the width direction of the car6when viewed from directly above. In addition, the suspending body20that passes between the car suspending sheaves7aand7bintersects the straight line that connects the centers of the car guide rails5aand5bwhen viewed from directly above.

Next, an elevator refurbishing method according to Embodiment 1 will be explained.FIG. 2is a plan that shows a general layout of major equipment in the elevator according to Embodiment 1 before refurbishment (a hydraulic elevator).

The hydraulic jack21is installed in a region of the equipment installation zone1abehind the second car guide rail5b(at the back when viewed from a landing). First and second upper portion return sheaves (not shown) are disposed on an upper portion of the hydraulic jack21. The first and second upper portion return sheaves are moved vertically by the hydraulic jack21.

A pair of hydraulic jack rails22aand22bthat guide the vertical movement of the first and second upper portion return sheaves are installed on two sides of the hydraulic jack21so as to be parallel to each other and vertical. A hydraulic jack rope fastener portion23and a lower portion return sheave (not shown) are disposed on a lower portion of the hydraulic jack21. An upper portion rope fastener portion24is disposed on the rope fastener beam in an upper portion of the hoistway1.

The car6is suspended inside the hoistway1by a plurality of pre-refurbishment ropes (not shown). The pre-refurbishment ropes have: first end portions that are connected to the upper portion rope fastener portion24; and second end portions that are connected to the hydraulic jack rope fastener portion23. The pre-refurbishment ropes are wound sequentially from near the first end portions around the car suspending sheaves7aand7b, the first upper portion return sheave, the lower portion return sheave, and the second upper portion return sheave, and extend to the hydraulic jack rope fastener portion23.

A period of refurbishing work according to Embodiment 1 is divided into a preparatory construction period and a continuous outage period. It is not necessary to stop operation of an existing hydraulic elevator continuously in the preparatory construction period. The continuous outage period is a period in which operation of both the existing and newly installed elevators is impossible.

FIG. 3is a plan that shows an intermediate state during refurbishment of the elevator inFIG. 2. The second base3, the counterweight guide rails8aand8b, the counterweight9, the upper portion supporting beam15, the car return sheave16, the counterweight return sheave17, and the counterweight rope fastener portion19, etc., are installed in the equipment installation zone1ainside the hoistway1in the preparatory construction period. These items of equipment are installed in a region on an opposite side of the second car guide rail5bfrom the hydraulic jack21in the depth direction of the car6.

Thus, equipment that can be installed using vacant space inside the equipment installation zone1ais installed while leaving the hydraulic jack21, the hydraulic jack rails22aand22b, and the hydraulic jack rope fastener portion23, etc., in position during the preparatory construction work, and it is not necessary to stop operation of the existing hydraulic elevator continuously.

When the preparatory construction work is completed, operational service of the hydraulic elevator is terminated, and the hydraulic jack21, the hydraulic jack rails22aand22b, the hydraulic jack rope fastener portion23, and the pre-refurbishment ropes are removed from the hoistway1.

Then, as shown inFIG. 4, equipment such as the third base4, the hoisting machine base11, and the hoisting machine12is installed in a lower portion of the equipment installation zone1ausing space that is created by removal of the hydraulic jack21, etc. The car rope fastener portion18is also installed in an upper portion inside the hoistway1. Next, the suspending body20is disposed as shown inFIG. 1.

In an elevator refurbishing method of this kind, because it is not necessary to lift the hoisting machine12, which constitutes a heavy load, to the upper portion of the hoistway1, even if a lifting beam is installed, a small lifting beam is sufficient, reducing the scale of the work, and enabling labor time for the refurbishing work to be reduced. Furthermore, the refurbishing work can be carried out even if top portion dimensions of the hoistway1are small.

In addition, because most of the work is concentrated in the equipment installation zone1a, labor time for the refurbishing work can also be reduced thereby.

Furthermore, because it is not necessary to stop operation of the hydraulic elevator continuously when installing the counterweight guide rails8aand8b, etc., the continuous outage period of elevator operation (the period during which the elevator cannot be used at all) can be shortened.

Because the upper portion supporting beam15, the car return sheave16, the counterweight return sheave17, and the counterweight rope fastener portion19are supported by the counterweight guide rails8aand8b, it is not necessary to install a supporting column inside the hoistway1, or to install a new supporting beam in the building, facilitating the refurbishing work.

In addition, because the suspending body20can be disposed in a horizontal layout at similar or identical positions to the pre-refurbishment ropes relative to the car6, much of the existing equipment such as the car guide rails5aand5b, the car6, the car suspending sheaves7aand7b, and other car peripheral equipment can be reused, enabling reductions in manufacturing and installation costs, shortening of work time, and reductions in waste to be achieved.

Next, an elevator refurbishing method according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be explained. Configuration of the hydraulic elevator before refurbishment is similar or identical to that inFIG. 2.FIG. 5is a plan that shows a general layout of major equipment in the elevator partway through refurbishment, andFIG. 6is a plan that shows a state after refurbishment of the elevator inFIG. 5.

In Embodiment 2, the first counterweight guide rail8a, which is the furthest of the counterweight guide rails8aand8baway from the second car guide rail5b, is installed in a vacant space in the equipment installation zone1ain the preparatory construction period. Other equipment for a machine-roomless elevator is installed inside the hoistway1in the continuous outage period after removing the hydraulic jack21, etc.

The second counterweight guide rail8bis installed in a region behind the second car guide rail5b, as shown inFIG. 6. The rest of the configuration and the refurbishing method are similar or identical to that of Embodiment 1.

In an elevator refurbishing method of this kind, because it is not necessary to lift the hoisting machine12, which constitutes a heavy load, to the upper portion of the hoistway1, similar effects to those in Embodiment 1 can be achieved.

Furthermore, because a large horizontal space can be acquired for the counterweight9compared to Embodiment 1, accommodation can be made even if the mass of the car6is large.

In addition, although the preparatory construction period is shorter, and the continuous outage period is longer, than in Embodiment 1, the continuous outage period can be shortened compared to when all of the equipment is removed together.

Furthermore, because the upper portion supporting beam15, the car return sheave16, the counterweight return sheave17, and the counterweight rope fastener portion19are supported by the counterweight guide rails8aand8b, it is not necessary to install a supporting column inside the hoistway1, or to install a new supporting beam in the building, facilitating the refurbishing work.

Because the suspending body20can be disposed in a horizontal layout at similar or identical positions to the pre-refurbishment ropes relative to the car6, much of the existing equipment such as the car guide rails5aand5b, the car6, the car suspending sheaves7aand7b, and other car peripheral equipment can be reused, enabling reductions in manufacturing and installation costs, shortening of work time, and reductions in waste to be achieved.

Moreover, in Embodiment 2, only the first counterweight guide rail8aof the first and second counterweight guide rails8aand8bis installed in the equipment installation zone1aduring the preparatory construction period, but both of the counterweight guide rails8aand8bmay alternatively be installed in vacant space inside the equipment installation zone1a, and then the second counterweight guide rail8bmoved to widen the spacing between the counterweight guide rails8aand8bto a required size after removing the hydraulic jack21, etc.

Next,FIG. 7is an oblique projection that shows a machine-roomless elevator that has been refurbished by a refurbishing method according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In Embodiment 3, when viewed from a landing side, a counterweight9and a counterweight rope fastener portion19are disposed at a back of an equipment installation zone1a, and the hoisting machine12, a car return sheave16, and a counterweight return sheave17are disposed at a front of the equipment installation zone1a.

In addition, a first car suspending sheave7ais disposed behind car guide rails5aand5bin a depth direction of a car6. A second car suspending sheave7bis disposed in front of the car guide rails5aand5bin the depth direction of the car6. The rest of the configuration is similar or identical to that of Embodiment 1.

Next, an elevator refurbishing method according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be explained. Configuration of the hydraulic elevator before refurbishment is similar or identical to that inFIG. 2.FIG. 8is a plan that shows a general layout of major equipment in the elevator partway through refurbishment, andFIG. 9is a plan that shows a state after refurbishment of the elevator inFIG. 8.

In Embodiment 3, the third base4, the hoisting machine base11, and the hoisting machine12are installed in vacant space in the equipment installation zone1ain the preparatory construction period. Other equipment for a machine-roomless elevator is installed in the equipment installation zone1ain the continuous outage period after removing the hydraulic jack21, etc., using space that is created by removal of the hydraulic jack21, etc. Furthermore, the mounted positions of the car suspending sheaves7aand7bon the car6are modified, or the existing car suspending sheaves7aand7bare removed and new car suspending sheaves7aand7bare mounted to a lower portion of the car6.

In addition, with regard to the counterweight guide rails8aand8b, the hydraulic jack rails22aand22bare used as the counterweight guide rails8aand8b, or the hydraulic jack rails22aand22bare removed, and new counterweight guide rails8aand8bare installed. The rest of the refurbishing method is similar or identical to that of Embodiment 1.

In an elevator refurbishing method of this kind, because it is not necessary to lift the hoisting machine12, which constitutes a heavy load, to the upper portion of the hoistway1, similar effects to those in Embodiment 1 can be achieved.

Because the hoisting machine12is simply installed in the vacant space during the preparatory construction period, the preparatory construction period can be shortened more than that of Embodiment 2. If the hydraulic jack rails22aand22bare used as the counterweight guide rails8aand8bafter refurbishment, the continuous outage period can also be shortened compared to Embodiment 2, enabling the overall construction period to be further shortened.

Because the upper portion supporting beam15, the car return sheave16, the counterweight return sheave17, and the counterweight rope fastener portion19are supported by the counterweight guide rails8aand8b, it is not necessary to install a supporting column inside the hoistway1, or to install a new supporting beam in the building, facilitating the refurbishing work.

Much of the existing equipment such as the car guide rails5aand5b, the car6, and other car peripheral equipment can be reused, enabling reductions in manufacturing and installation costs, shortening of work time, and reductions in waste to be achieved.

Moreover, in Embodiment 3, if spacing between the first and second counterweight guide rails8aand8bof the machine-roomless elevator after refurbishment is large, and the second counterweight guide rail8bis installed in vacant space in the hydraulic elevator before refurbishment, then the second counterweight guide rail8bmay be installed during the preparatory construction period.

During the preparatory construction period, both of the counterweight guide rails8aand8bmay alternatively be installed in vacant space inside the equipment installation zone1a, and then the first counterweight guide rail8amoved to widen the spacing between the counterweight guide rails8aand8bto a required size after removing the hydraulic jack21, etc.

In addition, in the refurbishing method according to Embodiments 1 through 3, the existing car guide rails5aand5b, car6, car suspending sheaves7aand7b, etc., are not necessarily required to be reused in the refurbished elevator, and may be replaced as needed.

Furthermore, in Embodiments 1 through 3, the equipment installation zone1ais on a side near the second car guide rail5binside the hoistway1, but may alternatively be on a side near the first car guide rail5a.

The refurbishing method according to the present invention can also be applied to elevators that have an arrangement of equipment in which the arrangement of equipment of Embodiments 1 through 3 is inverted in the depth direction of the car6.