Method and arrangement for installing an elevator

The invention relates to a method and arrangement for installing an elevator, which comprises an elevator car arranged to run in an elevator shaft along the guide rails, a balancing weight connected to the elevator car with suspension ropes and with a traction member, the elevator comprising further a hoisting machinery with a driving wheel in the lower part of the elevator shaft below the elevator car, the installing comprising one or more jumps to make the elevator serve higher floors. During the jump phase extensions needed for the suspension ropes are taken from first supply reels and extensions needed for the traction member are taken from second supply reels.

The present invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for installing an elevator.

In prior art solutions where elevators are needed before the building has been completed so-called jump elevators are used during the construction time. Usually jump elevators are used only in high-rise buildings and all the work related to jump elevators is rather complicated because the whole temporary machine room with its machinery and electric connections is moved in a stepwise manner to a higher floor and the at the same time the length of the hoisting rope in use is increased accordingly. That means in general that all the components depending on the hoisting height, such as car cables, compensating ropes, overspeed governors and shaft electrification and shaft cables should be extended over the entire length of the finished elevator shaft. All this causes a lot of work, which also make the process slow.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,586 shows a prior art solution where a temporary elevator machine room module comprising two levels in a frame can be lifted to a desired height and secured at its new position. The elevator machinery with the ordinary machine room components and hoisting rope supplies with rope reels are placed on the upper space of the module. When the machine room module is to be moved, the elevator car is locked at its place, and the required additional rope length is supplied from the reels of the hoisting rope supply. A disadvantage with this solution is that the whole hoisting rope supply with the reels and all the components of the machine room have to be lifted together with the machine room, and in addition all the electrification has to be deactivated and then built again when the elevator machine room module is in its new location. Heavy hoists are needed and the installation work is difficult and also slow and dangerous. The dismantling of the temporary machine room module causes also a lot of waste material and takes time.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate drawbacks of prior art technology and to achieve an advantageous, fast and easy method and arrangement for installing an elevator in lower-rise buildings so that the elevator can be used during the construction time and the use can be extended to a higher operation level as the construction work is progressing, and which elevator is also applicable for use as a normal elevator in the finished building. The method according to the invention is characterized by, during a jump to make the elevator serve a higher floor, taking extensions needed for a suspension ropes from one or more first supply reels and taking extensions needed for a traction member from one or more second supply reels, and the arrangement according to the invention is characterized by the arrangement comprising one or more first supply reels for the extensions needed for the suspension ropes during the jump and one or more second supply reels for the extensions needed for the traction member during the jump. Other embodiments of the invention are characterized by what is presented in the other claims.

The inventive content of the application can also be defined differently than in the claims presented below. The inventive content may also consist of several separate inventions, especially if the invention is considered in the light of expressions or implicit sub-tasks or from the point of view of advantages or categories of advantages achieved. In this case, some of the attributes contained in the claims below may be superfluous from the point of view of separate inventive concepts. Likewise the different details presented in connection with each embodiment can also be applied in other embodiments. In addition it can be stated that at least some of the subordinate claims can, in at least some situations, be deemed to be inventive in their own right.

The method and arrangement according to the invention have several useful advantages. Among other things it makes it possible to use the elevator during the construction time in an economical and fast way. The method and arrangement according to the invention makes it possible to use a jump-elevator installation technology economically also in lower-rise buildings. In that case elevators can be used in lower-rise buildings earlier which increases a total usage of the elevators. Because there is no need to lift the hoisting machinery and all the rope supplies in connection with the jump the jump is easier and faster to make and does not need as heavy hoisting devices as prior art systems. One big advantage is that there is no need to move the electricity supply because the hoisting machinery stays at its place all the time. Yet one advantage is that the own hoisting machinery can be used at least partially for the installation. Also one advantage is that the method and arrangement according to the invention cause only a minimal amount of waste material, because, for example the method and arrangement according to the invention does not need a temporary machine room that should be dismantled after the installation.

An advantageous way to carry out the invention is to install an elevator, comprising at least a car, a balancing weight, their guide rails, hoisting machinery, suspension ropes connecting the car and the balancing weight from up, a traction member connecting the car and the balancing weight from down and driving wheel driven by the hoisting machine and tractively connected to the traction member in such manner that the elevator is installed at least in two phases, using so called jump method. Between the jumps the elevator is serving number of the floors, usually the lowermost floors of the building or the lowermost floors of a particular elevator shaft. During a jump phase the working elevator is build taller and the extensions needed for each suspension rope is taken from a respective suspension supply reel and extension needed for each traction member is are taken from a respective traction member supply reel.

During the jumps, both suspension ropes and traction ropes can be released from their reels at the same time. Suspension rope release and traction member release from their reels can be done in a sequence or by alternating them.

Preferably the hoisting machine is installed to its final place in early phase of the installation and its place is not changed during or between the jumps. In the an auxiliary hoist is preferably used, when the pulley(s) which suspend(s) the suspension ropes above the elevator car are moved to an upper position.

It is essential to the solution according to the invention that any temporary machine room is not needed and that the hoisting machinery is not lifted during jumps to a higher level.

FIGS. 1 and 2present two basic embodiments of a method and an arrangement according to the invention for installing an elevator that is capable for a normal service in the lowermost parts of the elevator shaft when the building is in the construction phase. In the embodiment ofFIG. 1the installation is done without a special installation stage12and in the embodiment ofFIG. 2the installation is done with such kind of a special installation stage12with safety railings12a. Otherwise the installation methods can be basically similar but some installation phases can be performed better on the installation stage12than on the roof of the elevator car.

The basic embodiments ofFIGS. 1 and 2comprise an elevator car1that is arranged to move up and down in an elevator shaft along the guide rails2. The elevator car1is suspended by suspension ropes1athat are connected between a balancing weight3and the elevator car1so that the first ends of the suspension ropes1aare secured to the upper part of the balancing weight3and from the balancing weight3the suspension ropes1aare fed upwards to go over and around a first and second diverting pulley7that are journaled on their shafts at a support beam2awhich is fastened to the guide rails2above the elevator car1. The balancing weight3is arranged to run along its own guide rails that are not shown in the figures for the sake of clarity. Instead of the balancing weight3also a counterweight can be used, but later only the term balancing weight is mentioned. From the second diverting pulley7the suspension ropes1adescend to a rope supply reel9that is secured on the roof of the elevator car1. The rope supply reel9acts as the first supply reel. Depending on need the rope supply reels9can also be more than one. The rope supply reel9acts as a rope supply for the jumps to higher levels. During the normal service of the elevator in the construction phase the rope supply reel9is locked from rotating and the suspension ropes1aare secured by clamps or other suitable way so that the length of the suspension ropes1abetween the car1and the balancing weight3does not change unintentionally. An over speed governor8is assembled in the support beam2ato control possible over speed cases.

The supporting and moving of the elevator car1are separated from each other. The elevator car1is driven by a hoisting machinery4equipped with a drive wheel5. The hoisting machinery4is placed in the lower part of the elevator shaft below the elevator car1into its final location in the initial installation phase before the later jumps to be done. A traction member1bis connected between the balancing weight3and the elevator car1. The traction member1bcan be a single member or a bunch of similar parallel members, for instance the traction member1bcan be a toothed belt, chain or other type of member that does not slip on the drive wheel5.

A first end of the traction member1bis secured in its fastening point1cat the bottom of the elevator car1and from the fastening point1cthe traction member1bis passed around and under the drive sheave5of the hoisting machinery4, and from the drive sheave5the traction member1bis further passed under and around a diverting pulley6to a supply reel10that is secured on the lower part of the balancing weight3. The supply reel10acts as the second supply reel. Depending on need the supply reels10can also be more than one. The supply reel10acts as a traction member supply for the jumps to higher levels. During the normal service of the elevator in the construction phase the supply reel10is locked from rotating and the traction member1bis secured by clamps or other suitable way so that the length of the traction member1bbetween the car1and the balancing weight3does not change unintentionally.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 1an auxiliary hoist11used during the installation of the elevator is suspended from a fixed point of the building by a suspension rope or chain11a. The auxiliary hoist11has a hoisting rope or chain11bthat is secured to the support beam2aand to the elevator car1in turns when making a jump. In the embodiment ofFIG. 2the auxiliary hoist11used during the installation of the elevator is suspended from the installation stage12that has been secured in the upper part of the guide rails2. The auxiliary hoist11with its ropes is basically similar to the hoist11shown inFIG. 1.

The first method according to the invention comprises among other things for instance the following steps in the initial phase:1) Initial rise installation2) Installation of the final hoisting machinery4with the final drive wheel5into their final location in the lower part of the elevator shaft, and installation of the first guide rails23) Installation of the over speed governor8and a tension weight4) Installation of the balancing weight3to its own guide rails5) Assembling the support beam2awith its diverting pulleys7and supporting the support beam2aon the roof of the elevator car16) Suspending the elevator car1from the auxiliary hoist11, and lifting the elevator car1with the support beam2aupwards in the elevator shaft by the help of the auxiliary hoist117) Installation of the next upper guide rails2and, for instance, landing doors when working on the roof of the elevator car18) Securing the support beam2ato the guide rails2at an appropriate height9) Installation of other components, such as electrification, the suspension ropes1aand the traction member1b10) Disengaging the auxiliary hoist11from the elevator car111) Tensioning of the traction member1b12) Commissioning of the elevator.

After the last step 12) the elevator car1can run in the elevator shaft and the elevator is able to serve the lowermost floors of the building though the building is still under construction.

FIGS. 3-5show different situations during the installation phase according to the invention when the separate installation stage12is not used and certain installation phases are made on the roof of the elevator car1. InFIG. 3the initial installation has been done and a jump to a higher level is in its initial phase, and inFIG. 4the jump is in its final phase. Whereas in the situation ofFIG. 5the jump has just been completed.

The first method according to the invention comprises among other things for instance the following steps in the jump situation:13) Running the elevator car1with its own hoisting machinery4to its uppermost position14) Suspending the elevator car1from the auxiliary hoist1115) Unlocking of the suspension rope reel9and the traction member1breel1016) Detaching the support beam2afrom the guide rails2and supporting it on the roof of the car117) Installation of the next upper guide rails2and, for instance, landing doors when working on the roof of the elevator car1; during this phase the elevator car1is lifted gradually upwards with the auxiliary hoist11and at the same time the needed extension of the suspension rope1ais drawn from the suspension rope supply reel9and also the needed extension of the traction member1bis drawn from the traction member supply reel10either non-simultaneously or preferably simultaneously with suspension rope, and so that the lengths of the extensions of the traction member1band suspension rope are for a car run of an equal length18) Securing the support beam2ato the guide rails2at an appropriate new height19) Installation of other components, such as electrification, etc.20) Descending the elevator car1into an appropriate floor level21) Locking of the suspension rope reel9and the traction member1breel1022) Disengaging the auxiliary hoist11from the elevator car123) Tensioning of the traction member1b24) Commissioning of the elevator

The order of some steps may occasionally change. After the step 24) above the elevator is ready for service according toFIG. 5, still having supply reels9and10until the whole elevator shaft is at its maximum height. Then the final conversion is done and after that the elevator is ready for normal service.

The first method according to the invention comprises among other things for instance the following steps in the situation of the final conversion:25) Making the last jump as a normal jump according to the phases mentioned above26) Replacing the temporary lock or clamps used for locking the suspension ropes1aand traction member1bwith permanent clamps, for instance to rope bottles27) Repositioning the over speed governor8to the support beam2aor to the guide rail228) Removing the supply reels9and10and adjusting the balancing weight3for final use29) Securing and tensioning of the traction member1b30) Commissioning the elevator.

In this embodiment the steps as follows are made and/or can be made on the roof of the elevator car1: 5)-10), 14)-22) and 26)-28).

FIG. 2andFIGS. 6-8show an embodiment according to the invention where the separate installation stage12is used to make the installation safer and easier. Basically most of the steps in this method can be the same or almost the same as the steps mentioned above. The biggest difference is the assembling of the installation stage12, its use during the installation and its dismantling after the installation of the elevator.

The second method according to the invention comprises among other things for instance the following steps in the initial phase:101) Initial rise installation102) Installation of the final hoisting machinery4with the final drive wheel5into their final location in the lower part of the elevator shaft, and installation of the first guide rails2103) Installation of the balancing weight3to its own guide rails104) Installation of the installation stage12105) Installation of the next upper guide rails2and, for instance, landing doors when working on the installation stage12106) Installation of the elevator car1107) Assembling the support beam2awith its diverting pulleys7and over speed governor8, and placing the support beam2aon the roof of the elevator car1108) Suspending the elevator car1from the installation stage12by the auxiliary hoist11, and lifting the elevator car1with the support beam2aupwards in the elevator shaft by the help of the auxiliary hoist11; at the same time also the traction member1bis drawn with the elevator car1through the hoisting machinery4109) Securing the support beam2ato the guide rails2at an appropriate height110) Roping the over speed governor8and adjusting it to work properly111) Installation of the suspension ropes1aand the traction member1b112) Disengaging the auxiliary hoist11from the elevator car1113) Tensioning of the traction member1b114) Making the electrification115) Commissioning of the elevator.

After that the elevator car1can run in the shaft and the elevator is able to serve the lowermost floors of the building though the building is still under construction. At the same time when the elevator is in a normal service next upper guide rails2and landing doors can be installed working on the installation stage12.

FIGS. 6-8show different situations during the installation phase according to the invention when the separate installation stage12is used and certain installation phases are made on the roof of the elevator car1and certain installation phases are made on the installation stage12. InFIG. 6the initial installation has been done and a jump to a higher level is in its initial phase, and inFIG. 7the jump is in its final phase. Whereas inFIG. 8the jump has been completed and the elevator is ready for service, still having supply reels9and10until the whole elevator shaft is at its maximum height.

The second method according to the invention comprises among other things for instance the following steps in the jump situation:116) Running the elevator car1with its own hoisting machinery4to its uppermost position117) Locking the balancing weight3to the support beam2a, for instance in a rope clamp3a118) Unlocking of the suspension rope reel9and the traction member reel10that both are now in the elevator car1, the suspension rope reel9on top of the car1and the traction member reel10below the bottom of the car1119) Detaching the support beam2afrom the guide rails2and lifting the support beam2awith the balancing weight3the upwards with the auxiliary hoist11, and at the same time the needed extension of the suspension rope1ais drawn from the suspension rope supply reel9and also non-simultaneously or preferably simultaneously the needed extension of the traction member1bis drawn from the traction member supply reel10120) Locking of the suspension rope reel9and the traction member1breel10121) Securing the support beam2ato the guide rails2at an appropriate new height122) Disengaging the balancing weight3from the support beam2a123) Disengaging the auxiliary hoist11from the support beam2a124) Making the necessary electrification, etc.125) Tensioning of the traction member1b126) Commissioning of the elevator

The order of some steps may occasionally change. After the step 126) above the elevator is ready for service. During the normal service next upper guide rails and landing doors, etc. can be installed using the installation stage12until the final height is reached.

The second method according to the invention comprises among other things for instance the following steps in the situation of the final conversion:127) Repositioning the over speed governor8to the ceiling of the elevator shaft or to another suitable place128) Suspending the elevator car1from the ceiling of the elevator shaft by the auxiliary hoist11129) Dismantling the installation stage12130) Running the elevator car1to its uppermost position131) Unlocking of the suspension rope reel9and the traction member reel10132) Detaching the support beam2afrom the guide rails2and supporting it on the roof of the car1133) Lifting the elevator car1and the support beam2aupwards with the auxiliary hoist11from the ceiling of the elevator shaft, and at the same time the needed extension of the suspension rope1ais drawn from the suspension rope supply reel9and also non-simultaneously or preferably simultaneously the needed extension of the traction member1bis drawn from the traction member supply reel10134) Securing the support beam2ato the guide rails2at its final height135) Making the necessary electrification, etc.136) Replacing the temporary lock or clamps used for locking the suspension ropes1aand traction member1bwith permanent clamps, for instance to rope bottles137) Removing the supply reels9and10and adjusting the balancing weight3for final use138) Securing and tensioning of the traction member1b139) Commissioning the elevator.

In this embodiment the steps as follows are made and/or can be made on the installation stage12: 105), 108), 109), 114), 117), 119), 123), 124) and 127). Whereas the steps as follows are made and/or can be made on the roof of the elevator car1: 105), 107), 109)-111), 114), 117)-124) and 128)-136).

FIGS. 9 and 10show different situations during the installation phase according to another installation method of the invention when the separate installation stage12is used and certain installation phases are made on the roof of the elevator car1and certain installation phases are made on the installation stage12. InFIG. 9the initial installation and further installation have been done and a jump to a higher level is in its initial phase, and inFIG. 10the jump is in its final phase. This method differs from the methods described earlier in that now both the supply reels9and10are in the elevator car1, and the elevator car1is kept at the lower part of the elevator shaft during the jump. When the jump has been completed the elevator is ready for service, still having supply reels9and10until the whole elevator shaft is at its maximum height.

The fourth method according to the invention comprises among other things for instance the following steps in the jump situation:240) Running the elevator car1with its own hoisting machinery4to its lowermost position241) Suspending the elevator car1from installation stage12by the auxiliary hoist11242) Unlocking of the suspension rope reel9and the traction member reel10243) Detaching the support beam2afrom the guide rails2and supporting it on the roof of the car1244) Lifting the elevator car1and the support beam2aupwards with the auxiliary hoist11from the installation stage12, and at the same time the needed extension of the suspension rope1ais drawn from the suspension rope supply reel9and also non-simultaneously or preferably simultaneously the needed extension of the traction member1bis drawn from the traction member supply reel10245) Locking of the suspension rope reel9and the traction member1breel10246) Securing the support beam2ato the guide rails2at an appropriate new height247) Disengaging the auxiliary hoist11from the elevator car1248) Making the necessary electrification, etc.249) Tensioning of the traction member1b250) Commissioning of the elevator

The order of some steps may occasionally change. After the step 250) above the elevator is ready for service, still having supply reels9and10until the whole elevator shaft is at its maximum height. During the normal service next upper guide rails and landing doors, etc. can be installed using the installation stage12until the final height is reached. The jump can be done in the same way also in the elevator arrangement where the installation stage12is not used. In that case the auxiliary hoist11suspending the support beam2ais suspended from the fixed point in the building.

The steps of all the methods described here are very much the same in all installation phases. Only minor differences occur where some steps can vary, some step can be missing and some steps can be done in a different order. It is, however common to all the methods and the arrangements according to the invention that in the elevator installed the suspension and moving have been separated from each other and the only and final hoisting machinery4is in the lower part of the elevator shaft below the elevator car1, for instance at the bottom of the elevator shaft. Then the hoisting machinery4is not lifted upwards in the jump phase, only the support beam2awith the diverting pulleys7is lifted upwards during the jump with either the elevator car1or the balancing weight3. And at the same time either the elevator car1or the balancing weight3is arranged to draw the extensions for the suspension ropes1aand for the traction member1beither non-simultaneously or preferably simultaneously from their own supply reels9and10, and so that the lengths of the extensions of the traction member1band suspension ropes1aare for a car run of an equal length.

The supply reels9and10can be placed mutually in a different moving object, for instance so that the reel or reels9for suspension ropes1aare placed in the elevator car1and the reel or reels10for the traction member1bare placed in the balancing weight3, or vice versa. In that case the balancing during the jump may not change or the change is small and easy to compensate.

The supply reels9and10can also be placed mutually in the same moving object, for instance so that the reel or reels9for suspension ropes1aare placed in the top part of the elevator car1and the reel or reels10for the traction member1bare placed in lower part of the elevator car1, or the reel or reels9for suspension ropes1aare placed in the top part of the balancing weight3and the reel or reels10for the traction member1bare placed in lower part of the balancing weight3. In that case the balancing during the jump may change considerably and then the compensating of the change is important.

Thus, the jump phase in all the methods according to the invention may comprise a further step where the balancing is checked after the jump and, if needed, adjusted to be correct for instance by adding more weight either to the elevator car1or to the balancing weight3.

After the whole elevator shaft is at its maximum height the final conversion is done according to one of the methods described above, and after the final conversion the elevator is ready for normal service according to the situation that is shown inFIG. 11.

Thanks to the inventive solution according to the invention the jump to the next higher level is easy and fast to make, and thus also shorter jumps can be economically done and consequently the elevator can serve the building also during the construction time more flexibly than in prior art solutions.

Instead of using the auxiliary hoist11mentioned above for suspending and lifting the elevator car1, support beam2aor balancing weight3, or other components of the elevator the own hoisting machinery4of the elevator can be used mainly or at least partially for the installation described above.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to the examples described above but that it may be varied within the scope of the claims presented below.