Method for installing an elevator system

A method for installing an elevator system in an elevator shaft of a building in its construction phase uses a machine platform displaceable in the shaft along car guide rails and having a drive machine for moving a suspended elevator car to adapt a usable lifting height of the elevator car to an increasing height of the building by lifting the machine platform to a higher level. The method includes lowering a pre-assembled elevator unit into the shaft by a lifting device, using guide devices that are either mounted on the elevator unit and cooperate with stationarily fixed alignment elements in the shaft, or are fixed in the shaft and cooperate with alignment elements on the elevator unit, to align the unit in a position suitable for fitting guide shoes on the elevator unit and the car guide rails into one another.

FIELD

The invention relates to a method for installing an elevator system in an elevator shaft of a building in its construction phase, wherein the elevator system comprises at least one machine platform movable along the elevator shaft and temporarily fixable therein and having an elevator drive machine, and at least one elevator car suspended from the machine platform via suspension means and driven by the elevator drive machine, wherein a usable lifting height of the elevator car is adapted from time to time to an increasing height of the building by performing at least one lifting of the machine platform with the elevator car to a higher level.

BACKGROUND

From FR 2694279 A1, an elevator is known which comprises all elevator units and functions mentioned in the foregoing introduction, wherein in the case of this elevator, a usable lifting height of the elevator car is adapted from time to time to an increasing height of the building during the construction of the building. During the installation of the elevator, elevator units such as the elevator car, the counterweight, and the machine platform equipped with the drive machine are inserted into the elevator shaft already equipped with car guide rails for the elevator car by lowering them by means of a crane, wherein guide rails already installed are inserted into the guide shoes of the elevator units.

From JP H04 116079 A, a method for installing an elevator is known in which the elevator car and counterweight are inserted into the elevator shaft already equipped with guide rails and lowered therein with the aid of a crane. When lowering the elevator car and the counterweight into the elevator shaft, guide devices are fixed to the guide shoes thereof, with the aid of which the guide rails can be inserted more easily into the associated guide shoes.

From JP S62 56280 A, a process is known in which the elevator car of an elevator is inserted by means of a crane into the elevator shaft which is already equipped with guide rails. From supports temporarily mounted above the elevator shaft, at least two vertical ropes are tensioned which extend approximately to the upper ends of the car guide rails. These ropes serve as temporary auxiliary guides for the elevator car when the elevator car is lowered into the elevator shaft and simplify the insertion of the car guide rails into the associated guide shoes of the elevator car.

From JP H06 135656 A, a device is known which is intended to facilitate the guiding of the car guide rails into the guide shoes of the elevator car during the insertion of a prefabricated elevator car into the elevator shaft carried out with the aid of a crane. For this purpose, guide rail portions are fixed to the upper ends of the car guide rails, of which all guide surfaces of the guide web are chamfered in a wedge-shaped manner.

By the aforementioned prior art documents, it is suggested that during the installation of elevators which are adapted from time to time to an increasing height of the building, auxiliary devices, such as guide devices attached to the elevator units to be lowered into the elevator shaft, are used to guide or align the elevator units during lowering in such a manner that during the lowering process, the guide shoes of the elevator units can be brought into engagement with the associated car guide rails or, respectively, with the guide rail heads of these car guide rails.

However, such methods have the disadvantage that the elevator units, which can weigh up to ten tons, must be precisely aligned by hand by elevator fitters during lowering, at least shortly before the guide rails are inserted into the associated guide shoes, because there is only very little play between the guide surfaces of the guide rails and the guide elements of the guide shoes. Otherwise, fitting guide rails and guide shoes into one another very likely results in damage to at least one of the two components. In addition, there is a considerable risk of accidents for the assembly personnel when manually aligning the heavy elevator units.

SUMMARY

An underlying object of the present invention is to provide a method for installing such an elevator system which makes it possible to avoid the problems mentioned, i.e. to lower at least one pre-assembled elevator unit—for example the elevator car or the machine platform—into the elevator shaft without risk of damage, with less expenditure of time and with less risk of accident, and to bring the guide shoes of the elevator unit into engagement with the respective associated car guide rails or, respectively, with the guide rail heads of these car guide rails.

According to the invention, the solution to the object consists in a method for installing an elevator system in an elevator shaft of a building in its construction phase, which elevator system comprises an elevator car guided along the elevator shaft on car guide rails and a machine platform having a drive machine which is displaceable along the elevator shaft on the same car guide rails and can be temporarily fixed in the elevator shaft, wherein the elevator car is suspended from the machine platform via suspension means and is driven by the elevator drive machine, wherein a usable lifting height of the elevator car is adapted from time to time to an increasing height of the building by, among other things, lifting the machine platform to a higher level, wherein in the installation method at least one elevator unit is lowered in a pre-assembled state by means of a lifting device into the elevator shaft already equipped with the car guide rails, wherein guide devices are used which are either mounted on the elevator unit and cooperate with stationarily fixed alignment elements fixed in the elevator shaft or which are fixed in the elevator shaft and cooperate with alignment elements mounted on the elevator unit, so that the at least one elevator unit, when lowered into the elevator shaft, is aligned in a position suitable for fitting guide shoes of the elevator unit and associated car guide rails into one another, and wherein the at least one elevator unit, at the end of its lowering process, is supported in the region of the elevator shaft equipped with car guide rails in the position suitable for fitting guide shoes and car guide rails into one another, whereafter at least one guide shoe of the elevator unit is brought into engagement with the associated car guide rail and is fastened to the at least one elevator unit. In the present context, the term “aligning” is to be understood as the positioning of an elevator unit within a horizontal plane while simultaneously aligning the elevator unit about a vertical axis.

The term “guide rail head” is to be understood as a thickened and usually machined part of the web of a car guide rail consisting of a T-profile with flange and web. In order to simplify the present description, instead of the term “guide rail head of a car guide rail” only the term “car guide rail” will be used in the following.

With the method according to the invention for installing an elevator, in which the aligned elevator unit is supported in the elevator shaft and subsequently the guide shoes of the elevator unit are brought into engagement with the respective associated car guide rails by an elevator installer and fastened to the elevator unit, it is achieved that the risk of damage to the car guide rails is reduced, that the risk of damage to the guide shoes and to the guide rails is virtually eliminated, that the installation personnel no longer have to precisely align the heavy elevator units suspended from the hoist and therefore the risk of accidents is reduced, and that the unproblematic fitting of car guide rails and associated guide shoes into one another considerably reduces the installation time and the use of the hoist (construction crane).

In one of the possible embodiments of the method, at least part of the guide devices is dismantled after the machine platform has been lowered into the elevator shaft and reused in the installation of another elevator system.

As a result, the cost of manufacturing such guide devices can be saved several times.

In another possible embodiment of the method, each guide device has at least one first and one second guide element which are arranged such that, when the at least one elevator unit—formed, for example, by the machine platform—is lowered, they cooperate with alignment elements attached to the machine platform or stationarily fixed in in the elevator shaft in such a manner that the at least one elevator unit is aligned. With the at least two guide elements each belonging to a guide device, it is achieved in a simple and cost-effective manner that when lowering the at least one elevator unit, the latter is aligned in such a manner that the guide shoes of the elevator unit can be brought into engagement with the car guide rails and mounted on the elevator unit, or that the upper ends of the car guide rails are inserted into guide shoes already fixed on the elevator unit.

The alignment elements and the guide devices are to be arranged in such a manner that during lowering, the elevator unit is aligned before the guide shoes of the elevator unit or their attachment points have reached the upper ends of the car guide rails.

In another possible embodiment of the method, at least one of the alignment elements is formed by a rod-shaped component having two parallel side faces and an end face perpendicular to these side faces.

This makes it possible that the same guide devices can cooperate with alignment elements fixed to the elevator shaft wall—for example with car guide rails—as well as with alignment elements attached to the respective at least one elevator unit—for example with rod-shaped alignment rails.

In another possible embodiment of the method, at least one of the alignment elements is formed by a car guide rail fixed to an elevator shaft wall—or by an upper region of such a car guide rail at the time of insertion of the at least one elevator unit into the elevator shaft.

This embodiment has the advantage that no additional structural elements are required to implement the alignment elements. Manufacturing and assembly costs are thus minimized.

In another possible embodiment of the method, at least one of the alignment elements is formed by an alignment rail attached to the at least one elevator unit and cooperating with a guide device fixed in the elevator shaft. In this case, the position of the guide device corresponds to the position of the alignment rail forming the alignment element in such a manner that when lowering the at least one elevator unit, the latter is aligned in such a manner that the guide shoes of the elevator unit can be brought into engagement with the car guide rails and subsequently can be mounted on the elevator unit, or that when lowering the at least one elevator unit, the car guide rail associated with the guide device is inserted into the guide shoe on the elevator unit associated with this car guide rail.

With this embodiment, a high degree of flexibility is achieved in the choice of the arrangement of the guide devices and the alignment elements.

In another possible embodiment of the method, the first and second guide elements are arranged approximately symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane of symmetry, wherein the two guide elements form a V-shaped guide channel which, when lowering the at least one elevator unit, cooperates with the alignment element associated with the guide device and, in the region of the narrowest point between the two guide elements, has a distance corresponding approximately to a horizontal width of the alignment element.

With this embodiment of the method, the desired alignment of the at least one elevator unit can be achieved by the simplest and most cost-effective means.

In the present specification, the term “vertical” is generally to be understood as the direction of extent of the elevator shaft or the direction of extent of the car guide rails of the elevator car of the elevator installation, and the term “horizontal” is to be understood, in the true meaning, as any direction which is directed perpendicularly to the direction of extent.

In another possible embodiment of the method, the first and the second guide elements are designed with approximately rectangular guide surfaces, wherein these guide surfaces are arranged with respect to the side and end faces of the associated alignment element and of the associated car guide rail, respectively, in such a manner that the guide surface of the first guide element faces a first one of the parallel side faces and the guide surface of the second guide element faces a second one of the parallel side aces of the alignment element, that the guide surfaces at least partially cover the side faces, that in each case a horizontal center line of the rectangular guide surfaces is perpendicular to the plane of the end face of the alignment element, that in each case a rising center line of the rectangular guide surfaces is arranged pivoted by in each case a guide angle α in opposite pivoting directions with respect to the parallel side faces of the alignment element, that both guide surfaces are arranged symmetrically with respect to a symmetry plane lying between the two side faces, wherein the smallest distance between the two guide surfaces corresponds approximately to the distance B between the parallel side faces of the alignment element.

With this embodiment of the method it is achieved that the guide devices can be produced systematically and inexpensively and function appropriately, and that they reduce the risk of accidents both during their assembly and when they are used as alignment aids.

In another possible embodiment of the method, the first and second guide elements are attached in such a manner that the guide angles α present between the rising center lines of the rectangular guide surfaces of these guide elements and the parallel side faces of the associated alignment element are between 10 degrees and 70 degrees, preferably between 20 degrees and 60 degrees, and particularly preferably between 30 degrees and 50 degrees.

This makes it possible to achieve an advantageous and proven alignment effect of the guide elements and thus a method that saves assembly time and cost.

In another possible embodiment of the method, the guide device, in the case of attachment of the guide device on the elevator unit to be lowered into the elevator shaft, is arranged in such a manner that the V-shaped guide channel or the guide angles α present between the rising center lines of the rectangular guide surfaces and the parallel side faces of the associated alignment element open downwards.

In this way it is achieved that when the at least one elevator unit is lowered into the elevator shaft, the desired alignment effect between the guide device attached to the elevator unit and a corresponding alignment element fixed in the elevator shaft is achieved.

In another possible embodiment of the method, the guide device, if the guide device is attached stationarily in the elevator shaft, is arranged in such a manner that the V-shaped guide channel or the guide angles α present between the rising center lines of the rectangular guide surfaces and the parallel side faces of the associated alignment element open upwards.

In this way it is achieved that when the at least one elevator unit is lowered into the elevator shaft, the desired alignment effect is achieved between the guide device fixed in the elevator shaft and a corresponding alignment element attached to the elevator unit.

In another possible embodiment of the method, at least one of the guide devices is provided with a third guide element, wherein a third guide surface of the third guide element is arranged, on the one hand, perpendicular to the side faces of the alignment element and, on the other hand, pivoted by a guide angle β with respect to the end face of the alignment element.

With such an embodiment of the method it is achieved that due to the cooperation of at least two guide devices, which are installed on opposite sides of the elevator units to be lowered, with respective corresponding alignment elements, an additional alignment effect also occurs, the effective direction of which lies transversely to the effective direction of the alignment effect effected by the first and the second guide elements.

In another possible embodiment of the method, the at least one elevator unit is formed by one of the following components of the elevator system guided by means of guide shoes on the car guide rails:the machine platformthe elevator cara lifting platform which is temporarily fixed in the elevator shaft and is used as a support structure for lifting the machine platform as construction progresses.
By applying the method to a plurality of elevator units—i.e., by placing a plurality of pre-assembled components of the elevator system in the elevator shaft—, and by using the same guide devices for all elevator units, the cost for the installation of the elevator system can be further reduced.

Exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1Aschematically shows an elevator system1suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention and already installed in a front view, andFIG.1Bshows the elevator system1in a side view. The elevator system1is arranged in an elevator shaft2of a building under construction and comprises a plurality of elevator units10movable along car guide rails6in the elevator shaft2. This group of elevator units includes the elevator car10.2and a machine platform10.1movable and lockable along car guide rails6in the elevator shaft2and having an elevator drive machine11. The elevator system1may include a lifting platform10.3as a further elevator unit10, which is explained below in connection withFIG.6.

Furthermore, the elevator unit1comprises a counterweight8guided on counterweight guide rails which are not shown here. The elevator car10.2and the counterweight8are suspended from the machine platform10.1via an arrangement of suspension means15, with the suspension means15being guided over a traction sheave12of the elevator drive machine11in such a manner that the elevator car10.2and the counterweight8can be driven in opposite directions by the elevator drive machine11via the suspension means15. Preferably, wire ropes, synthetic fiber ropes or belt-like traction means reinforced with wire ropes or synthetic fiber ropes are used as suspension means. As can be seen fromFIG.1A, each of the suspension means15extends from a rope fixing point16present on the machine platform10.1to an arrangement of car support pulleys17, are deflected there by 180 degrees, then extend upwardly from the arrangement of car support pulleys17to the traction sheave12of the elevator drive machine11, are deflected by the traction sheave12to diverter or deflection pulleys18, then extend downwardly to counterweight support pulleys19, are deflected there by 180 degrees, and extend upwardly from the counterweight support pulleys19to a suspension means clamping device20attached to the machine platform10.1. After the suspension means clamping device20, the suspension means15continue to run upwards to deflection pulleys21likewise mounted on the machine platform, are deflected there by 180 degrees and then extend downwards in the elevator shaft2to rope storage devices23arranged in the region of the elevator shaft pit2.1—preferably in a recess22of an elevator shaft wall2.2.

The elevator system1is designed in such a manner that the usable lifting height of the elevator car10.2can be adapted to the increasing height of the building or elevator shaft2during the construction phase in that, on the one hand, the machine platform10.1is lifted by at least one floor height in the elevator shaft2by means of a construction crane25or another lifting device and is fixed at a new position—preferably at the level of a floor sill27of the building—and in that, on the other hand, an extension of the vertical suspension means portions15.1-15.5of the arrangement of suspension means15is carried out depending on the increase of the usable lifting height. The suspension means supply required for such an extension of the mentioned vertical sections of the suspension means is preferably kept ready in the rope storage device23and is fed into the arrangement of suspension means15in the respective required quantity when the machine platform is lifted for the purpose of increasing the usable lifting height. In order to carry out the extension of the suspension means, the counterweight8is preferably moved to its lower travel limit before the machine platform10.1is lifted, and then the elevator car10.2is coupled to the machine platform so that the suspension means are largely unloaded. The clamping of the suspension means clamping device20is now released, whereupon the machine platform10.1is lifted to its intended new position with the aid of the construction crane. While the machine platform and the elevator car10.2suspended therefrom are being lifted, the required quantity of suspension means is fed from the rope storage devices23via the deflection pulleys21and the opened suspension means clamping device20into the arrangement of suspension means15. After the machine platform10.1has been fixed at its new level in the elevator shaft2, the suspension means15are blocked again in the suspension means clamping device20, and the coupling between the elevator car10.2and the machine platform10.1is released. The elevator system1is now substantially ready for elevator operation with an increased usable lifting height. The described procedure for increasing the usable lifting height of the elevator car can be repeated until the building or elevator shaft2has reached a final height. Preferably, the machine platform10.1is then definitely fixed in the elevator shaft as the final machine room floor of the elevator system1.

In order to be able to raise the machine platform10.1along the elevator shaft2and then lock it again in the elevator shaft, the machine platform is equipped with retractable or extendable support elements30. The machine platform10.1is preferably locked in place by extending the support elements30after the machine platform has been lifted so that they can be supported in recesses50in an elevator shaft wall2.2or in the region of a shaft door opening28on the floor sill27.

To protect the assembly personnel as well as components of the elevator system from falling objects, the machine platform10.1is provided with a protective roof32.

Both the machine platform10.1and the elevator car10.2are guided in vertically displaceable manner by means of upper and lower guide shoes35.1,35.2on the car guide rails6provided in the final elevator system for guiding the elevator car10.2.

As mentioned above, the elevator system1comprises a group of elevator units10guided by means of guide shoes35.1,35.2on car guide rails6, which group includes the vertically displaceable machine platform10.1, the elevator car10.2and a lifting platform10.3used for lifting the machine platform (shown inFIG.6). In the installation method according to the invention, at least one of these elevator units—preferably at least the machine platform10.1—is not assembled in the elevator shaft2from individual components, but this at least one elevator unit10is inserted into the elevator shaft2as a pre-assembled unit by means of the construction crane25or another lifting device. In doing so, the at least one elevator unit10is lowered in the elevator shaft to a level at which the elevator unit can be temporarily locked in place and assembled with other elevator units to form an operational elevator system—with the usable lifting height of the elevator car10.2reduced in accordance with the currently available height of the elevator shaft. In order to bring the elevator unit into a position suitable for fitting its guide shoes35.1,35.2and the respectively associated car guide rail6into one another when the at least one elevator unit10is lowered into the elevator shaft, guide devices mounted on the elevator unit or mounted stationarily in the elevator shaft are used, which cooperate with respectively associated alignment elements fixed stationarily in the elevator shaft2or attached to the at least one elevator unit10. For this purpose, different embodiments of the method can be used.

FIG.2shows a first embodiment of the method on the basis of an example in which the at least one elevator unit10is formed by the machine platform10.1described above. The machine platform10.1, which is pre-assembled outside the elevator shaft2, substantially comprises a support frame40made, for example, from rectangular steel tubes by means of welding or bolting. Two vertically oriented guide shoe carriers41are connected to this support frame40, at the upper and lower ends of which the guide shoes35.1,35.2are attached in the operational state for guiding the machine platform10.1on the car guide rails6serving as alignment elements5in this embodiment. The following components belonging to the machine platform can also be seen on the machine platform: the elevator drive machine11with the traction sheave12, the diverter pulleys18for diverting and guiding the suspension means (not yet installed in the installation phase shown), the suspension means clamping device20, with which in each case a supporting portion of the suspension means is detachably fixed to the machine platform10.1, the deflection pulley21for deflecting portions of the suspension means that are not loaded during elevator operation to the rope storage devices23(FIG.1), the extendable and retractable support elements30, via which the machine platform10.1can be supported in the elevator shaft2, and the protective roof32, which serves to protect against falling objects. In the embodiment of the method described inFIG.2, guide devices45are mounted at the lower ends of the guide shoe carriers41of the machine platform10.1instead of lower guide shoes35.2in the illustrated phase of the method. The function of the mentioned guide devices45is explained below.

The machine platform10.1, which was pre-assembled outside the elevator shaft2, is shown inFIG.2in a situation in which it was brought into the elevator shaft2by lowering it by means of a lifting device—for example, a construction crane. It is supported and fixed in a position in the upper region of the elevator shaft that has currently already been constructed. At the time of installation of the machine platform or elevator system, the elevator shaft2has a height corresponding to the construction progress of the building, which corresponds to the height of a few floors—for example 5 floors. To support the machine platform10.1, the support elements30are extended shortly before the machine platform has reached the intended level during lowering, whereafter the machine platform is lowered further until it rests via its support elements on bearing surfaces of the elevator shaft provided for this purpose—preferably on a floor sill27and in recesses50in the elevator shaft wall2.2opposite this floor sill.

As already mentioned, during lowering of the elevator unit10formed here by the machine platform10.1into the elevator shaft2, two guide devices45are attached to the lower ends of the two guide shoe carriers41of the machine platform10.1instead of lower guide shoes35.2. When the machine platform is lowered into the elevator shaft, these guide devices45cooperate with associated alignment elements5stationarily fixed in the elevator shaft—here with the car guide rails6serving as alignment elements5—in such a manner that the at least one elevator unit10which is suspended on the rope of the lifting device25and is formed by the machine platform10.1is aligned in a position in which the upper and lower guide shoes35.1,35.2of the elevator unit and the respective associated car guide rails6can be fitted into one another after the machine platform10.1has been supported in the elevator shaft2in the correct horizontal position. After the machine platform has been supported, the guide devices45are first dismantled. Subsequently, the guide shoes35.1,35.2and the respective associated car guide rails6are fitted into one another, whereupon the guide shoes are fastened to the guide shoe carriers41of the elevator unit10formed by the machine platform10.1.

FIGS.2A and2Bschematically show the guide device45in a front view and a side view, respectively. The guide device substantially comprises at least one base plate46as well as a first guide element47.1and a second guide element47.2, each of the guide elements having a planar, rectangular guide surface47.1.1,47.2.1. In the embodiment of the method explained here, the guide elements47.1,47.2are arranged in the guide device45in such a manner that the at least one elevator unit10formed by the machine platform10.1is aligned when at least two guide devices45mounted on the elevator unit10cooperate with the respective associated alignment elements5stationarily fixed in the elevator shaft2—formed here by the car guide rails6—when the elevator unit is lowered. Preferably, rod-shaped structural elements extending parallel to the car guide rails6and having two parallel side faces and an end face perpendicular to the parallel side faces are used as alignment elements. In the embodiment shown inFIG.2, the alignment elements5are formed by the car guide rails6, which have the aforementioned parallel side faces6.1,6.2and the end face6.3perpendicular to these side faces (seeFIG.2A). The first guide surface47.1.1and the second guide surface47.2.1of the two guide elements47.1and47.2are arranged approximately symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane of symmetry in the guide device45, wherein a downwardly opening, V-shaped guide channel45.1is formed by the two guide surfaces. When the machine platform10.1forming the at least one elevator unit is lowered, this guide channel cooperates with the alignment element5associated with the guide device—formed here by the car guide rail6—and, in the region of the narrowest point between the two rectangular guide surfaces47.1.1,47.2.1, has a distance corresponding approximately to the horizontal width B of the car guide rail6.

In the case of a guide device45mounted on an elevator unit positioned in the elevator shaft2—inFIG.2on the machine platform10.1—the guide surfaces47.1.1,47.2.1are arranged with respect to the side faces6.1,6.2and the end faces6.3of the car guide rail6, which here form the alignment element5, in such a manner that the guide surface47.1.1of the first guide element47.1faces the first parallel side face6.1and the guide face47.2.1of the second guide element47.2faces the second parallel side face6.2of the car guide rail6, that the guide faces47.1.1,47.2.1at least partially overlap the two side faces6.1,6.2of the car guide rail6, that the horizontal center lines of the rectangular guide faces47.1.1,47.2.1are perpendicular to the plane of the end face6.3of the car guide rail6forming the alignment element5, that the rising center lines of the rectangular guide surfaces47.1.1,47.2.1are each arranged pivoted by a guide angle α in opposite pivoting directions relative to the parallel side faces6.1,6.2of the car guide rail6, and that the two guide surfaces47.1.1,47.2.1are arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry lying between the parallel side faces6.1,6.2of the alignment element5, wherein the smallest distance between the two guide surfaces47.1.1,47.2.1corresponds approximately to the distance B between the parallel side faces6.1,6.2of the car guide rail6forming the alignment element5.

Moreover, it can be seen inFIGS.2A and2Bthat at least one of the guide devices45can advantageously be provided with a third guide element47.3, the third guide surface47.3.1of which creates an additional alignment effect by cooperating with the car guide rail6associated with the guide device and forming the alignment element5, wherein the effective direction of this additional alignment effect is transverse to the effective direction of the alignment effect created by the first and second guide elements47.1,47.2. The guide surface47.3.1is arranged, on the one hand, perpendicular to the side faces6.1and6.2of the car guide rail6forming the alignment element5here and, on the other hand, arranged pivoted by a guide angle β with respect to the end face6.3of the car guide rail.

The above description of the guide device and the alignment element cooperating with the guide device is also applicable to the guide devices and alignment elements described in connection with the other Figs. In this context, the guide devices can be attached to the at least one elevator unit or to elevator shaft walls in such a manner that the V-shaped guide channels of the guide devices open downwards or upwards. The alignment elements can be designed as car guide rails or as alignment rails attached to the elevator unit.

FIG.3shows a second embodiment of the method. In this embodiment, too, a pre-assembled elevator unit10—here likewise the machine platform10.1corresponding to the machine platform according toFIGS.2A,2B—is lowered into the elevator shaft2by means of the construction crane25. When lowering the pre-assembled elevator unit formed by the machine platform10.1, it is aligned with alignment elements5by means of guide devices45arranged on the pre-assembled elevator unit, as in the embodiment according toFIG.2, which alignment elements in the embodiment according toFIG.3are also formed by car guide rails6.

The embodiment according toFIG.3differs from the embodiment described inFIGS.2,2A,2Bin that, after the lowering of the pre-assembled elevator unit10formed by the machine platform10.1and the resulting alignment of the elevator unit, this elevator unit is not supported in the elevator shaft in order to subsequently bring guide shoes35(FIG.1B), which have not yet been attached to the elevator unit, into engagement with the car guide rails6and to mount them on the elevator unit. In the embodiment described inFIG.3, the upper and lower guide shoes35.1,35.2of the machine platform10.1forming the elevator unit10as well as the guide devices45are already attached and fixed to the pre-assembled elevator unit before the elevator unit is inserted into the elevator shaft2and lowered therein. The guide devices45are identical to the guide devices45shown mainly inFIGS.2A,2Band are mounted in the same manner on the elevator unit10. In the course of the lowering process, the guide elements47.1-47.3of the guide devices45mounted below the elevator unit come into contact with the momentarily upper ends of the car guide rails6already fixed to elevator shaft walls2.2and forming here the alignment elements5. Upon further lowering of the elevator unit, the latter is aligned by the guide devices45cooperating with the alignment elements5or with the mentioned guide rails6into a position from which, upon further lowering of the elevator unit, the car guide rails6are inserted into the guide shoes35.1,35.2arranged on the elevator unit10formed by the mounting platform10.1. Subsequently, the elevator unit can be lowered to a level provided for it in the elevator shaft2and supported there at least temporarily. As can be seen fromFIG.3, auxiliary guide devices48can be mounted below the upper guide shoes35.1of the elevator unit10,10.1, which facilitate automatic insertion of the car guide rails6into the upper guide shoes35.1when the aligned elevator unit is lowered and the elevator unit is not suspended perfectly horizontally from the rope of the construction crane25.

FIG.3Ashows an enlarged front view of a preferred arrangement variant of an upper guide shoe35.1of the elevator unit10formed here by the machine platform10.1as well as an auxiliary guide device48associated with this guide shoe. Both the guide shoes35.1,35.2and the auxiliary guide device48are fixed to the U-shaped guide shoe carrier41fastened to the supporting frame40(FIG.2) of the machine platform before the machine platform10.1is inserted into the elevator shaft2.FIG.3Bshows a sectional view of the arrangement of these components and their relation to the car guide rail6forming the alignment element5in a side view corresponding toFIG.3A.

FIG.4shows a third embodiment of the method, in which likewise an elevator unit10pre-assembled outside the elevator shaft2and formed by the machine platform10.1is lowered into the elevator shaft2by means of the construction crane25. The embodiment shown inFIG.4differs from the embodiments explained in connection withFIGS.2and3in that during the lowering, the at least one elevator unit10formed by the machine platform10.1is not aligned with respective associated guide devices fixed to elevator shaft walls2.2of the elevator shaft2by the cooperation of two guide devices mounted on the machine platform, but by the cooperation of at least two guide devices45mounted stationarily on opposite elevator shaft walls2.2in the elevator shaft2with respective alignment elements5formed by alignment rails7and attached to the elevator unit on both sides thereof.

FIG.4Ashows one of the guide devices45—which are substantially identical in construction to the guide devices described in connection withFIGS.2,2A,2B—in combination with the upper portion of an alignment rail7associated with the guide device in an enlarged front view.FIG.4Bshows a vertical section through the arrangement according toFIG.4A. The alignment rail7forming the alignment element5here—like the car guide rails6described inFIGS.2and3—has two parallel side faces7.1,7.2and an end face7.3perpendicular to these side faces, wherein the distance B between the parallel side faces forms the horizontal width of the alignment element5, which corresponds approximately to the smallest distance between the two guide elements47.1,47.2of the guide device. In the embodiment according toFIGS.4A,4B, the guide devices45are arranged in the elevator shaft in such a manner that the V-shaped guide channel45.1formed by the guide elements47.1,47.2or the guide angle α present between the rising center line of in each case a rectangular guide surface47.1.1,47.2.1(FIG.2A) and the parallel side faces7.1,7.2of the associated alignment rail7, here forming the alignment element5, opens upwards.

In the embodiment of the method described inFIGS.4,4A,4B, neither guide devices45nor guide shoes35.1,35.2are mounted on the lower ends of the guide shoe carriers41of the machine platform10.1provided for this purpose during lowering of the machine platform10.1forming the at least one elevator unit10. In each case one guide device is fixed to in each case one of two opposing shaft walls, and alignment elements5in the form of alignment rails7cooperating with these guide devices45are mounted on the machine platform10.1. The function of the guide devices45and the associated alignment elements5is explained below.

The machine platform10.1forming the at least one elevator unit10, which was pre-assembled outside the elevator shaft2, is shown inFIG.4in a position into which it was brought in an initial phase of the elevator installation by lowering it into the elevator shaft2—for example by means of a construction crane25. The machine platform10.1is temporarily supported and fixed to the elevator shaft in a position in the upper region of the elevator shaft currently already constructed. At the time of installation of the elevator unit or the machine platform10.1, the elevator shaft2has a height corresponding to the construction progress of the building, which corresponds to the height of a few floors—for example 5 floors. To support the machine platform10.1, the support elements30are extended shortly before the machine platform reaches the intended level during lowering, whereupon the machine platform is lowered further until it rests via its support elements on bearing surfaces provided for this purpose in the elevator shaft—preferably on a floor sill27and in recesses50in the elevator shaft wall2.2facing this floor sill.

Before the elevator unit10, formed here by the machine platform10.1, is lowered into the elevator shaft2, in each case one vertically oriented alignment element5formed by an alignment rail7is mounted on two opposite sides of the machine platform on the outside of the support frame40, and in each case one guide device45aligned with in each case one of the alignment elements5is fixed to each of two elevator shaft walls2.2parallel to the mentioned sides of the machine platform10.1. In doing so, the guide devices are mounted at a height at which it is ensured that, when the elevator unit is lowered into the elevator shaft, the lower ends of the alignment rails7forming the alignment elements5are already aligned by the guide elements47.1,47.2,47.3of the guide devices45before the lower ends of the guide shoe carriers41have reached the upper ends of the already installed car guide rails6. The elevator unit can then be lowered further without the car guide rails already fixed to the elevator shaft walls colliding with the guide shoe supports41or with supports provided thereon for fixing the guide shoes. During further lowering of the elevator unit10formed by the machine platform10.1, the guide devices45fixed stationarily in the elevator shaft2cooperate with the respective associated alignment elements5mounted on the elevator unit10in such a manner that the at least one elevator unit suspended from the rope of the hoisting device25remains in the aligned position. After the machine platform10.1forming the elevator unit10here has been supported in the elevator shaft2in the correct horizontal position shown inFIG.4, the upper and lower guide shoes35.1,35.2and the respective associated car guide rails6can be fitted into one another, and the guide shoes35.1,35.2can be mounted and fixed—for example by a fitter—to the guide shoe carriers41of the machine platform10.1.

FIG.5shows a fourth embodiment of the method, in which an elevator unit10pre-assembled outside the elevator shaft2and, in the present example, formed by the machine platform10.1is likewise lowered into the elevator shaft2by means of the construction crane25. The embodiment shown inFIG.5differs from the embodiment explained in connection withFIG.4in that during the lowering of the machine platform into the elevator shaft, the upper and lower guide shoes35.1,35.2are already mounted on the elevator unit10. As in the embodiment according toFIG.4, in each case one guide device45with a guide channel45.1opening upwards is stationarily mounted on two opposing elevator shaft walls2.2. On the sides of the machine platform10.1which face the elevator shaft walls with the guide devices45, in each case one alignment rail7is mounted, which is aligned in the vertical direction with the associated guide device45and serves as an alignment element5.

The guide devices45and the alignment rails7are positioned relative to one another in the vertical direction in such a manner that during the lowering of the machine platform10.1into the elevator shaft2, the lower ends of the alignment rails are already aligned and guided by the guide devices before the lower guide shoes35.2of the machine platform have reached the currently upper ends of the car guide rails6. Upon further lowering of the machine platform10.1, which has been aligned by the cooperation of the guide devices45with the alignment rails7, the lower guide shoes35.2of the machine platform first engage with the car guide rails6—which are preferably slightly chamfered at their upper ends. Upon further lowering of the aligned machine platform10.1, the upper guide shoes35.1also come into engagement with the car guide rails6. In order to ensure that the upper ends of the car guide rails6can be inserted into the upper guide shoes35.1of the machine platform10.1even if the machine platform is not exactly in a horizontal position, auxiliary guide devices48can be arranged on the guide shoe supports41of the machine platform10.1below the mentioned upper guide shoes35.1. Such auxiliary guide devices48, which are difficult to dismantle in the arrangement shown, are preferably made of plastics or hardwood or are formed by welded parts integrated into the guide shoe supports41. After both the lower and upper guide shoes35.2,35.1of the elevator unit10formed here by the machine platform10.1have engaged with the car guide rails6, the elevator unit can be lowered to their intended position and supported in the elevator shaft.

FIGS.5A and5Bshow a front view and a side view shown as a sectional view of an upper end of a guide shoe carrier41with an upper guide shoe35.1mounted on the latter and with the aforementioned auxiliary guide device48. From these illustrations, it can be seen how the auxiliary guide device48helps during the lowering of the machine platform10.1forming the elevator unit to guide the upper guide shoes35.1mounted thereon and the upper ends of the car guide rails6—shown as dotted lines inFIG.5B—into each other.

FIG.6shows a slightly modified embodiment of the elevator system1shown inFIG.1, in which the usable lifting height of the elevator car10.2is likewise adapted to an increasing height of a building or elevator shaft2in its construction phase. However, in contrast to the elevator system according toFIG.1, in the elevator system according toFIG.6, the machine platform10.1, which carries the elevator car10.2and the counterweight8, is not lifted from time to time with the aid of a construction crane, but this lifting of the machine platform10.1is carried out by means of a lifting platform10.3equipped with a lifting device60and forming a further elevator unit10.

The advantage of this embodiment is that for the lifting of the machine platform10.1to be carried out from time to time, no construction crane with a lifting force sufficient for lifting the machine platform needs to be available. For the lifting of the substantially lighter lifting platform10.3required before each lifting of the machine platform10.1, a light lifting device (not shown inFIG.6) fixed above the lifting platform10.3by means of a support element in the elevator shaft is sufficient.

Of course, before each lifting of the lifting platform10.3, the light lifting device and the associated supporting element must also be placed correspondingly further up in the elevator shaft. If no construction crane is available for lifting the light lifting device at the given time of lifting the lifting platform, both the carrying element and the light lifting device can be transported to a higher level via the stairwell, for example.

The lifting platform10.3described above, which can be lifted in the elevator shaft2, is also guided on the car guide rails6by guide shoes35mounted on the lifting platform. After the insertion of the elevator car10.2, the counterweight8and the machine platform10.1into the elevator shaft2has been carried out in the first phase of the installation method proposed here, the lifting platform10.3in the embodiment described here is also inserted into the elevator shaft2in the pre-assembled state by means of a construction crane, lowered to an intended level in the elevator shaft and supported there via support elements30in the elevator shaft. In order to bring the guide shoes35of the lifting platform10.3forming a further elevator unit into engagement with the car guide rails6with minimal effort and risk of accident, the mentioned lifting platform10.3is also aligned in the elevator shaft during the lowering by the cooperation of guide devices and corresponding alignment elements. The different variants of the alignment process and the guide devices and alignment elements used for this purpose are the same as described above in connection withFIGS.2-5.

At least the guide devices45attached to the elevator shaft walls2.2or to the elevator units10—but preferably also the alignment rails7serving as alignment elements5and fixed to the elevator units10—are each dismantled after the elevator units have been lowered into the elevator shaft and the guide shoes35.1,35.2of the elevator units have been brought into engagement with the car guide rails6. The dismantled elements are reused when lowering further elevator units in the same building or when lowering elevator units in other elevator systems.

Advantageously, at least the guide elements47.1-47.3of the guide devices45are made of an impact-absorbing and/or friction-reducing material, or at least the guide surfaces47.1.1-47.3.1of the guide elements47.1-47.3are coated with such a material. In this manner it is achieved that during the lowering of the at least one elevator unit10into the elevator shaft2and the alignment process taking place in the course of this, the alignment effect is improved and the alignment elements5, which cooperate with the guide devices45and are formed by car guide rails6or alignment rails7, are not damaged.