Patent Abstract:
An elevator renovation method, which is capable of reducing a renovation period and enabling effective use of a space when an existing hydraulic elevator is renovated to a non-hydraulic elevator. The elevator renovation method involves renovating a hydraulic elevator in which a plunger provided integrally with a car is hydraulically driven to a non-hydraulic elevator. The elevator renovation method includes; providing a driving device for generating a driving force for raising the car; leaving the plunger so that the plunger can be raised and lowered inside an existing jack; and obtaining the non-hydraulic elevator by exerting the driving force of the driving device in a direction in which the plunger is moved up to raise the car.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an elevator renovation method for renovating a hydraulic elevator to a non-hydraulic elevator. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     An elevator includes a hoistway which extends vertically and a car which is provided so as to be movable in the hoistway. Conventionally, the renovation of a hydraulic elevator to a machine room-less rope elevator or a pressure-driven elevator has been carried out. An example of the renovation is now described. According to a method described in Patent Literature 1, when an old existing hydraulic elevator is to be renovated to a rope elevator, devices relating to the driving of the hydraulic elevator are first removed. Thereafter, devices of the rope elevator are installed in the hoistway. 
     According to the above-mentioned elevator renovation method, however, the removal of devices for the hydraulic elevator, which are provided in the hoistway, such as a jack and a plunger, takes time and efforts. Therefore, there is a problem in that a period of renovation work becomes disadvantageously long. Moreover, when a top part of the hoistway has no room for a space for providing a new hoisting machine and deflector sheave, and further a space for providing beams for supporting the hoisting machine and the deflector sheave, there is another problem in that the renovation is difficult. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         [PTL 1] 2010-105805 A 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problems 
     The present invention has been made to solve the problems described above, and therefore has an object to provide an elevator renovation method, which is capable of reducing a renovation period and enabling effective use of a space when an existing hydraulic elevator is renovated to a non-hydraulic elevator. 
     Solution to Problems 
     In order to attain the object described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an elevator renovation method for renovating a hydraulic elevator in which a plunger provided integrally with a car is hydraulically driven to a non-hydraulic elevator, including; providing a driving device for generating a driving force for raising the car; leaving the plunger so that the plunger can be raised and lowered inside an existing jack; and obtaining the non-hydraulic elevator by exerting the driving force of the driving device in a direction in which the plunger is moved up to raise the car. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the elevator renovation method of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the renovation period and enable the effective use of a space when the existing hydraulic elevator is renovated to the non-hydraulic elevator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  longitudinal sectional view of a hoistway of a machine room-less rope elevator obtained by renovation according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  A plane view of the hoistway illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  A perspective view of a pit portion in the hoistway illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  A perspective view illustrating a state in which a return pulley is mounted to a lower end of a plunger. 
         FIG. 5  A perspective view illustrating a state in which a counterweight is additionally mounted. 
         FIG. 6  A front view illustrating a configuration of an emergency stop, a governor, a tension sheave, and a governor rope. 
         FIG. 7  A detailed diagram illustrating the vicinity of a portion VII of  FIG. 6  in an enlarged manner. 
         FIG. 8  A perspective view illustrating a portion between a crosshead and a plank illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  A sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  An exploded perspective view of the emergency stop illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  An exploded perspective view of the vicinity of an actuating lever of the emergency stop illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  A diagram equivalent to  FIG. 1 , according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  A diagram equivalent to  FIG. 2 , according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  A diagram equivalent to  FIG. 3 , according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  A diagram equivalent to  FIG. 5 , according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  A diagram equivalent to  FIG. 1 , according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  A diagram equivalent to  FIG. 2 , according to the third embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  A front view illustrating a state in which pressure-driving belt devices are mounted to a plunger provided in the pit portion of the hoistway. 
         FIG. 19  A perspective view of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 20  A diagram illustrating a first mode of a rough surface provided to the plunger. 
         FIG. 21  A diagram illustrating a second mode of the rough surface. 
         FIG. 22  A diagram illustrating a third mode of the rough surface. 
         FIG. 23  A diagram illustrating a fourth mode of the rough surface. 
         FIG. 24  A diagram equivalent to  FIG. 16 , according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 25  A diagram equivalent to  FIG. 17 , according to the fourth embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of an elevator renovation method according to the present invention are hereinafter described referring to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference symbol denotes the same or a corresponding part. 
     First Embodiment 
     A first embodiment describes a mode in which a hydraulic elevator referred to as a so-called “hydraulic direct plunger type elevator” in the field of art is renovated to a machine room-less rope elevator which is one of non-hydraulic elevators (elevators including a plunger driven by a force other than a hydraulic pressure of a jack).  FIG. 1  is a longitudinal sectional view of a hoistway of a machine room-less rope elevator obtained by renovation according to the first embodiment,  FIG. 2  is a plan view of the hoistway illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a pit portion of the hoistway illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a return pulley is mounted to a lower end of a plunger, and  FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a counterweight is additionally mounted.  FIG. 6  is a front view illustrating a configuration of an emergency stop, a governor, a deflector sheave, and a governor rope.  FIG. 7  is a detailed diagram illustrating a portion VII of  FIG. 6  in an enlarged manner.  FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a portion between a crosshead and a plank illustrated in  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the emergency stop illustrated in  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the vicinity of an actuating lever of the emergency stop illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
     In the hydraulic elevator before the renovation, a plunger  3  is provided integrally with a car  1  including a car floor  1   a  and car doors  1   b . The plunger  3  extends downward from a bottom portion of the car  1 . The plunger  3  is inserted into a jack  4  and is moved up by a hydraulic pressure of the jack  4 . By the upward movement of the plunger  3 , the car  1  is configured to be raised. 
     One of features of the elevator renovation method according to the present invention resides in that the plunger  3  and the jack  4  of the hydraulic elevator are not removed but are used as a part of devices included in the rope elevator. Specifically, the plunger  3  is left so as to be movable upward and downward inside the existing jack  4 . Therefore, an oil draw out, a pipe, and a hydraulic driving portion (including a hydraulic tank, a pump, a motor, a control board, and the like), which are elements other than the plunger  3  and the jack  4 , are removed. 
     On a buffer base  16   c  (buffer is not shown) provided in a pit, return pulleys  11 , a rope stopper  13   b , and a drum-type hoisting machine  10  are mounted as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The drum-type hoisting machine  10  is one specific mode of a rope driving device prepared as an example of a driving device for generating a driving force for raising the car. The drum-type hoisting machine  10  pulls up the plunger by a hoisting rope described later. 
     Next, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a lid (oil-seal retention ring)  4   a  provided on an opening for the jack, which is provided in the center of the buffer base  16   c , is removed from the opening for the jack. By a known winch (not shown), the plunger  3  is moved up together with the car  1  above the jack  4 . Then, a return pulley  12  is mounted to a lower end of the plunger  3 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the return pulley  12  is supported on a lower surface of a mounting plate  12   b  through a bearing frame  12   a , and is mounted to the lower end of the plunger  3  by a clip  12   c  and a bolt  12   e  through the mounting plate  12   b . When a clearance between the plunger  3  and the jack  4 , through which hoisting ropes  13   a  to be described later pass, is small at this time, a flange-like end portion of a bottom plate  3   m  of the plunger  3  may be scraped away by a sander or the like as partially shown in  FIG. 4  as a reference. As described above, in a state in which the car  1  and the plunger  3  are lifted up above the jack  4 , the hoisting ropes  13   a  are looped around the return pulley  12  mounted to the plunger  3 . Shackles  8   a  provided to end portions of the hoisting ropes  13   a  are connected to the rope stopper  13   b . In this manner, there is obtained a non-hydraulic elevator for exerting the driving force of the drum-type hoisting machine  10  which is the driving device in a direction of the upward movement of the plunger  3  to raise the car  1 . Moreover, the car  1  can be lifted up together with the plunger  3  by the drum-type hoisting machine  10 . In practice, however, a driving load is large. Therefore, counterweights  6  are mounted on both side surfaces of the car  1 . The counterweights  6  are connected to the car  1  through compensating ropes. The counterweights and the car are raised and lowered in the directions opposite to each other. 
     The counterweights  6  provided on both sides of the car  1  are guided by a pair of counterweight guide rails  5 , each made of a steel plate having an approximately C-like transverse cross section. Each of the counterweight guide rails  5  is fixed by brackets  5   a  mounted to hoistway walls by anchor bolts  5   b , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . When the hoistway walls do not have a concrete structure, the brackets can be welded and fixed to a structural iron frame of the hoistway. A weight buffer  9  is provided between lower ends of the pair of counterweight guide rails  5 . The counterweight  6  is provided between the corresponding pair of the counterweight guide rails  5 . A return pulley  7  is mounted to an upper end of the pair of counterweight guide rails  5  through an intermediation of a fitting  7   a . Then, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , compensating ropes  8  are looped around the return pulley  7 . The shackles  8   a  connected to one end of each of the compensating ropes  8  are connected to a rope stopper  2   c  provided to the car  1 , whereas the shackles  8   a  connected to another end thereof are connected to the counterweight  6 . 
     Next, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 to 10 , the emergency stop device is mounted in the vicinity of one of guide shoes  2   d  provided to a lower part of a car frame  2 . After a mount bolt for a guide-shoe mounting plate  2   e  provided to the lower part of the car frame  2  is removed, an emergency-stop main body  14  is inserted from a lower end of a column of the car frame. When an L-shaped emergency-stop back plate  15   c  of the emergency-stop main body  14  is interposed between the guide-shoe mounting plate  2   e  and a plank  2   a , a spacer  2   f  is provided to a bolt hole portion. The degree of fastening of bolts  14   b  provided on both sides of the emergency-stop main body  14  is adjusted on the inner side of the column to perform positional adjustment of the emergency-stop main body  14  in a horizontal direction. By fastening bolts  2   g  through the guide-shoe mounting plate  2   e , the emergency-stop main body  14  is supported. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 11 , a bearing fitting  14   a  and a screw seat  14   k  are provided so as to sandwich a flange portion of the plank  2   a  of the car frame  2  therebetween. By connecting the bearing fitting  14   a  and the screw seat  14   k  to each other by bolts, the bearing fitting  14   a  is fixed to the plank  2   a  of the car frame  2 . An actuating lever  14   h  for an emergency-stop operation and a connecting shaft  14   m  are respectively connected to surfaces of the bearing fitting  14   a  on the sides opposite to each other. 
     A governor rope guide device (mounting plate)  14   j  is mounted to a lower part of a crosshead  2   b  of the car frame  2 . The governor rope guide device  14   j  is connected to a clip  14   e  through a bolt in a mode in which the governor rope guide device  14   j  and the clip  14   e  sandwich the crosshead  2   b  therebetween. 
     In a top part of the hoistway  15 , a governor device  16  is provided. On the other hand, a tension sheave  17  is provided in a lower part of the hoistway  15 . The governor device  16  is supported through an intermediation of a governor mount base  16   b , whereas the tension shave  17  is supported through an intermediation of a fitting  17   a  and an arm  17   b . The governor mount base  16   b  and the fitting  17   a  are mounted to a car guide rail  16   a  by using clips and bolts. 
     A governor rope  18  passes from a governor rope gripper  14   d  provided to the car frame  2  through the tension sheave  17  and the governor  16  to return to the governor rope gripper  14   d  provided to the car frame  2  again. As an exploded state illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the governor rope gripper  14   d  is connected to the governor rope guide device  14   j  through an intermediation of a link  14   g . Springs  14   f  are provided above and below the governor rope gripper  14   d , respectively, whereas a rope fixing rod  18   a  is provided to extend above and below the governor rope gripper  14   d . The governor rope gripper  14   d  and the lifting lever  14   h  of the emergency stop device are connected to each other by a connecting bar  14   c.    
     After a new control board  25  is carried into the hoistway  15  and is mounted to the car guide rail  16   a  through fittings, various types of wirings are provided. Then, after adjustment of mounting of various types of hoistway switches and various types of adjustment for operating the elevator are performed, the renovation to the rope-type elevator is completed. 
     As described above, according to the elevator renovation method according to this embodiment, the jack and the plunger of the hydraulic elevator are not removed but are used as a part of the car devices. Thus, the jack and the plunger are not required to be disassembled and carried out. Therefore, a work period can be significantly reduced, while renovation cost for renovation to the machine room-less elevator can also be reduced. The above-mentioned advantage also brings about an advantage in that waste is reduced to reduce an environmental load. Moreover, it is sufficient that the hoisting machine for raising and lowering the car be provided in the vicinity of the jack and the plunger, that is, in the lower part of the hoistway (bottom portion). Therefore, even in the case where the top portion of the hoistway has no room for a space for providing a new hoisting machine and deflector sheave and further a space for providing the beams for supporting the hoisting machine and the deflector sheave, the hydraulic elevator can be renovated to the rope type elevator. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is described referring to  FIGS. 12 to 15 .  FIGS. 12 to 15  are diagrams equivalent to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5 , respectively. The second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment described above except for a part to be described below. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the pair of first return pulleys  11 , a second return pulley  13 , and a hoisting machine  19  are provided on the buffer base  16   c  (buffer is not shown) provided in the pit of the hoistway  15 . The pair of first return pulleys  11  are respectively provided on both sides of the plunger  3 . The second return pulley  13  is provided on the side of the plunger  3  opposite to the side where one of the first return pulleys  11  is provided. The hoisting machine  19  is provided on the side of the plunger  3  opposite to the side where another of the first return pulleys  11  is provided. 
     Next, the lid of the oil seal portion on the opening for the jack, which is provided in the center of the buffer base  16   c , is removed. The plunger  3  is pulled up together with the car  1  by the winch, and is lifted up above the jack  4 . A pair of rope stoppers  3   a  are connected to the plunger  3  by bolts  3   b  so that the rope stoppers  3   a  face and sandwich the plunger  3 . 
     Subsequently, similarly to the first embodiment, the counterweight guide rails  5 , the weight buffers  9 , the counterweights  6 , and the return pulleys  7  are mounted. The hoisting ropes  13   a  pass through one of the rope stoppers  3   a  of the plunger  3 , one of the first return pulleys  11 , the second return pulley  13 , and further the return pulley  7  on the top of the counterweight guide rail  5  to be connected to one of the counterweight  6 . On the opposite side, the hoisting ropes  13   a  pass through another of the rope stoppers  3   a  of the plunger, another of the return pulleys  11 , a sheave  19   a  of the hoisting machine  19 , and further the return pulley  7  on the top of another of the counterweight guide rails  5  in a similar manner to be connected to another of the counterweights  6 . By providing the hoisting ropes  13   a  in this manner, the car  1  can be raised and lowered by a driving force of the hoisting machine  19 . 
     Further, as in the case of the first embodiment, the emergency stop device and associated components, the governor, the tension sheave, and the governor rope are mounted. Finally, as in the case of the first embodiment, after the new control board  25  is carried into the hoistway  15  and is mounted to the car guide rail  16   a  through the fittings, various wirings are provided. Then, after adjustment of mounting of various types of hoistway switches and various types of adjustment for operating the elevator are performed, the renovation to the rope-type elevator is completed. 
     Even according to the second embodiment described above, similarly to the first embodiment, when the existing hydraulic elevator is renovated to the rope-type elevator, the renovation period can be reduced, while the space can be efficiently used. 
     Third Embodiment 
     Next, as a third embodiment of the present invention, a of renovating a hydraulic direct plunger type elevator to a pressure-driven elevator is described referring to  FIGS. 16 to 23 .  FIGS. 16 and 17  are diagrams equivalent to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively.  FIG. 18  is a front view illustrating a state in which pressure-driving belt devices are mounted to the plunger provided in the pit portion of the hoistway, and  FIG. 19  is a perspective view of  FIG. 18 . Further,  FIG. 20  is a diagram illustrating a first mode of a rough surface provided to the plunger,  FIG. 21  is a diagram illustrating a second mode of the rough surface provided to the plunger,  FIG. 22  is a diagram illustrating a third mode of the rough surface provided to the plunger, and  FIG. 23  is a diagram illustrating a fourth mode of the rough surface provided to the plunger. The third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment described above except for a part to be described below. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , at least two pressure-driving belt devices  21  are provided to the buffer base  16   c  (buffer is not shown) provided in the pit. The pressure-driving belt devices  21  are prepared as an example of a driving device for generating a driving force for raising the car. The pressure-driving belt devices  21  move up the plunger by a friction force. 
     In the illustrated example, the two pressure-driving belt devices  21  are mounted so as to be pressed against the plunger  3  from the opposite sides. Each of the pressure-driving belt devices  21  includes a neck portion  21   d  at one end portion of an elongated arm  21   c  (end portion on the side closer to the plunger  3 ). Each of the neck portions  21   d  stands obliquely upward toward the plunger  3 . A driving belt  21   a  (having a cogged-belt shape) is rockably supported by each of the neck portions  21   d . A driving motor  21   b  is connected to each of the driving belts  21   a . Each of the driving belts  21   a  is driven to be circulated by a driving force of the driving motor  21   b , which is transferred through a reduction gear  21   g  and a cogged gear  21   f . A spring  21   j  is provided to a lower surface of another end portion of each of the arms  21   c . Further, a supporting portion  21   e  is provided to a portion of each of the arms  21   c , which is closer to the one end. Each of the arms  21   c  is supported by the corresponding supporting portion  21   e  so as to be inclined in a seesaw-like fashion. 
     With the configuration described above, the pressure-driving belt devices  21  can press the driving belts  21   a  so as to bring the driving belts  21   a  in pressure contact with the pressure-driving belt devices  21  with a strong force based on the principle of leverage. Moreover, each of the driving belts  21   a  has the cogged belt-like shape, and therefore does not slip against the cogged gear  21   f . Further, rough surfaces are provided on portions of a surface of the plunger  3 , which are to be held in pressure contact with the driving belts  21   a . Specifically, as a first mode of the rough surface, an adhesive  3   c  is applied onto the portions of the surface of the plunger  3 , which are to be held in pressure contact with the driving belts  21   a . Then, vertically extending band-like sheets of abrasive paper  3   d  are bonded thereon. By the abrasive paper  3   d , the friction force between the driving belts  21   a  and the plunger  3  is increased to reduce the slippage between the driving belts  21   a  and the plunger  3 . By the above-mentioned manner, the driving force of the pressure-driving belt devices  21  can be economically and reliably transferred to the plunger  3  to raise and lower the plunger  3 , that is, to raise and lower the car  1 . 
     The rough surfaces provided to the portions of the surface of the plunger  3 , which are to be held in pressure contact with the driving belts  21   a , are not limited to the mode using the abrasive paper  3   d . Thus, the following modes can be described as other examples. As a second mode of the rough surface as illustrated in  FIG. 21 , the adhesive  3   c  is applied onto the portions of the surface of the plunger  3 , which are to be held in pressure contact with the driving belts  21   a . Then, sand particles  3   e  are sprayed to adhere thereon by using a spray  3   f . Alternatively, as a third embodiment of the rough surface, as illustrated in  FIG. 22 , sander lines  3   g  may be formed on the portions of the surface, which are to be held in pressure contact with the driving belts  21   a , by a sander  3   h . Further, alternatively, as a fourth mode of the rough surface, as illustrated in  FIG. 23 , a knurling pattern  3   n  may be formed on the portions of the surface, which are to be held in pressure contact with the driving belts  21   a , by using a knurling blade  3   j  of a knurling tool  3   k.    
     The configuration other than that described above and the other removal and installation work and adjustment work are the same as those described in the above-mentioned first embodiment. 
     Even according to the third embodiment described above, similarly to the first embodiment, when the existing hydraulic elevator is renovated to the rope-type elevator, the renovation period can be reduced, while the space can be efficiently used. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     The pressure-driven elevator obtained by the renovation of the hydraulic direct plunger type elevator is not limited to include the counterweights as described in the above-mentioned third embodiment. A configuration illustrated in  FIGS. 24 and 25  as a fourth embodiment is an example thereof. As illustrated in  FIGS. 24 and 25 , similarly to the above-mentioned third embodiment, the plunger  3  of the pressure-driven elevator is used, while the pressure-driving belt devices  21  are additionally provided in the fourth embodiment. However, the fourth embodiment differs from the third embodiment in that the configuration associated with the counterweights, such as the counterweights  6 , the counterweight guide rails  5 , the return pulleys  7 , the compensating ropes  8 , and the weight buffers  9 , is not installed. The remaining configuration, and the other removal and installation work and adjustment work are the same as those described in the above-mentioned first embodiment. 
     Even according to the fourth embodiment described above, similarly to the first embodiment, when the existing hydraulic elevator is renovated to the rope-type elevator, the renovation period can be reduced, while the space can be efficiently used. 
     The contents of the present invention have been specifically described above referring to the preferred embodiments. However, it is apparent that various modified modes are possible by those skilled in the art based on the basic technological thought and teaching of the present invention. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1  car,  3  plunger,  4  jack,  6  counterweight,  8  compensating rope,  10  drum-type hoisting machine (driving device),  13   a  hoisting rope,  15  hoistway,  21  pressure-driving belt device (driving device)

Technology Classification (CPC): 1