Method and an elevator arrangement

Abstract

A method of constructing an elevator, the elevator including a hoistway, an elevator car, a first movable support structure in the hoistway above the elevator car, for supporting the elevator car with a roping, and a roof structure, separate from the movable support structure, in the hoistway above the support structure, where the elevator car is used for transporting passengers and/or goods, and thereafter the first movable support structure is lifted higher in the hoistway, and thereafter the elevator car is used again for transporting passengers and/or goods. The method includes lifting the roof structure higher in the hoistway so as to make more room below the roof structure, the roof structure being a movable roof structure, and in that the movable roof structure is lifted in the hoistway taking support for the lift from a second movable support structure mounted in the hoistway above the roof structure.

Claims

1. A method in constructing an elevator, in which the elevator includes at least one elevator car movable in a hoistway, a first movable support structure, a separately movable roof structure, and a lifting arrangement, the first movable support structure being separate from the at least one elevator car, in the hoistway above the at least one elevator car, the first movable support structure being configured to support said at least one elevator car, the separately movable roof structure being, separate from the first movable support structure, in the hoistway above the first movable support structure, and the lifting arrangement including a second movable support structure mounted in the hoistway at a first mounting position above the separately movable roof structure, the method comprising: providing the at least one elevator car to be used for transporting passengers and/or goods; lifting the first movable support structure in the hoistway; lifting the separately movable roof structure higher in the hoistway to create greater space between the separately movable roof structure and the first movable support structure; and manually moving the lifting arrangement by manually moving the second movable support structure upwardly in the hoistway to a second mounting position above the first mounting position while the separately movable roof structure is supported by walls of the hoistway.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lifting arrangement includes a rope and a lifting device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the manually moving the lifting arrangement further comprises: manually lifting the lifting arrangement in parts by first manually moving the second movable support structure to the second mounting position by a person, and subsequently lifting the lifting the lifting device by attaching the rope of the lifting arrangement to a pulling rope and pulling the pulling rope from the second mounting position.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the pulling rope is set to extend vertically in the hoistway, by dropping the pulling rope into the hoistway from the second mounting position, so as to connect the parts of the lifting arrangement.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the elevator includes a third movable support structure between said first movable support structure and said second movable support structure, and the third movable support structure is lifted higher in the hoistway before lifting the first movable support structure higher in the hoistway.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: lowering the lifting arrangement to a platform of the separately movable roof structure prior to lifting the separately movable roof structure.

7. An elevator arrangement, comprising: at least one elevator car movable in a hoistway; a first movable support structure, separate from the at least one elevator car, in the hoistway above the at least one elevator car, for supporting the at least one elevator car; a separately movable roof structure, separate from the first movable support structure, in the hoistway above the first movable support structure; and a second movable support structure mounted in the hoistway at a first mounting position above the separately movable roof structure for lifting the separately movable roof structure higher in the hoistway, the second movable support structure being manually movable upwardly in the hoistway to a second mounting position above the first mounting position while the separately movable roof structure is supported by walls of the hoistway.

8. The elevator arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the second movable support structure is movable by a person.

9. The elevator arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the second movable support structure is made up of plural parts.

10. The elevator arrangement according to claim 7, wherein a lifting arrangement is configured to lift the separately movable roof structure in the hoistway, the lifting arrangement including a rope and a lifting device, the lifting device being configured to connect to the separately movable roof structure.

11. The elevator arrangement according to claim 10, further comprising: a power supply to lift the lifting device positioned as part of the separately movable roof structure, the power supply being an electrical power supply line and the lifting device being an electrical lifting device.

12. The elevator arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the separately movable roof structure includes a water-proof membrane.

13. The elevator arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the separately movable roof structure includes a platform on which a person can walk and a water-proof roof part above the platform.

14. An elevator arrangement, comprising at least one elevator car movable in a hoistway; a first movable support structure, separate from the at least one elevator car, in the hoistway above the at least one elevator car, for supporting the at least one elevator car; a separately movable roof structure, separate from the first movable support structure, in the hoistway above the first movable support structure; and a second movable support structure mounted in the hoistway above the separately movable roof structure for lifting the separately movable roof structure higher in the hoistway, wherein the second movable support structure is movable by a person.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following the present invention will be described in more detail by way of example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of the elevator arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention where method steps of the invention can be performed.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates the elevator arrangement before step x.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates the elevator arrangement when step x is being performed.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates the elevator arrangement when step e is being performed.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates the elevator arrangement when step x′ is being performed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

(7) In FIG. 1, it is illustrated an example embodiment where the elevator arrangement has been arranged to comprise during construction time a hoistway S, and an elevator unit 1 movable in the hoistway S, the elevator unit being an elevator car 1 for transporting passengers and/or goods. The elevator arrangement may also comprise additionally other movable elevator units such as the counterweight CW, as depicted. The elevator arrangement further comprises a first movable support structure 2 in the hoistway above the elevator car 1, for supporting said at least one elevator unit (1,CW), in this case with a roping R connected between elevator unit(s) and the support structure 2. The elevator arrangement further comprises a roof structure 4, separate from the movable support structure 2, in the hoistway S above the support structure 2, and a lifting arrangement (41,42,5) in the hoistway S for lifting the movable roof structure 4 higher in the hoistway S. The roof structure 4 is a movable roof structure, and the lifting arrangement (41,42,5) comprises a second movable support structure 5 mounted in the hoistway S above the movable roof structure 4, the lifting arrangement (41,42,5) being arranged to take support from the second movable support structure 5 for said lifting of the movable roof structure 4. Roof structure 4 can be lifted upwards separately from the movable support structure 2 so as to make room between them. In the method the elevator car 1 is used for transporting passengers and/or goods (step a). The top part of the elevator hoistway S above the support structure 2 can be constructed at the same time as an elevator car moving in the bottom part of the elevator hoistway already serves people on the lower floors of the building. When the elevator hoistway under construction above the movable support structure 2 has reached a sufficient stage of completion; the completed part of the elevator hoistway S can be taken into use. In this case elevator car is taken out of said use and a jump-lift is performed, wherein the movable support structure 2 is lifted (step b) and mounted to a higher position in the elevator hoistway. After this the elevator car 1 is taken back to said use for transporting passengers and/or goods. FIG. 1 also show a third support structure 3 between the roof structure 4 and the supports structure 2 wherefrom support is taken for the lift of the first support structure 2 in step b. The lifting of the first support structure 2 can be performed with a lifting device 31 pulling the first support structure 2 with a rope system 32 up. The lifting device may be in unity of the first or third support structure. However, the lifting of the support structure 2 need not be carried in this particular fashion as alternative arrangements exist. Before step b the third support structure 3 can be lifted higher in the hoistway taking support from the roof structure 4. For this purpose the movable roof structure 4 may comprise a lifting device 61 connected/connectable via a rope system 62 to the third support structure 3. FIG. 1 also shows a movable working platform 61 below the movable roof structure 4, wherefrom elevator structures are installed by working on the working platform during said use of car 1. The working platform is moved by taking support from the movable roof structure 4 mounted above the working platform 61. For enabling the lifting of the third movable support structure 3 the movable working platform 61 may be connected to the third movable support structure 3 for the time of the lifting. The lifting device 61 need not be positioned in unity of the movable roof structure, but instead it could be positioned in unity of the working platform 61.

(8) When a suitable number of jump-lifts has been performed (cycles of steps a to c), for example the support structure 2 has become close to said roof structure 4, the movable roof structure 4 is lifted (step x) higher in the hoistway S so as to make more room below it. For this purpose the roof structure 4 is made to be a movable roof structure, having supporting means t transferrable to a state where they don't block vertical movement of the movable roof structure 4, such as laterally extendable support elements. FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred arrangement before step x and FIG. 3 illustrates step x. In step x the movable roof structure 4 is lifted in the hoistway S taking support for the lift from a second movable support structure 5 mounted in the hoistway S above the roof structure 4. As illustrated, means t have been transferred to unblocking state prior to the lifting of the movable roof structure 4. Step x is done when support structure 2 has been raised so close to roof structure 4 that more room is needed between them. Another reason for lifting the movable roof structure 4 could be that installation work of elevator components needs to be continued above the current level of the roof structure 4. The lifting of the movable roof structure 4 is arranged to be done without substantial dismantling of the roof structure 4, which is can be enabled by means t, which are also described elsewhere.

(9) In step x the movable roof structure 4 is lifted with a lifting arrangement (41,42,5) which is in the hoistway S. The lifting arrangement (41,42,5) comprises the second movable support structure 5, and preferably also a rope 42, and a lifting device 41. Alternatively, other lifting means could be used instead of rope 42 and device 41. For enabling a subsequent step x the second movable support structure 5 is mounted in the hoistway S in a mounting position (A or B) above the movable roof structure 4 as illustrated in FIG. 1. This mounting can be done at a suitable moment before step x. In FIG. 1 mounting position A illustrates a mounting position where the second movable support structure 5 is to be mounted to perform step x possibly for the first time. Mounting position B illustrates a mounting position where the second movable support structure 5 is to be mounted after already performing step x, thus being higher than mounting position A. In both cases the lifting arrangement can be made to extend to the level of mounting position (A or B) for a subsequent step x by lifting the second movable support structure 5 to the level of its mounting position (A or B) from its earlier position. This can be done by performing step e as described elsewhere in the application, for instance. Step x can be performed once, or alternatively plural times to stepwise make more room below the roof structure 4. In case of plural steps x, after performing a preceding step x, the lifting arrangement is lifted to extend to the level of mounting position B for a subsequent step x. This is done preferably by step e where the second movable support structure 5 is moved from its earlier mounting position A upwards to a higher mounting position B in the hoistway S. Step e is illustrated in FIG. 4. After performing step e step x is performed.

(10) In step e the lifting arrangement (41,42,5) is lifted to extend to the level of mounting position (A or B) for a subsequent step x. Said level of the mounting position (A,B) is above the level of the movable roof structure 4. This lifting is preferably done at least partially manually by a person, preferably by carrying or by pulling up with a rope or equivalent 70. Thus, no complicated lifting system is needed to move the point of support higher in the hoistway S. The person can climb ladders or stairs L up to the level of the intended mounting position A or B of the second movable support structure 5. He can carry the second movable support structure 5 up to this level (in one piece or in several) and mount it into position for lifting. To lift the rope 42 of the lifting arrangement to extend to the level of the higher mounting position the person preferably drops a pulling rope or equivalent 70 down to the movable roof structure 4 and subsequently it is connected to the rope or equivalent 42 of the lifting arrangement and the rope or equivalent 42 is pulled up with the rope or equivalent 70, as illustrated in FIG. 4. After this, the rope or equivalent 42 is connected to the second movable support structure 5 and the arrangement is ready for lifting. Alternatively, instead of carrying, the person can pull also the second movable support structure 5 up to the level of the higher mounting position B with the rope or equivalent 70 as illustrated with broken line in FIG. 4. It may be that the second movable support structure 5 is difficult to pull up in the hoistway. Then it is preferable that the lifting of step e is done by pulling the rope or equivalent 42 up with the rope or equivalent 70 and by carrying the second movable support structure 5 up to the level of the intended mounting position A or B of the second movable support structure 5, as described above.

(11) It is preferable, that after each step x the hoistway is sealed water-proof with the roof structure 4, e.g. by extending a water-proof membrane to extend up to the surface of the hoistway S. After the lifting of the movable roof structure 4, a step cycle comprising steps a to c can be performed once or plural times as there is now more room between them. After said cycle/cycles, steps e and x can be performed again. By performing the sequence of steps (n times (a+b+c)+e+x) suitable number of times, the structures 2 and 4 can be lifted as high in the hoistway as needed.

(12) FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred additional step x′ performed after step x and before next step e. In step x′ parts of the lifting arrangement 41, 42, 5 are lowered to be in unity of the movable roof structure 4 so as to store them the time between steps x and e. For this purpose, the lifting rope or equivalent 42 of the lifting arrangement is lowered to the unity of the roof structure 4, preferably below the water-proof roof part 43 thereof. Also the second support structure 5 is preferable to be positioned in this way below the water-proof part 43. Thus, they are stored safe from falling objects and water. Also, they are not in the way of not elevator related construction work taking place above the water-proof roof part 43. There may be a hole in the water-proof part 43 for the rope or equivalent 42, which hole can be sealed after the rope or equivalent is lowered below it. The rope 42 is preferably reeled on a reel 46 positioned below the water-proof part 43. After step x (particularly after step x′ if this step is chosen to be performed), the hoistway is sealed water-proof with the roof structure 4, e.g. by extending a water-proof membrane to extend up to the surface of the hoistway S. When it is needed to perform step e again, then the second movable support structure 5 is mounted in the hoistway S above the roof structure 4 and rope 42 is connected to it as depicted in FIG. 4 for enabling next lift of the movable roof structure 4.

(13) The initial lifting of the movable second supporting structure 5 to its mounting position A and lifting from mounting position A to the even higher mounting position B can be performed by step e substantially in corresponding ways (as described in context of FIG. 4). Also in case an earlier step x′ has been performed, step e may be performed substantially in a corresponding way. The only difference may be in specific position of parts of lifting arrangement before step e. In all these cases said parts are before step e at a level lower than the intended mounting position (A or B) of the second movable support structure 5, the intended mounting position (A or B) being above the movable roof structure 4.

(14) As mentioned, the second support structure 5 is movable. This means that it is demountably supportable in different vertical positions in the hoistway S. It can be made to be in form of a beam resting (e.g. resting freely or in releasably fixed manner) on top of stationary supporting structures of the elevator, such as upper surfaces of structures of the hoistway and a sill of the landing door opening. The roof structure 4 is movable, as well. This means that it is demountably supportable in different vertical positions in the hoistway. For this purpose, the construction-time elevator (the roof structure 4) has preferably been arranged to comprise supporting means t for supporting the roof structure 4 stationary in the elevator hoistway S, which means t are transferrable between state I where the roof structure 4 is supported stationary and state II where the roof structure 4 is not supported stationary. When in state II, the supporting means t do not block upwards directed vertical movement of the roof structure in the hoistway S. The first support structure 2 and/or the third support structure 3 are preferably made movable in corresponding manner as the movable roof structure 4.

(15) The supporting means t preferably comprise laterally extendable support elements (for example as depicted in drawings). When in supporting state I, each support element may extend on top of a stationary supporting structure of the elevator, such as an upper surface of an elevator hoistway structure or a sill of the landing door opening. For this purpose, the hoistway S may be designed to have at intervals supporting structures. For instance, pockets p can be made in the hoistway walls. The support elements can be formed to be laterally extendable (and retractable back to non-extended state) by linear movement or by pivoting. The support elements are preferably lockable into extended and/or contracted state. In FIG. 1, the support elements are movable between said positions by linear, movement and in FIGS. 2-4 by pivoting movement. The supporting means t could have alternatively have a different design. A preferred alternative design would be such that the means t are gripping means arranged to grip elevator guide rails when in state I and not grip when in state II. Such gripping means would preferably be in the form of a wedging-type gripper, having a wedging-part arranged to wedge between guide rail and an upwardly tapering housing surface of the gripper if the gripping means moves downwards, thus utilizing a structure well known from elevator safety gear-devices.

(16) The roof structure 4 is preferably water-proof. Thus, is stops water from entering the hoistway below it. Furthermore, the roof structure 4 and one or more sidewalls of the hoistway S is preferably sealed in waterproof manner. Preferably, it comprises a water-proof roof part 43, and a platform 44 below the water-proof roof part 43. For making the roof structure 4 water-proof, it preferably comprises a water-proof membrane 45 as part of the roof part 43. To facilitate water running away from the hoistway S, the movable roof structure 4 comprises an water-proof part 43 forming an inclined water-proof surface.

(17) As mentioned, the second movable support structure 5 is preferably portable by a person or consists of plural portable (by a person) parts detachably connected. Thus, it can be carried or pulled by person (in one piece or several) to the level A or B which is the new mounting position thereof from a lower level. The second movable support structure 5 is preferably in the form of a beam. Thus it is simple and can be made rigid and reliable with low weight. A light but rigid beam structure 5 can be made from wood and/or metal. The weight of the second movable support structure is at most 35 kg, preferably at most 25 kg, more preferably at most 20 kg in weight or the second support structure consists of plural detachably connected parts each having a weight of 35 kg at most, preferably at most 25 kg, more preferably at most 20 kg.

(18) The movable roof structure is preferably such that a lifting device 41 for lifting the roof structure 4 is in unity of the movable roof structure 4. Furthermore, the roof structure 4 may also comprise a lifting device 60 for lifting a working platform 61 below roof structure 4 (preferably with roping 62). The movable roof structure 4 preferably also comprises a power supply f to the lifting device(s) 41 and/or 60, the power supply being preferably electrical power supply line and the lifting device 41/60 being an electrical lifting device. Thus the lifting device(s) 41/60 can be accessed for used or maintenance easily. Also, power feed is in this way simple and preferably provides power for multiple devices with only one line. The lifting device(s) 41,60 is/are preferably accessible via the platform and preferably fixed to the platform 44. The lifting device 41 and/or the lifting device 60 is/are preferably remotely controllable, e.g. via a control cable or a wireless connection.

(19) Parts 42, 62 and 70 are preferably ropes, such as metal ropes, but an equivalent flexible member could be used, such as a belt or chain. Correspondingly, roping R could be formed of ropes or equivalent components. With term portable structure it is meant structure that can be lifted manually by a person, particularly pulled up or carried by a person. In the embodiments described, the end of the rope 42 is connected to the structure 5 such that hoisting ratio is 1:1. However, this is not necessary as alternatively the rope 42 could be connected to the structure 5 by a pulley(s) such that 2:1 hoisting ratio is achieved or more pulleys such that even higher ratio is achieved. It is to be understood that the above description and the accompanying figures are only intended to illustrate the present invention. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.