Climbing elevator system having a protective roof

Abstract

A climbing elevator system has an elevator shaft and an elevator car, a lifting platform, and a supporting device, wherein, in the course of different construction phases of a building, the lifting platform can be anchored at various positions within the elevator shaft. A protective roof is arranged above components of the lifting platform that are to be protected, such as a drive machine. The protective roof has a central roof structure and a peripheral flank structure that has flank walls fixed to the lateral edges of the central roof structure and project outwardly from the central roof structure at an angle with respect to the horizontal. Because of the inclined arrangement of the flank walls, the flank structure can better withstand falling objects and better protect components located underneath. Cantilevered edge regions of the flank walls can be supported on side walls of the elevator shaft.

Claims

1. An elevator system comprising: an elevator shaft; and a protective roof arranged inside the elevator shaft, wherein the protective roof has a central roof structure extending in a horizontal plane and a peripheral flank structure extending around an entire periphery of the central roof structure, wherein the flank structure has flank walls fixed to the central roof structure and the flank walls project outwardly from the central roof structure at a predetermined angle oblique with respect to the horizontal plane, and the flank structure further includes corner structures connected to the flank walls and inclined at the oblique angle with respect to the horizontal plane.

2. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein lower end regions of the flank walls are fixed to the central roof structure.

3. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined angle is between 20° and 70° to the horizontal plane.

4. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein the flank walls are fixed to the central roof structure in a reversibly detachable manner.

5. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein the flank walls are each fixed to the roof structure by a fixing structure, wherein the fixing structure allows each of the flank walls to be fixed detachably and at various positions at selected distances from an associated edge of the central roof structure.

6. The elevator system according to claim 5 wherein the fixing structure includes a reversibly releasable and attachable tongue and groove joint holding the flank walls in only one or two spatial directions when released and holding the flank walls in three spatial directions when attached.

7. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein the flank walls are fixed to the central roof structure in a position and orientation wherein cantilevered edge regions of the flank walls, which are arranged opposite end regions of the flank walls that are fixed to the central roof structure, are distanced from side walls of the elevator shaft by less than 30 mm.

8. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein the flank walls are fixed to the central roof structure in a position and orientation wherein cantilevered edge regions of the flank walls, which are arranged opposite end regions of the flank walls that are fixed to the central roof structure, rest against side walls of the elevator shaft.

9. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein the corner structures each have two corner flank walls that are at an angle to one another and are fixed to one another along a common edge and are each arranged inclined at the oblique angle with respect to the horizontal plane.

10. The elevator system according to claim 9 wherein the corner structures are fixed to the central roof structure by a corner fixing structure, wherein the corner fixing structure allows the corner structures to be fixed detachably and at positions at various selected distances from an associated corner of the central roof structure.

11. The elevator system according to claim 10 wherein the corner fixing structure includes a reversibly releasable and attachable tongue and groove joint that holds the corner structure in only one or two spatial directions when released and holds the corner structure in three spatial directions when attached.

12. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein the flank walls have a wall thickness of at least 3 mm.

13. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein the flank walls are formed of a metal material or of a composite material provided with a metal layer.

14. The elevator system according to claim 1 further comprising: an elevator car; a lifting platform; a supporting means; wherein the elevator car is held by the supporting means and is displaceable within the elevator shaft by the supporting means; wherein the supporting means is held on the lifting platform; and wherein the protective roof is arranged above components of the lifting platform that are to be protected.

15. The elevator system according to claim 14 wherein one of the components is a drive machine arranged on the lifting platform for driving the supporting means.

16. The elevator system according to claim 14 wherein the lifting platform is adapted to be temporarily fixed at various selected positions within the elevator shaft.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in greater detail in the following with reference to drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a sectional side view through an elevator system according to one embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above of a protective roof of a conventional elevator system;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above of a protective roof of an elevator system according to an embodiment;

(5) FIG. 4(a) shows details and an assembly process for the protective roof shown in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 4(b) is an enlarged view of a region from FIG. 4(a); and

(7) FIG. 4(c) is a sectional view along the line A-A from FIG. 4(b).

(8) The drawings are merely schematic and not to scale. Like reference signs refer in different drawings to like or analogous features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows an elevator system 1 in the form of a climbing elevator system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(10) The elevator system 1 comprises an elevator shaft 3, in which an elevator car 5 and a counterweight 7 are accommodated. The elevator car 5 and the counterweight 7 are held on a lifting platform 11 by means of a supporting device or means 9. The supporting means 9 typically comprises a plurality of cables or belts. The lifting platform 11 is securely fixed at least temporarily in the elevator shaft 3. Fixing points 13 are attached to the lifting platform 11, on which points ends of the supporting means 9 are held securely. Furthermore, a drive machine 15 is provided on the lifting platform 11. This drive machine 15 drives a drive sheave 17 in a rotating manner. The supporting means 9 is wound around the drive sheave 17 and can therefore be displaced by the rotating drive sheave 17, as a result of which the elevator car 5 and the counterweight 7 can be moved in opposite directions within the elevator shaft 3.

(11) The elevator system 1 is designed to already be used in a building during a construction phase. This means that the elevator system 1 can already be operated when the building accommodating it is only partly completed. After specific progress in construction, the lifting platform 11 can be displaced upwards within the elevator shaft 3, which allows the elevator system 1 to “grow” along with the building. In order to displace the lifting platform 11, anchors 19 (shown merely schematically) can be temporarily detached, then the lifting platform 11 can be lifted, for example by means of a crane, and optionally the supporting means 9 is extended accordingly and finally the lifting platform 11 is anchored to its new position back in the elevator shaft 3.

(12) In order to protect components of the lifting platform 11 and/or of the units assembled thereon, such as the drive machine 15, against objects falling through the elevator shaft 3, a protective roof 21 is provided above such components to be protected, which protective roof is intended to act as a crash deck. In the example shown, the protective roof 21 is supported on a support plate 33 of the lifting platform 11 by supports 31 and spans wide parts, which are above the components to be protected, of the cross-sectional area of the elevator shaft 3. In this case, the protective roof 21 is designed, due to its geometric design and due to the choice of material for its components, such that it has sufficient stability to be able to protect the components, located underneath, that are to be protected from objects falling from above, such as typically screws, tools, small stones etc., for example during installation of the guide rails.

(13) Before commenting on details of a protective roof 21 for an elevator system according to the invention with reference to FIG. 3, a protective roof 21′ shown in FIG. 2, as is conventionally used in elevator systems, should be briefly explained.

(14) The conventional protective roof 21′ substantially has a flat geometry over its entire surface area. Planar metal sheets 24′ are also bolted to the edges of a planar central roof structure 23′. In this case, the central roof structure 23′ and the metal sheets 24′ extend substantially in the same plane or in mutually parallel planes and are usually each oriented horizontally. The metal sheets 24′ are used in this case to bridge or close the existing gap between the central roof structure 23′ and walls 4 of the elevator shaft 3 at least in part.

(15) As projections, for example in the form of guide rails, fixing clamps etc., can project inward at several points in the elevator shaft 3, the metal sheets 24′ have to be detached and removed from the central roof structure 23′ before the lifting platform 11, together with the protective roof 21′, can be displaced to another position within the elevator shaft 3, for example.

(16) Detaching the metal sheets 24′ and later reattaching the metal sheets 24′ and in particular precisely orienting said sheets in order to bridge existing gaps can be labor-intensive and time-consuming.

(17) It can also be difficult to design the metal sheets 24′ so as to be sufficiently stable, so that these sheets can withstand the considerable forces caused by falling objects. This is the case in particular as the metal sheets 24′ are supported merely on the side thereof oriented toward the central roof structure 23′, but are cantilevered on an opposing side. It may be necessary to design the metal sheets 24′ elaborately, i.e. to provide them with reinforcing struts 26′, in order to make them sufficiently mechanically resistant.

(18) Possible details of a protective roof 21 are described for an elevator system 1 according to the invention with reference to FIG. 3.

(19) The protective roof 21 comprises, similarly to the conventional protective roof 21′ described in FIG. 2, a central roof structure 23. The central roof structure 23 is preferably flat and may consist substantially of one plate or a plurality of combined plates, for example metal plates or metal composite plates or sufficiently thick wooden panels.

(20) A flank structure 25 is provided adjacent to lateral edges 30 of the roof structure 23. The flank structure 25 assumes substantially the same functions as the metal sheets 24′ of the conventional roof structure 23′ shown in FIG. 2. However, the flank structure 25 is not composed of horizontal metal sheets 24′, as is the case with the conventional protective roof 21′, but rather comprises flank walls 27, the lower end regions 28 of which (see enlarged in FIG. 4(b)) are fixed to the lateral edges 30 of the roof structure 23 in and which walls project outward obliquely upward therefrom at an angle to the horizontal 57.

(21) As shown in FIG. 1, the flank walls 27 are arranged in this case at an angle α of typically between 40° and 50° to the horizontal 57. In this case, the flank walls 27 extend as far as or at least slightly in front of an adjacent side wall 4 of the elevator shaft 3 and therefore close a gap that would otherwise be between the central roof structure 23 and the side wall 4.

(22) Due to its arrangement at an angle to the horizontal 57, the flank walls 27 of the flank structure 25 can protect the components to be protected located underneath particularly well against falling objects. As shown in FIG. 3 by arrows 41, 43, an object coming from above first strikes one of the oblique flank walls 27. As its usually vertical direction of fall is at an acute angle to the oblique surface of the flank wall 27, the object ricochets off the flank wall 27 and is moved toward the center of the roof structure 23. In the case of an acute-angled ricochet of this kind, substantially smaller forces are exerted on the flank structure 25 than is the case for horizontal metal sheets 24′, as have conventionally been used in protective roofs 21′. In addition, an obliquely extending flank wall 27 can optionally also be supported on an adjacent side wall 4 of the elevator shaft 3 during impact.

(23) Finally, it will be explained in detail, with reference to FIG. 4, how the protective roof 21 of the elevator system 1 according to the invention, and in particular the flank structure 25 thereof, can be advantageously designed and therefore advantageously assembled.

(24) The flank structure 25 and its flank walls 27 may be composed of various components. In the example shown, the flank structure 25 comprises corner structures 35 and side structures 45.

(25) Each corner structure 35 comprises two corner flank walls 37′, 37″ oriented at an angle of 90°, for example, to one another. Each corner flank wall 37′, 37″ may be formed by means of a flat metal sheet or a flat plate. The two corner flank walls 37′, 37″ are fixed to one another at an adjoining edge 39, for example welded, bonded, riveted, screwed to one another or similar. The two corner flank walls 37′, 37″ are arranged at an angle to the horizontal.

(26) A lower end region 28 of the corner flank walls 37′, 37″ is offset such that said region extends substantially horizontally. Each corner flank wall 37′, 37″, and therefore the entire corner structure 35, is fixed to the central roof structure 23 at this lower end region 28.

(27) For the purposes of fixing, a corner fixing structure in the form of a reversibly releasable and attachable tongue and groove joint 29 is used. This is shown schematically in a side view in the enlarged detail from FIG. 4(c). In a simple design, the tongue and groove joint 29 comprises a screw 47, which is screwed into the central roof structure 23, and a slot 49 provided in the lower offset end region 28 of the corner flank wall 37′, 37″. If the screw 47 is not firmly tightened, the corner flank wall 37′, 37″ can be displaced toward the slot 49, i.e. toward or away from a corner 59 of the central roof structure 23 in the direction shown by the arrow 51. However, in the two other orthogonal spatial directions, the tongue and groove joint 29 prevents movements of the corner flank wall 37′, 37″. Owing to this degree of freedom of movement made possible by the tongue and groove joint 29, the corner structure 35 can therefore be moved toward the center of the central roof structure 23 or, conversely, away from said center outward toward a corner of the elevator shaft 3. As soon as the corner structure 35 has been brought into a desired position, the screw 47 can be tightened and the tongue and groove joint 29 can therefore be attached, so that the corner structure 35 is securely fixed to the roof structure 23 in all three spatial directions.

(28) After the corner structure 35 has been fixed to the central roof structure 23 in this way and brought into a desired position, in which the upper corners of said structure are arranged near the walls 4 of the elevator shaft 3, and has been fixed there, the side structures 45 can be attached to the roof structure 23 and/or brought into the desired position. In this case, the side structures 45 may be formed by metal sheets or plates, for example, which are offset in the lower end regions 28 thereof, similarly to the corner flank walls 37′, 37″, and are fixed to edges of the central roof structure 23 by means of fixing structures formed, for example, as tongue and groove joints 29. When the tongue and groove joint 29 is released, the side structures 45 can be displaced transversely to an adjacent edge 30 of the central roof structure in a direction indicated by the arrow 53, and therefore can be displaced toward adjacent side walls 4 of the elevator shaft 3. In this case, the side structures 45 can be preferably displaced so far outward that the cantilevered edge regions 32 thereof, which are arranged opposite the lower end regions 28, strike the side walls 4 of the elevator shaft 3.

(29) For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that FIGS. 3 and 4 show even more components of the elevator system 1, such as a speed-limiting device 61, a cable cover 63 and a cover 65 for a guide shoe, which components are not essential for understanding the present invention, however.

(30) Finally, it should be noted that terms such as “comprising,” “having” etc. do not preclude other elements or steps and terms such as “a/an” or “one” do not preclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the embodiments above can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above.

(31) In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.