Elevator arrangement and method

Abstract

An elevator arrangement, in particular a construction time elevator arrangement, includes a hoistway; an elevator car mounted in the hoistway; and a vertically movable support structure in the hoistway for supporting the elevator car, the movable support structure being mounted above the elevator car in the hoistway. The vertically movable support structure includes a first working platform, having a planar working area, and a protective cover above the first working platform for protecting elevator components and/or people below it from falling objects. The protective cover covers most of the cross section of the hoistway.

Claims

1. An elevator arrangement, comprising: a hoistway; an elevator car mounted in the hoistway; and a vertically movable support structure in the hoistway for supporting the elevator car, the movable support structure being mounted above the elevator car in the hoistway, the vertically movable support structure comprising: a first working platform, having a planar working area; and a protective cover above the first working platform for protecting elevator components and/or people below the first working platform from falling objects, the protective cover covering most of the cross section of the hoistway, wherein the protective cover comprises one or more displaceable cover parts forming part of the periphery of the protective cover, the displaceable cover parts being displaceable for increasing free space beside the protective cover, for creating a gap between the protective cover and an adjacent side wall of the hoistway.

2. The elevator arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the hoistway has a first side wall, and a second side wall, the elevator car being mounted in the hoistway between the first side wall and the second side wall, a first gap being formed between the car and the first side wall, and a second gap being formed between the car and the second side wall, the protective cover extending over the first and second gap covering most of the cross sectional areas of the first and second gap.

3. The elevator arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the elevator comprises vertically oriented car guide rails for guiding the movement of the elevator car, said guide rails comprising a first guide rail extending through said first gap, and a second guide rail extending through said second gap.

4. The elevator arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the protective cover extends in width direction of the hoistway closer to the first side wall than the first guide rail, and closer to the second side wall than the second guide rail.

5. The elevator arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the protective cover comprises a first opening through which the first guide rail extends, and a second opening through which the second guide rail extends.

6. The elevator arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the protective cover extends between the first side wall and the first guide rail, covering at least part of the gap formed between the first side wall and the first guide rail, and/or between the second side wall and the second guide rail, covering at least part of the gap formed between the second side wall and the second guide rail.

7. The elevator arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the car guide rails extend continuously from below the vertically movable support structure above the vertically movable support structure.

8. The elevator arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the car guide rails extend continuously from below the vertically movable support structure above the vertically movable support structure.

9. The elevator arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the protective cover comprises a first opening through which the first guide rail extends, and a second opening through which the second guide rail extends.

10. The elevator arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said one or more displaceable cover parts of the protective cover include one or more displaceable cover parts, which extend over the first gap and/or over the second gap.

11. The elevator arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the one or more displaceable cover parts include a displaceable cover part extending between the first side wall and the first guide rail covering at least part of the gap formed between the first side wall and the first guide rail, and/or a displaceable cover part extending between the second side wall and the second guide rail and covering at least part of the gap formed between the second side wall and the second guide rail.

12. The elevator arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the one or more displaceable cover parts include in depth direction of the hoistway on both sides of the first guide rail, a displaceable cover part extending in a width direction of the hoistway closer to the first side wall than the first guide rail, and/or the one or more displaceable cover parts include in depth direction of the hoistway on both sides of the second guide rail, a displaceable cover part extending in the width direction of the hoistway closer to the second side wall than the second guide rail.

13. The elevator arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the protective cover comprises a second working platform, the protective cover being provided with a balustrade bordering a planar working area of the second working platform.

14. A method comprising the steps of: providing an elevator arrangement as defined in claim 1; and thereafter using the elevator car for transporting passengers and/or goods; and thereafter hoisting the movable support structure higher in the hoistway; and thereafter using the elevator car again for transporting passengers and/or goods.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises, after said using and before said hoisting, displacing one or more displaceable cover parts of the protective cover for increasing free space beside the protective cover.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said displacing comprises displacing one or more displaceable cover parts of the protective cover, the one or more displaceable cover parts extending over the first and/or second gap.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said displacing comprises displacing a displaceable cover part extending between the first side wall and the first guide rail covering at least part of the gap fainted between the first side wall and the first guide rail, and/or displacing a displaceable cover part extending between the second side wall and the second guide rail and covering at least part of the gap formed between the second side wall and the second guide rail.

18. The elevator arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the protective cover extends between the first side wall and the first guide rail, covering at least part of the gap formed between the first side wall and the first guide rail, and/or between the second side wall and the second guide rail, covering at least part of the gap formed between the second side wall and the second guide rail.

19. The elevator arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the car guide rails extend continuously from below the vertically movable support structure above the vertically movable support structure.

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 embodiment of a construction time elevator arrangement according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view A-A of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view B-B of FIG. 1.

(5) FIGS. 4-6 illustrate consecutive phases of a preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention.

(6) The foregoing aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawings and the detailed description related thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of an elevator arrangement, in particular a construction time elevator arrangement. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate cross sections A-A and B-B of FIG. 1, respectively. The elevator arrangement presented comprises a hoistway 1 formed inside a building, an elevator car 2 mounted in the hoistway 1, and a vertically movable support structure 3 in the hoistway 1 supporting the elevator car 2. The movable support structure 3 is in FIG. 1 mounted above the elevator car 2 in the hoistway 2 stationarily by mounting means (not showed), which are releasable so as to enable unblocked hoisting of the movable support structure 3 in the hoistway 1. Said mounting means can be any kind suitable for purpose, e.g. any kind known from prior art, such as retractable support beams, for example. Vertical movability of the support structure 3 provides that the moving range of the elevator car can be stepwise extended to reach higher in the hoistway 1, the elevator arrangement thus being suitable to form a so called jump-lift.

(8) The vertically movable support structure 3 comprises a first working platform 4, having a planar working area 4a, and a protective cover 10, 20, 30 above the first working platform 4 for protecting elevator components and/or people below it from falling objects. The protective cover 10, 20, 30 covers most of the cross sectional area of the hoistway 1, meaning more than 50% of the cross sectional area of the hoistway 1, however more preferably more than 70%, even more preferably more than 80% of the cross sectional area of the hoistway 1.

(9) Of the elevator components, it is preferable that the protective cover 10, 20, 30 covers substantially completely, meaning that at least 90% of the cross sectional area of the component is covered, the planar working area 4a of the first working platform 4 and the elevator car 2, whereby these components are protected from objects falling directly vertically from above the movable support structure 3.

(10) In the preferred embodiment presented, the hoistway 1 has a front wall 1c, back wall 1d, a first side wall 1a, and a second side wall 1b; the elevator car 2 being mounted in the hoistway 1 between the first side wall 1c, and the second side wall 1d, a first gap 5 being formed between the car 1 and the first side wall 1c, and a second gap 6) being formed between the car 1 and the second side wall 1d; the protective cover 10, 20, 30 extending over the first and second gap 5, 6 covering most of the cross sectional areas of the first and second gap 5, 6, i.e. more than 50% of the cross sectional areas of the first and second gap 5, 6, however more preferably more than 70%, even more preferably more than 80% of the cross sectional areas of the first and second gap 5, 6.

(11) The protective cover 10, 20, 30 can comprise openings for allowing placement of elements to extend through it, such as elevator car guide rails or counterweight guide rails, as will be later explained.

(12) In the preferred embodiment, the elevator comprises vertically oriented car guide rails 7, 8 for guiding the movement of the elevator car 2. In the preferred embodiment, said guide rails 7, 8 comprises a first guide rail 7 extending through said first gap 5, and a second guide rail 8 extending through said second gap 6. The car 1 is provided with guide members 13, 14 leaning on said guide rails 7,8.

(13) The protective cover 10, 20, 30 aims to cover substantially whole width of the hoistway 1. For this purpose, it extends in width direction w of the hoistway 1 closer to the first side wall 1c than the first guide rail 7, and closer to the second side wall 1d than the second guide rail 8. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the protective cover 10, 20, 30 extend in width direction w of the hoistway 1 closer to the first side wall 1a than the first guide rail 7, and in depth direction d of the hoistway 1 on both sides of the first guide rail 7. Hereby, it does not allow objects to fall into these portions of the first gap 5, nor to find their way downwards through these portions of the gap 5. Hereby, damaging of the guide members 13 of the car can also be made less likely, for instance. Likewise, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the protective cover 10, 20, 30 extend in width direction w of the hoistway 1 closer to the second side wall 1b than the second guide rail 8, and in depth direction d of the hoistway ion both sides of the second guide rail 8. Hereby, it does not allow objects to fall into these portions of the second gap 6, nor to find their way downwards through these portions of the gap 6. Hereby, damaging of the guide members 14 of the car 1 can also be made less likely, for instance.

(14) Preferably, the protective cover 10, 20, 30 extends between the first side wall 1c and the first guide rail 7, and between the second side wall 1d and the second guide rail 8, covering at least part of the gap 5 formed between the first side wall 1c and the first guide rail 7, and covering at least part of the gap 6 formed between the second side wall 1d and the second guide rail 8. Hereby, it does not allow objects to fall into these portions of the gaps 5,6, nor to find their way downwards through these portions of the gaps 5,6. Hereby, damaging of the guide members 13,14 of the car 1 can also be made less likely, for instance. Covering of the gaps 5 and 6 are advantageously implemented by aid of displaceable cover parts 22,32 as will be described later.

(15) In the preferred embodiment, the car guide rails 7,8 extend continuously from below the vertically movable support structure 3 above the vertically movable support structure 3.

(16) This is not necessary, but it provides that the car guide rail structure can be piled to extend higher during use of the elevator car 1, and the hoistway 1 portions located above the moveable support structure 3 will in this regard be ready already before the hoisting of the moveable support structure 3. Thus, the elevator arrangement will be ready for continuing its transporting of passengers with additional floors and extended serving zone swiftly after the moveable support structure 3 is remounted to its higher location in the hoistway 1, the service zone extending high in the hoistway space below the moveable support structure.

(17) For the purpose of allowing the car guide rails 7,8 extend continuously from below the vertically movable support structure 3 above the vertically movable support structure 3, the protective cover 10, 20, 30 comprises a first opening O1 through which the first guide rail 7 extends, and a second opening O2 through which the second guide rail 8 extends.

(18) In the preferred embodiment, the protective cover 10, 20, 30 comprises one or more displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34 forming part of the periphery of the protective cover 10, 20, 30, which displaceable cover parts are displaceable for reducing size of the protective cover 10, 20, 30 and thereby for increasing free space beside the protective cover 10, 20, 30, in particular thereby creating a gap between the protective cover 10, 20, 30 and the adjacent hoistway wall 1a,1b.

(19) Preferably, said displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34 of the protective cover 10, 20, 30 include one or more displaceable cover parts 21-23, 31-33, which extend over the first and second gap 5, 6.

(20) Preferably, the one or more displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34 include a displaceable cover part 22 extending between the first side wall 1c and the first guide rail 7 covering at least part of the gap 5 formed between the first side wall 1c and the first guide rail 7, and a displaceable cover part 32 extending between the second side wall 1d and the second guide rail 8 and covering at least part of the gap 6 formed between the second side wall 1d and the second guide rail 8.

(21) Preferably, the one or more displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34 include in depth direction d of the hoistway 1 on both sides of the first guide rail 7 a displaceable cover part 21,23 extending in width direction w of the hoistway 1 closer to the first side wall 1a than the first guide rail 7. Likewise, preferably, the one or more displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34 include in depth direction d of the hoistway 1 on both sides of the second guide rail 8 a displaceable cover part 31,33 extending in width direction w of the hoistway 1 closer to the second side wall 1b than the second guide rail 8.

(22) Generally, the one or more displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34 can be displaceable cover plates, for example. Generally, the displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34 are preferably rigid parts, made of rigid material. They can be made of metal, which is simple and cheap, or alternatively they can have a sandwich structure comprising metal and/or non-metallic material. The sandwich structure facilitates impact absorbing properties of the displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34.

(23) The protective cover 10, 20, 30 comprises a second working platform 10. Thus the protective cover provides the arrangement protection against falling objects and also a platform on which the fitters can safely stand work. The protective cover 10, 20, 30 is then preferably provided with a balustrade 100 bordering a horizontal planar working area 10a of the second working platform 10. The balustrade 100 preferably stands on the second working platform 10. The aforementioned displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34 are preferably mounted on the second platform 10. This is preferably done so that the displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34 and the second platform 10 together form a substantially planar structure. The one or more displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34 are preferably mounted on the second working platform 10 such that they overlap with the second working platform 10. Thereby, number and size of gaps through which objects can fall can be reduced.

(24) The second working platform 10 is preferably connected rigidly with the first working platform 4. It has a first side 11, which is in width direction w of the hoistway 1 beside the first side wall 1a of the hoistway 1, and a second side 12, which is in width direction w of the hoistway 1 beside a second side wall 1b of the hoistway 1.

(25) The first and/or second working platform 4,10 is preferably such that it/they comprises a horizontal planar working area 4a,10a on which a person can stand, the horizontal planar working area 4a,10a having more than 1 square meter total area, wherein a rectangle fits, the shortest side of the rectangle being more than 50 cm in size.

(26) Preferably, the second working platform 10 covers most of the cross sectional area of the hoistway 1, i.e. more than 50% of the cross sectional area of the hoistway 1.

(27) Preferably, the one or more of the displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34 are mounted immovably on the second working platform 10 with releasable tightening means (not showed). Releasability provides that they can be released and thereafter displaced for the time of the hoisting of the movable support structure 3.

(28) One or more of the displaceable cover parts (21-24, 31-34) can be mounted on the second working platform 10 via a hinge. This is preferably implemented such that the one or more of the displaceable cover parts (21-24, 31-34) are mounted on the second working platform (10) via a hinge, such that it/they can be pivoted around a horizontal axis upwards from a first horizontal position wherein the cover part(s) in question protrudes sideways from the vertically movable support structure (3), to a second horizontal position wherein the displaceable cover part(s) in question are pivoted to point (by their distal ends) towards the central parts of the movable support structure 3.

(29) One or more of the displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34 can be mounted on the second working platform 10 linearly slidably in horizontal direction, such that it/they can be slided from a first position wherein the cover part(s) in question protrudes sideways from the vertically movable support structure 3, to a second position wherein the cover part(s) in question are retracted towards the central parts of the movable support structure 3.

(30) Further preferred features of the elevator arrangement are illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. As visible in FIGS. 4-6, the elevator arrangement comprises a hoisting means 40 for hoisting the vertically movable support structure 3 higher in the hoistway 1.

(31) The elevator arrangement comprises one or more hoisting ropes R for suspending the elevator car 2, the one or more hoisting ropes R passing around one or more rope wheels 80 mounted on the vertically movable support structure 3, most preferably on the first working platform 4. For the purpose of using the ropes 81 for transmitting motive force to the car 1, the elevator arrangement comprises a motor 8 for rotating at least one rope wheel 80 around which the one or more ropes R pass. For the purpose of facilitating installation work in the upper parts of the hoistway, the elevator arrangement comprises a moveable working platform 50 above the movable support structure 3.

(32) The elevator arrangement is preferably a counterweighted elevator, whereby it comprises a counterweight 80, as also visible in FIGS. 2 and 3. The one or more ropes hoisting ropes R interconnect the elevator car 2 with the counterweight 80. Preferably, the protective cover 10, 20, 30 extends over the counterweight 80 covering it at least partially, preferably substantially completely.

(33) The layout of the elevator arrangement is preferably more specifically such that the counterweight 80 is on the back-side of the elevator car 2, i.e. in depth directional side of the elevator car 2, between the traveling path of the elevator car 2 and the back wall 1d of the hoistway 1. The elevator car 2 comprises a door D, which preferably opens towards the front wall 1c of the hoistway 1.

(34) In the preferred embodiment, the elevator comprises vertically oriented counterweight guide rails 15, 16 for guiding the movement of the counterweight 80. In the preferred embodiment, the counterweight 80 is arranged to travel between said counterweight guide rails 15,16 positioned at a distance from each other in width direction of the hoistway 1. The counterweight 80 is provided with guide members 17,18 leaning on the guide rails 15,16.

(35) In the preferred embodiment, the counterweight guide rails 15,16 extend continuously from below the vertically movable support structure 3 above the vertically movable support structure 3. This is not necessary, but it provides that the guide rail structure can be piled during use of the elevator car 1, and the hoistway 1 portions located above the moveable support structure 3 will in this regard be ready already before the hoisting of the moveable support structure 3. Thus, the elevator arrangement will be ready for continuing its transporting of passengers with additional floors and extended serving zone swiftly after the moveable support structure 3 is remounted to its higher location in the hoistway 1, the service zone extending high in the hoistway space below the moveable support structure.

(36) In the preferred embodiment, the protective cover 10, 20, 30 extends between the counterweight guide rails 15,16 extending continuously from below the vertically movable support structure 3 above the vertically movable support structure 3.

(37) FIGS. 4-6 consecutive phases of a preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention. The method comprises providing an elevator arrangement as described anywhere above, and using the elevator car 2 for transporting passengers and/or goods. FIGS. 4-6 do not illustrate all the features of FIGS. 1-3, such as guide rails, but the arrangement of FIGS. 4-6 is preferably in line with FIGS. 1-3. The phase where the elevator car 2 is used for transporting passengers and/or goods is illustrated in FIG. 4. The elevator arrangement is as disclosed in FIGS. 1-3 and related description. After this phase, the method comprises hoisting the movable support structure 3 higher in the hoistway 1, as illustrated in FIG. 5. For safety reasons, the elevator car 2 is not used for transporting passengers and/or goods during said hoisting. After this phase, the method comprises using the elevator car 2 again for transporting passengers and/or goods as illustrated in FIG. 6.

(38) The method preferably moreover comprises after said using and before said hoisting, displacing one or more displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34 of the protective cover 10, 20, 30 for reducing size of the protective cover 10, 20, 30 and thereby for increasing free space beside the protective cover 10, 20, 30, in particular thereby creating a gap between the protective cover 10, 20, 30 and the hoistway side wall 1a,1b adjacent to it. Said displacing preferably comprising displacing one or more displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34 of the protective cover 10, 20, 30, which displaceable cover parts 21-23, 31-33 extend over the first and second gap 5, 6.

(39) The method preferably moreover comprises after said using and before said hoisting, demounting the movable support structure 3, e.g. by releasing a releasable mounting means 110 for mounting the movable support structure 3 stationarily in the hoistway 1.

(40) The releasable mounting means 110 are preferably mounted below the protective cover 10, 20, 30, whereby operation and inspection thereof can be performed under the protection of the protective cover 10, 20, 30. The releasable mounting means 110 are preferably mounted on a beam structure forming a frame of the first working platform. The releasable mounting means 110 are preferably separate from the protective cover 10, 20, 30.

(41) The method preferably moreover comprises after said hoisting, remounting the movable support structure 3. This can be done by aid of the releasable mounting means 110 for mounting the movable support structure 3 stationarily in the hoistway 1.

(42) The method preferably moreover comprises after said remounting, returning the displaced displaceable cover parts 21-24, 31-34 of the protective cover 10, 20, 30 back to the position where they were prior the displacing, e.g. back to extend over the first and/or second gap 5, 6.

(43) The method preferably moreover comprises during the first or second of the aforementioned using phases, installing elevator components in the hoistway 1 above the protective cover 10, 20, 30. The installing preferably comprises installing an electric cable 61 into the hoistway above the protective cover 10, 20, 30. The installing an electric cable 61 into the hoistway 1 above the protective cover 10, 20, 30 preferably comprises feeding electric cable from a reel (60) placed on the protective cover 10, 20, 30. Preferably, the installing comprises using the working platform 10 of the protective cover 10, 20, 30 by one or more fitters for standing.

(44) The method preferably moreover comprises during or before said hoisting, extending rope length of the one or more hoisting ropes R of the elevator arrangement by feeding hoisting rope R via an openable rope clamp 71. One end of each hoisting rope R can extend via such a rope clamp 71 to a rope reel 70. The other end of each hoisting rope R can be fixed by a fixture 120 to a structure of the elevator arrangement without extending into a rope reel. The rope reel(s) 71 can be positioned as presented in FIGS. 4-6 on the moveable support structure 3, or in an alternative position, such as on the floor of the hoistway 1 or on a landing, for example.

(45) In the application, several details for the arrangement and the method have been presented as preferred. This means that they are preferred, however they are not to be understood as necessary, because it may be that the arrangement and/or the method can be implemented also without them.

(46) In the description above, the cross sectional areas of the first and second gap 5, 6 are defined by the depth dc of the car 1 and the distance dg1,dg2 between the elevator car 2 and each of the side walls 1a,1b. The cross sectional area of each first and second gap 5, 6 can be calculated by equation dc*dg1 and dc*dg2, respectively.

(47) As mentioned said releasable mounting means can be any kind suitable for purpose, e.g. any kind known from prior art, such as retractable support beams, for example. In the examples presented, the releasable mounting means are supported directly on a hoistway structure, e.g. hoistway wall and/or landing sill. However, the releasable mounting means can alternatively be supported on the guide rails and/or their brackets, for example.

(48) It is to be understood that the above description and the accompanying Figures are only intended to teach the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The above-described embodiments of the invention may thus be modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.