EP1591406B1

EP1591406B1 - Method and apparatus for changing the rope of a traction sheave elevator

Info

Publication number: EP1591406B1
Application number: EP05396015A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Markku Kovanen
Original assignee: Kone Corp
Current assignee: Kone Corp
Priority date: 2004-04-29
Filing date: 2005-04-28
Publication date: 2009-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-28
Also published as: ES2335898T5; EP1591406B2; DE602005017967D1; EP1591406A3; ES2335898T3; FI20040609A; FI20040609A0; ATE450470T2; FI118645B; EP1591406A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for changing the rope of a traction sheave elevator. In the method, the new rope (1) is fastened as an extension to the old rope (4) threaded over the diverting pulleys (2) and traction sheave (3), and the new rope is pulled by means of the old rope into the place of the old rope. The apparatus comprises relief devices (10) to be mounted on the rim of the traction sheave (3) to keep the rope (1, 4) clear of contact with the rope groove (9) of the traction sheave (3), a joining element (11) for joining the old rope (4) and the new rope (1) together end to end, and a rope pulling device (12) for pulling the ropes (1, 4).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method as defined in the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to an apparatus as defined in the preamble of claim 14.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In prior art, a method for changing the ropes of a traction sheave elevator is known whereby both ends of the old rope are released from their fastenings and the old rope is removed manually. After the old rope has been removed, a new rope is threaded into position over the traction sheave and diverting pulleys provided on the elevator car and possibly on the counterweight and fixed structures. As the method is implemented as manual work, it requires plenty of muscular power and manpower. Each diverting pulley at which the direction of the rope changes has to be attended to by an installer taking care that the rope runs properly. This work has traditionally been performed by installers standing on separately built scaffolds or on ladders, which is a hazardous solution. In addition, the rope change operation, which is carried out by muscular power, is very heavy and accident-prone and requires many breaks in the work. Thus, the overall time required to change the rope becomes long. Manual handling of an old rope that has sharp broken strands sticking out easily leads to accidents.
In publication JP 2003 089486 A there is represented a solution, in which the old rope wound on the hoisting machine of the cantilever sheave type is slackened, one end of the rope is wound on the main rope winder, and the other end is connected to one end of the new rope. A main rope guide to rotate via a roller rotating on the outer circumferential surface of the sheave is installed on the sheave, to move freely carrying the old rope wound thereon. The old rope is wound up, and the new rope is wound out. The new rope thus follows the old rope before it is installed replacing the old rope.
Publication JP 2001 287877 A represents a main rope replacement method and device. Said device comprises a rope connector for connecting one end of a new main rope to one end of an existing main rope, a pulling means for successively pulling the existing main rope having the new main rope connected thereto from the other end side, and fitting bodies and guide bodies interposed between a sheave and the main ropes to reduce the friction force generated in the movement of the main ropes. The existing main rope is pulled by the pulling means, whereby the new main rope connected to the existing main rope through the rope connector is successively laid.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.
A specific object of the invention is to disclose a method and an apparatus that will accelerate the rope change operation, reduce the need for labor, reduce the costs and improve work safety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The method of the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of claim 1. Further, the apparatus of the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of claim 14. Other embodiments of the invention are characterized by what is disclosed in the other claims. Inventive embodiments are also presented in the description part and drawings of the present application. Within the framework of the basic concept of the invention, features of different embodiments of the invention can be applied in conjunction with other embodiments.
According to the method of the invention, the new rope is fastened as an extension to the old rope threaded over the diverting pulleys and traction sheave, and the new rope is pulled by means of the old rope into the place of the old rope.
According to the invention, the apparatus comprises relief devices to be mounted on the rim of the traction sheave to keep the rope clear of contact with the rope groove of the traction sheave. Further, the apparatus comprises a joining element for end-to-end joining of the old rope and the new rope to each other. Moreover, the apparatus comprises a rope pulling device for pulling the ropes.
The invention has the advantage that the method and apparatus eliminate, at least to a large extent, the need for manual handling of the old rope, thus reducing the need for muscular power and the risk of accident. In addition, it is not necessary to have an installer at each diverting pulley to ensure proper passage of the rope, which further reduces the required muscular power and manpower as well as the risk of accident. The need for breaks in the work is reduced. The overall time required for the rope change is reduced to about half the time that used to be needed for changing the rope by traditional methods. Therefore, the method of the invention is very cost-effective.
In an embodiment of the method, when the old rope of a traction sheave elevator is secured by both ends to a fixed overhead structure and passed between the ends over diverting pulleys provided on the elevator car and on a possible counterweight and over a traction sheave driven by a drive apparatus, in step a) the elevator car and possible counterweight are supported on a fixed structure to ease the rope. In step b) the old rope is taken clear of contact with the rope groove of the traction sheave and continued to be passed over the traction sheave. In step c) the ends of the old rope are detached from the fixed overhead structure. In step d) the detached end of the old rope is joined to the end of the new rope in an end-to-end manner. In step e) the old rope and the new rope connected as an extension to it are pulled so that the old rope and the new rope pass over the diverting pulleys and traction sheave until the new rope is in the place of the old rope. In step f) the ends of the old rope and new rope connected together are released from each other. In step g) each end of the new rope is secured to the fixed overhead structure. In step h) the new rope is brought into tractive contact with the traction sheave. In step i) the support holding the elevator car and the possible counterweight is removed to allow them to be supported by the new rope.
In an embodiment of the method, in step b) relief devices are mounted on the rim of the traction sheave. The old rope is raised clear of contact with the rope groove of the traction sheave and brought onto the relief devices to support it.
In an embodiment of the method, after step h) and before step i) the relief devices are removed from the rim of the traction sheave and the new rope is lowered into the rope groove of the traction sheave.
In an embodiment of the method, in step d) the ends of the old rope and new rope are joined together by means of joining elements.
In an embodiment of the method, before step e) a rope pulling device is brought into tractive contact with the old rope at a point near the end of the old rope, and in step e) the ropes are pulled by the rope pulling device.
In an embodiment of the method, before step a) the elevator car is driven up to a position close to the upper end of the elevator shaft so that the top of the elevator car is at the level of the topmost landing floor, the counterweight being thus near the lower end of the elevator shaft, and in step a) a support is placed under the counterweight, onto which support the counterweight is lowered, and the elevator car is raised upwards and locked in position so that the rope is slackened.
In an embodiment of the method, a rope reel with a new rope coiled on it is provided. The new rope is uncoiled from the rope reel during the change operation.
In an embodiment of the method, the rope reel is placed on the topmost landing floor to allow the new rope to be uncoiled from the rope reel.
In an embodiment of the method, in step c) the old rope is severed at a distance from the fixing point where it is fastened to the fixed overhead structure, and the new rope is connected as an extension to the old rope by working on the top of the elevator car.
In an embodiment of the method, the rope pulling device is suspended on a fixed structure in the elevator shaft by working on the top of the elevator car.
In an embodiment of the method, during the change operation the old rope is passed to the bottom of the elevator shaft, the freely hanging portion of the old rope thus forming a counterweight to the rope being pulled.
In an embodiment of the method, the old rope is gathered into a bundle from the bottom of the elevator shaft after the change.
In an embodiment of the apparatus, the relief device comprises a pair of clamp jaws fitted to be pressed against opposite sides of the traction sheave. Furthermore, the relief device comprises a supporter detachably and adjustably secured to the clamp jaws. The rope separated from the rope groove of the traction sheave can be directed to pass over the supporter. In addition, the relief device comprises a bound guard, which is detachably and adjustably secured to the clamp jaws at a distance slightly larger than the thickness of the joining element from the supporter so that the gap remaining between the supporter and the bound guard is large enough to allow the ropes and the joining element to pass through.
In an embodiment of the apparatus, the joining element has been fitted to move along the rope grooves of the diverting pulleys.
In an embodiment of the apparatus, the joining element is a metal sleeve comprising an interior space fitted to receive the ends of the ropes to be joined inside it. The substantially thin wall of the sleeve permits of being constricted with a crimping tool to allow the joining element to be fastened to the ropes to be joined.
In an embodiment of the apparatus, the apparatus comprises a rope reel comprising a first frame and a reel drum mounted with bearings on the first frame so as to be rotatable about a horizontal first axis of rotation, on which reel drum the new rope has been coiled up. The rope reel additionally comprises a braking device for braking the rotation of the reel drum.
In an embodiment of the apparatus, the rope pulling device comprises a second frame and a pulley mounted with bearings on the second frame so as to be rotatable about a second axis of rotation. The pulley comprises a rope groove of V-shaped cross-section, which has been fitted to receive the rope into it so that the side walls of the rope groove are pressed from opposite sides against the rope. A third frame is pivotally connected to the second frame with a joint whose swiveling axis is parallel to the second axis of rotation. A press wheel is mounted with bearings on the third frame so as to be rotatable about a third axis of rotation, which is parallel to the second axis of rotation, at a distance from the joint so that the planes of rotation of the press wheel and the pulley are substantially at the same plane. A spring has been fitted to act between the second frame and the third frame to press the press wheel towards the pulley so as to exert a wedging action on the rope passed over the pulley to force it into the rope groove.

LIST OF FIGURES

In the following, the invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiment examples and the attached drawing, wherein

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a traction sheave elevator with machine room below,
Fig. 2 - 7 present the elevator of Fig. 1 at different stages of the method of the invention for changing the rope,
Fig. 8 presents a side view of a traction sheave provided with relief devices according to an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention,
Fig. 9 presents a cross-section IX-IX from Fig. 8,
Fig. 10 presents a longitudinal section of a joining element according to an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention for joining the new and old ropes together,
Fig. 11 presents a cross-section XI-XI from Fig. 10,
Fig. 12 presents a skeleton diagram of a rope pulling device according to an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention in side view, and
Fig. 13 presents a cross-section XIII-XIII from Fig. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As an example of a traction sheave elevator, Figures 1 - 7 illustrate an elevator with machine below and with a 1:2 suspension ratio. The traction sheave 3 together with the drive apparatus 8 driving it is placed in a separate machine room located at the lower end of the elevator shaft 13 sideways from the shaft 13. In the following description of the method and apparatus, the invention will be described in connection with the elevator of figures 1 - 7, which, however, is not a limitation of the invention. The method of the invention is equally applicable regardless of whether the elevator is an elevator with machine room below or above or an elevator without machine room, in which the elevator drive machine is placed in the elevator shaft. Neither is the invention restricted to any given mode of suspension. Thus, the invention is advantageously applicable to elevators with a suspension ratio of 1:2, 1:4 and so on, as well as elevators with machine room below and with a 1:1 suspension ratio. Moreover, the invention is also applicable for use in elevators without counterweight. Further, the following presentation describes the operation of changing a single rope, although an elevator usually has 3 - 12 ropes side by side. The ropes a changed one at a time and the same actions are carried out in succession separately for each rope. Within the framework of the basic concept of the invention, it is also possible to change more than one rope at the same time, thereby accelerating the change operation. When all the ropes of the elevator are changed by a single pulling operation, the diverting pulleys can rotate freely and thus do not resist the passage of the ropes. In this case the car and counterweight have to be secured to the elevator shaft independently of the elevator ropes, e.g. so that the counterweight is supported by the buffer or by other means from the bottom of the shaft and the car is immovably secured to the guide rails by means of the safety gear or a separate temporary fastening arrangement.
Fig. 1 is a representation of an elevator wherein the elevator is in normal operating condition and ready for a replacement of the old rope 4. The old rope 4 is secured by both ends to a fixed overhead structure 5, which in this case is the ceiling of the elevator shaft 13. Between the fixing points the old rope 4 is passed over diverting pulleys 2 provided on the elevator car 6 and the counterweight 7 and over the traction sheave 3, which is driven by a drive apparatus 8. The elevator in Fig. 1 has two diverting pulleys 2 at or above the upper end of the shaft, two diverting pulleys at the lower end of the elevator shaft, two diverting pulleys 2 on the elevator car 6 and one diverting pulley 2 on the counterweight. In the change operation the new rope is to be set running along the same path as the old rope.
Referring further to Fig. 1, the operation of changing the old rope 4 is started by driving the elevator car up so that the top 14 of the elevator car 6 is substantially at the same level with the topmost landing floor 15.
As shown in Fig. 2, a support 16 is placed under the counterweight 7 to support the counterweight 7 so as to hold it in place when the suspending force of the rope 4 is removed. Using a block-and-tackle or some other hoisting device 42, the elevator car is lifted upwards a few tens of centimeters, e.g. 30 cm, and the elevator car 6 is locked to its guide rails. The old rope 4 has now become slack so that it no longer has the tensile load caused by the counterweight and the elevator car.
As shown in Fig. 3, three relief devices 10 are mounted on the rim of the traction sheave 3 to raise the old rope 4 out of contact with the rope groove 9 of the traction sheave 3 so that the old rope 4 can slide over the relief devices 10 during the change operation. Relief devices 10 are needed on the traction sheave 3 because the traction sheave 3, unlike the diverting pulleys 2, does not rotate freely in a mobile manner. The structure of the relief device 10 is described in detail in connection with the description of figures 8 and 9.
In Fig. 4 we can see that, working from the top 14 of the elevator car 6, a rope pulling device 12 has been suspended on a fixed structure, e.g. an existing beam 43 in the upper part of the of the elevator shaft 13. A rope reel 17 has been brought to the topmost landing floor 15. The new rope 1 to be mounted in place of the old rope 4 has been coiled up on the reel drum 25 of the rope reel 17. The reel drum 25 is mounted with bearings on a first frame 24 so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation 26. The rope reel 17 is also provided with a braking device 27 to allow braking of the rotation of the reel drum 25.
In Fig. 5, both ends of the old rope 4 are detached from the fixed overhead structure 5. The old rope 4 is severed at a point such that the joining can be carried out working on the top 14 of the elevator car 6, and the end of the new rope 1 is joined to the end of the old rope 4 by means of a joining element 11. The joining element 11 is described in more detail in connection with Fig. 10 and 11. The second end of the old rope 4, which is to be gripped by the rope pulling device 12 to pull the rope combination 1, 4, is taped with duct tape or the like and cut in the part covered by the tape. This end to be pulled at is fed into the rope pulling device 12.
Fig. 6 presents a situation where the rope pulling device 12 has been operated until the old rope 4 has been pulled out from around all the diverting pulleys 2 and the traction sheave 3 and the new rope 1 is completely threaded in position around them. The old rope 4, which remains hanging by the joining element 11 from the end of the new rope 1, has been passed to the bottom of the elevator shaft 13. The freely hanging rope portion has acted as a counterweight to the rope pulling operation, relieving the pull. The joining element 11 has moved through the rope pulling device 12.
The rope pulling device 12 is preferably provided with a torque limiter that limits the pulling force so that the rope to be pulled will not lift the counterweight 7 off the support 16, which could lead to a dangerous situation.
Once the joining element 11 has passed through the rope pulling device 12 as shown in Fig. 6, the rope pulling device 12 is stopped. The old rope 4 is fastened to the elevator's handrail or to the other ropes and the new rope 1 still connected to it is taped at a point beside the joining element 11 and severed in the taped part by means of a rope cutter. After this the rope pulling device 12 is started again and driven in the opposite direction so that the new rope 1 can be removed from the rope pulling device 12. At the rope reel 17 end, the rope 1 is similarly taped and severed.
In Fig. 7, the ends of the new rope 1 are secured to the fixed overhead structure 5. The old rope 4 is lying on the bottom of the elevator shaft 13, from where it can be coiled up onto a rope reel (not shown). The operation of replacing the next old rope 4 can be started and carried out as described above.
In Fig. 8, the traction sheave 3 is provided with three relief devices 10 to keep the rope 1 and/or 4 clear of contact with the rope groove 9 of the traction sheave 3.
As is also shown in Fig. 9, the relief device 10 comprises a pair of clamp jaws 18, which have been fitted to be pressed against opposite sides of the traction sheave 3. A supporter 19 is detachably and adjustably secured to the clamp jaws 18. The rope 1 and/or 4 separated from the rope groove 9 of the traction sheave 3 can be passed over the supporter 19. The relief device 10 additionally comprises a bound guard 20, which is detachably and adjustably secured to the clamp jaws 18 at a distance somewhat larger than the thickness of the joining element 11 from the supporter 19 so that the gap 10 remaining between the supporter 19 and the bound guard 20 will allow the ropes 1, 4 and the joining element 11 to pass through. The relief device 10 in Fig. 9 supports all the parallel ropes simultaneously. The distance between the clamp jaws 18 is adjustable so that the relief device 10 can be fastened to traction sheaves 13 of different widths.
Fig. 10 and 11 present a joining element 11 for joining an old rope 4 and a new rope 1 together end to end.
The joining element 11 is designed to dimensions permitting it to move along the rope grooves of the diverting pulleys 2. The joining element 11 is a metal sleeve comprising an interior space 22 fitted to receive inside it the ends of the rope 1, 4 to be joined, and it has a substantially thin wall 23 that permits of being constricted by means of a crimping tool to allow the joining element 11 to be fastened to the ropes 1, 4 to be joined. The joining sleeve 11 is made e.g. from a steel tube, which has been made thinner by turning or boring so that the wall thickness is about 0.7 - 1.0 mm. The length of the joining sleeve 11 is e.g. 65 - 100 mm. The joining sleeve 11 is constricted e.g. with cable crimping pliers having hexagonal jaws, in Fig. 10 at the points indicated by arrows so that a joint between the ropes 1 and 4 is obtained that is sufficiently reliable with respect to pull.
Figures 12 and 13 present a rope pulling device 12 for pulling the ropes 1, 4. The rope pulling device 12 comprises a second frame 28. A pulley 29 rotated by an electric motor/gear combination is mounted with bearings on the second frame 28 so as to be rotatable about a second axis 30 of rotation. As shown in Fig. 13, the pulley 29 comprises a rope groove 31 of V-shaped cross-section, which has been fitted to receive the rope 1, 4 into it so that the side walls 32 of the rope groove 31 are pressed from opposite sides against the rope. A third frame 33 is pivotally connected to the second frame 28 by a joint 34 whose swiveling axis 35 is parallel to the second axis 30 of rotation. A press wheel 39 is mounted with bearings on the third frame 33 so as to be rotatable about a third axis 40 of rotation, which is parallel to the second axis 30 of rotation, at a distance from the joint 34 so that the planes of rotation T₁ and T₂ of the press wheel 39 and the pulley 29 are substantially at the same plane. A spring 41 has been fitted to act between the second frame 28 and the third frame 33 to press the press wheel 39 towards the pulley 29 so that the press wheel exerts a wedging action on the rope to force it deeper into the rope groove 31 to achieve a stronger frictional force.
The invention is not limited to the embodiment examples described above; instead, many variations are possible within the scope of the inventive concept defined in the claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS:

new rope	(1)
diverting pulley	(2)
traction sheave	(3)
old rope	(4)
fixed overhead structure	(5)
elevator car	(6)
counterweight	(7)
drive apparatus	(8)
rope groove of traction sheave	(9)
relief device	(10)
joining element	(11)
rope pulling device	(12)
elevator shaft	(13)
top	(14)
topmost landing floor	(15)
support	(16)
rope reel	(17)
clamp jaws	(18)
supporter	(19)
bound guard	(20)
gap	(21)
interior space	(22)
wall	(23)
first frame	(24)
reel drum	(25)
first axis of rotation	(26)
braking device	(27)
second frame	(28)
pulley	(29)
second axis of rotation	(30)
rope groove	(31)
side wall	(32)
third frame	(33)
joint	(34)
swivel axis	(35)
press wheel	(39)
third axis of rotation	(40)
spring	(41)
hoisting device	(42)
beam	(43)

Claims

A method for changing the rope of a traction sheave elevator, in which method the new rope (1) is fastened as an extension to the old rope (4) threaded over the diverting pulleys (2) and traction sheave (3), and the new rope is pulled by means of the old rope into the place of the old rope, characterized in that the new rope is pulled into the place of the old rope by means of a rope pulling device (12), which rope pulling device (12) is suspended on a fixed structure in the elevator shaft (13).
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the old rope (4) of the traction sheave elevator is secured by both ends to a fixed overhead structure (5) and passed between the ends over diverting pulleys (2) provided on the elevator car (6) and on a possible counterweight (7) and over the traction sheave (3) driven by a drive apparatus (8), and in which method:
a) the elevator car (6) and possible counterweight (7) are supported on a fixed structure to ease the rope,

b) the old rope (4) is taken clear of contact with the rope groove (9) of the traction sheave (3) and continued to be passed over the traction sheave,

c) both ends of the old rope (4) are detached from the fixed overhead structure (5),

d) one of the detached ends of the old rope (4) is joined to the end of the new rope (1) in an end-to-end manner,

e) the old rope (4) and the new rope (1) connected as an extension to it are pulled so that the old rope and the new rope pass over the diverting pulleys (2) and traction sheave (3) until the new rope is in the former place of the old rope,

f) the ends of the old rope (4) and new rope (5) connected together are released from each other,

g) both ends of the new rope (1) are secured to the fixed overhead structure (5),

h) the new rope (1) is brought into tractive contact with the traction sheave (3), and

i) the support holding the elevator car (6) and the possible counterweight (7) is removed to allow them to be supported by the new rope (1).
A method according to claim 2, characterized in that in step b) relief devices (10) are mounted on the rim of the traction sheave (3), and the old rope (4) is raised clear of contact with the rope groove of the traction sheave (3) and brought onto the relief devices to support it.
A method according to claim 3, characterized in that after step h) and before step i) the relief devices (10) are removed from the rim of the traction sheave (3) and the new rope (1) is lowered into the rope groove (9) of the traction sheave.
A method according to any one of claims 2 - 4, characterized in that in step d) the ends of the old rope (4) and new rope (1) are joined together by means of joining elements (11).
A method according to any one of claims 2 - 5, characterized in that before step e) a rope pulling device (12) is brought into tractive contact with the old rope (4) at a point near the end of the old rope, and in step e) the ropes are pulled by the rope pulling device (12).
A method according to any one of the claims 2 - 6, characterized in that before step a) the elevator car (7) is driven up to a position close to the upper end of the elevator shaft (13) so that the top (14) of the elevator car is at the level of the topmost landing floor (15), the counterweight being thus near the lower end of the elevator shaft (13), and in step a) a support (16) is placed under the counterweight (7), onto which support the counterweight (7) is lowered, and the elevator car (6) is raised upwards and locked in place, the rope (1) being now slackened.
A method according to any one of claims 2 - 7, characterized in that a rope reel (17) with the new rope (1) coiled up on it is provided, and the new rope is uncoiled from the rope reel (17) during the change operation.
A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the rope reel (17) is placed on the topmost landing floor to allow the new rope (1) to be uncoiled from the rope reel.
A method according to any one of claims 2 - 9, characterized in that in step c) the old rope (4) is severed at a distance from the fixing point where it is fastened to the fixed overhead structure (5), and the new rope (1) is connected as an extension to the old rope by working on the top (14) of the elevator car (6).
A method according to any one of claims 7 - 10, characterized in that the rope pulling device (12) is suspended on a fixed structure in the elevator shaft (13) by working on the top (14) of the elevator car (6).
A method according to any one of claims 2 - 11, characterized in that during the change operation the old rope (4) is passed to the bottom of the elevator shaft (13), the freely hanging portion of the old rope thus forming a counterweight to the rope (1, 4) being pulled.
A method according to any one of claims 2 - 12, characterized in that after the change the old rope (4) is gathered into a bundle from the bottom of the elevator shaft (13).
An apparatus for replacing the old rope (4) of a traction sheave elevator with a new rope, which apparatus comprises:
- a joining element (11) for joining the old rope (4) and the new rope (1) together end to end,
characterized in that the apparatus comprises:
- relief devices (10) to be mounted on the rim of the traction sheave (3) to keep the rope (1, 4) clear of contact with the rope groove (9) of the traction sheave (3),

- a rope pulling device (12) for pulling the ropes (1, 4), which rope pulling device (12) is suspended on a fixed structure in the elevator shaft (13).
An apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the relief device (1) comprises
- a pair of clamp jaws (18) fitted to be pressed against opposite sides of the traction sheave (3),

- a supporter (19), which is detachably and adjustably secured to the clamp jaws (18), and over which supporter the rope (1, 4) separated from the rope groove (9) of the traction sheave (3) can be passed,

- a bound guard (20), which is detachably and adjustably secured to the clamp jaws (18) at a distance slightly larger than the thickness of the joining element (11) from the supporter so that the gap (21) remaining between the supporter (19) and the bound guard (20) is large enough to allow the ropes (1, 4) and the joining element (11) to pass through.
An apparatus according to any one of claims 14 - 16, characterized in that the joining element (11) has been fitted to move along the rope grooves of the diverting pulleys (2).
An apparatus according to any one of claims 14 - 16, characterized in that the joining element (11) is a metal sleeve comprising
- an interior space (22) fitted to receive the ends of the ropes (1, 4) to be joined inside it, and

- a substantially thin wall (23) that permits of being constricted with a crimping tool to allow the joining element (11) to be fastened to the ropes (1, 4) to be joined.
An apparatus according to any one of claims 14 - 17, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a rope reel (17), which comprises
- a first frame (24),

- a reel drum (25) mounted with bearings on the first frame (24) so as to be rotatable about a horizontal first axis (26) of rotation, on which reel drum (25) the new rope (1) is coiled up, and

- a braking device (27) for braking the rotation of the reel drum (25).
An apparatus according to any one of claims 14 - 18, characterized in that the rope pulling device (12) comprises
- a second frame (28),

- a pulley (29) mounted with bearings on the second frame so as to be rotatable about a second axis (30) of rotation, which pulley comprises a rope groove (31) of V-shaped cross-section fitted to receive the rope into it so that the side walls (32) of the rope groove are pressed from opposite sides against the rope,

- a third frame (33) pivotally connected to the second frame (28) with a joint (34) whose swiveling axis (35) is parallel to the second axis (30) of rotation,

- a press wheel (39) mounted with bearings on the third frame (33) so as to be rotatable about a third axis (40) of rotation, which is parallel to the second axis (30) of rotation, at a distance from the joint (34) so that the planes of rotation of the press wheel (39) and the pulley (29) are substantially at the same plane, and

- a spring (41) fitted to act between the second frame (28) and the third frame (33) to press the press wheel (39) towards the pulley (29) so as to exert a wedging action on the rope (1, 4) passed over the pulley to force it into the rope groove (31).