WO2024003438A1

WO2024003438A1 - Arrangement and method for constructing an elevator

Info

Publication number: WO2024003438A1
Application number: PCT/FI2022/050474
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matti RÄSÄNEN; Antti PIRINEN; Mikko VILJANEN; Markku Haapaniemi
Original assignee: Kone Corporation
Priority date: 2022-06-28
Filing date: 2022-06-28
Publication date: 2024-01-04

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for constructing anelevator comprising providing a protective cover (1 in a hoistway (2) in a first position, the protective cover (1) separating the hoistway (2) to a lower portion (P1) and upper portion (P2); and providing an elevator car (3) and a counterweight (4) in the hoistway (2), whichelevator car (3) and counterweight (4) areinterconnected by a hoisting roping (5) and verticallymovable in the hoistway (2) below the protective cover (1), the car (3) being movable to be level withplurality of landings (L) for loading and/or unloadingit; and blocking movement of the counterweight (4) by at least one counterweight buffer (6) more than a first limit distance (D1) below an extreme position where it is when the car (3) is in its upper extremeposition wherein it is level with the uppermost of saidplurality of landings (L,Lu); and moving the elevatorcar (3) in the lower portion (P1) of the hoistway (2) for transporting passengers and/or goods; and performing construction work in the upper portion (P2) of the hoistway (2). Said first limit distance (D1) is shorter than 1.0 meter and the height of the carinterior (I) is more than 2.5 meters, and the protectivecover (1) is at least partly below the level of the lower edge (e1) of the opening (O) of the landing (Lu+1)next above said uppermost landing (Lu). Theinvention also relates to an elevator arrangementimplementing the method.

Description

ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING AN ELEVATOR

Field of the invention

The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for constructing an elevator. The elevator is preferably an elevator for transporting passengers and/or goods.

Background of the invention

Such construction time elevators are known, hereinafter also referred to as jump-lifts, where the bottom part of an elevator hoistway is taken into use already when the upper parts of the building and the hoistway are still under construction or even non-existent. In this kind of project, the upper parts of the building as well as the top part of the elevator hoistway can be constructed at the same time as an elevator moving in the bottom part of the elevator hoistway already serves people on the lower floors of the building under construction. Typically in jump-lifts, the elevator car moving in the lower parts of the elevator hoistway is supported and moved during construction-time use with a hoisting machine supported on a machine room which is vertically movable in the elevator hoistway. Also such jump-lifts are known where the hoisting machine is supported on a guide rail.

In the elevator arrangements as described above, construction of the upper part of the elevator shaft and installation of elevator components in the shaft can be a safety risk for the people and elevator components. Objects, such as installation tools or construction parts, can fall from the upper parts of the hoistway, and hit and damage people or elevator components located in the lower parts of the hoistway.

To protect the lower parts of the hoistway, it is known to use a protective cover in the hoistway, which covers substantially completely the cross section of the hoistway and is able to block falling objects. The protective cover separates the hoistway to a lower portion and an upper portion. An elevator car can safely operate and serve in the lower portion below the protective cover, while construction work can be safely performed in the upper portion above the protective cover. In prior art documents W02010010226 Al and WO202 1170847 Al, different protective structures have been disclosed, for example.

When a portion of the elevator hoistway constructed higher than the hoisting machine has reached a sufficient stage of completion, the completed part of the elevator hoistway can be taken into use. At this stage a "jump" is performed, wherein the hoisting machine is hoisted higher in the elevator hoistway. Thereafter, the car can reach a higher position than before the jump and start to serve additional floors. Also, the protective cover is removed from its position as part of the jump. It can be placed e.g. above the hoisting machine in its new location so as to separate the hoistway again in two portions, if construction above the hoisting machine is to be done also when the hoisting machine is in its new position.

In prior art, a drawback has been that if the protective cover is to be made such that it is reliable, safe, sturdy and easy and quick to mount in the hoistway, it consumes much space in vertical direction. Another challenge is that a space needs to be left between the car top and the protective cover so as to give space to the car to proceed a distance in which the car can arrive at full stop in a situation where it (without intension) travels above the level of its uppermost intended position. This safety space on top of the car and the height of the protective cover together have taken in real life space so much that the protective cover needs to be placed beside a landing doorway, blocking construction in the hoistway at this level. For this reason entrance into the hoistway as well as performing construction work therein has been possible only relatively far above the position of the hoisting machine and/or the uppermost landing served by the car. Thus, it is now concluded that space efficiency has not been optimal.

A drawback of prior art has also been that the car interior height has been standard, thereby not allowing transport of very long objects. Long objects have therefore been transported to floors by other means, such as via other special construction time elevators e.g. traveling along the building outer face, cranes or e.g. a hoist used in some other hoistway.

Brief description of the invention

The object of the invention is to introduce an improved construction time elevator solution, which is safe yet has great transport capacity while allowing construction work and hoistway access close to the uppermost landing served by a construction time elevator car.

An object is particularly to introduce a solution by which one or more of the above-mentioned problems of prior art and/or drawbacks discussed or implied elsewhere in the description can be alleviated.

It is introduced, inter alia, embodiments where an elevator car with exceptionally high transport space can be used and still be able to access hoistway and perform construction work at the point of landing right above the uppermost landing served by the construction time elevator car.

It is brought forward a new method for constructing an elevator comprising providing a protective cover in a hoistway in a first position, the protective cover separating the hoistway to a lower portion and upper portion; and providing an elevator car and a counterweight in the hoistway, which elevator car and counterweight are interconnected by a hoisting roping and vertically movable in the hoistway below the protective cover, the car being movable to be level with plurality of landings for loading and/or unloading it; and blocking movement of the counterweight by at least one counterweight buffer more than a first limit distance (DI) below an extreme position where it is when the car is in its upper extreme position wherein it is level with the uppermost (Lu) of said plurality of landings; and moving the elevator car in the lower portion of the hoistway for transporting passengers and/or goods, in particular the movement being controlled by an elevator control system in response to car call signals received by the elevator control system from one or more user interfaces located at one or more landings and/or inside the car; and performing construction work in the upper portion of the hoistway.

Said first limit distance (DI) is shorter than 1.0 meter and the height of the car interior is more than 2.5 meters, and the protective cover is at least partly below the level of the lower edge (el) of the opening of the landing (Lu+1) next above said uppermost landing (Lu).

With this kind of solution one or more of the above-mentioned objects can be facilitated.

Preferable further details of the method are introduced in the following, which further details can be combined with the method individually or in any combination.

In a preferred embodiment, the distance (D2) between the car and the protective cover, when the car is in its upper extreme position, is at least equal to, preferably however more than, said first limit distance (DI), wherein the distance (D2) is the distance that the car can be moved upwards from its upper extreme position until a part thereof contacts a part of the protective cover.

In a preferred embodiment, the support points on which the protective cover is mounted are between the level of the upper edge (e2) of the opening of the uppermost landing and the level of the lower edge (el) of the opening of the landing (Lu+1) next above said uppermost landing.

In a preferred embodiment, the protective cover comprises a roof plate, that is at least partly below the level of the lower edge (el) of the opening of the landing (LU+1) next above said uppermost landing.

In a preferred embodiment, the protective cover is in said first position completely above the level of the upper edge (e2) of the opening of the uppermost landing.

In a preferred embodiment, the counterweight buffer has a frame mounted stationary in the hoistway, preferably on the floor of the hoistway, and a buffer head arranged in the collision course with the counterweight, the buffer head being movable relative to the frame in vertical direction a distance, which distance is shorter than 1.0 meter. Preferably, the counterweight is arranged to come into contact with the buffer head if the counterweight moves below said extreme position.

In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises providing one or more guide rails in the hoistway for guiding the car and/or counterweight.

In a preferred embodiment, the construction work in the upper portion of the hoistway comprises installing additional one or more guide rail sections (8a, 9a) on top of one or more of the guide rails for making it/them to extend higher in the hoistway.

In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises mounting a hoisting machine in the hoistway in a first position for moving the hoisting roping, preferably on at least one of said guide rails to be vertically supported by said at least one guide rail.

In a preferred embodiment, the support points include one or more support points where the protective cover is mounted on at least one of said guide rails for guiding the car and/or counterweight and vertically supported by said at least one guide rail.

In a preferred embodiment, the upper end of the car is at least partly beside the hoisting machine when the car is in its upper extreme position.

In a preferred embodiment, the hoisting machine is mounted in said first and/or second position beside the path of the car, preferably on a back side of a guide rail for guiding the elevator car, which back side is the opposite side on which the car is disposed.

In a preferred embodiment, the hoisting machine and the protective cover are separate from each other.

In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises performing a configuration change after a period of said moving the elevator car in the lower portion of the hoistway for transporting passengers and/or goods, and thereafter again moving the elevator car in the lower portion of the hoistway for transporting passengers and/or goods, wherein said configuration change comprises hoisting the protective cover and remounting it to a second position which is higher than the first position, for thereby increasing height of the lower portion of the hoistway; and hoisting the hoisting machine and remounting it to a second position (of the hoisting machine) which is higher than the first position for thereby increasing its hoisting range to reach higher in the hoistway.

In a preferred embodiment, the configuration change comprises releasing a releasable rope clamp arrangement and moving an additional length of ropes from rope supply storage through the releasable rope clamp arrangement, and thereafter closing the releasable rope clamp.

In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises performing a final configuration change, wherein one more of the following actions are made: mounting a second (final) hoisting machine into the hoistway 2 or a machine room above it; installing a new hoisting roping; replacing the car with another car or modifying the car; changing the limit distance to be longer.

In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises providing a further roping, which connects the counterweight and the car and hangs between them and passes around a rope wheel arrangement mounted in the bottom end of the lower portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the counterweight buffer is preferably a telescopic buffer, in particular having a stroke length. The stroke length is preferably at least 50 cm.

It is also brought forward a new arrangement (A) for constructing an elevator comprising a hoistway; plurality of landings; a protective cover in the hoistway in a first position, the protective cover separating the hoistway to a lower portion and upper portion; an elevator car and a counterweight which elevator car and counterweight are interconnected by a hoisting roping, and vertically movable in the hoistway below the protective cover, the car being movable to be level with plurality of landings for loading and/or unloading it; wherein the counterweight is blocked by at least one counterweight buffer from moving more than a first limit distance (DI) below its lower extreme position where it is when the car is in its upper extreme position wherein it is level with the uppermost of said plurality of landings.

Said first limit distance (DI) is shorter than 1.0 meter and the height of the car interior is more than 2.5 meters, and the protective cover is at least partly below the level of the lower edge of the opening of the landing next above said uppermost landing.

Preferable further details of the arrangement have been introduced above as well as will be introduced in the following, which further details can be combined with the arrangement individually or in any combination.

In a preferred embodiment, the distance (D2) between the car and the protective cover, when the car is in its upper extreme position, is at least equal to, preferably however more than, said limit distance (DI), wherein the distance (D2) is the distance that the car can be moved upwards from its upper extreme position until a part thereof contacts a part of the protective cover.

In a preferred embodiment, the support points (p) on which the protective cover is mounted are between the level of the upper edge (e2) of the opening of the uppermost landing and the level of the lower edge (el) of the opening of the landing (Lu+1) next above said uppermost landing.

In a preferred embodiment, the protective cover comprises a roof plate (la), that is at least partly below the level of the lower edge (el) of the opening of the landing (LU+1) next above said uppermost landing.

In a preferred embodiment, the counterweight buffer has a frame mounted stationary in the hoistway, preferably on the floor of the hoistway, and a buffer head arranged in the collision course with the counterweight, the buffer head being movable relative to the frame in vertical direction a distance, which distance is shorter than 1.0 meter. Preferably, the counterweight being arranged to come into contact with the buffer head if the counterweight moves below said extreme position.

In a preferred embodiment, the arrangement comprises one or more guide rails in the hoistway for guiding the car and/or counterweight, and a hoisting machine for moving the hoisting roping, which hoisting machine is mounted on at least one of said guide rails and vertically supported by said at least one guide rail.

In a preferred embodiment, the arrangement comprises a hoisting roping. Preferably, the ropes of the hoisting roping extend via a releasable rope clamp arrangement into a rope supply storage in the form of one or more rope reels where additional rope can be taken from. The rope supply storage can be preferably mounted on a landing or in the pit of the hoistway, for example.

In a preferred embodiment, the arrangement comprises construction work arrangement in the upper portion of the hoistway.

In a preferred embodiment, the arrangement comprises an elevator control system configured to control movement of the elevator car in the lower portion of the hoistway, in particular in response to car call signals received by the elevator control system from one or more user interfaces located at one or more landings and/or inside the car.

In a preferred embodiment, the protective cover is completely above the level of the upper edge (e2) of the opening of the uppermost landing.

In a preferred embodiment, the arrangement comprises a further roping, also above referred to as a compensation roping or corresponding roping, which connects the counterweight and the car and hangs between them and passes around a rope wheel arrangement mounted in the bottom end of the lower portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the car comprises an interior wherein passenger and/or goods can be transported. The car preferably also comprises one or more doors by which the interior can be opened and closed. The door is preferably an automatic door, whereby comfortable and safe elevator use can be provided by the elevator solution.

Brief description of the drawings

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

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an arrangement for constructing an elevator as well as a phase in a method for constructing an elevator, showing where the car is in its upper extreme position.

FIG. 2 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 1 when the car is lower than in its upper extreme position.

FIG. 3 illustrates a phase in a method for constructing an elevator, where a configuration change is being performed.

FIG. 4 illustrates a phase after the configuration change of FIG. 3 has been finished.

FIG. 5 illustrates the counterweight of FIG. 1 in its extreme position where it is when the car is in its upper extreme position.

FIG. 6 illustrates the counterweight when a first limit distance below the extreme position illustrated in FIG.5.

FIG. 7 illustrates preferred details of a control system.

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically preferred details of a further roping.

Detailed description

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of an arrangement A for constructing an elevator as well as a phase in a method for constructing an elevator. The method comprises providing a protective cover 1 in a hoistway 2 in a first position illustrated in Figure 1, which protective cover 1 separates the hoistway 2 to a lower portion Pl and an upper portion P2.

The method further comprises providing an elevator car 3 and a counterweight 4 in the hoistway 2, which elevator car 3 and counterweight 4 are interconnected by a hoisting roping 5 and vertically movable in the hoistway 2 below the protective cover 1, the car 3 being movable to be level with plurality of landings L for loading and/or unloading it. Thus, it can be moved between landings for transporting loads between them. The car 3 is here regarded to be level with a landing L, when a sill s thereof is level with the lower edge eO of an opening 0 of the landing L in question.

The method comprises providing in the hoistway 2 one or more guide rails 8 for guiding the car 3 and/or one or more guide rails 9 for guiding counterweight 4. The method comprises mounting a hoisting machine 7 in the hoistway in a first position for moving the hoisting roping 5, preferably on at least one 8 of said guide rails 8,9 to be vertically supported by said at least one guide rail 8.

The method comprises moving the elevator car 3 in the lower portion Pl of the hoistway 2 for transporting passengers and/or goods, in particular the movement being controlled by an elevator control system 100 illustrated schematically in Fig. 7, in response to car call signals received by the elevator control system from one or more user interfaces 101 located at one or more landings and/or inside the car 3.

The method comprises performing construction work in the upper portion P2 of the hoistway 2. Thus, the lower portion Pl is used for transportation by the car 3 while the upper portion P2 is constructed.

The method comprises blocking movement of the counterweight 4 by at least one counterweight buffer 6 more than a first limit distance DI below its lower extreme position where it is when the car 3 is in its upper extreme position wherein it is level with the uppermost level Lu of said plurality of landings L.

In the method and the arrangement A illustrated, said first limit distance DI is shorter than 1.0 meter and the height of the car interior I is more than 2.5 meters, and the protective cover 1 is at least partly below the level of the lower edge el of the opening 0 of the landing Lu+1 next above said uppermost landing. Thus, a car with an exceptionally high transport space can be used for transportation during construction time, yet being able to access hoistway from the landing right above the uppermost landing served by the construction time elevator car and perform construction work at the point of said landing right. The limit distance DI being shorter than 1.0 meter is exceptional in elevator solutions designed to have a relatively high lifting height and therefore to have buffers dimensioned to stop a counterweight with a long buffer stroke. This is typically the case with jump elevators since their components are dimensioned so that they serve throughout the construction process until the final height has been reached which is typically relatively high. The counterweight buffer(s) 6 ensure(s) stopping of the counterweight 4 more than this distance below its lower extreme position, and thereby from pulling the car 3 more than this same distance above its upper extreme position wherein it is level with the uppermost Lu of said plurality of landings L. Thus, overdrive of the car 3 upwards from its upper extreme position is limited to be within said limit distance DI by the counterweight buffer 6. After being stopped by the buffer 6, the counterweight 4 cannot anymore pull the car 3 upwards. Also, safety is further facilitated if a compensation roping or corresponding roping (optional; later referred to as a further roping 14) connects the counterweight 4 and the car 3 and hanging between them and passing around a rope wheel arrangement mounted in the bottom end of the lower portion Pl since in this case stopping of the counterweight 3 not only ceases its upwards pulling effect on the car but said stopping of the counterweight 3 also can cause a downwards directed pull on the car 3 via the compensation roping or corresponding roping. In any case, the limit distance DI being exceptionally short facilitates car stopping within short distance in case of overdrive, where the car travels above its extreme position. Reduction of overdrive travel length provides that the protective cover 1 can be positioned close to said upper extreme position, even so low that the protective cover 1 is at least partly below the level of the lower edge el of the opening 0 of the landing L next above said uppermost landing, which would be in typical building designs difficult if the car is exceptionally tall as mentioned above. A tall car 3 is advantageous since then long objects can be transported therewith, which facilitates usability of the elevator in construction work.

In the method and the arrangement A illustrated, the distance D2 between the car and the protective cover 1, when the car is in its upper extreme position, is at least equal to, preferably however more than, said limit distance DI, wherein the distance D2 is the distance that the car 3 can be moved upwards from its upper extreme position until a part thereof contacts a part of the protective cover 1. Thus, no collision between the car 3 and the protective cover 1 can occur within the overdrive moving range of the car 3 as defined by the limit distance DI.

The support points p on which the protective cover 1 is mounted when in said first position, are between the level of the upper edge e2 of the opening 0 of the aforementioned uppermost landing L and the level of the lower edge el of the opening 0 of the landing L next above said uppermost landing. In the method and the arrangement A illustrated, the support points p include one or more support points p where the protective cover 1 is mounted on at least one 9 of said guide rails 8,9 and vertically supported by said at least one guide rail 9, as it is the case in Figure 1 for instance (the support point p on the right hand side). This facilitates positioning and supporting of the protective cover 1 is relatively freely, in stabile manner, and quickly. The support points p can alternatively or in addition include one or more support points p where the protective cover 1 is mounted on the hoistway wall, for example, as it is the case in Figure 1 for instance (the support point p on the left hand side). In the method and the arrangement A illustrated, the protective cover 1 is completely above the level of the upper edge e2 of the opening 0 of the uppermost landing Lu.

In the method and the arrangement A illustrated, the protective cover 1 comprises a roof plate la that is at least partly below the level of the lower edge el of the opening 0 of the landing L next above said uppermost landing L. The roof plate la forms the upper face of the protective cover 1. The roof plate la is preferably inclined. It preferably covers at least 80 of the hoistway cross sectional area as viewed in vertical direction. The protective cover 1 may comprise openings through which one or more of the guide rails 8,9 can be placed to extend so that one or more of the guide rails 8,9 extend through the protective cover. Thus, the guide rails 8,9 may be made to continue from the lower portion Pl to the upper portion P2 without vertical gaps. This makes the installation process of the guide rails 8,9 easier.

In the method and the arrangement A illustrated, the counterweight buffer 6 has a frame 6a mounted stationary in the hoistway 2, preferably on the floor F of the hoistway 2, and a buffer head 6b arranged in the collision course with the counterweight 4, the buffer head 6b being movable relative to the frame 6a in vertical direction a distance D3, which distance is shorter than said limit distance DI, i.e. shorter than 1.0 meter. The distance D3 depends on existence of a gap and the height of it between the buffer head 6b and the counterweight 4 when the counterweight 4 is in its lower extreme position. The counterweight 4 is arranged to come into contact with the buffer head 6b if the counterweight moves below said extreme position. The buffer is preferably a telescopic buffer having a stroke length. The stroke length is preferably at least 50 cm. A buffer of this kind facilitates, that it can relatively gently exert upwards directed force on the counterweight 4 for stopping its movement.

The construction work in the upper portion P2 of the hoistway 2 comprises installing additional one or more guide rail sections 8a, 9a on top of one or more of the guide rails 8,9 for making it/them to extend higher in the hoistway 2. For facilitating said construction work, the method preferably comprises mounting a vertically movable working platform 10 in the upper portion Pl.

The hoisting machine 7 is in said first position mounted beside the path of the car 3, preferably on a back side of a guide rail 8 for guiding the elevator car 3, which back side is the opposite side on which the car 3 is disposed. The upper end of the car 3 is at least partly beside the hoisting machine 7 when it is in its upper extreme position. This, provides that the car 3 can be easily driven very close to the protective cover 1 without the hoisting machine 7 causing an obstacle.

In the method and the arrangement A illustrated, the hoisting machine 7 and the protective cover 1 are separate from each other. This provides that they can be independently of each other designed, dimensioned and moved. This facilitates lightness and small space consumption of these components and the mounting structures used.

The method comprises performing a configuration change. This is performed after a period of said moving the elevator car in the lower portion of the hoistway 2 for transporting passengers and/or goods, as well as in particular also after period of said performing construction work in the upper portion P2 of the hoistway 2. Figure 3 illustrates a phase where said configuration change is ongoing. Figure 4 illustrates a phase after said configuration change has been finished.

Said configuration change comprises

- hoisting the protective cover 1 and remounting it to a second position (of the protective cover 1) which is higher than the first position(of the protective cover 1), for thereby increasing height of the lower portion P2 of the hoistway 2; and

- hoisting the hoisting machine 7 and remounting it to a second position (of the hoisting machine 7) which is higher than the first position (of the hoisting machine 7) for thereby increasing its hoisting range to reach higher in the hoistway 2.

Preferably, the ropes of the hoisting roping 5 extend via a releasable rope clamp arrangement 11 into a rope supply storage 12 in the form of one or more rope reels where additional rope can be taken from. Thus, the configuration change does not necessitate installation of a new hoisting roping for adapting to the changed configuration. The configuration change moreover comprises releasing a releasable rope clamp arrangement 11 and moving an additional length of ropes from rope supply storage 12 through the releasable rope clamp arrangement, and thereafter closing the releasable rope clamp arrangement 11.

After said configuration change, the method comprises, as illustrated in Figure 4, again moving the elevator car 3 in the lower portion Pl of the hoistway 2 for transporting passengers and/or goods.

In said configuration change, the releasable rope clamp 11, the rope supply storage 12 and the rope terminal 13 are preferably hoisted so that they too are in a higher position after the configuration change.

After said configuration change, the hoisting machine 7 is in its second position and the car 3 has a new higher upper extreme position wherein it is level with a new uppermost landing Lu2, higher than the aforementioned uppermost landing Lu.

In said configuration change, the protective cover 1 and the hoisting machine 5 are preferably mounted in the similar manner as before when they were in their first positions. Thus, after said configuration change, said first limit distance DI is shorter than 1.0 meter and the height of the car interior I is more than 2.5 meters, and the protective cover 1 is at least partly below the level of the lower edge el of the opening 0 of the landing Lu2+1 next above the new uppermost landing Lu. Thus, after said configuration change the car 3 can serve the new uppermost landing Lu2 and hoistway can be accessed from the new landing Lu2+1 next above it.

In the above, it has been described and illustrated in Figure 4 an embodiment where the configuration change concerns a jump where further jumps are to be made. In this case a further similar configuration change would be done later after the aforementioned configuration change. Between configuration changes then the elevator car would be moved in the lower portion of the hoistway 2 for transporting passengers and/or goods, and construction work performed in the prevailing upper portion of the hoistway 2.

However, alternatively it would be possible to implement the configuration change by converting the construction time arrangement A of Figure 1 into a final elevator. Then the upper portion P2 of the hoistway would be taken into use but not necessarily using all the components that are visible in Figure 1.

Generally, the method preferably eventually comprises performing a final configuration change. In said step one or more of the following actions are made: mounting a second final hoisting machine into the hoistway 2 or a machine room above it; installing a new hoisting roping; replacing the car 3 with another car or modifying the car 3; changing the limit distance DI to be longer, comprising modifying the at least one counterweight buffer 6, in particular its properties or placement, and/or installing new counterweights buffer(s) having different properties such as preferably a longer stroke length in case said new buffer(s) is/are a telescopic buffer for instance.

Each of the above actions are optional since an elevator arrangement used in construction time may not necessitate replacing or modifying components used during the construction time. However, the aforementioned step of changing the limit distance DI to be longer is preferable since in this way the final elevator will not have the same limitations as the construction time elevator. In the final elevator above the car there need not be a space consuming protective cover but it may be possible to build a larger head space. Thus, the distance DI prevailing at the construction time can be of temporary kind and changed to be longer in the final elevator configuration. Making said distance DI longer in the final elevator configuration also makes it possible to increase speed of the car close to its extreme positions.

The arrangement A for constructing an elevator according to an embodiment has already above been discussed referring to Figure 1. The arrangement A comprises a hoistway 2; plurality of landings L; a protective cover 1 in the hoistway 2 in a first position, the protective cover 1 separating the hoistway 2 to a lower portion Pl and upper portion P2; an elevator car 3 and a counterweight 4 which elevator car 3 and counterweight 4 are interconnected by a hoisting roping 5, and vertically movable in the hoistway 2 below the protective cover 1, the car 3 being movable to be level with plurality of landings L for loading and/or unloading it. The counterweight 4 is blocked by a buffer 6 from moving more than a first limit distance DI below its lower extreme position where it is when the car 3 is in its upper extreme position wherein it is level with the uppermost of said plurality of landings L; and said first limit distance DI is shorter than 1.0 meter and the height h of the car interior I is more than 2.5 meters, and the protective cover 1 is at least partly below the level of the lower edge of the opening 0 of the landing L next above said uppermost landing L. The arrangement A comprises construction work arrangement C in the upper portion of the hoistway 2. The construction work arrangement C preferably comprises a vertically movable working platform 10 in the upper portion Pl. The construction work arrangement C preferably comprises a hoist (not shown) for moving the working platform 10. The method comprises moving the elevator car 3 in the lower portion Pl of the hoistway 2 for transporting passengers and/or goods, in particular the movement being controlled by an elevator control system 100 illustrated schematically in Fig. 7, in response to car call signals received by the elevator control system from one or more user interfaces 101 located at one or more landings and/or inside the car 3.

As illustrated in Figure 7, the arrangement A preferably comprises an elevator control system 100 configured to control movement of the elevator car 3 in the lower portion of the hoistway 2, in particular in response to car call signals received by the elevator control system from one or more user interfaces 101 located at one or more landings and/or inside the car.

As illustrated in Figure 8, the arrangement A preferably also comprises a further roping 14, also above referred to as a compensation roping or corresponding roping, which connects the counterweight 4 and the car 3 and hangs between them and passes around a rope wheel arrangement 17 mounted in the bottom end of the lower portion Pl. Hereby, stopping of the counterweight 3 not only ceases its upwards pulling effect on the car 3 but said stopping of the counterweight 3 also can cause a downwards directed pull on the car 3 via the further roping 14. The ropes of the further roping 14 preferably also extend via a releasable rope clamp arrangement 15 into a rope supply storage 16, which may be in the form of one or more rope reels, where additional rope can be taken from, in particular in context of a configuration change discussed earlier above.

Generally preferably, the car speed in said moving moving the elevator car 3 in the lower portion Pl of the hoistway 2 for transporting passengers and/or goods is controlled by the elevator control system 100 to be such that the car 3 arrives at a relatively slow speed to its uppermost landing Lu, to ensure that the counterweight buffer(s) 6 are able to stop the car within the first limit distance DI reliably. Generally preferably, the hoisting machine 7 preferably comprises an electric motor 7a and a drive sheave 7b for engaging the hoisting roping 5. The drive sheave 7b is then rotatable by the electric motor 7a.

Generally, the suspension ratio of the car 3 and counterweight 4 can be 2: 1 as illustrated in Figures. However, alternatively some other suspension ratio could be used such as 1: 1, or 4: 1, for example or any combination of suspension ratios mentioned.

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 abovedescribed 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.

Claims

1. Method for constructing an elevator comprising providing a protective cover (1) in a hoistway (2) in a first position, the protective cover (1) separating the hoistway (2) to a lower portion (Pl) and upper portion (P2); and providing an elevator car (3) and a counterweight (4) in the hoistway (2), which elevator car (3) and counterweight (4) are interconnected by a hoisting roping (5) and vertically movable in the hoistway (2) below the protective cover (1), the car (3) being movable to be level with plurality of landings (L) for loading and/or unloading it; and blocking by at least one counterweight buffer (6) movement of the counterweight (4) more than a first limit distance (DI) below its lower extreme position where it is when the car (3) is in its upper extreme position wherein it is level with the uppermost (Lu) of said plurality of landings (L,Lu); and moving the elevator car (3) in the lower portion (Pl) of the hoistway (2) for transporting passengers and/or goods; and performing construction work in the upper portion (P2) of the hoistway (2), characterized in that said first limit distance (DI) is shorter than 1.0 meter and the height of the car interior (I) is more than 2.5 meters, and the protective cover (1) is at least partly below the level of the lower edge (el) of the opening (0) of the landing (Lu+1) next above said uppermost landing (Lu).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the distance (D2) between the car (3) and the protective cover (1), when the car (3) is in its upper extreme position, is at least equal to, preferably however more than, said limit distance (DI), wherein the distance (D2) is the distance that the car (3) can be moved upwards from its upper extreme position until a part thereof contacts a part of the protective cover (1).

3. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support points (p) on which the protective cover (1) is mounted are between the level of the upper edge (e2) of the opening (0) of the uppermost landing (Lu) and the level of the lower edge (el) of the opening (0) of the landing (Lu+1) next above said uppermost landing (Lu).

4. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the protective cover (1) comprises a roof plate (la), that is at least partly below the level of the lower edge (el) of the opening (0) of the landing (LU+1) next above said uppermost landing (Lu).

5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the protective cover (1) is in said first position completely above the level of the upper edge (e2) of the opening (0) of the uppermost landing (Lu).

6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the counterweight buffer (6) has a frame (6a) mounted stationary in the hoistway (2), preferably on the floor (F) of the hoistway (2), and a buffer head (6b) arranged in the collision course with the counterweight (4), the buffer head (6b) being movable relative to the frame (6a) in vertical direction a distance, which distance is shorter than 1.0 meter.

7. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises providing one or more guide rails (8,9) in the hoistway (2) for guiding the car (3) and/or counterweight (4).

8. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the construction work in the upper portion (P2) of the hoistway (2) comprises installing one or more additional guide rail sections (8a, 9a) on top of one or more of the guide rails (8,9) for making it/them to extend higher in the hoistway (2).

9. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises mounting a hoisting machine (7) in the hoistway (2) in a first position for moving the hoisting roping (5), preferably on at least one (8) of said guide rails (8,9) to be vertically supported by said at least one guide rail (8).

10. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper end of the car (3) is at least partly beside the hoisting machine (7) when the car (3) is in its upper extreme position.

11. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hoisting machine (7) is mounted in said first and/or second position beside the path of the car (3), preferably on a back side of a guide rail (8) for guiding the elevator car (3), which back side is the opposite side on which the car (3) is disposed.

12. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hoisting machine (7) and the protective cover (1) are separate from each other.

13. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises performing a configuration change after a period of said moving the elevator car (3) in the lower portion (Pl) of the hoistway (2) for transporting passengers and/or goods, and thereafter again moving the elevator car (3) in the lower portion (Pl) of the hoistway (2) for transporting passengers and/or goods, wherein said configuration change comprises hoisting the protective cover (1) and remounting it to a second position, which is higher than the first position, for thereby increasing height of the lower portion (Pl) of the hoistway (2); and hoisting the hoisting machine (7) and remounting it to a second position which is higher than the first position for thereby increasing its hoisting range to reach higher in the hoistway (2).

14. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the configuration change comprises releasing a releasable rope clamp arrangement (11) and moving an additional length of ropes from rope supply storage (12) through the releasable rope clamp arrangement (11), and thereafter closing the releasable rope clamp arrangement (11).

15. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises performing a final configuration change, wherein one more of the following actions are made: mounting a second hoisting machine into the hoistway (2) or a machine room above it; installing a new hoisting roping; replacing the car (3) with another car or modifying the car (3); changing the limit distance (DI) to be longer.

16. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises providing a further roping (14), which connects the counterweight (4) and the car (3) and hangs between them and passes around a rope wheel arrangement (17) mounted in the bottom end of the lower portion (Pl).

17. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises controlling the movement of the car (3) by an elevator control system (100) in response to car call signals received by the elevator control system (100) from one or more user interfaces (101) located at one or more landings (L) and/or inside the car (3). 8. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support points (p) include one or more support points (p) where the protective cover (1) is mounted on at least one (9) of said guide rails (8,9) and vertically supported by said at least one guide rail (9). 9. An arrangement (A) for constructing an elevator comprising a hoistway (2); plurality of landings (L); a protective cover (1) in the hoistway (2) in a first position, the protective cover (1) separating the hoistway (2) to a lower portion (Pl) and upper portion (P2); an elevator car (3) and a counterweight (4) which elevator car (3) and counterweight (4) are interconnected by a hoisting roping (5), and vertically movable in the hoistway (2) below the protective cover (1), the car (3) being movable to be level with plurality of landings (L) for loading and/or unloading it; wherein the counterweight (4) is blocked by at least one counterweight buffer (6) from moving more than a first limit distance (DI) below its lower extreme position where it is when the car (3) is in its upper extreme position wherein it is level with the uppermost of said plurality of landings (L); characterized in that said first limit distance (DI) is shorter than 1.0 meter and the height (h) of the car interior (I) is more than 2.5 meters, and the protective cover (1) is at least partly below the level of the lower edge (el) of the opening (0) of the landing (Lu+1) next above said uppermost landing (Lu). 0. An arrangement according to the preceding claim, wherein the distance (D2) between the car (3) and the protective cover (1), when the car (3) is in its upper extreme position, is at least equal to, preferably however more than, said limit distance (DI), wherein the distance (D2) is the distance that the car (3) can be moved upwards from its upper extreme position until a part thereof contacts a part of the protective cover (1).

21. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support points (p) on which the protective cover (1) is mounted are between the level of the upper edge (e2) of the opening (0) of the uppermost landing (Lu) and the level of the lower edge (el) of the opening (0) of the landing (Lu+1) next above said uppermost landing (Lu).

22. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the protective cover (1) comprises a roof plate (la), that is at least partly below the level of the lower edge (el) of the opening (0) of the landing (Lu+1) next above said uppermost landing (Lu).

23. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the protective cover (1) is completely above the level of the upper edge (e2) of the opening (0) of the uppermost landing (Lu).

24. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the counterweight buffer (6) has a frame (6a) mounted stationary in the hoistway (2), preferably on the floor (F) of the hoistway (2), and a buffer head (6b) arranged in the collision course with the counterweight (4), the buffer head (6b) being movable relative to the frame (6a) in vertical direction a distance, which distance is shorter than 1.0 meter.

25. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the arrangement comprises one or more guide rails (8,9) in the hoistway (2) for guiding the car (3) and/or counterweight (4), and a hoisting machine (7) for moving the hoisting roping (5), which hoisting machine (7) is mounted on at least one (8) of said guide rails (8,9) and vertically supported by said at least one guide rail (8). 26. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hoisting machine (7) and the protective cover (1) are separate from each other.

27. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the arrangement (A) comprises a hoisting roping (5), the ropes of the hoisting roping (5) preferably extending via a releasable rope clamp arrangement (11) into a rope supply storage (12), which is preferably in the form of one or more rope reels where additional rope can be taken from.

28. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper end of the car (3) is at least partly beside the hoisting machine

(7) when the car (3) is in its upper extreme position.

29. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hoisting machine (7) is mounted in said first and/or second position beside the path of the car (3), preferably on a back side of a guide rail

(8) for guiding the elevator car (3), which back side is the opposite side on which the car (3) is disposed.

30. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the arrangement (A) comprises a construction work arrangement (C) in the upper portion (P2) of the hoistway (2).

31. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the arrangement (A) comprises an elevator control system (100) configured to control movement of the elevator car (3) in the lower portion (Pl) of the hoistway (2), in particular in response to car call signals received by the elevator control system (100) from one or more user interfaces (101) located at one or more landings and/or inside the car (3). An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the arrangement (A) comprises a further roping (14), which connects the counterweight (4) and the car (3) and hangs between them and passes around a rope wheel arrangement (17) mounted in the bottom end of the lower portion (Pl) of the hoistway (2). A method or an arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each said counterweight buffer (6) is a telescopic buffer, the telescopic buffer preferably having a stroke length at least 50 cm.