In the arrangement according to the invention the suspension members, such as the suspension ropes, of an elevator car and the traction members of the elevator car are separate from each other. This type of solution is well suited to elevators intended for buildings of different heights and even for extremely tall buildings, in which one problem is that when the hoisting machine of the elevator is above, installation of the machine and peripheral structures of the elevator is awkward, expensive and even dangerous. Additionally, the high-speed elevators in high-rise buildings require large fuses and there are often many elevators in one or more elevator groups. For this reason also the electric cabling needed for the elevator hoisting machines are expensive and in high-rise buildings this is even more pronounced because the electric cables from the power distribution boards below to the hoisting machines above are long. Long electric cables cause power losses and various other interferences in their immediate environment, e.g. electromagnetic interferences. The arrangement according to the invention is also suited to new elevators in low-rise buildings that previously had no elevator. In addition, the solution according to the invention is well suited to the modernization of old elevators .

Elevator solutions wherein the hoisting machine of the elevator is disposed on the base of the elevator hoistway, or close to the bottom part of the elevator hoistway, are known in the art. When the hoisting machine is disposed thus, the suspension ropes of the elevator cannot generally function simultaneously as the means intended for moving the elevator car, but instead separate traction ropes, traction belts or other traction members are needed for moving the elevator car. One such prior-art solution is presented in international patent publication no. WO03/043927 A2, in which, inter alia, Fig. 11A presents a solution wherein the hoisting machine of an elevator is in the bottom part of the hoistway and the suspension ropes of the elevator car and the traction ropes are different ropes. The elevator car and the counterweight are supported by the aid of two diverting pulleys above, over which the suspension ropes fixed to the elevator car and to the counterweight pass such that the first suspension ropes pass to their fixing point below the elevator car from a first side of the elevator car and the second suspension ropes pass to their fixing point below the elevator car from a second side of the elevator car. Correspondingly, the moving of the elevator car is implemented with a separate traction member, which passes around the traction sheave of a hoisting machine below and is fixed both from below and from above via diverting pulleys to the counterweight. A problem in this solution is at least that the bearing of the elevator car easily changes when the first and the second suspension ropes elongate in a different way. The solution does not present any type of compensation for the suspension ropes of the elevator. In this case the different elongations of the suspension ropes cannot be compensated, in which case the originally even suspension of the elevator car changes in practice to become uneven owing to different elongation of the suspension ropes. Additionally, the one large counterweight used in the solution takes space to such an extent that flexible layouts cannot easily be used.

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks and achieve an inexpensive and easy- to-implement arrangement, which combines the advantages of a hoisting machine disposed in the bottom part of the elevator hoistway and of flexible layout design and in which the compensation of the suspension roping separated from the traction member can be arranged to be automatic such that the elevator car is all the time in balance regardless of the load or of different elongation of the suspension ropes. Additionally, the aim of the invention is to achieve an arrangement, which enables a number of different, easy-to- implement suspension options for an elevator with machine room below. The arrangement according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of claim 1. Other embodiments of the invention are characterized by what is disclosed in the other claims.

Some inventive embodiments are also discussed in the descriptive section of the present application. The inventive content of the application can also be defined differently than in the claims presented below. The inventive content may also consist of several separate inventions, especially if the invention is considered in the light of expressions or implicit sub-tasks or from the point of view of advantages or categories of advantages achieved. In this case, some of the attributes contained in the claims below may be superfluous from the point of view of separate inventive concepts. Likewise the different details presented in connection with each embodiment can also be applied in other embodiments. In addition it can be stated that at least some of the subordinate claims can in at least some situations be deemed to be inventive in their own right.

An elevator applicable to the invention comprises an elevator car configured to be moved up and down in an elevator hoistway and compensating weights, at least two of which are connected with a suspension member supporting the elevator car, a hoisting machine provided with one or more traction sheaves and a traction member driven by at least two traction sheaves, the elevator car and compensating weights being arranged such that the suspension member is fixed at one of its ends to one compensating weight, led to travel via one or more diverting pulleys on the elevator car to a second compensating weight and fixed at its second end to this second compensating weight .

One advantage, among others, of the solution according to the invention is that by means of it easy and reliable compensation is enabled between the suspension ropes or corresponding suspension members in an elevator in which the suspension ropes are separated from the traction members. -In this case the elevator car remains in balance the whole time regardless of the load or of different elongation of the suspension ropes. The invention enables the use of two or more compensating weights, which can be smaller in size than one large counterweight or compensating weight. An advantage of small compensating weights is also that the solution according to the invention is space-efficient in both the width direction and the depth direction of the elevator hoistway. Yet another advantage is that by means of the arrangement according to the invention the rope arrangements and layouts of elevators can be diversified, which enables easier layout design. Another advantage is that installation of a hoisting machine is easier and cheaper than when installing the hoisting machine into the top part of a building. Likewise the structures and peripherals of the elevator are in this case lighter and cheaper. Another advantage is that replacement of the suspension ropes is easier than the solutions known in the art. Yet another advantage is fast and easy installation of an elevator.

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by the aid of some examples of its embodiment with to the simplified and diagrammatic drawings wherein presents a simplified and diagrammatic side view of one elevator arrangement according to the invention, provided with at least two compensating weights, wherein the hoisting machine of the elevator is disposed in the bottom part of the elevator hoistway, or close to it,

presents a simplified and diagrammatic top view of one elevator arrangement according to Fig. 1, wherein the compensating weights are disposed on different sides of the guide rail line of the elevator car to each other and on different sides of the elevator car,

presents a simplified and diagrammatic top view of one elevator arrangement according to Fig. 1, wherein the compensating weights are disposed on the same side of the guide rail line of the elevator car as each other and on different sides of the elevator car,

presents a simplified and diagrammatic side view of one second elevator arrangement according to the invention, provided with at least two compensating weights, wherein the hoisting machine of the elevator is disposed in the bottom part of the elevator hoistway, or close to it,

presents a simplified and diagrammatic side view of one third elevator arrangement according to the invention, provided with at least two compensating weights, wherein the hoisting machine of the elevator is disposed in the bottom part of the elevator hoistway, or close to it,

presents a simplified and diagrammatic side view of yet another elevator arrangement according to the invention, provided with at least two compensating weights, wherein the hoisting machine of the elevator is disposed in the bottom part of the elevator hoistway, or close to it,

Fig. 7 presents a simplified top view of an elevator arrangement according to Fig. 6, in the bottom part of the elevator hoistway, and

Fig . 8 presents a simplified and diagrammatic front view of yet one more elevator arrangement according to the invention, provided with at least two compensating weights, wherein two hoisting machines of the elevator are disposed in the bottom part of the elevator hoistway, or close to it. To enable the arrangement according to the invention, at least one elevator arrangement comprises at least an elevator car 1 configured to move up and down in an elevator hoistway and at least one or more compensating weights 2a, 2b, which are for their part connected to support the elevator car 1 by the aid of suspension members 3 that are completely separate from the traction members 7a, 7b, such as by the aid of belts or ropes and also by the aid of e.g. diverting pulleys 4 mounted on bearings in the top part of the elevator hoistway. In addition, the arrangement according to the invention comprises a hoisting machine 6 provided with at least one traction sheave 5 or corresponding, and at least two or more traction members 7a, 7b, such as ropes or belts, which are configured to transmit the rotational movement of the traction sheave 5 into linear movement of the elevator car 1 and of the compensating weights 2a, 2b. Characteristic to the invention, and common to all the different embodiments of the invention, is that each compensating weight 2a, 2b, or in some cases more than two compensating weights, is connected by the aid of its own traction member 7a, 7b provided with essentially spring tensioning or constant-force tensioning to most preferably one and the same hoisting machine 6. The aforementioned two or more compensating weights 2a, 2b enable an essentially easy layout in elevator design. At the same time the layout also brings various space benefits. In this case one layout solution can be e.g. the type of layout in which, when viewed from above, at the center of the elevator hoistway is a plane formed by the car guide rails of the elevator and around this plane are four corners for different structural solutions. For example, two corners are used for the compensating weights 2a, 2b and their guide rails, one corner is used for safety devices, mainly e.g. for an overspeed governor, and one corner is used for other devices, such as for the trailing cables, et cetera. From the viewpoint of the layout, it is advantageous to situate the compensating weights 2a, 2b, with their guide rails, in the rear corners of the elevator hoistway.

Fig. 1 presents a simplified and diagrammatic side view of one elevator arrangement according to the invention, said arrangement being provided with at least two compensating weights. The elevator arrangement according to Fig. 1 comprises two compensating weights 2a and 2b, both of which are connected to the elevator car 1 by the aid of common suspension members 3. There can be one suspension member 3 or a number of them side by side. The suspension member 3 is fixed at its first end to a first compensating weight 2a functioning as a counterweight, and passes over the top of a first diverting pulley 4 in the top part of the elevator hoistway or in the machine room and returns downwards and also passes below a first diverting pulley 4a fixed to the bottom part of the elevator car 1 and continues its journey in the horizontal direction below a second diverting pulley 4b fixed to the bottom part of the elevator car 1, to a second side of the elevator car 1, after passing around the bottom of which it rises up and passes over the top of a second diverting pulley 4 in the top part of the elevator hoistway or in the machine room and returns again downwards to a second compensating weight 2b functioning as a counterweight, to which compensating weight the second end of the suspension member 3 is fixed.

In addition, a rope clamp 3a or corresponding locking means is fixed to the bottom part of the elevator car 1, with which each suspension member 3 is locked into position on the bottom part of the elevator car 1, e.g. during servicing work on the elevator. The suspension members 3 can be locked with the rope clamp 3a also permanently, but then the rope clamp 3a must be made to move in the direction of the suspension members 3 in order for the automatic compensation of the suspension members 3 to operate. The rope clamp 3a can in this case be provided with e.g. guide rails and guide shoes, which move along the guide rails.

A hoisting machine 6 provided with a traction sheave 5 is configured to move the elevator car 1, which hoisting machine is preferably disposed in the bottom part of the elevator hoistway, e.g. on the base of the elevator hoistway or right in the proximity of the base. In this case installation of the hoisting machine 6 is easy, and long electric cables from the bottom part of the building to the hoisting machine and to the cubicles are not needed. Additionally, at least one humidity sensor, which is arranged to issue an alarm and if necessary to stop the elevator if excessive water comes onto the base of the hoistway, is disposed on the base of the hoistway. In this way the elevator machine and the electrical components of the elevator can be protected from excessive humidity .

For each compensating weight separately its own traction member 7a, 7b is disposed between the bottom part of the compensating weights 2a, 2b and the bottom part of the elevator car 1, which traction member receives its movement transmission force from the traction sheave 5 of the hoisting machine 6. The first traction member 7a is fixed at its first end to a first compensating weight 2a, is configured to leave the compensating weight 2a and go downwards and is led to pass under at least one diverting pulley 8a, after which the traction member 7a is led to a first traction sheave 5, which rotates on the vertical plane, of a hoisting machine 6 disposed below the elevator car 1 from the first side of the traction sheave 5, and is configured to pass around the bottom of the traction sheave 5 and to ascend after this from the second side of the traction sheave 5 to the elevator car 1, on which is a fixing means 10 maintaining e.g. an essentially spring force, to which fixing means the traction member 7a is fixed at its second end.

Correspondingly, the second traction member 7b is configured to travel from the second compensating weight 2b via the traction sheave 5 to the elevator car in essentially the same manner as the first traction member 7a. In this case the second traction member 7b is fixed at its first end to a second compensating weight 2b, is configured to leave the compensating weight 2b and go downwards and is led to pass under at least one diverting pulley 8b, after which the traction member 7b is led to a second traction sheave 5, which rotates on the vertical plane, of the hoisting machine 6 disposed below the elevator car 1 from the second side of the traction sheave 5 and is configured to pass around the bottom of the traction sheave 5 and to ascend after this from the first side of the traction sheave 5 to the elevator car 1, on which is a fixing means 10 maintaining e.g. an essentially spring force, to which fixing means the traction member 7b is fixed at its second end.

In this solution the same hoisting machine 6 rotates two traction sheaves 5 synchronously, which traction sheaves rotate synchronously at the same speed, but in different directions to each other. In this way one and the same hoisting machine 6 gives to both the traction members 7a, 7b a force producing linear movement of the elevator car 1 and of the compensating weights 2a, 2b.

Figs. 2 and 3 present top views of different options for disposing the compensating weights 2a, 2b in the elevator hoistway. In Fig. 2 the compensating weights 2a, 2b are disposed on opposite sides of the elevator car 1 and on different sides of the guide rail line of the elevator car 1 to each other, in which case the suspension of the elevator car 1 and of the compensating weights 2a, 2b is very symmetrical and does not produce any additional stresses e.g. on the guide rails. This is an extremely advantageous layout option if it is only possible. Correspondingly, in Fig. 3 the compensating weights 2a, 2b are disposed on opposite sides of the elevator car 1 and on the same side of the guide rail line of the elevator car 1 as each other. In this case the reason has been e.g. some issue relating to layout, owing to which the space on the other side of the guide rail has been reserved for some other use than the use of compensating weights. In this solution also, however, it is possible to implement suspension that is as symmetrical as possible and that does not additional stresses e.g. on the guide rails.

Fig. 4 presents a simplified and diagrammatic side view of one second elevator arrangement according to the invention, said arrangement being provided with at least two compensating weights 2a, 2b. The elevator arrangement according to Fig. 4 is otherwise similar to the solution according to Fig. 1, but now the suspension members 3 are not led to pass below the elevator car 1, but instead to the elevator car 1 via the bottom of the diverting pulleys 4c and 4d disposed above the elevator car, in which case the suspension members 3 are led to pass from the compensating weight 2a to the compensating weight 2b via the top of the elevator car 1. Correspondingly, the rope clamp 3a locking the suspension members 3 is now fixed to the top part of the elevator car 1. The traction member arrangement, together with the hoisting machine 6, traction sheave 5 and traction members 7a, 7b and also with the fixing means 10, are essentially similar to that in the solution according to Fig. 1, but it can also be different.

Fig. 5 presents a simplified and diagrammatic side view of one third elevator arrangement according to the invention, said arrangement being provided with at least two compensating weights 2a, 2b. The elevator arrangement according to Fig. 5 is, in relation to the suspension of the suspension members 3, similar to the solution according to Fig. 4, but now the traction members 7a, 7b are led to travel in a different way over the traction sheave 5 of the hoisting machine 6 and the fixing of the traction members 7a, 7b to the elevator car 1 is different than in the solution according to Fig. 4. The first traction member 7a is fixed at its first end to a first compensating weight 2a, is configured to leave the compensating' weight 2a and go downwards and is led to pass under at least one diverting pulley 8a, after which the traction member 7a is led to a traction sheave 5, which rotates on the vertical plane, of a hoisting machine 6 disposed below the elevator car 1 from the first side of the traction sheave 5, and is configured to pass around the traction sheave 5 on a first point of the contact surface of the traction sheave 5 on the second side of the traction sheave 5, to return back to the first side of the traction sheave 5 and is led onwards to pass under at least a second diverting pulley 9a and to ascend after this to the elevator car 1, on which is a fixing means 11 maintaining essentially constant tensioning force, to which fixing means the traction member 7a is fixed at its second end . The second traction member 7b is configured to travel from the second compensating weight 2b via the traction sheave 5 to the elevator car in essentially the same manner as the first traction member 7a. In this case the second traction member 7b is fixed at its first end to the second compensating weight 2b, is configured to leave the compensating weight 2b and go downwards and is led to pass under at least one diverting pulley 8b, after which the traction member 7b is led to a traction sheave 5, which rotates on the vertical plane, of the hoisting machine 6 disposed below the elevator car 1 from the second side of the traction sheave 5, and is configured to pass around the traction sheave 5 on a second point of the contact surface of the traction sheave 5 on the first side of the traction sheave 5, to return back to the second side of the traction sheave 5 and is led onwards to pass under at least a second diverting pulley 9b and to ascend after this to the elevator car 1, to a fixing means 11 maintaining essentially constant tensioning force, to which the traction member 7b is fixed at its second end.

The contact surface of the traction sheave 5 is so wide that both the traction members 7a, 7b fit side-by-side onto the contact surface of the traction sheave 5 without interfering with each other. In this way one and the same hoisting machine 6 and also one and the same traction sheave 5 give to both the traction members 7a, 7b a force producing linear movement of the elevator car 1 and of the compensating weights 2a, 2b.

Figs. 6 and 7 present a simplified and diagrammatic view of one more elevator arrangement according to the invention, wherein the hoisting machine 6 of the elevator is disposed in the bottom part of the elevator hoistway, or close to it. Fig. 6 presents the solution as viewed from the side, and Fig. 7 the same solution as viewed from the top of the hoisting machine 6. For the sake of clarity the compensating weights 2a, 2b are presented in Fig. 7 with dot-and-dash lines . In the arrangement according to Figs. 6 and 7 the traction members 7a and 7b are led to pass from the compensating weights 2a and 2b to fixing means 11 disposed in connection with the elevator car 1 directly via the traction sheaves 5, which traction sheaves 5 are connected to a hoisting machine 6 via a shaft 6a. In the arrangement according to Figs. 6 and 7 the traction sheaves 5 with their shafts 6a rotate in different directions to each other, but the arrangement can be implemented also such that both the traction sheaves 5 rotate in the same direction. From Fig. 7 it is seen that the hoisting machine 6 and its shaft 6a are at some certain angle with respect to the compensating weights 2a, 2b and their guide rail line. This angle can, however, vary, depending on the respective elevator layout solution. In this way a very shallow and simple machine solution is achieved without diverting pulleys in the bottom part of the hoistway, which solution reduces the space requirement in the bottom part of the hoistway and enables driving of the elevator car to as far down as possible. Correspondingly, the arrangement in relation to the suspension members 3 is essentially similar to that in the solutions according to Figs. 4 and 5, but can also be similar to that in the solution according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 presents a front view of one more elevator arrangement according to the invention, comprising two hoisting machines 6 of the elevator, which, with the traction sheaves 5, are disposed in the bottom part of the elevator hoistway, or close to it. The first hoisting machine 6 is fitted between one or more compensating weights 2a and the elevator car 1 on one side of the elevator car 1, and the second hoisting machine 6 is fitted between one or more compensating weights 2b and the elevator car 1 on a second side of the elevator car 1. This solution enables the base of the elevator hoistway to be made level, particularly in its center part, and the lifting mechanics can be made simple. Correspondingly, the arrangement in relation to the suspension members 3 is essentially similar to that in the solutions according to Figs. 4-6, but can also be similar to that in the solution according to Fig. 1.

In the arrangements according to Figs. 1-8, the traction member 7, 7a, 7b can be either a plurality of parallel hoisting ropes, a chain or a belt, e.g. a toothed belt. What all the arrangements presented have in common is that the traction members 7a, 7b are fixed at one of their ends, e.g. their ends on the elevator car 1 side, with fixing means 10 or 11 providing a spring force or a constant tensioning force such that a traction member 7a, 7b always remains sufficiently taut on, the rim of the traction sheave 5 and that when the suspension members 3 of the elevator car 1 stretch and loosen the fixing means 10, 11 remove the elongation produced via the traction members 7a, 7b and the suspension of the suspension members 3 compensates the elongation by keeping the elevator car always on a even bearing . In the elevator arrangement according to the invention the supporting of the elevator car 1 is separated from the moving means of the elevator car and smart materials, such as toothed belts, in which traction is not based on friction but instead on shape-locking, preferably suited to the purpose are used as the moving means, i.e. as the traction members 7a, 7b. Since the traction is not based on friction and elongations of the suspension members 3 can easily be compensated, one or more compensating weights 2a, 2b can be used, instead of counterweights, which compensating weights are disposed in the elevator hoistway space-efficiently in relation to the cross-section of the elevator hoistway and their mass is optimized according to the use of the elevator such that the elevator arrangement is made to function in the best possible way in relation to energy efficiency in exactly the use for which it has been delivered. The aforementioned space efficiency can be further improved with traction sheaves and diverting pulleys that are small in diameter and that can be disposed in a small space.

In the solutions according to Figs. 1-8, the traction members 7a and 7b are led to pass from the compensating weights 2a and 2b to the elevator car 1 via traction sheaves 5 rotating on an essentially vertical plane. The arrangement could just as well be such that the hoisting machine 6 is turned into an attitude in which the shaft of it is essentially vertical, in which case the plane of rotation of the traction sheave 5 is essentially on the horizontal plane. In this way a very shallow machine solution is achieved, which reduces the space requirement in the bottom part of the hoistway and enables driving of the elevator car 1 to as far down as possible.

Also common to all the solutions presented is that the point of location of the diverting pulleys 4a-4d disposed on the elevator car is configured such that the elevator car 1 can rise past the diverting pulleys 4 in the top end of the hoistway right to the top end of the hoistway. In this way the most space-efficient layout solution possible is achieved in the top end of the hoistway.

It should also be noted that the different solutions presented above can be inventive features together with one or more other features of the invention.

It is obvious, to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited solely to the examples described above, but that it may be varied within the scope of the claims presented below. Thus, for example, the suspension solutions can be different to what is presented above.

It is further obvious to the person skilled in the art that the location of the hoisting machine ^' can be elsewhere than what is presented above in the drawings. The hoisting machine can be on the base of the elevator hoistway, or close to the base, but also on some side of the elevator hoistway and also in the top part of the elevator hoistway.

It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that the number of compensating weights can also be greater than two. There can be e.g. three, four, six, eight, ten or even more compensating weights disposed in a different manner.