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Title:
ELEVATOR, ROPE ANCHORAGE ASSEMBLY FOR AN ELEVATOR, AND METHOD FOR MODERNIZING AN ELEVATOR
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2013/004899
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The elevator according to the invention comprises an elevator hoistway formed in a building or corresponding, one or more elevator units to be moved, including at least an elevator car, said unit(s) to be moved in the elevator hoistway, hoisting roping (R), which is arranged to support the elevator car and/or to transmit power for moving the elevator car, which hoisting roping (R) comprises a plurality of ropes (3), and a rope anchorage assembly (4), which comprises a plurality of rope anchorage members (5), via which the aforementioned ropes (3) of the hoisting roping (R) are anchored to a fixing base, which fixing base is a fixed part of the building or a part in connection with an elevator unit to be moved. The rope anchorage assembly (4) comprises an anchorage member pack (A), which comprises a plurality of plate-shaped rope anchorage members (5) placed consecutively in their thickness direction (z), and a rope (3), or a plurality of ropes (3), is anchored into each anchorage member (5). The invention also relates to a rope anchorage assembly (4) and a method for modernizing an elevator.

Inventors:
FORSSTROEM NIKO (FI)
RONKAINEN ERKKI (FI)
Application Number:
PCT/FI2012/050668
Publication Date:
January 10, 2013
Filing Date:
June 27, 2012
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
KONE CORP (FI)
FORSSTROEM NIKO (FI)
RONKAINEN ERKKI (FI)
International Classes:
B66B7/06; B66B7/10; B66B11/00; F16G11/04
Domestic Patent References:
WO2009050113A12009-04-23
WO2010136359A22010-12-02
Foreign References:
JPS5749872U1982-03-20
JP2001080844A2001-03-27
EP1431227A12004-06-23
FI20070994A2009-06-20
US5353893A1994-10-11
JPH10203751A1998-08-04
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
KONE CORPORATION/PATENT DEPARTMENT (Hyvinkää, FI)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Elevator, which comprises

-an elevator hoistway (S) formed in a building or corresponding,

-one or more elevator units to be moved, including at least an elevator car (1), said unit(s) to be moved in the elevator hoistway (S) ,

-hoisting roping (R) , which is arranged to support the elevator car (1) and/or to transmit power for moving the elevator car (1) , which hoisting roping (R) comprises a plurality of ropes (3),

-a rope anchorage assembly (4,4'), which comprises a plurality of rope anchorage members (5,5'), via which the aforementioned ropes (3) of the hoisting roping (R) are fixed to a fixing base . (b) , which fixing base (b) is a fixed part of the building or a part in connection with an elevator unit (1, 2) to be moved,

characterized in that the rope anchorage assembly (4,4') comprises an anchorage member pack (Α;Α',Β'), which comprises a plurality of plate-shaped rope anchorage members (5,5') placed consecutively in their thickness direction (z), and a rope (3), or a plurality of ropes (3) , is anchored into each anchorage member (5,5').

Elevator according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the hoisting roping (R) descends from the traction sheave (15) to a stationary diverting pulley (14), which is preferably supported on the machine bedplate (16) of the hoisting machine (M) , after passing around which diverting pulley (14) the hoisting roping (R) descends through the floor (17) of the machine room (MR) down into the elevator hoistway (S) , passes around the diverting pulley (22) of an elevator unit (2), which elevator unit is preferably a counterweight (2) , and ascends back up into the machine room (MR) through the floor (17) of the machine room (MR) to the aforementioned rope anchorage assembly (4,4')/ which is above the center of rotation of the aforementioned diverting pulley (14) , preferably above the highest point of the aforementioned diverting pulley (14).

Elevator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a hoisting machine (M) in a machine room (MR) , which comprises a traction sheave (15) supported on the machine bedplate (16), and in that the fixing base (b) of the rope anchorage assembly (4,4') is connected with fixing means (20) to the machine bedplate (16), which fixing means are adjustable so that the horizontal position and/or transverse position of the rope anchorage assembly (4,4') can be adjusted in relation to the machine bedplate (16) .

Elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing base (b) of the rope anchorage assembly (4,4') is a part that is in connection with an elevator unit (1, 2) to be moved, and the aforementioned rope anchorage assembly (4,4') is on the side of the aforementioned elevator unit (1, 2) to be moved.

Elevator according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the fixing base (b) of the rope anchorage assembly (4,4') is a part that is in connection with the elevator car (1) , and the rope anchorage assembly (4,4') is situated below the top surface of the roof of the elevator car.

Elevator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means

(8, 8' , 10, 10' ) for limiting movement in at least the thickness direction of the rope anchorage members

(5,5') of the rope anchorage member pack, preferably so that movement in the thickness direction of the rope anchorage members (5,5') is prevented, which means (8, 8' , 10, 10' ) preferably comprise means (10) for pressing the rope anchorage members (5,5) of the rope anchorage member pack towards each other in the thickness direction, or a rigid framework (10' ) , between the walls comprised in which, in the thickness direction (z), the rope anchorage members

(5,5') of the rope anchorage member pack/rope anchorage member packs (Α/Α',Β') are.

Elevator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each aforementioned anchorage member (5,5') comprises an anchorage space (6,6') or a plurality of anchorage spaces (6,6'), into each of which anchorage spaces (6,6') a rope (3) is anchored, preferably a rope (3), more particularly a rope loop of the rope (3) , is anchored into each anchorage space (6,6') by wedging.

Elevator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that and a rope (3) of the hoisting roping (R) , or a plurality of ropes (3) of the hoisting roping (R) , is anchored into each anchorage member (5,5'), which rope/ropes arrive (s) at the anchorage member (5,5') from the transverse direction (y) in relation to the aforementioned thickness direction (z) .

.Rope anchorage assembly (4,4') of an elevator, which rope anchorage assembly comprises an anchorage member pack (Α,Α',Β'), which comprises a plurality of plate- shaped anchorage members (5,5') placed consecutively in their thickness direction, and means (6, 6', 7) for anchoring one or more ropes (3) into each anchorage member (5,5'), preferably by wedging.

0. Rope anchorage assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned means (6, 6', 7) comprise an anchorage space (6,6') or a plurality of anchorage spaces (6,6') formed in each anchorage member (5,5'), into each of which anchorage spaces (6,6') can be placed a rope (3) , more particularly a rope loop, and a fixing means (7), preferably a wedging means (7) that can be placed into the anchorage space (6,6'),

1. Rope anchorage assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that preferably each aforementioned rope anchorage member (5,5') comprises an aperture/apertures (9,9') leading into the anchorage space/anchorage spaces (6,6') from the transverse direction (y) in relation to the thickness direction (z) of the rope anchorage member (5,5'), via which aperture (9,9') a rope (3) can be fitted to extend from outside the anchorage member (5,5') to inside into the anchorage space (6,6') in the aforementioned transverse direction.

12. Rope anchorage assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each aforementioned anchorage space (6,6'), and preferably also aperture (9,9'), is open in the thickness direction (z) of the anchorage member (5,5'), and preferably closed in the opposite direction.

13. Rope anchorage assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (8, 8' , 10, 10' ) for limiting movement in at least the thickness direction of the rope anchorage members (5,5') of a rope anchorage member pack, preferably for preventing movement in the thickness direction, which means (8, 8a' , 10, 10' ) comprise means (10) for pressing the rope anchorage members (5) of the rope anchorage member pack towards each other in the thickness direction, or a rigid framework (10'), between the walls comprised in which, in the thickness direction (z) , the rope anchorage members (5') of the rope anchorage member pack/rope anchorage member packs (Α Α',Β') are.

14. Elevator or rope anchorage assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each aforementioned anchorage member (5,5') is a rectangular prism, in which is formed, preferably by machining, one or more anchorage spaces (6,6') for a rope (3) .

Elevator or rope anchorage assembly according to any of the preceding claims, ; characterized in that the aforementioned framework (10') comprises a base, which prevents the moving of anchorage members (5') pulled by the ropes (3) in the transverse direction (y) , from which the ropes arrive into the anchorage members (5,5') and in that the aforementioned framework (10') comprises side walls, between which the rope anchorage members (5') of the rope anchorage member pack/rope anchorage member packs are in the transverse direction (x) , which is at a right angle to the aforementioned transverse direction (y) and to the aforementioned thickness direction (z) .

6. Elevator or rope anchorage assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned framework (10') is a box comprising at least 5 inner surfaces that are orthogonal to each other.

7. Elevator or rope anchorage assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for supporting the anchorage members (5,5'), preferably each anchorage member separately, inside the aforementioned framework (10') flexibly and movably in the transverse direction (y) in relation to the aforementioned thickness direction, which means comprise an elastic means (12) per each aforementioned anchorage member (5' ) .

8. Method for modernizing an old elevator, wherein the old elevator comprises

- an elevator car (1),

- a counterweight (2),

- an elevator hoistway (S),

- a hoisting machine with traction sheave in a machine room (MR) above the elevator hoistway (S) , for moving the elevator car (1) in the elevator hoistway (S) via the old hoisting roping, - the old hoisting roping, which comprises one or more hoisting ropes, which passes around the aforementioned traction sheave and connects the aforementioned elevator . car (1) and the counterweight (2),

in which old- elevator the old hoisting roping passes from the traction sheave to an anchorage that is in connection with the counterweight (2) via an aperture (18) in the floor (17) of the machine room (MR), and to an anchorage that is in connection with the elevator car

(1) via an aperture (19) in the floor (17) of the machine room (MR) ,

in which method the following phases are performed

- the old hoisting roping is removed,

- the new hoisting roping (R) 1 is installed, which new hoisting roping is guided to pass around the traction sheave (15) in the machine room and to connect the elevator car (1) and the counterweight (2), and which new hoisting roping (R) is guided to pass from the traction sheave (15) to the counterweight (2) via the first aperture (18) in the floor (17) of the machine room, and under the diverting pulley (22) of the counterweight (2) and upwards to the anchorage of the first ends of the ropes (3) of the hoisting roping (R) , and which new hoisting roping (R) is guided to pass from the traction sheave (15) to the elevator car (1) via the second aperture (19) in the floor (17) of the machine room (MR) , and under the diverting pulley (21) of the elevator car (1) and upwards to the anchorage of the second ends of the ropes (3) of the hoisting roping (R) , and which new hoisting roping (R) comprises a plurality of ropes (3), and the first ends and/or the second ends of the ropes (3) of the roping (R) are anchored with a rope anchorage assembly (4,4') that is in the machine room, which rope anchorage assembly comprises one or more anchorage member packs (Α;Α',Β'), which comprise a plurality of plate-shaped anchorage members (5,5') placed consecutively in their thickness direction and the end of a rope (3) of the roping R, or a plurality of ends of a rope (3) of the roping (R) , is anchored into each aforementioned anchorage member (5,5').

9. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the new roping (R) comprises a larger number of units of rope than the old roping.

0. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elevator is preferably arranged to be such that the hoisting roping descends from the traction sheave to a stationary diverting pulley (14), after passing around which the hoisting roping (R) descends through the floor (17) of the machine room (MR) down into the elevator hoistway (S), passes around the diverting pulley (22) of an elevator unit (2), which is preferably a counterweight (2), and ascends back up into the machine room (MR) through the floor (17) of the machine room (MR) into the rope anchorage assembly (4,4'), which is above the center of rotation of the aforementioned diverting pulley (14), preferably above the highest point of the aforementioned diverting pulley (14) .

1. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the method new hoisting roping (4) is guided to pass from the traction sheave (15) to the elevator car (1) and from the elevator car back into the machine room via an aperture (19) in the floor (17) of the machine room

(MR), which aperture (19) is at least essentially the same aperture via which the old hoisting roping passed from the machine room (MR) to the elevator car

(1) and/or new hoisting roping (R) is guided to pass from the traction sheave (8) to the counterweight (2) and from the counterweight (2) back into, the machine room via an aperture (18) in the floor (17) of the machine room (MR) , which aperture (18) is at least essentially the same aperture via which the old hoisting roping (R) passed from the machine room (MR) to the counterweight (2) .

Description:
ELEVATOR, ROPE ANCHORAGE ASSEMBLY FOR AN ELEVATOR, AND METHOD FOR MODERNIZING AN ELEVATOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is an elevator, more particularly an elevator applicable to the transporting of people and/or of freight, a rope anchorage assembly for an elevator, and a method for modernizing an old elevator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The elevator units, namely an elevator car and a counterweight to be moved in an elevator hoistway, of an elevator are most generally moved suspended on roping that hangs suspended from a building, which roping comprises one or more ropes, which have a first end and second end. An elevator unit can be suspended on roping with e.g. a 1:1 suspension, in which case the fixing base for the ends of the ropes of the roping is a part that is in connection with the elevator unit to be moved that is in question. Alternatively an elevator unit can be suspended with a larger suspension ratio (e.g. 2:1) via a diverting pulley that is in connection with the elevator unit, in which case the fixing base for the ends of the ropes of the roping can be a rigid part of the building. In this case the elevator , unit to be moved can be suspended with a diverting pulley without an anchorage for the end of the rope on the elevator unit.

The ropes of the hoisting roping generally travel essentially the same route side-by-side and the first ends of them are anchored to a fixing base in the proximity of each other and separate from each other. Likewise the second ends of them are anchored to a fixing base in the proximity of each other and separate from each other. The end of each rope is generally anchored to a fixing base by anchoring it in a wedge housing, the rod-shaped fixing means connected to which wedge housing being supported on the fixing base via a spring. Since there are a number of ropes in the hoisting roping, there are a number of such anchorages side-by-side. This type of fixing method is presented in, inter alia, publication WO2005097651A2. One problem with solutions of this type is that it takes space in the lateral direction, and is not well suited to elevators in which the transverse distance of the ropes from each other should be small. More particularly, if the ropes are thin and there are many of them, the width of the rope mat forms to be large owing to the size of the anchorage of each rope and to the necessary clearances. In prior art this is solved, inter alia, in such a way that every other rod-shaped fixing means is supported with a spring fastening at a first height and every other one at a second height. Since the fixing springs and other fixing means are at different levels alternately in the vertical direction, there is more space than before at the side of each. This enables the guiding of the ropes away from the anchoring arrangement with small clearances in the width direction of the rope mat. The anchoring arrangement itself, however, takes up very much space in both the vertical direction and the transverse direction. Thus it takes space from the machine room and the placement of it is awkward, especially when spaces are cramped. Cramping is a problem e.g. in solutions in which a large number of parallel ropes ascend from a small diverting pulley of the counterweight near ropes descending to the counterweight. The anchoring arrangement is in this case disposed to the side of a hole, e.g. on the opposite side of the hole in the floor than the traction sheave, and guide means are used to bend the ropes ascending from the hole towards the anchorage on the side of the hole. A problem has been the large size of the anchoring arrangement itself, and the large space requirement resulting from the placement of it.

Also access to the machine has been awkward owing to the anchoring arrangement.

The aforementioned problems relating to space usage occur particularly in the modernization of old elevators. The original old elevators in old buildings are often traction sheave elevators provided with counterweights, in which the suspension ratio is 1:1, and which comprise a geared hoisting machine that is disposed in a machine room above the elevator hoistway. When modernizing these types of old elevators the hoisting roping and hoisting machine that belonged to the elevator are replaced. The hoisting machine is generally changed for a gearless one, because a gearless machine is cheaper to manufacture and smaller in size than a geared machine. When a new gearless hoisting machine is installed into an old elevator, also a 1:1 suspension ratio must generally be changed to a 2:1 suspension ratio. In this case what becomes a problem is that the fixing base for the ends of the ropes is a structure supported on the building instead of a structure of the elevator units to be moved. It would be easiest to locate the anchorage in the machine room by leading the ropes back from the elevator unit into the machine room from the old rope apertures of its floor, without piercing new apertures. It is not desired to pierce new rope apertures; the strength of the floor of the machine room will weaken. The anchoring of ropes by conventional methods has been awkward owing to the aforementioned space problems. Likewise, the ropes fitting through the old holes without too much enlargement of the apertures has been awkward because it has been awkward to dispose/support the ropes accurately at a sufficiently small distance from each other, in which case the transverse dimensions of the rope mat to be taken through an aperture have been large. The greater the number of ropes, the more awkward arranging an anchorage space and achieving a narrow rope mat has been. The aforementioned problems are also described in publication FI20070994.

One aim in elevators has been reduction of the top clearance remaining between the elevator car and the end of the elevator hoistway in the situation when the elevator car has stopped at the topmost floor landing. In solutions in which the elevator car is suspended on the ropes with a 1:1 lifting ratio, the problem detrimental to the aforementioned goal has been the large size of the anchorages of the ropes. Likewise, it has been problematic finding a placement for the rope anchorages that is advantageous from the viewpoint of the aforementioned goal. Likewise, it has been problematic finding a layout for the suspension that is advantageous from the viewpoint of the aforementioned goal.

AIM OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the invention is to eliminate, inter alia, the aforementioned drawbacks of prior-art solutions. More particularly the aim of the invention is to produce an elevator having an improved rope anchorage. Further, the aim of the invention is to produce one or more of the following advantages, among others:

- An elevator is achieved in which the distances between the ropes in the transverse direction of the rope mat can be configured to be small and of precisely the magnitude desired simply and space-efficiently.

- An elevator is achieved, which is well suited to the modernization of a 1:1 elevator with machine room into a 1:2 elevator also guiding the ropes via the old holes into the hoistway and back from the hoistway with at most only minor modifications to said holes. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the concept that the anchoring of the ends of the ropes of the roping of an elevator can be arranged very compactly and the rope intervals can be managed well if the ends/some of the ends of the ropes of the roping are anchored in proximity to each other in a rope anchorage assembly, which comprises an anchorage member pack, which comprises a plurality of plate-shaped anchorage members placed consecutively in their thickness direction. According to the concept, in the anchorage arrangement a rope, more particularly an end of a rope, or a plurality of ropes, more particularly a plurality of ends of the ropes, is anchored to each aforementioned anchorage member. The idea is further to utilize this type of anchorage of a rope when anchoring ropes to an elevator car or to a machine room in a certain manner.

In one basic embodiment of the concept of the invention the elevator comprises an elevator hoistway formed in a building or corresponding, one or more moving elevator units, including at least an elevator car, said unit(s) to be moved in the elevator hoistway, hoisting roping, which hoisting roping is arranged to support the elevator car and/or to transmit power for moving the elevator car and comprises a plurality of ropes, and also a rope anchorage assembly, which comprises a plurality of rope anchorage members, via which the aforementioned ropes of the hoisting roping, more particularly the ends of them, are anchored to a fixing base. The fixing base can be e.g. a fixed part of the building or a part in connection with a moving elevator unit, depending on the type of reeving selected. The rope anchorage assembly of the invention comprises an anchorage member pack, which comprises a plurality of plate-shaped anchorage members placed consecutively in their thickness direction z, and a rope, more particularly an end of a rope, or a plurality of ropes, more particularly a plurality of ends of the ropes, is anchored into each anchorage member. In this way the aforementioned advantages are achieved.

Preferably the hoisting roping of the elevator descends from the traction sheave to a stationary diverting pulley, which is preferably supported on the machine bedplate of the hoisting machine, after passing around which diverting pulley the hoisting roping descends through the floor of the machine room down into the elevator hoistway, passes around the diverting pulley of an elevator unit to be moved, which elevator unit is preferably a counterweight, and ascends back up into the machine room through the floor of the machine room to the aforementioned rope anchorage assembly, which is above the center of rotation of the aforementioned diverting pulley, preferably above the highest point of the aforementioned diverting pulley. In this way a very compact rope anchorage/descension to the elevator unit is achieved, as a result of which a very small rope hole in the machine room can be used.

Preferably the elevator comprises in the machine room a hoisting machine, which comprises a traction sheave supported on the machine bedplate, and the fixing base of the rope anchorage assembly is connected with fixing means to the machine bedplate, which fixing means are adjustable so that the horizontal position and/or transverse position of the rope anchorage assembly can be adjusted in relation to the machine bedplate. In this way the location of the rope anchorage assembly can be adjusted to the desired point above the hole of the floor of the machine room, and the apparatus is well suited to different modernization targets.

Preferably the fixing base of the rope anchorage assembly is a part that is in connection with an elevator unit to be moved, and the aforementioned rope anchorage assembly is on the side of the elevator unit to be moved. In this way the ropes can be anchored to the elevator unit without them reducing the top clearance. The aforementioned rope anchorage assembly is therefore between the elevator unit to be moved and the wall of the elevator hoistway. One advantage is that the anchorage is compact and does not increase the dimensions of the elevator unit in the lateral direction to a detrimental degree. Likewise the elevator car can in this case be arranged to drive into its upper position to at last partly beside the diverting pulley around which the ropes ascending from the rope anchorage assembly bend.

Preferably the ropes from the rope anchorage assembly ascend upwards in the elevator hoistway in a space formed between the aforementioned elevator unit to be moved, i.e. preferably the elevator car, and the elevator hoistway. By guiding the ropes in this way, a low top clearance and working on the roof are made possible. Preferably the fixing base of the aforementioned rope anchorage assembly is a part that is in connection with the elevator car, and the rope anchorage assembly is below the top surface of the roof of the elevator car. In this way the rope anchorage does not take vertical space from above the elevator car.

Preferably the fixing base of the aforementioned rope anchorage assembly is a part that is in connection with the elevator car, and the ropes ascend upwards from the rope anchorage assembly and bend around at least one diverting pulley (91) in the top part of the elevator hoistway, the plane of rotation of which at least one diverting pulley is in the direction of the wall of the elevator car, and which at least one diverting pulley is preferably out of the path of passage of the elevator car, and from which at least one diverting pulley the ropes descend to a counterweight, and that preferably the elevator car is able to drive into its upper position to at last partly beside the aforementioned at least one diverting pulley. In this way a very shallow top clearance, is made possible and the overall structure is compact also in the lateral direction. Preferably the elevator comprises two of the aforementioned type of hoisting ropings, the ropes of each of which is anchored to its fixing base in any of the ways defined above, and the fixing bases of them are in connection with the same elevator unit to be moved. Thus a balanced suspension is achieved. Preferably the rope anchorage assemblies of the hoisting ropings are on opposite sides of the elevator car for achieving the aforementioned advantages in the manner described above. Preferably a rope of the hoisting roping, or a plurality of ropes of the hoisting roping, is anchored into each aforementioned anchorage member of the elevator, which rope/ropes arrive (s) at the anchorage member, more particularly into the anchorage space, from the transverse direction, y in relation to the aforementioned thickness direction z. In this way the ropes arrive at the anchorage as a tight bunch. Preferably the anchorage members of the aforementioned rope anchorage member plurality are positioned in the proximity of each other in the aforementioned thickness direction z, more particularly by supporting the anchorage members directly against each other, and/or by supporting the anchorage members on positioning means between anchorage members, which positioning means keep the anchorage members at least a certain distance from each other. In this way they form a tight pack, in which the members are precisely positioned.

Preferably each aforementioned anchorage member comprises an anchorage space or a plurality (preferably 2) of anchorage spaces, into each of which anchorage spaces a rope is anchored. In this way a compact structure in the transverse direction is achieved because the ropes can thus be anchored to rest on the shared intermediate wall bounding the anchorage spaces, which can be formed to be thinner than the shared wall thickness needed between anchorage spaces if the anchorage spaces were in separate anchorage members. In this way the rope bunch arriving at the anchorage can be kept tight in the transverse direction x .

Preferably each aforementioned anchorage member comprises a plurality (preferably 2) of anchorage spaces, which are parallel in the transverse direction x, into each of which anchorage spaces a rope is anchored such that the rope arrives in each anchorage space from the transverse direction y in relation to the aforementioned thickness direction z, and the aforementioned directions x, y and z are at right angles to each. In this way the rope bunch arriving at the anchorage is tight. Preferably each anchorage member comprises an anchorage space or a plurality of anchorage spaces, into each of which anchorage spaces a rope, more particularly a rope loop, is anchored by wedging. In this way the anchorage space can form a wedge housing, into which a rope, more particularly a loop made in the end of the rope, can be wedged, more particularly so that the rope bends into a loop in the plane of the plate-shaped member inside the thickness of it. In the eye of the loop can be a wedging means, which is also inside the anchorage space, at least partly, preferably completely, and which prevents the loop from leaving ; the anchorage space in the direction y, from which the rope arrives into the anchorage space.

Preferably each aforementioned rope anchorage member comprises one or more apertures leading into the anchorage space from the transverse direction y in relation to the aforementioned thickness direction z, via each of which apertures the rope anchored into the anchorage space extends from outside the anchorage member to inside into the anchorage space in the aforementioned transverse direction y.

Preferably the aforementioned rope anchorage assembly comprises two parallel anchorage member packs, each of which comprises a plurality of plate-shaped anchorage members placed consecutively in their thickness direction, and at least one rope is anchored into each anchorage member . Preferably the elevator comprises a hoisting machine, which comprises a traction sheave supported on a machine bedplate in the machine room. In one basic embodiment of the concept according to the invention the rope anchorage assembly of an elevator according to the invention comprises an anchorage member pack, which comprises a plurality of plate-shaped anchorage members placed consecutively in their thickness direction, and means for anchoring one or more ropes into each anchorage member. This rope anchorage assembly with its embodiments can be used in an elevator according to the invention . Preferably the aforementioned means for anchoring one or more ropes comprise an anchorage space or a plurality of anchorage spaces formed in each anchorage member, into each of which anchorage spaces can be placed a rope, more particularly a rope loop, and a fixing means, which fixing means is preferably a wedging means that can be placed into the anchorage space.

Preferably each aforementioned rope anchorage member comprises an aperture/apertures leading into the anchorage space/anchorage spaces from a transverse direction in relation to the thickness direction of the rope anchorage member, via which aperture the rope can be fitted to extend from outside the anchorage member to inside into the anchorage space in the aforementioned transverse direction y.

Preferably the aforementioned means for anchoring one or more ropes are means for anchoring one or more ropes into each anchorage member by wedging. Thus the anchorage is secure and nevertheless compact.

Preferably the height/thickness ratio of the y direction and the width/thickness ratio of the x direction of each aforementioned rope anchorage member are each at least 2 more preferably at least 4. Preferably the thickness of each aforementioned rope anchorage member is at most 25 mm essentially for the whole height and width of the rope anchorage member. In this way the plate-shaped structure to be stacked into a pack is thin in terms of its thickness and, however, robust in the transverse directions.

Preferably each aforementioned anchorage space tapers towards the aperture leading into it. The anchorage space thus forms a wedge housing. A rope and a fixing means, more particularly a wedging means, can be placed into the anchorage space for anchoring the rope and the wedging means, more particularly for wedging the rope between the walls of the aforementioned tapering anchorage space by pulling the rope through the aperture outwards from the anchorage space.

Preferably at least each aforementioned anchorage space, and preferably also aforementioned aperture, is open in the thickness direction z of the anchorage member. In this way the rope part and/or the rope anchorage means fixed to the rope can be fitted to extend from outside the anchorage member to inside into the anchorage space in the aforementioned transverse direction by transferring the aforementioned rope part and/or the rope anchorage means fixed to the rope in the thickness direction into the anchorage space. Preferably each anchorage space, and possibly also each aforementioned aperture, is open in the thickness direction z in only one direction and closed in the opposite direction. In this way the stacking of the members into a pack closes each anchorage space. Preferably the aforementioned elevator/rope anchorage assembly comprises means for limiting movement in at least the thickness direction of the rope anchorage members of the rope anchorage member pack, preferably so that movement in the thickness direction of the rope anchorage members is prevented, which means preferably comprise means for pressing the rope anchorage members of a rope anchorage member pack towards each other in the aforementioned thickness direction, or a rigid framework, between the walls comprised in which, in the thickness direction z, the rope anchorage members of the rope anchorage member pack(s) are. In this way the pack is tight and the rope interval in the direction z can be ensured.

Preferably in the aforementioned elevator/rope anchorage assembly each aforementioned anchorage member is a rectangular prism, in which is formed, preferably by machining, one or more anchorage spaces for a rope. In this way it can be supported in the transverse direction x and y simply on rectangular surfaces.

Preferably in the aforementioned elevator/rope anchorage assembly the anchorage member is a piece, which comprises 6 planar sides that are orthogonal in relation to each other, including a planar side that is at a right angle in relation to the aforementioned transverse direction, in which side is/are an aperture/apertures leading into the aforementioned anchorage space/aforementioned anchorage spaces, via which aperture/apertures the rope arriving/ropes arriving into the rope anchorage member extend into the anchorage space/anchorage spaces, and one planar side evenly facing the thickness direction (z), which side comprises an aperture/apertures leading into the anchorage space/anchorage spaces, in which thickness direction z the anchorage space is open, and in the opposite direction to which the anchorage space is preferably closed. Thus the piece is simple to fabricate by machining, by removing material from a simple rectangular prism piece.

Preferably in the aforementioned elevator/rope anchorage assembly the aforementioned framework comprises a base, which prevents the moving of anchorage members pulled by the ropes in the transverse direction, from which the ropes arrive into the anchorage members, and that the aforementioned framework comprises side walls, between which the rope anchorage members of the rope anchorage member pack(s) are in the transverse direction x, which is at a right angle to the aforementioned transverse direction and to the aforementioned thickness direction. Thus, via it the rope anchorage member pack can be simply supported.

Preferably in the aforementioned elevator/rope anchorage assembly the aforementioned framework is a box comprising at least 5 inner surfaces (walls + base) that are orthogonal to each other. In this way, together with the rectangular rope anchorage members, it forms a tight and space-efficient entity. Preferably in the aforementioned elevator/rope anchorage assembly each aforementioned rope anchorage means comprises two aforementioned anchorage spaces, and each anchorage space tapers towards the aperture leading into the anchorage space from a transverse direction in relation to the thickness direction of the frame, and that the anchorage spaces have tapering shapes that are mirror images in relation to the aforementioned transverse direction y.- One advantage is that their wedging forces cancel each other out. In this case the anchorage spaces preferably each have one straight inner wall in the aforementioned transverse direction bounding the anchorage space, the direction of which wall is the direction of the stressed ropes arriving at the member. One advantage is a compact and narrow structure when the ropes arrive at the member close to each other. In this case also preferably the anchorage spaces are closed in the second thickness direction. They can open in the thickness direction in the same or in opposite directions. If they open in opposite directions, the rope anchorage point, as also the rope grooves, is/are preferably at different points in the thickness direction. In this way the need for inclined pulling of the parallel ropes decreases. Preferably each aforementioned rope anchorage means is of solid material, in which is formed the aforementioned anchorage space/aforementioned anchorage spaces by removing material from a piece that is of solid material, preferably by machining, which material is preferably metal.

Preferably the rope anchorage assembly comprises means for limiting movement in at least the thickness direction of the rope anchorage members of the rope anchorage member pack, preferably for preventing movement in the thickness direction.

Preferably the rope anchorage assembly comprises positioning means (8,8a') for keeping the anchorage members at least a certain distance from each other. Thus the rope distance can be adjusted.

Preferably the elevator or rope anchorage assembly comprises means for supporting the anchorage members, preferably each anchorage member separately, inside the aforementioned framework flexibly and movably in a transverse direction in relation to the aforementioned thickness direction, which means preferably comprise an elastic means per each aforementioned rope anchorage member. The elastic means endeavor to tension the ropes. The assembly preferably also comprises means for monitoring the position of the anchorage members. The elastic means preferably flexibly resist movement of the anchorage member/members in the direction y of the pull of the rope. In this way the rope tension can be monitored. The elastic means can be supported on the framework, e.g. on its base, in which case the elastic means are between the base of the framework and the anchorage means.

Preferably each anchorage space comprises a rope groove (30, 30') machined in the wall, preferably in one or more walls, of the anchorage space for the rope of the fixing point, which rope groove in the thickness direction is eccentric to the rope anchorage member.

Preferably each aforementioned anchorage space is formed inside a rope anchorage member. Preferably each aforementioned anchorage member is a piece, the projection of which in the aforementioned thickness direction z and in the aforementioned transverse direction y is essentially a rectangle. Preferably the elevator comprises means (8, 8' , 10, 10' ) for limiting movement in at least the thickness direction of the rope anchorage members of the rope anchorage member pack, which means comprise a positioning means (8,8a') / preferably a positioning plate of a certain thickness, between the sequential consecutive anchorage members, which positioning means keeps the sequential consecutive anchorage members at least a certain distance from each other. This type of positioning means can be in one or more anchorage member intervals.

Preferably the aforementioned rope anchorage assembly comprises two anchorage member packs, each of which comprises a plurality of plate-shaped anchorage members placed consecutively in their thickness direction, and each anchorage member comprises an anchorage space, into which a rope is fixed/can ' be fixed, and which anchorage space is open in one thickness direction and closed in the opposite thickness direction, and that the anchorage packs comprise anchorage members, the anchorage spaces of which are open in opposite directions, preferably such that the first anchorage member pack comprises anchorage members, the anchorage spaces of which are open in the opposite thickness direction to the anchorage spaces of the anchorage members of the second anchorage member pack. In this way the same type of rope anchorage members can be used in both packs and the wedge-type shapes of members opening in different directions are automatically mirror images, in which case the wedge forces cancel each other out. In this way also the rope interval can be configured to be that desired, especially if the rope anchorage location is eccentric to the member in the thickness direction. In a basic embodiment of the concept according to the invention, in the method for modernizing an old elevator, which old elevator comprises an elevator car, a counterweight, an elevator hoistway, a hoisting machine with traction sheave in a machine room above the elevator hoistway, for moving the elevator car in the elevator hoistway via the old hoisting roping, and the old hoisting roping, which comprises one or more hoisting ropes, which pass around the aforementioned traction sheave and connect the aforementioned elevator car and counterweight, in which old elevator the old hoisting roping travels from the traction sheave to an anchorage in connection with the counterweight via an aperture in the floor of the machine room, and to an anchorage in connection with the elevator car via an aperture in the floor of the machine room, the old hoisting roping is removed, and the new hoisting roping is installed, which new hoisting roping is guided to pass around the traction sheave in the machine room and to connect the elevator car and the counterweight, and which new hoisting roping is guided to pass from the traction sheave to the counterweight via a first aperture in the floor of the machine room, and under the diverting pulley of the counterweight and upwards to the anchorage of the first ends of the ropes of the hoisting roping, and which new hoisting roping is guided to pass from the traction sheave to the elevator car via a second aperture in the floor of the machine room, and under the diverting pulley of the elevator car and upwards to the anchorage of the second ends of the ropes of the hoisting roping, and which new hoisting roping comprises a plurality of ropes, and the first ends and/or the second ends of the ropes of the roping are anchored with one or more rope anchorage assemblies that is/are in the machine room, which assembly/assemblies comprise (s) an anchorage member pack, which comprises a plurality of plate-shaped anchorage members placed consecutively in their thickness direction z, and into each aforementioned anchorage member the end of a rope of the roping, or a plurality of ends of a rope of the roping, is fixed. Preferably in the method the elevator is formed to be of a type described above.

Preferably the aforementioned new roping comprises a larger number of units of rope than the old roping. With the defined anchorage a large number of ropes can be anchored tightly and compactly and can be guided to pass through a narrow aperture. The new roping preferably comprises at least 20 ropes. Preferably the aforementioned old hoisting machine is removed and a new hoisting machine is installed in the machine room, preferably so that a geared old hoisting machine is replaced with a gearless one.

Preferably in the method a new machine bedplate is installed, and the side and/or vertical position of the rope anchorage assembly is adjusted to be that desired, more particularly in relation to the aperture (18,19) of the floor, and the aforementioned rope anchorage assembly is supported on the machine bedplate. In this way the rope bundle can be guided precisely from the desired point and the elevator can be reeved to comprise a very large number of thin ropes. An advantage of thin ropes is, inter alia, the smallness of the diverting pulley, in which case guiding the ropes via the counterweight is facilitated.

Preferably the aforementioned elevator is arranged to be such that the hoisting roping descends from the traction sheave to a stationary diverting pulley, after passing around which the hoisting roping descends through the floor of the machine room down into the elevator hoistway, passes around the diverting pulley of an elevator unit, which is preferably a counterweight, and ascends back up into the machine room through the floor of the machine room to the rope anchorage assembly, which is above the center of rotation of the aforementioned diverting pulley, preferably above the highest point of the aforementioned diverting pulley. In this way the anchorage can be situated precisely above the aperture and the rope bundle can be guided through a small hole despite its large number of ropes.

Preferably the aforementioned new hoisting roping is guided to pass from the traction sheave to the elevator car and from the elevator car back into the machine room via an aperture in the floor of the machine room, which aperture is at least essentially the same aperture via which the old hoisting roping passed from the traction sheave to the elevator car and/or the new hoisting roping is guided to pass from the traction sheave to the counterweight and from the counterweight back into the machine room via an aperture in the floor of the machine room, which aperture is at least essentially the same aperture via which the old hoisting roping passed from the traction sheave to the counterweight. In this way the new roping is led from the traction sheave to the counterweight and back into the machine room without piercing a new hole in the floor of the machine room for the rope section on the counterweight side of the traction sheave and/or the new roping is led from the traction sheave to the elevator car and back into the machine room without piercing a new hole in the floor of the machine room for the rope section on the counterweight side of the traction sheave. The old aperture can be slightly expanded. Likewise, the edges of the aperture can be tidied or edging strips or surface lining can be installed in it, but it does not necessarily need to be essentially expanded or it does not necessarily need to be expanded at all. Thus the strength of the floor is not impaired in the method.

Preferably the aforementioned diverting pulley, having a diameter of less than 250mm, preferably 200mm. or less, is installed in connection with the elevator car and/or the counterweight, and the roping is guided to pass under the aforementioned diverting pulley/diverting pulleys.

The invention is advantageous for anchoring the end of the roping in an elevator having a counterweight and 2:1 suspension, but it can be utilized for anchoring the end of any roping regardless of the position of the fixing base or of the suspension ratio or of the type of roping. The elevator can be e.g. an elevator without counterweight or an elevator in which the suspension roping and the hoisting roping (on which the traction sheave directly acts) are separated from each other. The fixing base is preferably a fixed part of the building, meaning a structural part of the actual building, or a part rigidly supported on such a part, but the advantages of the invention are also manifested in elevators in which the fixing base is a part that is in connection with an elevator unit to be moved. The elevator is most preferably an elevator applicable to the transporting of people and/or of freight, which elevator is installed in a building, to travel in a vertical, or at least essentially vertical, direction, preferably on the basis of landing calls and/or car calls. The aforementioned interior of the elevator car is most preferably suited to receive a passenger or a number of passengers. The elevator preferably comprises at least two, preferably more, floors to be served. The invention is preferably applicable in modernizations, but the advantages of the invention are also manifested in connection with new elevators. Some inventive embodiments are also presented in the descriptive section and in the drawings 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. The features of the various embodiments of the invention can be applied within the framework of the basic inventive concept in conjunction with other embodiments.

LIST OF FIGURES

In the following, the invention will be described in detail by the aid of some embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 diagrammatically presents a general view of one embodiment of an elevator according to the invention.

Fig. 2 presents a side view of a first embodiment of a rope anchorage assembly of an elevator according to the invention.

Fig. 3 presents three-dimensional view of a rope anchorage assembly of an elevator according to Fig. 2, said assembly being separate from its fixing base.

Fig. 4 presents a rope anchorage member, which is used in the rope anchorage assembly of Figs. 2-3. Fig. 5 presents a side view of a rope anchorage member of a rope anchorage assembly according to Figs. 2 and 3, to which member ropes are fixed.

Fig. 6 presents a three-dimensional view of a second embodiment of a rope anchorage assembly of an elevator according to the invention.

Fig. 7 presents a partially three-dimensional view of a rope anchorage assembly of an elevator according to Fig. 6, said assembly being separate from its fixing base.

Fig. 8 presents a rope anchorage member, which is used in the rope anchorage assembly of Figs. 2-3, and to which member a rope is fixed.

Figs. 9a and 9b present a general view of a second embodiment of an elevator according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 presents an elevator according to the invention, which , elevator comprises an elevator hoistway S formed in a building or corresponding and elevator units to be moved arranged to move in the elevator hoistway S, an elevator car 1 and a counterweight 2. The elevator car 1 comprises an interior, e.g. for receiving passengers inside the car. The elevator car 1 is moved, hanging suspended on roping R suspended on the building, with a hoisting machine M, with a traction sheave 15 rotated by a motor. The roping R comprises a plurality of ropes 3, and each rope 3 has a first end and a second end. The first ends, as also the second ends, are anchored in proximity of each other to a fixing base b via a rope anchorage assembly 4,4', which takes the counterforce to the pulling of the ropes 3 from the fixing base b. The fixing bases b are, in the embodiment presented, members permanently supported in their position on the building. In each fixing base b is an access opening for the ropes 3. Each rope anchorage assembly 4,4' comprises one or more anchorage member packs (Α;Α',Β'), which comprises a plurality of plate-shaped anchorage members 5,5' placed consecutively in their thickness direction z, and a rope 3, more particularly an end of a rope, or a plurality of ropes 3, more particularly a plurality of ends of the ropes, is fixed into each anchorage member 5, 5' . The solution enables precise positioning of the ropes 3 to the desired distance in relation to each other very close to each other. The anchorage members 5,5' of each rope anchorage assembly 4,4' are positioned in the aforementioned thickness direction close to each other, and the end of a hoisting rope 3, or a plurality of ends of the hoisting ropes 3, is anchored into each anchorage member 5,5', and each rope 3, more particularly the part of it subjected to stress, arrives at its anchorage member from a transverse direction in relation to the aforementioned thickness direction. The rope anchorage assembly 4,4' is preferably according to what is described in connection with Figs. 2-5 or 6-8.

Each anchorage member 5,5' comprises an anchorage space 6,6', or a plurality of anchorage spaces 6,6', into each of which anchorage spaces 6, 6' a rope 3 is anchored, preferably by wedging. Preferably the anchorage space 6,6' forms a wedge housing, into which a rope 3 is anchored by wedging with the aid of a wedging means 7. In the embodiments presented the rope is fixed as a loop. A loop is bent in the end of the rope such that the rope 3 bends into a loop in the plane of the plate-shaped anchorage member 5,5' inside the thickness of the anchorage member 5,5'. The wedging means 7 is inside the eye of the loop. The wedging can alternatively be implemented using a wedging means also without bending the rope 3 into a loop. The elevator also comprises a hoisting machine M, which comprises a traction sheave 15 supported on the machine bedplate 16. The hoisting roping R descends from the traction sheave 15 to a stationary diverting pulley 14, which is supported on the machine bedplate . 16 of the hoisting machine 15, after passing around which diverting pulley 14 the hoisting roping R descends through the floor 17 of the machine room MR down into the elevator hoistway S, passes around a diverting pulley of the counterweight 2, and ascends back up into the machine room MR through the floor 17 of the machine room MR to the rope anchorage assembly 4,4', which is above the center of rotation of the aforementioned diverting pulley 14, preferably above the highest point of the aforementioned diverting pulley 14. In the figures, the left-hand side, i.e. the counterweight side, fixing base b of the rope anchorage assembly 4,4', which fixing base in the embodiment presented comprises a beam system supporting the rope anchorage assembly 4,4', is connected with fixing means 20 to the machine bedplate 16, which fixing means are adjustable so that the horizontal position and/or transverse position of the rope anchorage assembly 4,4' can be adjusted in relation to the machine bedplate 16.· The fixing base can be one allowing adjustment and sliding with the machine bedplate, and that can be tightened into its position e.g. with bolts. Likewise the diverting pulley 14 can, in terms of its position, be adjustable in relation to the machine bedplate in a corresponding manner to the fixing base b. In this case it is advantageous that also the diverting pulley is supported on the fixing base b, for enabling their simultaneous movement in relation to the machine bedplate 16. The advantage of adjustability is that an elevator possessing similar components can be installed simply in very different modernization targets. The placement of the rope anchorage assembly 4,4' on the counterweight side above the center of rotation of the diverting pulley 14. enables the placement of the rope anchorage assembly 4,4' such that the rope mat descending from it is very close to the rope mat descending to the counterweight 2 from the traction sheave 15. Corresponding adjustability and the diverting pulley 14 can be installed alternatively, or in addition, on the elevator car side of the traction sheave. Figs. 2-3 describe a rope anchorage assembly 4 and a rope anchorage member 5 according to a first embodiment of the invention, which can be utilized in the elevator and in the method according to the invention. With a solution of the type presented one or both ends of the ropes 3 of the roping R can be anchored. The rope anchorage assembly 4 comprises an anchorage member pack, which comprises a plurality of plate-shaped anchorage members 5 placed consecutively in their thickness direction, and a plurality of ends of the ropes 3 is anchored into each anchorage member 5 in parallel in the direction x. The anchorage members 5 of the rope anchorage member plurality are positioned in the aforementioned thickness direction in proximity to each other, by supporting the anchorage members 5 against each other. In addition, some of the anchorage members 5 of a pack are positioned at a distance from each other by supporting consecutive anchorage members 5 on positioning means 8 that are between these anchorage members, more particularly on positioning plates 8 of preselected thickness that keep the anchorage members 5 at a certain distance from each other. In this way the ropes 3 anchored into the anchorage members 5 can be precisely positioned in the desired point in relation to each other. The positioning means (plates 8) could be placed in the desired points for forming the desired rope configuration, even in each anchorage member interval. The use of them can be unnecessary if the own thickness of the anchorage members is such that a suitable rope interval forms when supporting the anchorage members against each other. The thickness in the aforementioned thickness direction of the positioning means can be selected to be suitable from the viewpoint of the intended rope interval. The positioning plates 8 function, for their part, as means for limiting movement in at least the thickness direction of the rope anchorage members of a rope anchorage member pack. The means 10 that are comprised in a rope anchorage assembly 4 also do this, said means being for pressing the rope anchorage members 5 of the rope anchorage member pack towards each other in the thickness direction and for thus preventing their moving apart from each other. In this way a solid pack of anchorage members 5 can be formed. Via the means 10 the pack is also supported on the fixing base b. In this way movement of the anchorage members 5 in the transverse direction, in which the rope 3 arrives at the anchorage member, can at the same time be prevented. The compression means 10 preferably comprise a bolt tightening, as is presented. A rope anchorage member in this case can comprise a hole/holes 31 for the though-hole of a bolt. Each anchorage member 5 of Figs. 2 and 3 comprises two parallel anchorage spaces 6, into each of which a rope 3 is fixed according to Fig. 5. Each anchorage space 6 tapers towards the aperture 9 leading into the anchorage space from the transverse direction y in relation to the thickness direction z of the anchorage member 5. It is advantageous, but not necessary, that the anchorage spaces 6 are of the type in the figure, i.e. they have tapering shapes that are mirror images in relation to the aforementioned transverse direction y. In this case the anchorage spaces preferably each have one straight inner wall in the aforementioned transverse direction y bounding the anchorage space. In the solution presented, the anchorage spaces open in the same thickness direction, but it can be advantageous that the anchorage spaces 6 of the same anchorage member open in opposite thickness directions, in which case anchorage spaces can be formed in an anchorage member such that the fixing points of the ropes in an anchorage member are in slightly different points in the aforementioned thickness direction, in the same way as in Fig. 7 the fixing points of the ropes in an anchorage member of the parallel anchorage members 5' are in slightly different points in the aforementioned thickness direction. In this way the ropes diverge from a rope anchorage member 5 on different planes in the thickness direction and inclined pulling of the rope mat to be formed is simply avoided. It is advantageous to fabricate the fixing points, in practice preferably rope grooves 30,30' to be eccentric to the rope anchorage member 5,5' in the thickness direction.

Figs. 6 and 7 present a rope anchorage assembly 4' according to a second embodiment of the invention and a rope anchorage member 5' according to the second embodiment of the invention, which can be utilized in the elevator and in the method according to the invention. With a solution of the type presented the first and/or second ends of the ropes 3 of the roping R of the elevator of Fig. 1 can be anchored. The rope anchorage assembly 4' comprises two parallel anchorage member packs A' and B' , each of which comprises a plurality of plate-shaped anchorage members 5' placed consecutively in their thickness direction, and a rope 3 is anchored into each anchorage member 5' . Each of the anchorage members 5' of an anchorage member pack is positioned in the aforementioned thickness direction in proximity to each other, by supporting the anchorage members 5' against each other. In addition, some of the anchorage members 5' of each pack are positioned at a distance from each other by supporting consecutive anchorage members 5' on positioning means that are between these anchorage members, more particularly on positioning plates 8a' of pre-selected thickness which keep the anchorage members 5' following each other in sequence at a certain distance from each other. In this way the ropes 3 anchored into the anchorage members can be precisely positioned in the desired point in relation to each other. The positioning means (plates 8a' ) could be placed in the desired points for forming the desired rope configuration, even in each anchorage member interval. The use of them can be unnecessary if the own thickness of the anchorage members is such that a suitable rope interval forms when supporting the anchorage members against each other. The thickness in the aforementioned thickness direction of the positioning means 8a' can be selected to be suitable from the viewpoint of the intended rope interval. The positioning plates 8a' function, for their part, as means for limiting movement in at least the thickness direction of the rope anchorage members of a rope anchorage member pack. The framework 10' comprised in the rope anchorage assembly 4' also functions in this way, said framework preferably being box-like. The rope anchorage members 5' of a rope anchorage member pack are between the walls of the framework 10' in the direction z, and the framework 10' thus prevents the rope anchorage members 5' from moving farther apart from each other in the direction z. In this way a solid pack of anchorage members 5' can be formed in the thickness direction z. The rope anchorage members 5' are preferably also supported on the fixing base b via the framework 10' . The framework 10' preferably also comprises a base (under the anchorage members in Fig. 6), which base comprises an access opening/openings for the ropes 3, and which base prevents the rope anchorage members from moving in the direction of the pull of the ropes 3. Both packs A' and B' are preferably inside a shared framework. The framework can also function as a means for limiting, more particularly preventing, movement of the rope anchorage members 5' of the rope anchorage member pack/packs Α',Β' in the transverse direction x in relation to the thickness direction, which transverse direction is at a right angle to the direction y in which the rope 3 arrives at the anchorage member. The framework 10' comprises for this purpose side walls, between which (in the aforementioned transverse direction) are the packs A' and B' . The rope anchorage assembly 4' can also comprise positioning means 8b' between the anchorage members of pack A' and the anchorage members of pack B' , on which positioning means the anchorage members 5' of the aforementioned packs rest in the aforementioned transverse direction, and which position the anchorage members of the packs A' and B' at a distance from each other. More particularly the positioning means 8a' are positioning plates of pre-selected thickness, which keep the parallel packs/anchorage members 5' at a certain distance from each other. A framework 10' could be used regardless of whether one or two packs are in use. The solution of Fig. 6 could thus be implemented with one pack A or B, in which case the framework 10', would preferably be narrower. Also, the rope anchorage members of Fig. 3 could alternatively be placed into a framework, which is according to Fig. 6.

Each anchorage member 5' comprises an anchorage space 6', into which is anchored a rope 3 according to Fig. 8. Each anchorage space 6' is corresponding to the anchorage space 6 of the embodiment presented earlier, i.e. tapering towards the aperture 9' leading into the anchorage space from a transverse direction in relation to the thickness direction z of the anchorage member. It is advantageous, but not necessary, that the anchorage spaces 6' of the parallel anchorage members 5' of the parallel packs Α',Β' have tapering shapes that are mirror images in relation to the aforementioned transverse direction x. In this case the anchorage spaces 6' preferably each have one straight inner wall, in the transverse direction y, bounding the anchorage space. Preferably, as is presented, the anchorage spaces 6' of the anchorage members of the parallel packs A' , B' open in opposite thickness directions z, in which case the same type of member can be used in both packs. Preferably the fixing point of a rope 3 to an anchorage member is not quite in the center of the anchorage member in the thickness direction. In this case the fixing points of the ropes of the parallel anchorage members 5' are in slightly different points in the aforementioned thickness direction z. In this way the ropes 3 diverge from a rope anchorage member on different planes in the thickness direction and inclined pulling of the rope mat to be formed is simply avoided. If necessary, the same pack can comprise inside spaces opening in different directions, with which the rope intervals can be configured to be according to need. Alternatively, if the anchorage spaces 6' are configured to open in the same thickness direction, the ropes 3 anchored in the parallel packs A' , B' can be configured to be non- aligned in the thickness direction z by fitting the packs A' and B' in slightly different points in the thickness direction, e.g. by fitting a shim between the first inside surface of the framework 10' and the butt end of the pack A' , and correspondingly by placing a shim between the second inside surface of the framework 10' and the butt end of the pack B' , between which first and second inside surface the packs are. The framework 10' allows movement of the anchorage members 5' in the direction y in the opposite direction to that from which the rope 3 arrives in its anchorage member / however limiting movement in the thickness direction z. Preferably the rope anchorage assembly 4' comprises means for supporting the anchorage members 5' , preferably each separately flexibly and movably on the fixing base b. The aforementioned means are such that they flexibly resist movement of the anchorage member/members in the direction y of the pull of the rope 3. These means comprise an elastic means 12 per each aforementioned anchorage member 5' . The rope anchorage assembly 4' preferably also comprises means for monitoring the position of the anchorage members 5' , in which case when the rope tension of a rope decreases the return of the elasticity of the elastic means 12 can issue an alarm, and be a signal to the elevator system about the need for servicing or about a dangerous situation.

In the embodiments presented, the anchorage space (s) 6,6' is/are formed inside a rope anchorage member 5,5'. Each rope anchorage member 5,5' comprises an aperture 9,9' leading into the anchorage space 6, 6' from a transverse direction in relation to the aforementioned thickness direction, via which aperture 9, 9' the rope 3 anchored into the anchorage space 6, 6' extends from outside the anchorage member 5,5' to inside into the anchorage space 6,6' in the aforementioned transverse direction. The anchorage space 6, 6' and aperture 9, 9' are open in the thickness direction z of the anchorage member 5,5', with which the placement of a rope 3 and/or a/some rope anchorage means into the anchorage space in the thickness direction is enabled. In this way a loop can be formed from a section of rope 3, inside which loop a wedging means 7 can be placed simply owing to the openness. In the method according to the invention an elevator according to what is presented by Fig. 1 is fabricated such that an old elevator (not presented in the figures) is modernized, which old elevator comprises an elevator car 1, a counterweight 2, an elevator hoistway S, a hoisting machine with traction sheave in a machine room MR above the elevator hoistway S, for moving the elevator car 1 in the elevator hoistway S via the old hoisting roping, and the old hoisting roping, which comprises one or more hoisting ropes, which passes around the aforementioned traction sheave and connects the aforementioned elevator car 1 and counterweight 2, in which old elevator the old hoisting roping travels from the traction sheave to an anchorage that is in connection with the counterweight 2 via an aperture 18 in the floor 17 of the machine room MR, and to a fixing that is in connection with the elevator car 1 via an aperture 19 in the floor 17 of the machine room MR. In the method the old hoisting roping is removed, new hoisting roping R is installed, which new hoisting roping is guided to pass around the traction sheave 15 in the machine room and to connect the elevator car 1 and the counterweight 2, and which new hoisting roping R is guided to pass from the traction sheave 15 to the counterweight 2 via the first aperture 18 in the floor 17 of the machine room, and under the diverting pulley 22 of the counterweight 2 and upwards to the anchorage of the first end of the hoisting roping R, and which new hoisting roping R is guided to pass from the traction sheave 15 to the elevator car 1 via the second aperture 19 in the floor 17 of the machine room MR, and under the diverting pulley 21 of the elevator car 1 and upwards to the anchorage of the first ends of the ropes 3 of the hoisting roping R, and which new hoisting roping R is guided to pass from the traction sheave 15 to the elevator car 1 via the second aperture 19 in the floor 17 of the machine room MR, and under the diverting pulley 21 of the elevator car 1 and upwards to the anchorage of the second ends of the ropes 3 of the hoisting roping R, and which new hoisting roping R comprises a plurality of ropes 3, and the first ends and/or the second ends of the ropes 3 of the roping R are anchored with a rope anchorage assembly (4,4') that is in the machine room, which rope anchorage assembly comprises an anchorage member pack, which comprises a plurality of plate-shaped anchorage members (5,5') placed consecutively in their thickness direction and a rope 3 of the roping R, or a plurality of ropes 3 of the roping R, is anchored into each anchorage member (5,5') . In the method the new roping R is formed to comprise a larger number of units of rope 3 than the old roping comprised. In this case the rope thicknesses can be lowered, the diverting pulleys can be formed to be small and the elevator can be formed compactly to have 1:2 suspension, utilizing the old structures, even utilizing the old floor holes. It is advantageous in this case to use a rope anchorage assembly described elsewhere in this application, which enables the compact anchoring of an enlarged number of ropes and/or precise management of the rope intervals. The new roping can be led via the old floor hole, and anchored in the lateral direction to near the machine. In the method preferably a phase is performed in which new hoisting roping R is guided to pass from the traction sheave 15 to the elevator car 1 and from the elevator car back into the machine room via an aperture 19 in the floor 17 of the machine room, which aperture 10 is at least essentially the same aperture via which the old hoisting roping passed from the traction sheave to the elevator car 1, and/or new hoisting roping R is guided to pass from the traction sheave 8 to the counterweight 2 and from the counterweight 2 back into the machine room via an aperture 18 in the floor 17 of the machine room MR, which aperture is at least essentially the same aperture via which the old hoisting roping passed from the old traction sheave to the counterweight 2. In this way the new roping R is led from the traction sheave 15 being installed, to the counterweight, and back into the machine room MR without piercing a new hole in the floor of the machine room MR for the rope section on the counterweight side of the traction sheave 15 and/or the new roping R is led from the traction sheave to the elevator car and back into the machine room without piercing a new hole in the floor 17 of the machine room for the rope section on the . counterweight side of the traction sheave 15. The old aperture can be slightly expanded. Likewise, the edges of the aperture can be tidied or edging strips or surface lining can be installed in it, but it does not necessarily need to be essentially expanded or it does not necessarily need to be expanded at all. In the method the old hoisting machine is removed and a new hoisting machine is installed in the machine room, preferably so that a geared old hoisting machine is replaced for a gearless one. In the method also a new machine bedplate 16 is installed. Likewise the side and/or vertical position of each aforementioned rope anchorage assembly (4,4) is adjusted to be that desired, more particularly in relation to the aperture 18,19 of the floor 17, and the aforementioned rope anchorage assembly is supported on the machine- bedplate 16. The elevator is preferably arranged to be such that the new the hoisting roping R descends from the traction sheave 15 to a stationary diverting pulley 14, after passing around which the hoisting roping R descends through the floor 17 of the machine room MR down into the elevator hoistway S, passes around the diverting pulley 22 of the counterweight, and ascends back up into the machine room MR through the floor 17 of the machine room MR to- the rope anchorage assembly 4,4', which is above the center of rotation of the aforementioned diverting pulley 14, preferably above, the highest point of the aforementioned diverting pulley 14. In this way the anchorage can be brought very close to the machine, and the ends of the roping can be led into the machine room MR near the section of roping to be lowered into the hoistway from the diverting pulley 14. A diverting pulley having a diameter of less than 250mm, preferably 200mm or less, is installed in connection with the elevator car and/or the counterweight. The elevator is formed preferably to be according to Fig. 1.

Figs. 9a and 9b present an elevator according to a second embodiment the invention, which elevator comprises an elevator hoistway S formed in a building or corresponding and elevator units to be moved arranged to move in the elevator hoistway S, an elevator car 1 and a counterweight 2. The elevator car is moved, hanging suspended on one or more ropings R suspended on the building, with a hoisting machine. More particularly, in the solution presented there is one or more suspension ropings R suspending the elevator car 1, which roping passes around a diverting pulley system in the top end of the elevator hoistway S, or in the immediate proximity of it, and comprises a plurality of ropes 3, -and also a system of moving means (95,97) separate from the aforementioned one or more suspension ropings R, with which power is transmitted to the elevator car and to the counterweight for moving them, which system of moving means comprises a hoisting machine, which preferably comprises, as is presented, a motor machinery, preferably a traction sheave 95 rotated by a motor, which motor machinery is in the bottom end of the elevator hoistway S and acts on the roping 97 that connects the counterweight 2 and the elevator car 1, and which roping passes around and under a diverting pulley system in the bottom end of the elevator hoistway, which pulley system comprises, inter alia, the traction sheave 95. Each rope 3 of the roping R has a first end and a second end, and the ends of the ropes 3 are anchored in the proximity of each other to a fixing base b via a rope anchorage assembly 4,4', which rope anchorage assembly 4,4' takes from the fixing base b the counterforce to the pulling of the ropes 3 resulting from inter alia the weight of the elevator car. The fixing base b is a part that is in connection with an elevator unit to be moved, here, therefore, a part that is in connection with the elevator car 1, and the rope anchorage assembly 4,4' is situated on the side of the elevator car 1, more particularly between the elevator car 1 and the wall of the elevator hoistway S. The ropes 3 ascend from the rope anchorage assembly 4,4' in the space formed between the elevator car 1 and the elevator hoistway S. The rope anchorage assembly 4,4' is situated below the top surface of the roof of the elevator car 1. One advantage is that the elevator car can be driven upwards to beside the diverting pulleys, to where the ropes ascend from the rope anchorage assembly 4,4' . Also the second ends of the ropes 3 of the roping R can be anchored in a corresponding manner to their fixing base, in this case therefore to the counterweight 2. Preferably the elevator comprises two of the aforementioned type of hoisting ropings R, the ropes 3 of each of which is fixed to its fixing base b in any of the ways defined above, and the fixing bases b of them are in connection with the same elevator unit 1,2 to be moved, i.e. in this example in connection with the elevator car 1. In this case the rope anchorage assemblies 4,.4' of the hoisting ropings R are on opposite sides of the elevator car, and each rope anchorage assembly 4,4' is between the aforementioned elevator unit 1,2 to be moved and a wall of the elevator hoistway S. The fixing base b can be e.g. a beam of the elevator car or some other durable structure, and it can have an access opening in it for the ropes 3. The rope anchorage assembly 4,4' is of a type described elsewhere in this application, i.e. it comprises at least one anchorage member pack A;A',B', which comprises a plurality of plate-shaped anchorage members 5,5' placed consecutively in their thickness direction z and a rope 3, more particularly an end of a rope, or a plurality of ropes 3, more particularly a plurality of ends of the ropes, is anchored into each anchorage member 5,5'. The solution enables precise positioning of the ropes 3 to the desired distance in relation to each other very close to each other. Thus the anchorage of the roping can be disposed to the side of the elevator unit to be moved, between the elevator car and the wall S of the hoistway. The anchorage members 5,5' of each rope anchorage assembly 4,4' are positioned in the aforementioned thickness direction in proximity to each other, and the end of a hoisting rope 3, or a plurality of ends of the hoisting ropes 3, is anchored into each anchorage member 5,5', and each rope 3, more particularly the part of it subjected to stress, arrives at its anchorage member from a transverse direction in relation to the aforementioned thickness direction, as presented in Fig. 9 from above. The rope anchorage assembly 4,4' is preferably according to what is described in connection with Figs. 2-5 or 6-8. The aforementioned thickness direction z is, in the embodiment of Figs. 9a-9b, at a right angle to the wall of the elevator car, because the ropes ascending upwards from the rope anchorage assembly 4,4' bend over the top of the diverting pulley 91 in the top end of the elevator hoistway S towards the counterweight 2, the plane of rotation of which diverting pulley 91 is in the direction of the plane of the wall of the elevator car 1. The rope can be anchored directly to the counterweight or can pass via a diverting pulley of the counterweight back upwards to a fixing point. In this case the bending radius can be critical, and a large number of thin ropes may be necessary for achieving compact bending, in which case the presented anchorage to the car is very advantageous .

More precisely, the structure of each rope anchorage member 5,5' is plate-shaped, and comprises an anchorage space 6,6' or a plurality of anchorage spaces 6, 6' , inside which anchorage space 6, 6' can be placed a rope 3 and a fixing means 7,7', for anchoring the rope 3 into the rope anchorage member 5,5' in question. A rope anchorage member 5,5' comprises walls, between which an anchorage space forms. It comprises an aperture leading into the anchorage space 6,6' from a transverse direction in relation to the thickness direction of the rope anchorage member, via which aperture the rope can be fitted to extend from outside the anchorage member to inside into the anchorage space in the aforementioned transverse direction. The wall bounding the anchorage space 6,6' of the rope anchorage member 5,5' comprises a rope groove 30,30' for the rope, for reliable positioning of the rope 3 in the thickness direction z. Each aforementioned anchorage space 6, 6' tapers towards the aperture 9, 9' leading into it, and forms a so-called wedge housing. In this way a rope and a fixing means, more particularly a wedging means, can be placed in the anchorage space for wedging the rope and the wedging means between the walls into the aforementioned tapering anchorage space by pulling the rope through the aperture from the anchorage space. Each aforementioned anchorage space (6,6') and aperture (9,9') is open in the thickness direction of the anchorage member (5,5'). In this way the rope part and/or the rope anchorage means fixed to the rope can be fitted to extend from outside the anchorage member to inside into the anchorage space from the direction y by transferring the aforementioned rope part and/or the rope anchorage means fixed to the rope in the thickness direction z inside into the anchorage space 6, 6' . Preferably the anchorage space, and possibly also the aforementioned aperture, is open in the thickness direction z in one direction and closed in the opposite direction. In this way the stacking of the members 5,5' into a pack closes each anchorage space 6, 6' . Each anchorage member 5,5' comprises a second aperture leading into each anchorage space 6, 6 from the opposite direction to the aforementioned transverse direction y, which aperture is not, however, indispensable. Preferably the anchorage means 5,5' is of solid metal material, in which is formed an anchorage space/anchorage spaces 6, 6' by removing material from a piece that is of solid material. The rope anchorage member 5 of the embodiment of Figs. 2-5 comprises two aforementioned anchorage spaces 6, and each anchorage space 6 tapers towards the aperture leading into the anchorage space from a transverse' direction in relation to the thickness direction of the frame, and the anchorage spaces have tapering shapes that are mirror images in relation to the aforementioned transverse direction. The anchorage spaces 6 each have one straight inner wall in the aforementioned transverse direction bounding the anchorage space. The anchorage spaces 6 open as presented in the same direction in the thickness direction, but they could open in opposite thickness directions. The rope anchorage member 5' of the embodiment of Figs. 6-8 comprises only one anchorage space 6' . In addition, it comprises machinings for the above-mentioned elastic means 12. The rope anchorage member 5, 5' is preferably a fully rigid piece, preferably of metal. Each aforementioned rope anchorage member 5,5' is preferably a solid and integral piece, but could also alternatively be a rigid multi-piece part comprised of parts fixed to each other The anchorage spaces are preferably fabricated by removing material from a metal plate, e.g. by milling or otherwise machining.

In the application the term ^anchorage member pack' means that the rope anchorage members are at . least essentially aligned in a row in the proximity of each other. In the thickness direction z a pack is an essentially tight entity, in which the rope anchorage members are against each other and/or against the positioning means that are in the intervals between them. In the application the term O piate-shaped' refers to a structure having essentially larger dimensions in a transverse direction compared to the thickness, preferably at least twice, more preferably at least four times the width and height compared to the thickness .

The rope anchorage assembly 4 can anchor the ends of the ropes 3 on the counterweight side of the traction sheave and the rope anchorage assembly 4' can anchor the ends of the ropes 3 on the elevator car side of the traction sheave, or vice versa. It is obvious that alternatively either both ends could be anchored with the rope anchorage assembly 4 or 4', some anchorage of the type presented can be at one end or the other, in which case at the second end can be an anchorage of a different, e.g. conventional, type. The solution can also be used in a 1:1 elevator, in which case the aforementioned fixing base is a part, such as the car and/or counterweight, of an elevator unit to be moved. It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, in which the invention is described using examples, but that many adaptations and different embodiments of the invention are possible within the frameworks of the inventive concept defined by the claims presented below. The aforementioned plurality of rope anchorage members comprises at least 2 rope anchorage members, but can comprise more, such as 3, 4, preferably more, rope anchorage members, such, as e.g. 10 units. Another type of plate-shaped rope anchorage member than what is presented, e.g. a structure functioning without the wedging principle, could also be applied for the implementation of the elevator according to the invention. Instead of two anchorage spaces 6, the anchorage member of Figs. 2-4 could alternatively comprise only one anchorage space. The rope anchorage members are supported on the fixing base b via parts 10,10', but the could alternatively rest directly on the fixing base b.