Attempts have been made to arrange machine equipment and other equipment on one side of the lift cage, thereby to utilize the full height of the hoist way for transporta- tion of the lift cage and to allow for entrance to the lift cage from three sides. Tradition- ally such equipment has been arranged in a separate machine room on top of the hoist way.

Examples on such structures are described in PCT/EP00/03752, DE 19 546 590, DE 19 536 994 and DE 2 163 705.

With the lift structure according to the present invention substantial improve- ments are achieved in the relation to known lift structures of the above type, especially are substantial savings of space achieved in addition to also further advantages. This is achieved with the lift structure according to the present invention as defined with the features stated in the claims.

In the drawing figure 1 discloses schematically a vertical section through a hoist way, figure 2 discloses a ground view of part of the hoist way, figure 3 discloses a section corresponding to figure 1, however, for a lift having larger capacity and figure 4 discloses a ground view of the hoist way in figure 3, corresponding to figure 2.

Main rails 1 are with securing clamps 8 connected with the one wall in the hoist way. The main rails 1 are secured to two securing clamps 8 facing each other and extend away from each other.

An elevator cage is secured to a support framework 4, which is guided along the rails 1 with not disclosed guiding, shoes. A safety device 12 is connected with the frame- work 4 of the cage at both sides for activation onto the two rails 1. The safety devices 12 are activated by a transmission 13 being activated by a speed governor 7.

A hoisting machine 10 is secured to the wall in the hoist way at the top of the hoist way by suitable bolts in rails moulded in the wall and arranged between the main rails 1. Thereby the height of the hoist way may be limited to a minimum dimension, which is necessary for rescue purposes above the elevator generally, and the necessity to continue the hoist way through the roof of a building thereby is avoided.

A counterweight 3 is guided in guiding rails 2 especially for the counterweight, being secured to the securing clamps 8 and to securing angles 11 which again are con- nected with the securing clamps 8. Ropes 9 are connected with the counterweight 3 through a securing plate 6 on the top of the counterweight 3 and extend around the wheels of the elevator machine and down to a beam 5 being connected with the underside

of the supporting frame work 4 of the hoist cage and protruding into the space between the securing clamps 8.

As disclosed in figure 3 and 4 the elevator structure according to the present in- vention may be adjusted to elevators for larger loads by using two sprockets 14 of which one is secured to the hoist cage and one is secured to the counterweight 3.

With the elevator structure according to the present invention substantial savings of space in the hoist way are achieved, substantially due to the orientation and the ar- rangement of the main rails 1. By arranging the guiding 2 for the counterweight 3 close to one of the arms of the securing clamp 8, i. e. not symmetrically in the securing clamps 8, space is obtained for the ropes 9 between the guiding rails 1, also by elevators for larger loads.

The substantial free space obtained in the hoist way in relation to known hoist designs means that the counterweight 3 may be shaped having a large dimension in the depth and a small dimension in the width. A narrow counterweight 3 has a relatively large area due to the large depth dimension and therefore a high weight on a small height.

This is of considerable importance for the total height of the hoist way as the machine 10 is arranged between the guiding rails 1, secured to the wall and limits the movements upwardly of the counterweight 3.