The present invention relates to an elevator as defined in the preamble of claim 1.

One of the objectives in elevator development work is to achieve efficient and economical utilization of building space. In recent years, this development work has produced various elevator solutions without machine room, among other things. Good examples of elevators without machine room are disclosed in specifications EP 0 631 967 (Al) and EP 0 631 968. The elevators described in these specifications are fairly efficient in respect of space utilization as they have made it possible to eliminate the space required by the elevator machine room in the building without a need to enlarge the elevator shaft. In the elevators disclosed in these specifications, the machine is compact at least in one direction, but in other directions it may have much larger dimensions than a conventional elevator machine.

In these basically good elevator solutions, the space required by the hoisting machine limits the freedom of choice in elevator lay-out solutions. Space is needed for the arrangements required for the passage of the hoisting ropes. It is difficult to reduce the space required by the elevator car itself on its track and likewise the space required by the counterweight, at least at a reasonable cost and without impairing elevator performance and operational quality. In a traction sheave elevator without machine room, mounting the hoisting machine in the elevator shaft is often difficult, especially in a solution with machine above, because the hoisting machine is a sizeable body of considerable weight. Especially in the case of

larger loads, speeds and/or travel heights, the size and weight of the machine are a problem regarding installation, even to the extent that the required machine size and weight have in practice limited the sphere of application of the concept of elevator without machine room or at least retarded the introduction of said concept in larger elevators. In modernization of elevators, the space available in the elevator shaft often limits the area of application of the concept of elevator without machine room.

The object of the present invention is to achieve at least one of the following objectives. On the one hand, it is an aim of the invention to develop the elevator without machine room further so as to allow more effective space utilization in the building and elevator shaft than before. This means that the elevator should be capable of being installed in a fairly narrow elevator shaft if necessary. A further aim is to make the elevator or at least its machine smaller and/or lighter. A third aim is to achieve an elevator in which the positioning of the counterweight, elevator machine, elevator guide rails and elevator car as well as the suspension of the counterweight can be freely selected according to the situation and in which the positioning can easily be varied to suit different shaft solutions.

The object of the invention should be achieved without compromising the possibility of varying the basic elevator lay-out.

The elevator of the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of claim 1. Other embodiments of the invention are characterized

by what is disclosed in the other claims. Some inventive embodiments are also discussed in the descriptive section of the present application. The inventive content of the application can also be defined differently than in the claims presented below. The inventive content may also consist of several separate inventions, especially if the invention is considered in the light of expressions or implicit sub-tasks or from the point of view of advantages or categories of advantages achieved. In this case, some of the attributes contained in the claims below may be superfluous from the point of view of separate inventive concepts. The features of the various embodiments can be applied within the framework of the basic inventive concept in conjunction with other embodiments.

By applying the invention, one or more of the following advantages, among others, can be achieved:

- Using a small traction sheave achieves an elevator and/or elevator machine that is very compact in size.

- By means of the invention it is possible to implement a rucksack elevator or laterally suspended elevator with their roping solutions easily, because it is possible to use small diverting pulleys in the frame structure of the elevator car, which is preferably the car sling, for guiding the hoisting rope it is easy to implement preferably a 4:1 suspension ratio for both the counterweight and the elevator car, because the diverting pulleys of the frame structure are fitted to one side of the vertical beams of the frame structure.

- Only two guide rail fixings are needed at each guide rail fixing point in the elevator of the invention because the car guide rails and counterweight guide rails can preferably be fixed in position in the elevator shaft with one and the same guide rail fixing, as a result of which precise installation of the guide rails is easy and quick to implement.

- Using the modular hoisting function of the invention, said modular hoisting function comprising preferably the equipment required for the modular hoisting function, different positioning in the elevator shaft can be implemented inexpensively and flexibly.

In addition, by means of the modular hoisting function different possibilities for entering and leaving the elevator car can easily be arranged, such as e.g. a walk-through elevator car or the car door can be situated on almost any wall of the elevator car. - In the elevator of the invention, in which at least the equipment for the hoisting function is situated on the long wall of the elevator car, a very large cross-sectional area of the counterweight is achieved. - Fixing the elevator of the invention into position in the building is simple and easy to implement.

- By means of the invention, the typical guide forces on the elevator, in which the hoisting function is situated on one wall of the elevator car, become small because the hoisting function is preferably situated on the long wall of the elevator car.

- In the elevator, in which the diverting pulleys on the elevator car are fixed to the vertical beams of

the car sling, a space-saving structure is achieved, which is simple and cheap to implement, and in addition the elevator car can be driven higher with respect to the hoisting machine while still within the required safety limits compared to a solution in which the diverting pulleys on the car are situated on the top beam of the car sling.

— In an embodiment of the invention, in which all the structures supporting the car and counterweight are fixed to the integrated upper beam system according to the invention, such as the diverting pulleys of the upper part of the elevator shaft, the hoisting machine, the rope equalizer, the free ends of the hoisting ropes and other necessary components, a simple structure that is easy to modify is achieved.

— The aforementioned beam system of the invention is preferably supported by the car guide rails and the wall, so that its installation is easy and quick to implement, while vertical forces are directed at the beam system supporting the car guide rails.

— The weight of the elevator car can be wholly or at least partially supported on the elevator guide rails.

— In elevators applying the invention it is easy to arrange the suspension of the elevator car centrally and thus reduce the lateral support forces directed at the guide rails.

— Use of the cross-sectional area of the shaft when applying the invention is efficient. - By means of the invention elevator installation times are shortened and the overall costs of installation are reduced.

The elevator is inexpensive to manufacture and install because many of the components used are smaller and lighter than those previously used and modular structures and/or subassemblies can be used. - The thin and strong steel wire ropes preferably used in the invention are e.g. in the range of 3-5 mm in diameter for elevators with a rated load below 1000 kg, although thinner and thicker ropes can be used.

- With rope diameters of approx. 6 mm or 8 mm it is possible in the elevator of the invention to achieve very large elevators in terms of speed and size.

- The traction sheave and the diverting pulleys can be small and light compared to those in conventional elevators . - Although the invention is primarily intended for use in elevators without machine room, it can be applied for use in elevators with machine room.

- In the invention a better grip and a better contact between the hoisting ropes and the traction sheave are achieved by increasing the contact angle between them.

- By positioning at least the hoisting machine of the elevator, the traction sheave and the rope sheave that acts as a diverting pulley, and by means of which an increased angle of contact between the hoisting ropes and the traction sheave is achieved, into a pre-built unit, said unit being fitted as a part of the elevator of the invention, significant savings in installation time and costs are achieved. - By means of the invention it is possible to easily implement solutions also for scenic-type elevators.

- With the elevator solution according to the invention it is possible to implement elevator

solutions in which there is a door on several walls in the elevator car, in an extreme case even on all the walls of the elevator car.

— It is possible to implement the elevator solution according to the invention with several different machine solutions.

- The suspension of the car can be implemented with almost any suspension ratio of the elevator car and counterweight that is applicable to the purpose.

The primary area of application of the invention is elevators designed for the transportation of people and/or freight. A typical area of application of the invention is in elevators whose speed range is approximately 1 m/s or below that, but it may also be greater. For example, an elevator having a traveling speed of 6 m/s is easy to implement according to the invention.

In both passenger and freight elevators many of the advantages achieved through the invention are pronouncedly brought out even in elevators for only 2-

4 people, and distinctly brought out in elevators for 6-8 people (500 - 630 kg) .

In the elevator of the invention, normal elevator hoisting ropes, such as generally used steel ropes, are applicable. In the elevator, it is possible to use ropes made of artificial materials and ropes in which the load-bearing part is made of artificial fiber, such as e.g. so-called "aramid ropes" or Kevlar ropes, which have recently been proposed for use in elevators. Applicable solutions also include steel- reinforced flat ropes, especially because they allow a small deflection radius. Particularly well applicable

for use in the elevator of the invention are elevator hoisting ropes twisted e.g. from round and strong wires. From round wires, the rope can be twisted in many ways using wires of different or equal thickness. In ropes well applicable in the invention, the wire thickness is below 0.4 mm on average. Well applicable ropes made from strong wires are those in which the average wire thickness is below 0.3 mm or even below 0.2 mm. For instance, thin-wired and strong 4 mm ropes can be twisted relatively economically from wires such that the mean wire thickness in the finished rope is in the range of 0.15...0.25 mm, while the thinnest wires may have a thickness as small as only about 0.1 mm. Thin rope wires can easily be made very strong. In the invention, rope wires having a strength greater than e.g. 2000 N/mm ² can be used. A suitable range of rope wire strength is e.g. 2300-2700 N/mm ² . In principle, it is possible to use rope wires having a strength of up to about 3000 N/mm ² or even more.

By increasing the angle of contact by means of the rope sheave, which functions as a diverting pulley, increased grip between the traction sheave and the hoisting ropes is achieved. Consequently the car can be made lighter and also smaller in size, in which case the space-saving potential of the elevator increases. An angle of contact between the traction sheave and the hoisting ropes of over 180° is achieved by using a diverting pulley or diverting pulleys as an aid.

The elevator of the invention is preferably a rucksack elevator, in which elevator is an elevator car, which is supported by hoisting ropes by means of at least two diverting pulleys fixed to the car sling of the

elevator car. In addition the elevator contains a counterweight supported by the hoisting ropes by means of at least two diverting pulleys, car guide rails, counterweight guide rails, at least two diverting pulleys corresponding to the hoisting ropes in the upper part of the elevator shaft and a hoisting machine with traction sheave in the upper part of the elevator shaft. The diverting pulleys and hoisting machine of the upper of the elevator shaft are supported by a beam structure that is supported by at least one guide rail, and preferably by all the guide rails together. Additionally, at least the free ends of the hoisting ropes are preferably fitted into position on this beam structure, and possibly other elevator equipment. Preferably the beam structure is fitted into position in the upper part of the elevator shaft. The beam structure together with the guide rails preferably forms an integrated modular structure, which structure is easy to assemble from different modules, and which can preferably be easily situated on any one wall of the elevator car in the space between the elevator car and the wall of the elevator shaft.

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

Fig. 1 presents a diagrammatic and simplified top view of one elevator according to the invention, Fig. 2 presents simplified top views of different lay-out placements enabled by the hoisting function of the modular elevator according to the invention,

Fig. 3 presents a diagrammatic and simplified illustration of one elevator according to the invention and

Fig. 4 presents a diagrammatic and simplified illustration of one elevator according to the invention.

Fig. 1 presents a diagram of one traction sheave elevator with counterweight applicable to the invention, in which the elevator of the invention is shown with an elevator car 1, provided with a car sling 7, in its upper position. The figure is not drawn to scale, so that the position of the counterweight 4 in relation to the position of the elevator car 1 is not necessarily correct. Preferably the elevator is an elevator without machine room, in which the drive machinery 4 is situated in the elevator shaft. The elevator presented in Fig. 1 is a traction sheave elevator with machine room above and with a counterweight 9, in which the elevator car 1 moves on its track along the guide rails 3 and the counterweight moves on its track along the guide rails 6. The hoisting ropes consist of a number of parallel hoisting ropes, which are preferably substantially strong and thin in diameter. The hoisting ropes are not presented in Fig. 1 for the sake of clarity. In addition the diverting pulleys used and the traction sheave are preferably substantially small in diameter, and consequently the preferably gearless hoisting machine 4 is substantially small in size and light in relation to the load.

The elevator presented in Fig. 1 is a laterally suspended rucksack elevator. In the elevator according

to Fig. 1 preferably at least the equipment for the hoisting function is situated on one wall of the elevator car 1 in the space between the elevator car 1 and the wall of the elevator shaft 2, which equipment preferably includes at least the elevator drive machine 4 with its traction sheave 5, the elevator car guide rails 3, the counterweight 9 and the counterweight guide rails 6, the diverting pulleys 14 and 13 fixed on the car sling 7 of the elevator car 1, the diverting pulleys 16 and 17 fixed to the counterweight or to its frame, and the diverting pulleys 11, 12 and 15 in the upper part of the elevator shaft as well as the hoisting ropes, by means of which ropes the elevator car and counterweight are moved and supported. The elevator car 1, which is supported by means of the car sling 7, and the counterweight 9 are supported via the guide rails 3,6 by the wall 2 of the elevator shaft or in e.g. a structure without shaft by the exterior wall of the building or similar. The guide rails 3 of the elevator car 1 and the guide rails 6 of the counterweight 9 are supported by the wall of the shaft by means of guide rail fixings 8, a sufficient number of said guide rail fixings being a vertical distance from each other for the whole height of the shaft. Preferably two guide rails are fixed into position in the elevator shaft by means of one guide rail fixing 8, both the second guide rail of the counterweight 9 and the second guide rail 3 of the elevator car 1.

In Fig. 1 the passage of the hoisting ropes of the elevator is as follows: One end of the hoisting ropes is fastened to the anchored fixing point in the upper part of the shaft, which fixing point is preferably on

the same beam structure as the hoisting machine in the upper part of the elevator shaft, and from which fixing point the ropes descend to the diverting pulley 16 fitted into position on the counterweight 9, said diverting pulley 16 being preferably fixed to the counterweight or to its frame, and after having passed around the bottom of said diverting pulley the ropes continue upwards to the diverting pulley 15, which is fitted into position in the upper part of the elevator shaft. The diverting pulley 15 is fitted into position in the upper part of the elevator shaft preferably on the same beam structure as the hoisting machine and the free ends of the hoisting ropes. After passing around the top of the diverting pulley 15 the rope returns downwards to the diverting pulley 17 fitted into position on the counterweight 9, after having passed around the bottom of which the hoisting ropes continue upwards to the traction sheave 5 of the hoisting machine 4 fitted into position in the upper part of the elevator shaft, touching the diverting pulley that is preferably positioned in the proximity of the hoisting machine 4 and/or in contact with the bottom part of the traction sheave 5, said diverting pulley not being presented in Fig. 1 for the sake of clarity.

■ Between the diverting pulley, which is not shown in Fig. 1, and the traction sheave 5 of the hoisting machine 4 is preferably DW (Double-wrap) roping, in which roping the hoisting rope passes upwards touching the diverting pulley to the traction sheave 5 and having passed around the traction sheave 5 returns to the diverting pulley, and after passing around the diverting pulley the hoisting rope returns back to the traction sheave 5. In the Double Wrap roping, since

the diverting pulley connected to or in the proximity of the hoisting machine is essentially the same size as the traction sheave 5, the diverting pulley can also act as a damper pulley. In such a case the ropes going from the traction sheave 5 to the elevator par 1 travel via the rope grooves of the diverting pulley and bending of the hoisting ropes caused by the diverting pulley is very minimal. It could be said that the ropes from the traction sheave 5 going to and coming from the elevator car only "touch" the diverting pulley connected to or in the proximity of the hoisting machine. This kind of "touching" serves as a solution for damping vibration of the outbound ropes and is also applicable in other roping solutions.

Other examples of roping solutions include Single Wrap (SW) roping, in which the diverting pulley is substantially the same size as the traction sheave of the drive machine, and in which use of a diverting pulley is applied as the "touching pulley" described above. In the SW roping of the example the ropes pass around the traction sheave only once, in which case the contact angle between the rope and the traction sheave is approximately 180°. In this case the diverting pulley is used only as an aid for the "touching" of the rope in the manner described above, so that the diverting pulley functions as a rope guide and as a damping pulley for damping vibrations . Other roping options for increasing the angle of contact between the traction sheave and the hoisting ropes are e.g. extended single wrap (ESW) roping or X Wrap (XW) roping or otherwise the diverting pulley can be completely dispensed with.

From the traction sheave 5 the ropes continue heir passage downwards touching the diverting pulley connected to or in the proximity of the hoisting machine to the diverting pulley 13, which is preferably fitted into position on the elevator car 1; either to the car sling 7, as is the diverting pulley 13, which in Fig. 1 is fitted into position on one side of the vertical support beam of the car sling, or e.g. to the side wall of the elevator car ot to another suitable location on the car sling 7 or the elevator car 1. By fixing the diverting pulley 13 to the side of the vertical beam it is possible to implement roping according to Fig. 1, because diverting pulleys with a small diameter can be used as the diverting pulleys 13 and 14. After passing around the bottom of the diverting pulley 13 the ropes continue upwards to the diverting pulley 12 fitted into position in the upper part of the elevator shaft, said diverting pulley preferably being fixed into position on the beam structure of the upper part of the elevator shaft, and after passing around the top of the diverting pulley 12 the ropes continue in a substantially horizontal direction to the second diverting pulley 11 fitted into position in the upper part of the elevator shaft, preferably to the beam structure, which diverting pulley 11 is at substantially the same height as the diverting pulley 12, but substantially symmetrically on the other side of the elevator car as viewed from above.

After passing around the top of the diverting pulley 11 the ropes continue their passage downwards to the diverting pulley 14, which is preferably fitted into position on the elevator car 1; either to the car sling, as is the diverting pulley 13, or to a side

wall of the elevator car or to some other point of the elevator car or car sling that is suited to the purpose. After passing around the bottom of the diverting pulley 14 the ropes continue upwards to an anchored fixing point in the upper part of the elevator shaft, to which the second end of the hoisting ropes is fastened. This fixing point is also preferably on the beam system structure in the upper part of the elevator shaft, to which in the case of Fig. 1 the hoisting machine 4 with its traction sheave 5 and the diverting pulleys 11,12,15 and the free ends of the hoisting ropes are preferably attached.

In the elevator presented in Fig. 1 both the elevator car and its car sling as well as the counterweight are suspended with a suspension ratio of 4:1. Other suspension ratios are also possible in the elevator according to the invention, such as e.g. by increasing the number of diverting pulleys, by means of which the elevator car and the counterweight are suspended, achieves an increase in the suspension ratio. The suspension ratio of the elevator car and the counterweight can also if necessary be smaller than 4:1, e.g. 2:1 or smaller. In the elevator according to Fig. 1 the diverting pulleys fixed to the elevator car or car sling and/or to the counterweight or to its frame can also be fitted into position such that they are substantially parallel to the traction sheave and/or the hoisting machine, in which case twisting and possible slanted pulling of the hoisting ropes is avoided. This also achieves more space for the counterweight, in which case it is possible to increase its size in the desired direction.

Fig. 2 presents the implementation of the hoisting function of a modular rucksack elevator on different sides of the elevator car and the elevator shaft and in different elevator solutions. The equipment 203 of the hoisting function is fitted into position in the elevator shaft on one wall of the elevator car 201 in the space between the elevator car 201 and the wall 202 of the elevator shaft. In the modular hoisting function the equipment 203 of the hoisting function is fitted as one module, which is possible to situate on almost any side of the of the elevator car in the space between the elevator car 201 and the wall 202 of the elevator shaft. The equipment of the hoisting function preferably includes at least the elevator drive machine with its traction sheave, the counterweight, the elevator car guide rails and counterweight guide rails, the hoisting ropes, the diverting pulleys supporting the elevator car and the counterweight, which are fixed to the elevator car or to its car sling and to the counterweight or to its frame, as well as the diverting pulleys positioned in the elevator shaft. The arrows in Fig. 2 indicate the openings for entering and exiting the elevator car to the different floors of the building. In Fig. 2a the equipment 203 of the hoisting function is fitted into position on the short wall of the elevator car in the space between the elevator car 201 and the wall 202 of the elevator shaft. In Fig. 2a three entry/exit openings are presented and preferably the elevator car is a walk-through car. Fig. 2b presents otherwise the same situation as in Fig. 2a, the only difference being that in Fig. 2b the equipment 203 of the hoisting function is fitted into position in the elevator shaft on the long wall of the elevator car.

Figs. 2c and 2d present a modular rucksack elevator, in which there are two entry/exit openings to the elevator car 201. In Fig. 2c the equipment 203 of the hoisting function is fitted into the elevator shaft on the short side of the elevator car 201 and access into the elevator occurs in different directions from the elevator car. In the case of Fig. 2c at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to each other. Fig. 2d presents a walk-through elevator car, in which elevator the equipment 203 of the hoisting function is fitted into position in the elevator shaft on the long wall of the elevator car 201.

Fig. 2e presents a scenic-type modular rucksack elevator according to the invention, in which the elevator is fitted with only one of its sides against the wall 202 of the building and otherwise scenic-type elevator shaft walls 204 surround the elevator car 201 and the equipment 203 for the hoisting function, said walls being preferably manufactured from glass or from some other material suited to the purpose. The elevator presented in Fig. 2e can also be fitted against e.g. the exterior wall 202 of the building. There is one entry/exit opening to the elevator car 201 and the equipment 203 of the hoisting function is situated on the opposite wall of the elevator car 201 to the fixed wall 202 of the building and/or the entry/exit opening to the elevator car 201.

Figs. 2f and 2g present a modular rucksack elevator, to which there is only one entry/exit opening. Fig. 2f presents an elevator, in which the equipment 203 of the hoisting function is fitted into position in the elevator shaft on the long wall of the elevator car 201 and the hoisting function of the elevator car 201

occurs from the side with respect to the entry/exit opening to the elevator car 201, in which case this is a so-called laterally suspended rucksack elevator, which is only one embodiment of a rucksack elevator. Fig. 2g presents a modular rucksack elevator, in which there is only one entry/exit opening to the elevator car 201 and the equipment 203 of the hoisting function is situated in the elevator shaft on the opposite wall to the entry/exit opening to the elevator car 201.

The elevator presented in Fig. 2h is fitted against the fixed walls 202 of the building on only two sides of the elevator car. An entry/exit opening to the elevator car 201 is arranged on the side of one of the fixed walls and the equipment 203 of the hoisting function is disposed in the space between the elevator car 201 and the fixed wall 202 of the building, for which no entry/exit opening is arranged. The elevator presented in Fig. 2h is preferably applicable for use also scenic-type elevator solutions in a building.

Fig. 3 presents a rucksack elevator with machine room above. The elevator presented in Fig. 3 is similar to that in Fig. 1. The passage of the hoisting ropes is similar compared to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 presents in more detail the integrated top beam structure. Preferably all the structures supporting the car and the counterweight are fixed into position on the beam structure 310 according to the invention. The beam structure 310 in question is preferably supported by the car guide rails and the wall of the elevator shaft and/or the ceiling of the elevator shaft. In the solution according to the figure the car guide rails 303 and the counterweight guide rails 306 bear the vertical forces exerted on the beam structure.

Preferably at least the diverting pulleys 311,312,315 of the upper part of the elevator shaft, and the free ends of the hoisting rope 321 in locations 323,324 as well as the hoisting machine 304 with its traction sheave 305 and possibly the diverting pulley 320 connected to or in the proximity of the hoisting machine 304, by means of which diverting pulley the angle of contact between the hoisting ropes 321 and the traction sheave 305 is increased, are fitted / fixed into position on the beam structure 310. The placement of the hoisting equipment and the suspension equipment of the elevator presented in Fig. 3 enables very efficient use of space in the area of the hoisting function of the elevator. That being the case, a large cross-sectional area of the counterweight can be achieved and fixing of the guide rails can be implemented easily on the same guide rail fixing. This enables easy and precise installation. The hoisting function of the modular elevator is also easy and inexpensive to implement in the manner presented in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 also shows that it is preferable to locate the diverting pulleys 316, 317 in position e.g. on the counterweight or on its frame on the same axis, in which case their fixing is easy to implement. In the elevator according to the invention, in which the hoisting of the elevator car 301 occurs from the vertical beams of the car sling 307 on the sides of the elevator car 301 a space-saving structure is achieved in the elevator shaft. For instance, it is possible if necessary to drive the elevator car higher.

Fig. 4 presents a rucksack elevator, in which the equipment of the hoisting function is situated to the side of the elevator car with respect to the

entry/exit opening, in which case this is a so-called laterally suspended elevator. Fig. 4 presents a similar elevator to those in Figs. 1 and 3. The passage of the hoisting ropes is similar compared to Fig. 1 or Fig. 3. A similar integrated top beam structure' 410 as in Fig. 3 is presented in Fig. 4. Preferably all the structures supporting the car and the counterweight are fixed into position on the beam structure 410. The beam structure 410 in question is preferably supported by the car guide rails and the wall of the elevator shaft and/or the ceiling of the elevator shaft. In the solution according to the figure the car guide rails 403 and the counterweight guide rails 406 bear the vertical forces exerted on the beam structure. Preferably at least the diverting pulleys 411,412,415 of the upper part of the elevator shaft, and the free ends of the hoisting rope 421 in locations 423,424 as well as the elevator hoisting machine 404 with its traction sheave 405 and possibly the diverting pulley 420 connected to or in the proximity of the hoisting machine 404, by means of which diverting pulley the angle of contact between the hoisting ropes 421 and the traction sheave 405 is increased, are fitted / fixed into position on the beam structure 410. The placement of the hoisting equipment and the suspension equipment of the elevator presented in Fig. 4 enables very efficient use of space in the area of the hoisting function of the elevator. With the arrangement according to the figure the space required by the hoisting function can be very narrow. Furthermore the fixing to the building is simple and easy to implement. The hoisting function of the modular elevator is also easy and inexpensive to implement in the manner presented in Fig. 4. In a

laterally suspended elevator the guide forces typical for rucksack elevators become advantageously small because the hoisting function of the elevator is situated on the long wall of the elevator car.

A preferred embodiment of the elevator of the invention is an elevator without machine room and with the machine above, in which the drive machine has a coated traction sheave, said elevator having thin hoisting ropes of essentially round cross-section. In the elevator the angle of- contact of the hoisting ropes with the traction sheave is greater than 180°. The elevator comprises a hoisting machine, in which a drive machine is fitted to a base, a traction sheave and a diverting pulley, which is pre-fitted at a correct angle with respect to the traction sheave. The unit is fixed to the guide rails of the elevator. The elevator is implemented without counterweight with a suspension ratio of 4:1 such that the roping of the elevator passes in the space between one wall of the elevator car and the wall of the elevator shaft. The hoisting function is modular, so it is easy to install and situate on almost any wall of the elevator car in the space between the elevator car and the wall of the elevator shaft. Preferably all the equipment of the hoisting function is fixed into position on the same beam system structure, which is supported by the guide rails and the wall of the elevator shaft and/or the ceiling of the elevator shaft.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that different embodiments of the invention are not limited to the example described above, but that they may be varied within the scope of the claims presented below. For example, the suspension ratio of the elevator car

of the elevator and of the counterweight of the elevator can vary according to the situation and can be greater than what is presented in the examples . It is also obvious that the hoisting ropes need not be passed under the car. In accordance with the examples described above, the skilled person can vary the embodiment of the invention, while the traction sheaves and rope pulleys, instead of being coated metal pulleys may also be uncoated metal pulleys or uncoated pulleys made of some other material suited to the purpose.

It is further obvious to the person skilled in the art that the traction sheaves and rope pulleys used in the invention, whether metallic or made of some other material suited to the purpose, which are coated with a non-metallic material at least in the area of their grooves, may be implemented using a coating material consisting of e.g. rubber, polyurethane or some other material suited to the purpose.

It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that the elevator car and the machine unit may be laid out in the cross-section of the elevator shaft in a manner differing from the lay-out described in the examples. It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that the equipment required for the supply of power to the motor and the equipment needed for elevator control can be placed elsewhere than in connection with the machine unit, e.g. in a separate instrument panel, or equipment needed for control can be implemented as separate units which can be disposed in different places in the elevator shaft and/or in other parts of the building. Likewise is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the elevator applying the invention can be equipped otherwise than as

presented in the examples. It is further obvious to the skilled person that the elevator of the invention can be implemented using almost any type of flexible hoisting means as hoisting ropes, e.g. flexible rope of one or more strands, flat belt, cogged belt, trapezoidal belt or some other type of belt applicable to the purpose.

It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that the elevator of the invention can be implemented using different roping arrangements between the traction sheave and the diverting pulley/diverting pulleys to increase the contact angle α than those described as examples. For example, it is possible to dispose the diverting pulley/diverting pulleys, the traction sheave and the hoisting ropes in other ways than in the roping arrangements described in the examples. It is also obvious to the skilled person that the invention can be applied in elevator solutions without counterweight. It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that there can be a different amount of guide rails in the elevator of the invention than in the examples described and that other elevator guide rails than those described in the examples can be used as guide rails.

It is further obvious to the person skilled in the art that use of the diverting pulley 320, 420 described above is not significant from the perspective of the invention so that the aforesaid diverting pulley can also if necessary be dispensed with.