FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is an elevator, for example an elevator applicable to the transportation of people.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Elevators are known in the art, in which elevators the elevator car is supported and moved with roping, which comprises one or more of the type of ropes connected to the elevator car that converge on the rim of the traction sheave, travel on the rim of the traction sheave passing at least 270 degrees around the traction sheave shifting at the same time in the radial direction of the traction sheave, and finally diverging from the rim of the traction sheave having shifted in the radial direction. In this way with a large contact angle a large surface area of contact is achieved on a traction sheave of small diameter. One problem has been that the traction sheave could not be grooved in the conventional manner by arranging a rotationally symmetrical groove passing around the traction sheave, which groove provides support in the axial direction of the traction sheave, for each section of rope that is side by side against the traction sheave. This is a consequence of the spiral path that the rope travels on the traction sheave when these types of so-called highwrap angles are in question. One problem has been the control on the traction sheave, in its axial direction, of the path of passage of the ropes of a highwrap traction sheave arrangement. AIM OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the invention is to produce an elevator that is improved in its hoisting arrangements. One aim of the invention, among others, is to eliminate the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior-art solutions. The aim of the invention is further to produce one or more of the following advantages, among others:

- An elevator having good grip (traction) between the hoisting ropes and the traction sheave is achieved.

- An elevator having ropes that can be simply guided along the desired route is achieved.

- An elevator having a traction sheave that can be manufactured advantageously is achieved.

- A simple elevator is achieved.

- An energy-economic elevator is achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the idea that ropes moved by the traction sheave on the rim of said traction sheave, which ropes shift along with the traction sheave while rotating at the same time in relation to the traction sheave in the axial direction of said traction sheave, can be guided with one or more guides that are separate from the traction sheave, to the point of which guide the rope moved by the traction sheave arrives, and which guide comprises guide elements for exerting on the rope guiding support force of the axial direction of the traction sheave. Thus axial guidance does not need to be performed on the traction sheave. One advantage, among others, is the possibility of manufacturing the traction sheave to be simpler than before. Another advantage is that the rope can be guided to travel exactly the desired route on the traction sheave.

In a basic embodiment of the concept according to the invention the elevator comprises an elevator car, hoisting roping connected to the elevator car, a rotating traction sheave for moving the hoisting roping, which hoisting roping comprises at least one rope, which converges with the rim of the traction sheave and travels on the rim of the traction sheave shifting at the same time in the axial direction of said traction sheave, and diverges from the rim of the traction sheave, which elevator comprises means for guiding the rope in the axial direction of the traction sheave, which means comprise guide elements for exerting on the rope guiding support force of the axial direction of the traction sheave. The aforementioned means comprise a guide that is supported in the proximity of the traction sheave and is separate from the traction sheave, which guide is arranged to guide the rope by means of a first and second guide element, which are separate in the axial direction and between which the rope to be guided travels . In this way the aforementioned advantages are achieved.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the guide comprises a first guide element for exerting guiding support force on the part of the rope that is at the point of the guide element at the time in a first axial direction of the traction sheave and a second guide element for exerting guiding support force on the part of the rope that is at the point of the second guide element at the time in a second axial direction of the traction sheave.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention consecutive parts of the same rope travel next to each other on the rim of the traction sheave.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the guide elements each extend to the side in the axial direction of the part of the rope at the point of them. Thus the structure is simple.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the guide comprises a guide groove, via which the rope travels, and the edges of which form the aforementioned first and second guide element. Thus the structure is simple. In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the guide is a stationary rotating roller. Thus the structure is simple, operationally reliable and wear- resistant .

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the guide is disposed such that the part of the rope traveling between the guide elements is, when it is traveling between, simultaneously in contact with the traction sheave. In this way the guidance is dependably controlled.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the guide elements each comprise at least one guide surface facing towards the rope.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the aforementioned means also comprise one or more second guides that are supported in the proximity of the traction sheave and are separate from the traction sheave, which guide is arranged to guide the rope by means of a first and second guide element, which are separate in the axial direction and between which the rope to be guided travels. In this way the guidance can be precisely controlled.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the guide does not essentially change the route of the rope in the plane of rotation of the traction sheave. In this way the guide can be formed to be lightweight in its structure and support.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the guide is arranged primarily for the axial guidance of the rope and is arranged to exert essentially little support force in the plane of rotation of the traction sheave, preferably at most so much that the angle of the rope changes, under the effect of possible force exerted in the plane of rotation, by at most 5 degrees, preferably by at most 3 degrees. Thus small forces are exerted on the guide and the guide can be formed to be lightweight in its structure and support.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the guide does not essentially exert on the rope vertical supporting force supporting the rope and/or the load supported by the rope. Thus small forces are exerted on the guide and the guide can be formed to be lightweight in its structure and support . In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the diameter of the aforementioned guide is essentially smaller than the diameter of the traction sheave. In this way the desired effect is compactly achieved.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the - invention the rope converges with the rim of the traction sheave and passes at least 270 degrees around the traction sheave (in contact with the traction sheave) , more preferably at least 360 degrees, even more preferably over 450 degrees, most preferably essentially 540 degrees or more, shifting at the same time in the axial direction of the traction sheave, and diverges from the rim of the traction sheave. In this way good traction and power transmission ability is achieved.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the rope converges with the rim of the traction sheave and passes at least 450 degrees around the traction sheave (in contact with the traction sheave) , preferably however, less than 540 degrees or essentially 540 degrees, and that the ropes converge with the rim of the traction sheave and diverge from it straight downwards and/or at an angle downwards. One advantage is a compact hoisting arrangement .

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the rope does not travel in a groove of the traction sheave. In this case the surface of the traction sheave can continue essentially even to both sides of the rope in the axial direction.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention at least the surface of the traction sheave that is in contact with the rope, along with which surface the rope/ropes travel (s), is even. Thus the grooveless traction sheave does not comprise a protrusion/flange/groove edge reaching against the side of the rope for exerting axial support force on the rope. In this way a simple traction sheave is achieved.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the hoisting roping comprises a plurality of ropes, and the surface of the traction sheave between the ropes that are side by side, along with which surface the rope/ropes travel (s), is even. When there is no need to arrange guidance between the different ropes with a structure of the traction sheave, the traction sheave is inexpensive to manufacture. In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the rope converges with the rim of the traction sheave and travels on the rim of the traction sheave at the same time shifting, continuously in the same direction, in the axial direction of the traction sheave, and diverges from the rim of the traction sheave after having shifted in the axial direction. In this way the route of the ropes is simple and easy to guide.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the rope converges with the rim of the traction sheave and travels on the rim of the traction sheave at the same time shifting in the axial direction of the traction sheave at first in a first axial direction and then back in a second axial direction, and diverges from the rim of the traction sheave, preferably at the essentially same point in the axial direction as it converged with the rim of the traction sheave. Thus the force balance, among other things, is advantageous. In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the hoisting roping comprises a plurality of ropes and the guide a plurality of guide elements, each of which guide elements is arranged to exert guiding support force, at least in the axial direction of the traction sheave, on the part of the rope at the point of said guide element at the time. In this way the tractive surface area can be increased.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the guide comprises a plurality of guide elements, which form a plurality of parallel guide grooves, which guide grooves are each arranged to guide at least exactly one or more ropes . A groove guiding one rope keeps the rope precisely in the desired position and wear is minimal. A groove guiding a number of ropes makes the guide inexpensive in terms of its manufacturing costs.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the hoisting roping comprises a plurality of ropes and the aforementioned guide comprises a plurality of parallel guide grooves, which are arranged to guide different ropes to each other. In this way a number of different ropes can be guided with the same guide.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the aforementioned guide is in the immediate proximity of the rim of the traction sheave such that the aforementioned part of the rope that is at the point of the guide is in simultaneous contact with the traction sheave and the guide. Thus the controllability is good.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the surface of the traction sheave that is in contact with the rope is of polymer, preferably of polyurethane , e.g. fixed on top of the frame of the traction sheave. In this way the surface properties can be advantageously fitted to be those desired. More particularly the friction properties are good. The structure is also inexpensive to manufacture and is suited to different types of ropes irrespective of whether the rope is coated. It is also advantageous that a surface that gives way can assist the lateral shift of the rope. This type of traction sheave, more particularly one without a guide groove, can, per se, form a separate invention. In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the frame of the traction sheave is of a first material, preferably metallic, and the surface of the traction sheave that is in contact with the rope is of a second material, preferably of polymer, and is fixed on top of the frame of the traction sheave. In this way the surface properties can be advantageously fitted to be those desired.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the rope travels to the traction sheave from the elevator car and passes around the traction sheave at a large angle, and moves away from the traction sheave and travels to the counterweight or via a diverting pulley back to the elevator car. The absence of a counterweight produces, inter alia, a simple structure. Having a counterweight might facilitate the formation of the elevator to be energy-efficient.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the rope is belt-shaped. In this way good traction is achieved, and the elevator can even be formed to be one without a counterweight .

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the rope is of a non-metallic material, preferably of composite, most preferably of composite that comprises carbon fibers that are individually bound to each other with a polymer matrix. An advantage is the enablement of the absence of a counterweight.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the guide is permanently connected to always guide the rope in the axial direction during operation of the elevator.

In a more refined embodiment of the concept according to the invention the rope is belt-shaped. Preferably the belt is of a non-metallic material, most preferably of composite. In this case the rope masses are small, and it is easy to arrange the absence of a counterweight. The belt is thus preferably such that its longitudinal force-bearing capability is not essentially based on metal wires.

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. Each embodiment can also singly and separately from the other embodiments form a separate invention.

LIST OF FIGURES

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

Fig. la presents partial views of some embodiments a-h of a first elevator of the invention, as seen in the axial direction of the traction sheave.

Fig. 2a presents an A-A section from Fig. 1 with one preferred embodiment of a guide.

Fig. 2b presents an A-A section from Fig. ί with a second preferred embodiment .

Fig. 3 presents a B-B section from Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 presents more broadly an embodiment of an elevator according to the invention.

Fig. 5 presents more broadly a second embodiment of an elevator according to the invention.

Fig. 6 presents a preferred route of the rope on the traction sheave and a guide of the elevator according to the invention in more detail.

Fig. 7 presents a second preferred route of the rope on the traction sheave and a guide of the elevator according to the invention in more detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Fig. 1 presents partial views of some embodiments a-h of an elevator according to the invention as seen in the axial direction of the traction sheave 5. In the embodiments presented the elevator comprises hoisting roping, a rotating traction sheave for moving the hoisting roping, via which hoisting roping the elevator car (not presented) can be moved, which hoisting roping comprises one or more ropes R, which converges with the rim of the traction sheave 5 and travels on the rim of the traction sheave shifting at the same time in the axial direction of the traction sheave, and finally diverges from the rim of the traction sheave. The elevator further comprises means for guiding the rope in the axial direction of the traction sheave, which means comprise guide elements for exerting on the rope guiding support force of the axial direction of the traction sheave. The aforementioned means comprise a guide (1,1',1'',1''') that is supported in the proximity of the traction sheave and is separate from the traction sheave. Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b present guide alternatives as viewed from the point A-A, and Fig. 3 from the point B-B. The guide is arranged to guide the rope by means of a first and second guide element, which are separate in the axial direction and between which the rope to be guided travels. In the embodiments presented the rope R passes over the traction sheave at a large angle (over 270, e.g. 540 degrees as presented), before diverging from the rim. During this turn the rope R shifts in the axial direction and the route traveled by the rope is guided with the aforementioned guide so that the rope is not able to shift away from the desired route. For the sake of clarity, only 1 rope is presented in Figs. 1 and 2, but there can, if so desired, be a plurality of ropes R in the embodiments presented, which ropes are arranged onto the traction sheave side by side in the axial direction, e.g. in the same way as the rope R presented (in a corresponding manner to that presented in Figs. 6 or 7). Likewise more guide elements than what are presented can also be integrated into the same guide for forming more guide grooves. The elevator can, as presented, comprise one guide or in addition can comprise one or more second guides (1, 1' , 1' ' , 1' ' ' ) of the same type that are supported in the proximity of the traction sheave and are separate from the traction sheave, which guide (s) is/are arranged to guide the rope (R) by means of a first and second guide element, which are separate in the axial direction (z) and between which the rope (R) to be guided travels.

Figs, la-lh present different alternatives for the placement of the guide. It is possible but not necessary to form the guide, depending on its placement, to be suitable e.g. from the viewpoint of the number of ropes guided by it and of the rope route. At the point of the section A-A, the parts of the rope that belong to the same rope, of which parts one is going around the traction sheave on a first turn and the other is going around the traction sheave on a second turn, are side by side on the traction sheave and they are guided with a guide. The section B-B presents the point at which the guide guides only one part of the same rope, which part in the alternative of Figs, c and d is against the traction sheave and in the alternative of Figs, e and f is in the proximity of the traction sheave and not supported on the traction sheave.

In Fig. la the elevator comprises one guide, which is at the point of the zenith of the traction sheave. In Fig. lb the elevator comprises a plurality of guides, more particularly disposed in the proximity of the convergence point and in the proximity of the divergence point of the rope, above said points. In the solution presented they are in this case on each side of the traction sheave of the guide in the radial direction. In Fig. lc the elevator comprises a plurality of guides, more particularly disposed at the zenith point and bottom point of the traction sheave of the guide. In Fig. Id the elevator comprises a plurality of guides, more particularly on each side of the traction sheave of the guide in the radial direction as well as at the zenith point and bottom point of the traction sheave. In Figs, le and If the elevator comprises a plurality of guides, more particularly a guide guiding the rope before its converging arrival onto the traction sheave. The guides presented are primarily for the axial guidance of the rope and are arranged to exert essentially little support force, or no support force at all, in the plane of the traction sheave, preferably at most so much that the angle of the rope changes under the effect of the aforementioned radial force by at most 5 degrees, preferably by at most 3 degrees. In Fig. lg the elevator comprises one guide, which is below the traction sheave, preferably at the point of its bottom point.

In Fig. lh the elevator comprises a plurality of guides, and the rope is guided to diverge from the traction sheave guided by a diverting pulley at an angle towards the side. A corresponding diverting pulley could be used for guiding the route of the rope in all the other embodiments presented. The guides presented can be disposed in the desired locations, preferably at least at the zenith point and/or bottom point of the traction sheave. In the embodiment presented, the wrap angle is over 450 degrees, which has the advantage that it can be possible to arrange the ropes to converge with the rim of the traction sheave and to move away from it straight downwards or at an angle downwards. Thus the hoisting arrangement is compact. However, the route of the rope can be guided with various diverting pulleys along the desired route downwards into the hoistway, to the car and to a possible counterweight. As presented in Figs. 2a-3, the guide 1,1', 1'' comprises a first guide element a,c,d,f for exerting guiding support force on the part of the rope R that is at the point of the guide element a,c,d,f at the time in a first axial direction z of the traction sheave and a second guide element b,d,e,g for exerting guiding support force on the part of the rope

(R) that is at the point of the second guide element b,d,e,g at the time in a second (opposite) axial direction z of the traction sheave. For this reason the guide elements

(a,b, c, d, e, f , g) each extend to the side (to the axial direction z side) of the part of the rope R at the point of them. In order to achieve the guide elements simply, the guide comprises a guide groove (G,G'), via which the rope

(R) travels, and the edges of which form the aforementioned first and second guide element .

The guide ( 1 , 1 ' , 1 ' ' , 1 ' ' ' ) is preferably a stationary rotating roller in the manner presented. In this way friction losses are small. The guide can be disposed such that the part of the rope traveling between the guide elements is simultaneously in contact with the traction sheave 5. In this way it determines the route of the rope precisely and exactly where the precise route must be achieved. Thus it can also function at the same time as a jump-off guard. This type of embodiment is in e.g. Figs, la- Id, lg, lh and 6-7.

The elevators presented in Figs. la-lh are preferably according to Figs. 4 or 5, which each present more broadly one preferred elevator entity. The rope travels in this case to the traction sheave from the elevator car and passes over the traction sheave at a large angle (at least 270 degrees, more preferably at least 360 degrees, most preferably essentially 540 degrees or more) and moves away from the traction sheave. As presented in Fig. 4, the rope moving away from the traction sheave travels to the counterweight, which is connected to the elevator car by a rope passing around a diverting pulley. As presented in Fig. 5, the rope moving away from the traction sheave travels into . the hoistway via a supported diverting pulley back to the elevator car. Additionally, diverting pulleys can be used for guiding the rope, in the manner presented in Fig. h, in which case the wrap angle of the rope can differ from what is presented. The guide is drawn in the figures with a dashed line, but the guide/guides can be disposed with any alternative of Fig. 1 whatsoever or a combination of them.

Since according to the invention the guidance of the rope is arranged with a guide that is separate from the traction sheave, the traction sheave does not need to be manufactured to comprise guide grooves or other corresponding guidance means of the rope. In the invention the rope R preferably does not therefore travel in a groove of the traction sheave. -Thus the surface of the traction sheave- can be manufactured to continue essentially even to both sides of the rope in the axial direction. In this way the traction sheave can be a smooth cylindrical drum. The traction sheave can be manufactured to comprise a frame, which is of a first material, preferably metallic, and the surface of the traction sheave that is in contact with the rope is of a second material, preferably of polymer, and is fixed on top of the frame of the traction sheave. In this way a simple and cheap traction sheave with suitable surface properties can be formed. The surface of the traction sheave that is in contact with the rope is preferably of polymer, preferably of polyurethane , e.g. fixed on top of the frame of the traction sheave. In this way the desired friction properties and wear resistance are achieved. In all the embodiments presented in this application, for the sake of clarity only a small amount of ropes is presented. It is, however, preferred that the hoisting roping comprises a plurality of ropes. Likewise the guide preferably comprises a plurality of guide elements, each of which guide elements is arranged to exert guiding support force, at least in the axial direction of the traction sheave, on the part of the rope at the point of said guide element at the time. In this case the guide elements (a, b, c, d, e , f , g) comprised in the plurality form a plurality of parallel guide grooves (G, G' , G' ' , G' ' ' ) . These guide grooves are preferably each arranged to guide exactly one or even more ropes (R,R ₂ ). The plurality of parallel guide grooves (G, G' , G' ', G' '') comprised in a guide can thus be arranged to guide different ropes (R,R ₂ ) to each other. This type of arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. An optional guide element, which corresponds to the guide element d in Fig. 2b, is marked with a dashed line. The guides presented in Figs. 1-3 can be formed to guide more than one rope (at least R and R ₂₎ ) and to comprise a - plurality of parallel guide grooves ^■ by- integrating the guides presented, e.g. by combining a number of the guides 1,1',1'' presented with each other e.g. as presented in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 6 presents one preferred route according to which the rope can be guided by means of a guide to travel on the traction sheave. The rope converges with the rim of the traction sheave and travels on the rim of the traction sheave at the same time shifting, continuously in the same direction, in the axial direction of the traction sheave, and diverges from the rim of the traction sheave after having shifted in the axial direction. The figure corresponds to the situation of e.g. Fig. 4, 5 or Id as viewed from below. Fig. 7 presents an alternative preferred route according to which the rope can be guided by means of a guide to travel on the traction sheave. The rope converges with the rim of the traction sheave and travels on the rim of the traction sheave at the same time shifting in the axial direction of the traction sheave at first in a first axial direction and then back in a second axial direction, and preferably diverges from the rim of the traction sheave, preferably at the essentially same point in the axial direction as it converged with the rim of the traction sheave. One advantage is that in this way the rope can be made to diverge from the traction sheave unshifted, or only slightly shifted, in the axial direction. In this way also the force balance remains advantageous. This route can form a separate invention from the other features of the invention presented. The figure corresponds to the situation of e.g. Fig. 4, 5 or Id as viewed from below. The rope presented in the figures is round in its cross- section, but with the same arrangements it can be formed to be cross-sectionally larger in the width direction, i.e. in the axial direction z, than in the thickness direction x. In other words the rope can be belt-shaped. One advantage is good traction with simple arrangements and the possibility for the absence of a counterweight (Fig. 5) . Preferably the belt is of a non-metallic material, most preferably of composite. In this case the rope masses are small, and it is easy to arrange the absence of a counterweight. The belt is thus preferably such that its longitudinal force-bearing capability is not essentially based on metal wires.

Generally speaking, in the elevator according to the invention the guide is preferably arranged such that it does not essentially change the route of the rope (R,R ₂ ) in the plane of rotation of the traction sheave 5. In this way it can be formed to be lightweight in structure and to primarily perform guidance in the axial direction. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the rope can travel as is presented in Figs. 6 or 7, therefore shifting in the axial direction z.

Generally speaking, one part of the rope can travel between the aforementioned guide elements that are separate from each other, in which case both guide elements directly guide the rope traveling between them. Alternatively, a number of parts of the rope can travel between the guide elements, in which case the rope can receive at least its second support force of the axial direction from the guide element via the second part of the rope that is beside it. The rope is thus arranged to receive support force from the guide elements, between which the rope (R,R ₂ ) to be guided travels, directly or indirectly via a second part of the rope.

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.