The object of the arrangement is a fixing arrangement of a hoisting machine of an elevator and a method for installing a hoisting machine of an elevator.

In connection with the modernization of old elevators, the hoisting machine, among other things, of the elevator is normally changed for a more modern machine. Geared machines are often used in old elevators, which machines are generally- replaced with modern gearless machines. The old hoisting machine is normally disposed above the elevator hoistway in the machine room of the elevator on top of a machine bedplate manufactured from steel-reinforced concrete, in which machine bedplate rope apertures have been made in connection with manufacturing, through which apertures the hoisting ropes are led into the elevator hoistway to the elevator car and to the counterweight. A base structure e.g. assembled from steel beams is generally also fixed onto the top of the machine bedplate, to which base structure the hoisting machine is fixed. Generally the new hoisting machine is installed on top of the old concrete machine bedplate because disassembling the old machine bedplate and installing the new one would take time and would increase costs. In this case only the old base structure is detached and a new base structure is fixed to the old machine bedplate and the new hoisting machine is fixed to the new base structure. A problem in the installation of a new hoisting machine into an old machine room can be formed by the fact that often old machine rooms are small and have low headroom, in which case new gearless hoisting machines with their traction sheaves, which new machines are larger in diameter than old geared hoisting machines, do not fit properly into the old machine room or at least too little installation space remains into which to fit and install the new machine. Apart from the large diameter of a new machine, often also the positioning of the components connected to it might make installation difficult. For example, many flat machines comprise brakes extending from the motor frame, which increase a dimension of the machine in at least one direction. Likewise servicing of the machine is awkward if there is not enough space in the machine room. In addition, if e.g. the ropes going to the counterweight are very close to the wall of the hoistway, leading the ropes to the counterweight can be difficult because the rim of the traction sheave does not extend to as close to the wall as the outer rim of the hoisting machine and the use of a diverting pulley that spreads the ropes would reduce the angle of wrap on the rim of the traction sheave, which would in turn reduce the necessary friction. In addition, one problem is often that the old rope apertures of the machine bedplate are not in suitable locations from the viewpoint of the dimensions of the new traction sheave. Making new rope apertures in the old machine bedplate is not, however, a good solution because it is awkward and takes time and also increases costs and also weakens the structure of the machine bedplate .

The aim of this invention is to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks and to achieve a simple and inexpensive fixing arrangement of a hoisting machine of an elevator, which saves space in the machine room in the lateral direction and height direction and which enables taking the hoisting ropes to close to the wall without reducing the angle of wrap of the hoisting ropes that is needed on the traction sheave. Another aim is to achieve a simple and easy method for installing a hoisting machine of an elevator, with which method a modern hoisting machine can be installed into the machine room of an old elevator despite the cramped space. The fixing arrangement of a hoisting machine of an elevator according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of claim 1. Correspondingly, the method according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of claim 7. Other embodiments of the invention are characterized by what is disclosed in the other claims. Some inventive embodiments are also discussed in the descriptive section of the present application. The inventive content of the application can also be defined differently than in the claims presented below. The inventive content may also consist of several separate inventions, especially if the invention is considered in the light of expressions or implicit sub-tasks or from the point of view of advantages or categories of advantages achieved. In this case, some of the attributes contained in the claims below may be superfluous from the point of view of separate inventive concepts. Likewise the different details presented in connection with each embodiment can also be applied in other embodiments. In addition it can be stated that at least some of the subordinate claims can at least in some situations be deemed to be inventive in their own right .

One advantage of the solution according to the invention is that by means of it a modern hoisting machine can be installed into an essentially cramped machine room of an old elevator with as few modifications .as possible in connection with the modernization of an elevator. Another advantage is that the distance between the ropes can be adjusted, in which case the rope apertures of the existing machine bedplate can be used also with the new machine and new rope apertures do not need to be made. Another advantage is that the rope line of the counterweight can, if necessary, by means of a diverting pulley easily be brought close to the wall of the hoistway without needing to reduce the angle of wrap of the hoisting rope on the traction sheave. A further advantage is also that the solution according to the invention is simple and inexpensive to implement. Preferably according to the invention the hoisting machine of an elevator together with its base structure is on the machine bedplate and the hoisting machine and base structure have two or more relative fixing positions . In the one or more relative fixing positions of the hoisting machine and base structure the hoisting machine can be easily installed into position and/or serviced. In addition, the hoisting machine and base structure have a proper relative fixing position of the hoisting machine and base structure. The hoisting machine is in this proper fixing position when the elevator is in its normal operation.

In the following the invention will be described in more detail by the aid of one example of its embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 presents an oblique top view of a hoisting machine of an elevator, in which a fixing arrangement according to the invention is used,

Fig. 2 presents a top view of a hoisting machine of an elevator, in which a fixing arrangement according to the invention is used,

Fig. 3 presents a side view of one support structure plate of the fixing arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 4 presents a side view of one starting phase of the installation method according to the invention, Fig. 5 presents a side view of one subsequent phase of the installation method according to the invention, Fig. 6 presents a subsequent phase of the installation method according to the invention, as viewed from the side and obliquely from above,

Fig. 7 presents a top view of a machine room of an elevator and the hoisting machines disposed in it.

Fig. 1 presents an oblique top view and Fig. 2 a direct top view of a hoisting machine 3 of an elevator, which hoisting machine is fixed to its bedplate with a fixing arrangement according to the invention. A base structure 2 is fixed on top of the existing machine bedplate 1, to which base structure the hoisting machine 3 of the elevator is further fixed. The base structure 2 comprises a frame part 4, which comprises at least two essentially parallel frame beams 4a that are side-by-side, which in cross-sectional shape are e.g. C-shaped steel beams having essentially straight backs and which are fixed to each other at a horizontal distance from each other with transverse connecting rods. The frame beams 4a are further fixed with bolts to the machine bedplate 1 in essentially the direction of the plane surface of the machine bedplate 1. An essentially box-type support structure 5 is fixed to the first end, i.e. to the end that comes closer to the wall or corner of the machine room, of both frame beams 4a, to the top part of which support structures 5 the hoisting machine 3 is fixed in an inclined, i.e. tilted, attitude with respect to the horizontal plane. In this case the hoisting machine 3 is inclined from its basic position away from the nearest wall or corner in essentially the direction of the plane of rotation of the traction sheave 3b.

Fig. 3 presents a side view of a support plate 5a of a support structure 5. Both support structures 5 are formed from two support plates 5a that are essentially the same shape and same size, which support plates are fixed at their fixing holes 5e in their bottom edges to the opposite sides of each frame beam 4a by means of bolts, nuts and possible spacing plates.

The top edge of the support plate 5a as viewed from the side is thus, at least for the fixing distance of the hoisting machine 3, inclined such that the top edge descends for the fixing distance of the hoisting machine 3 going towards the second end of the frame beams 4a, in which case the first, i.e. upper, ends of the top edges of the support plates 5a, which top edges support the hoisting machine 3, are closer to the ends of the frame beams 4a than the second ends of the top edges of the support plates 5a. The frame beams 4a comprise fixing holes of the support plates 5a at a number of points in their longitudinal direction, in which case the support plates 5a can be fixed to different points with respect to the longitudinal direction of the frame beams. Thus the position of the support plates 5a can, if necessary, be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the frame beams 4a.

The first, i.e. upper, support surface 5b of the support plate 5a, which surface supports the hoisting machine 3, forms a first certain angle with respect to the horizontal plane, and the second, i.e. lower, support surface 5c that supports the hoisting machine 3 forms a second certain angle with respect to the horizontal plane, which second angle is suitably greater than the first. The border between the support surfaces 5b and 5c is essentially in the center part of the whole support surface. The top edge of the support plate 5a is thus not straight, but essentially at the center point of the top edge the angle changes to become steeper with respect to the horizontal plane. After the lower support surface 5c, going towards the second end of the support plate 5a, the top edge of the support plate 5a further comprises an upward-opening essentially horizontal detent surface 5d, which extends up to the second end of the support plate 5a. Although the top surface of the support plate 5a formed from the support surfaces 5b and 5c as well as from the detent surface 5d is for the most part inclined, the top surface of the support plate 5a is, however, higher than the top surface of the frame beams 4a for the entire fixing distance of the hoisting machine 3.

The top part of the support plate 5a comprises along the fixing distance of the hoisting machine 3 a plurality of first fixing holes 12a, which among themselves are on an essentially straight line A, and a plurality of second fixing holes 12b, which among themselves are on an essentially straight line B. The line A is at essentially the same angle with respect to the horizontal plane as the first support surface 5b of the support plate 5a, and the line B is at essentially the same angle with respect to the horizontal plane as the second support surface 5c of the support plate 5a. In addition, the support plate 5a comprises a fixing hole 12 that is common to both the aforementioned hole pluralities 12a, 12b, which fixing hole is elongated in shape, such that the second end of the fixing hole 12 is essentially in a straight line A with the holes 12a and forms the first fixing hole of the hole plurality 12a, and that the first end of the fixing hole 12 is essentially in a straight line B with the holes 12b and forms the first fixing hole of the hole plurality 12b.

The hoisting machine 3 is fixed e.g. with a bolt fixing onto a rectangular base plate 6 that is flat at least on its bottom surface and that acts as a fixing means . Fixing parts 7 functioning as fixing means are fixed to the bottom surface of the base plate 6, near the side edges of the base plate 6, by means of ^" which fixing parts the base plate 6 is arranged to be fixed to the support structures 5 between the support plates 5a. The fixing parts 7 are e.g. pipes of rectangular cross-section, i.e. RHS pipes, the width of which and the distance from each other of which are essentially the same as those of the frame beams 4a, in which case the fixing parts 7 can easily be fitted between the support plates 5a of the support structures 5 from above. When the fixing parts 7 are fitted into the support structure 5, the base plate 6 is arranged to rest on the inclined top edge of the support plates 5a, after which the fixing parts 7 are fixed to the support plates 5a of the support structures 5 with bolts and nuts through the fixing holes 12 -12a or 12-12b, the relative distribution and size of which is essentially the same as the distribution and size of the fixing holes 7a in the fixing parts 7. The holes can, of course, be of different sizes in their diameter. The base plate 6 and the hoisting machine 3 fixed to it are thus arranged to be fixed to the support structures 5 at an inclined angle with respect to the horizontal plane, and there are two possible fixing angles.

A first diverting pulley 9, being a part of the arrangement, is additionally disposed between the support structures 5, and a second diverting pulley 10 is disposed between the frame beams 4a in the center point of the base structure 2. The hoisting roping 8 led around the traction sheave 3b of the hoisting machine 3 is led through the rope apertures 11 of the machine bedplate 1 into the elevator hoistway guided by the diverting pulleys 9 and 10. In the structure presented by Fig. 1 the second diverting pulley 10 is fitted to essentially the center point of the base structure 2, but its position in the longitudinal direction of the frame beams 4 is arranged to be adjustable. For this purpose the top surface of the frame beams 4a comprises a plurality of consecutive fixing holes 4b. As already mentioned earlier, also the support structures 5 can be fixed to some other point of the frame beams 4a than right at the ends of the frame beams, in which case also the location of the first diverting pulley 9 in the longitudinal direction of the base structure 2 can be adjusted. For this purpose the top surface of the frame beams 4a comprises a plurality of consecutive holes corresponding to the fixing holes 4b. By adjusting the locations of the diverting pulleys 9 and 10 in the longitudinal direction of the base structure 2 the hoisting roping 8 can be taken from the desired points, i.e. from, for example, the existing rope apertures 11, into the elevator hoistway.

One main idea of the invention is that the hoisting machine 3 is fixed at an inclined angle with respect to the horizontal plane, in which case space is saved in the lateral direction, when e.g. the brakes 3a on the rim of the machine that are fitted to the sides of the machine do not extend as close to the walls of the machine room compared to if the hoisting machine 3 were in a vertical attitude. By means of the inclined attitude of the hoisting machine 3 and by means of the first diverting pulley 9, the hoisting ropes going to the counterweight can, if necessary be taken very close to the wall lb, as presented in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 4-6 present how a hoisting machine 3 is installed in a machine room with the method according to the invention. Fig. 4 presents a side view of one starting phase of the installation method of the hoisting machine 3 according to the invention. This phase is performed e.g. at the factory or on the worksite before the hoisting machine 3 and the base structure 2 are taken into the machine room, because the working spaces of the machine room are restricted. Before this phase the frame beams 4 of the base structure 2 are already fixed to each other at a distance from each other with connecting rods, the support structures 5 are fixed to the frame beams 4 of the base structure 2, and the first diverting pulley 9 is mounted on a shaft between the support structures 5. Likewise the hoisting machine 3 and also the fixing parts 7 are fixed to the base plate 6.

When the different structural parts are ready, the base structure 2 is disposed on a supportive base and the hoisting machine 3 is lifted, e.g. by means of a chain hoist, to above the support structures 5, after which it is lowered directly downwards such that the fixing parts 7 fixed to the base plate 6 fit at their first ends between the support plates 5a of the support structures 5. Next the fixing parts 7 are hinged with bolts or corresponding pins from the fixing holes 7a in their first ends temporarily in the fixing holes 12a in the first ends of the top edges of the support plates 5a of the support structures 5. After this the hoisting machine 3 is lowered carefully downwards, in which case the hoisting machine 3 turns downwards in essentially the direction of the plane of rotation of the traction sheave 3b towards the second end of the base structure 2 around the bolts in the edgemost fixing holes 12a of the first end of the support plates 5a, until the angle of inclination limited by the support plates 5a is achieved and the bottom surface of the base plate 6 rests on the upper support surface 5b of the support plates 5a .

Next the fixing parts 7 are hinged with bolts or corresponding pins from the fixing holes 7a in their second ends in the elongated fixing holes 12 in the second ends of the top edges of the support plates 5a, after which the hinging of the fixing holes 12a of the first end of the support plates 5a is removed. After this the subsequent phase of the installation method according to the invention is performed, of which phase at least a part is presented in Fig. 5. In this case the hoisting machine 3 is carefully lowered downwards while being supported by a chain hoist, in which case the hoisting machine 3 turns essentially in the direction of the plane of rotation of the traction sheave 3b around the bolts or corresponding pins disposed in the elongated holes 12 such that the base plate 6 detaches at its first end from the first support surfaces 5b of the support plates 5a and the second edge of the hoisting machine 3 descends downwards to as close as possible to the bottom edge of the base structure 2, until the angle of inclination limited by the structures is achieved and the front edge of the downward turning base plate 6 rests on the detent surface 5d on the second end of the support plates 5a.

After this temporary locking means 13, such as e.g. flat bars, which prevent the hoisting machine 3 from moving around the bolt hinging made in the elongated holes 12, are fixed between the first ends of the fixing parts 7 and the first ends of the support plates 5a. The locking means 13 are fixed into the fixing holes 7a and 12a or 12b that are in the fixing parts 7 and in the support plates 5a, e.g. with bolts and nuts. When the hoisting machine 3 has now been lowered as far down as possible and supported with the locking means 13, the hoisting machine 3 and the base structure 2 take up as little space as possible in the vertical direction. After this the hoisting machine 3 and the base structure 2 are together moved into the machine room of the elevator onto the machine bedplate 1. Fig. 6 presents at least a part of the subsequent phases of the installation method according to the invention of the hoisting machine 3, as viewed from the side and obliquely from above. When the base structure 2 and the hoisting machine 3 have been moved into the machine room onto the machine bedplate 1, the base structure 2 is fixed with bolts to the machine bedplate 1. After this the hoisting ropes 8 are led around the traction sheave 3b and over the diverting pulley 9. The locking means 13 are then detached and the hoisting machine 3 is turned around the bolt hinging made in the elongated fixing holes 12 of the support plates 5a essentially in the direction of the plane of rotation of the traction sheave 3b upwards and to the right, into its operating position, said position being inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, after which the fixing parts 7 of the base plate 6 of the hoisting machine 3 are fixed into the support structures 5 by means of the fixing holes 7a and 12a or 12b and bolts as well as nuts. Finally the second diverting pulley 10, being a part of the arrangement, is fixed into its own position in the base structure 2 and the hoisting roping 8 is installed into position also onto the second diverting pulley 10.

Fig. 7 presents a top view of the machine room of an elevator, into which hoisting machines 3 have been fitted on machine bedplates 1 that are close to each other, the top surface of which bedplates is e.g. higher than the floor level la of the machine room. The machine bedplates 1 and the hoisting machines 3 have been fitted obliquely with respect to the walls lb of the machine room, as viewed from the top, such that the hoisting machines 3 are disposed towards corners of the machine room and as mirror images of each other in relation to the center line of the machine room between them. The hoisting machines 3 are arranged such that the diverting pulleys 9 guiding the hoisting ropes to the counterweights through the rope apertures 11 are close to the corners of the machine room.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited solely to the example described above, but that it may be varied within the scope of the claims presented below. Thus, for example, the top edges of the support plates of the support structures do not necessarily need to comprise two different angles, but instead the top edges can also be straight, in which case they form only one angle with respect to the horizontal plane. Correspondingly, there can be more angles than two, such as e.g. three. In this case there must be a corresponding number of rows of fixing holes in the fixing plates; one or three.

Additionally, it is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the base structure, the support structures and the other parts connected to them can be different to what is described above. What is essential to the invention is that the hoisting machine is fitted into the machine room at an inclined attitude with respect to the horizontal plane.

It is further obvious to the person skilled in the art that the different phases of the method according to the invention can be performed also in a different sequence to what is presented above. For example, the installation of the hoisting ropes can be performed only after the installation of the second diverting pulley. It is further obvious to the person skilled in the art that the different phases of the installation method of the hoisting machine can be performed also in a different manner to what is presented above. For example, the phase in which the hoisting machine is lowered to close to the bottom edge of the base structure can be performed such that the hoisting machine is kept in its place and the base structure is lifted upwards at one of its ends, in which case the base structure turns around the hinging towards the hoisting machine.

It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that instead of the 1:1 suspension presented, the suspension of the elevator can be something else, e.g. a 2:1 suspension.