HK1105622B - Elevator with rope tension compensating system - Google Patents

Description

Elevator with rope tension compensating system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an elevator.

Background

One of the objectives in elevator development work is to achieve efficient and economical utilization of building space. In recent years, among other things, this development work has led to various solutions without machine room. Some good examples of elevators without machine room are disclosed in the specifications of EP 0631967(a1) and EP 0631968. The elevators described in these specifications are fairly efficient in respect of space utilization, since they have made it possible to eliminate the space required in the building for the elevator machine room without the need to enlarge the elevator shaft. In some elevators disclosed in these specifications, the machine is compact at least in one direction, but in other directions it is possible to have much larger dimensions than a normal elevator machine.

In these basically good solutions, the space required by the hoisting machine limits the freedom of choice in various elevator lay-out solutions. The various arrangements required for the stroke of the hoisting ropes require space. It is difficult to reduce the space required for the elevator car itself on its track and similarly the space required by the counterweight, at least at a reasonable cost and without compromising the performance and operational quality of the elevator. In a traction sheave elevator without machine room it is often difficult to mount the hoisting machine in the elevator shaft, especially in solutions where the machine is located above, since the hoisting machine is a bulky object 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 fact limited the sphere of application of the concept of elevator without machine room or at least hindered the introduction of said concept in larger elevators. In the modernization of elevators the space available in the elevator shaft often limits the field of application of the concept of elevator without machine room. One prior-art solution is disclosed in publication US 5,788,118, in which the elevator car is suspended with a suspension ratio of 1: 1, and in which a number of tensioning devices are used for tensioning the continuous hoisting rope. The compensating sheave described in this publication is regulated by a separate control system, which is controlled by an external control device, which system requires regulation to be carried out by a complicated external control device. A recent traction sheave elevator solution without counterweight presents a possible solution in WO 2004041704, in which the movement of the elevator shaft in the elevator is based on traction friction from the hoisting ropes of the elevator via the traction sheave. Such elevator solutions are mainly directed to low-rise buildings and/or buildings with a small travel height. The problems solved in this publication are mainly suitable for use in relatively low buildings and, although some principles are also suitable for large walking heights, large running heights and high speeds also bring new problems to be solved. In prior-art elevator solutions without counterweight, the tensioning of the hoisting ropes is implemented by means of weights or springs, which is not an attractive approach to implementing the tensioning of the hoisting ropes. Another problem with elevator solutions without counterweight is the compensation with rope elongation, e.g. when long ropes are used due to large walking heights or high-rise buildings, and/or due to large suspension ratios, and also the fact that the friction between the traction sheave and the hoisting ropes is insufficient for the operation of the elevator due to rope elongation.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to achieve at least one of the following objects. On the one hand, it is an object of the invention to develop the elevator without machine room further so that it is possible to utilize space in the building and in the elevator shaft more efficiently than before. This means that the elevator can be installed in a fairly narrow elevator shaft if necessary. One object is to achieve an elevator in which the hoisting ropes have a good grip/contact on the traction sheave. Another object of the invention is to achieve an elevator solution without counterweight without compromising on the characteristics of the elevator. Another object is to eliminate rope elongations. Yet another object is to achieve an elevator by means of which it is possible to achieve an elevator without counterweight in a high-rise building and/or a fast elevator without counterweight.

The object of the invention should be fulfilled without the possibility of changing the basic elevator lay-out being impaired.

The features and details of various embodiments and implementation examples of the invention may be used in combination with each other. For example, locking of the motion of the compensating system may be accomplished in conjunction with a shut-off valve or mechanically.

With the present invention, one or more of the following advantages may be obtained, among others:

one advantage achieved by the invention is that many different lay-out solutions are possible, such as some elevator car shapes that have not been achieved before with conventional elevators, and also through-type elevator cars are possible otherwise;

the elevator of the invention is an economical solution because the number of ropes required therein is smaller than in a normal elevator solution without counterweight;

irrespective of the travel height, this becomes clearly advantageous in the elevator of the invention, unlike in elevators with counterweight, in which the compensating ropes are not needed, especially in elevators of high-rise buildings;

a very compact elevator and/or elevator machine is completed using a small traction sheave;

the compact machine size and the thin, substantially round ropes allow the elevator machine to be placed relatively freely in the elevator shaft and in the machine room. Thus, the elevator solution of the invention can be implemented in a fairly wide variety of ways, both in the case of elevators with machine above and in the case of elevators with machine below;

the elevator machine can advantageously be placed between the elevator shaft and the wall of the elevator shaft;

all or at least part of the weight of the elevator car can be carried by the guide rails of the elevator;

application of the invention allows efficient use of the cross-sectional area of the elevator shaft;

using a rope diameter of about 6mm or 8mm or 13mm, a fairly large and fast elevator according to the invention can be achieved;

the use of a smaller traction sheave makes it possible to use a smaller elevator drive motor, which means that the acquisition/manufacturing costs of the drive motor are reduced;

the invention can be used in gearless and geared elevator motor solutions;

the invention can be used in both elevators without machine room and 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 the two;

the space saving potential of the elevator of the invention is increased considerably by the space required for the counterweight being at least partly reduced;

energy and thus cost savings are achieved due to the lighter and smaller elevator systems;

the choice of placing the machine in the shaft and in the machine room is relatively free, since the space required for the counterweight and the counterweight guide rails can be used for some other purpose;

in the elevator solution of the invention, all ropes can be placed on one side of the elevator car; for example, in a rucksack solution, the ropes may be arranged to run behind the elevator car in the space between the elevator car and the rear wall of the elevator shaft;

the invention also makes it easy to implement a stage-type elevator solution;

since the elevator solution of the invention has no counterweight, it is possible to achieve a solution in which the elevator car has doors on several walls, in the extreme case even on all the walls of the elevator car. In this case, the guide rails of the elevator car are disposed at the corners of the elevator car;

the elevator solution of the invention can be implemented with several different machine solutions;

the suspension of the elevator car can be implemented using almost any suitable suspension ratio;

the compensation of rope elongations by means of the compensating system according to the invention is an inexpensive and simple structure to implement;

with the compensating system of the invention it is possible to obtain the force T acting on the traction sheave₁And T₂Constant ratio of T to T₁/T₂；

Forces T acting on both sides of the traction sheave₁And T₂Ratio of T between₁/T₂Is independent of load;

by using the compensation system of the invention, unnecessary stresses on the machine and on the ropes can be avoided;

by using the compensation system of the invention, the force T₁And T₂The relationship between can be optimized to obtain the desired value;

furthermore, the compensating system of the invention makes it unnecessary to stress the hoisting ropes with loads higher than necessary in order to ensure friction between the traction sheave and the hoisting ropes, and thus the service life of the hoisting ropes is prolonged and their vulnerability is reduced;

by using the compensating system according to the invention, even long rope elongations can be compensated, especially in situations where the travel height is large;

in the elevator according to the invention creeping of the elevator car in the starting and/or stopping situation can be prevented better;

thanks to having a better control of the movement of the hoisting ropes by means of the compensating system according to the invention and its locking device, the service life of the elevator hoisting ropes is prolonged and the risk of failure is reduced;

the operational reliability of the elevator is better in the elevator according to the invention and by means of the invention it is easy to ensure that the compensating system operates in the desired manner;

more than one elevator according to the invention can be provided to run one above the other in the same elevator shaft;

the compensating system of the elevator can be easily implemented as a hydraulic compensating system;

the deviations of the forces occurring in the elevator can also be easily equalized by means of the hydraulic compensating system;

the information of the elevator load weighing device can be easily determined by means of a pressure gauge fitted to the hydraulic compensating system;

it is possible to damp changes in the forces occurring in the elevator or to lock the compensating system of the elevator in place, preferably by means of a hydraulic locking/damping device.

The main field of application of the invention is elevators designed for transporting people and goods. A general range of application of the invention is in elevators whose speed range is above about 1m/s but may also be below 1.0 m/s. For example, an elevator with a travel speed of 6m/s and/or an elevator with a travel speed of 0.6m/s is easy to implement according to the invention. The elevator according to the invention is also applicable to both elevator solutions with machine room and without machine room in tall and very high buildings. A fast elevator solution can also be achieved by the elevator according to the invention.

In both passenger and freight elevators, the advantages achieved by the invention are clearly shown even in elevators intended for only 2-4 persons, in particular in elevators intended for 6-8 persons (500-630 kg).

In the elevator of the present invention, a general elevator liftHoisting ropes, such as commonly used steel wire ropes, are suitable. In elevators, it is possible to use ropes made of artificial material and ropes in which the load-bearing part is made of artificial fibres, for example so-called "aramid" ropes ", which have recently been proposed for use in elevators. Some available solutions also include steel-reinforced flat ropes, especially because they allow small bending radii. Particularly well applicable in the elevator of the invention are elevator hoisting ropes twisted e.g. from round and strong wires. With round wires the rope can be twisted in many ways with wires of different or equal thickness. In the rope which is well applied in the invention, the average thickness is below 0.4 mm. Well applicable ropes made of strong wires are ropes with an average wire thickness below 0.3mm or even below 0.2 mm. For example, a thin and strong 4mm rope may be twisted relatively economically from, for example, a wire having an average wire thickness in the range of 0.15-0.25mm in the finished rope, while the thinnest wire may have a wire thickness as small as approximately 0.1 mm. The string wire is made strong with one. In the present invention, a catalyst having a molecular weight of more than 2000N/mm can be used²The strength of (3). A suitable strength range for the cord line is 2300-². In principle, it is possible to use a catalyst having a viscosity of greater than 3000N/mm²Or higher strength cord line. In the elevator of the invention it is also possible to use the normal elevator hoisting ropes. In elevators with a suspension ratio of 2: 1, e.g. with a traveling speed of about 6m/s and with a maximum load of about 4000kg added to the mass of the elevator car, only 6 elevator hoisting ropes of 13mm in diameter are needed. A preferred range of application of the elevator according to the invention having a suspension ratio of 2: 1 is elevators whose speed is in the range above 4 m/s. One of the design criteria of the elevator of the invention has been to keep the rope speed below 20 m/s. However, when the rope speed is about 10m/s, the speed range of the elevator is a range in which the operation and properties of the ropes on the traction sheave of the elevator are very well known. The preferred solution for the elevator of the invention is an elevator without machine room, but solutions with machine room are also accommodated by the inventionIs easy to realize. In high-rise buildings it does not necessarily make sense that there is no machine room, but if a saving in shaft space of even 10-20%, or even higher, is achieved by the elevator according to the invention, some benefit is obtained that makes sense in terms of the use of the surface area of the building.

Preferred embodiments of the elevator without counterweight according to the invention have e.g. a suspension ratio of 4: 1 and use conventional elevator hoisting ropes of 8mm diameter, while the speed of the elevator is e.g. 3m/s and the weight of the elevator car plus the maximum load is 4000kg, in which case only 8 hoisting ropes are needed. Another example of a preferred embodiment is an elevator without counterweight having a suspension ratio of 6: 1, said elevator having a speed of 1.6m/s, wherein the usual ropes of diameter 8mm are used, and the mass of the elevator car of the elevator plus the maximum load is at most 3400kg, in which case only 5 hoisting ropes are needed.

The elevator car in the elevator of the invention is suspended by hoisting ropes. The hoisting ropes consist of a single rope or several parallel ropes. The elevator has a traction sheave which moves the elevator car by means of the hoisting ropes. The elevator has hoisting ropes going upwards and downwards from the elevator car and the rope portions going upwards from the elevator car are subjected to a first rope tension (T)₁) And at the rope portion going downwards from the elevator car is subjected to a second rope tension (T)₂). The elevator has a compensating system acting on the hoisting ropes for adjusting and/or compensating the rope tension and/or rope elongation in order to maintain the ratio (T) between the first rope tension and the second rope tension₁/T₂) Is substantially unchanged. An additional force can be allocated to the compensating system, said additional force being directed substantially at the first rope tension T₁In the same direction. By means of this additional force, the second rope tension T₂Relative to the first rope tension T₁And is increased. The contact angle in the elevator can be increased by means of the traction sheave functioning as a diverting pulley, which also increases the grip between the traction sheave and the hoisting ropes. By using one or more diverting pulleys a contact angle of more than 180 between the traction sheave and the hoisting rope is obtained. The need to compensate rope elongations comes from the need for friction to ensure that a grip sufficient for the operation and safety aspects of the elevator is present between the hoisting ropes and the traction sheave. On the other hand it is of crucial importance in respect of elevator operation and safety that the rope portion below the elevator car should be kept sufficiently tight in an elevator solution without counterweight. This cannot necessarily be done using a spring or a simple lever.

The compensating system in the elevator according to the invention can be placed at least partly in the machine room or completely in the elevator shaft. An advantageous position in the ladder is a place where there is good accessibility to the compensating system and where maintenance/installation activities are easy to perform. In this case the position of the compensating system in the elevator is e.g. such that the compensating system is at least partly in the vicinity of the hoisting machine of the elevator. In tall and tall buildings the compensating system tends to be long, because the amount of rope elongation to be adjusted is long, in which case the adjustment distance of the compensating system can also be long. The compensating system may extend, for example, partly towards the upper part of the elevator shaft or towards the machine room. Preferably, the compensating system is at least partly at the level of the elevator machine, at the level of the uppermost floor of the building, or at a level exceeding this level, so that e.g. a serviceman can reach or access it while standing at the uppermost level, or the compensating system is arranged so that it can be reached from the top of the elevator car when the elevator car is in its uppermost position.

By means of the elevator according to the invention it is possible to implement a double-deck elevator solution or an elevator solution in which there is more than one elevator car in the same elevator shaft.

Drawings

The invention will be described in detail below by way of some examples of its embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 presents a diagrammatic view of a traction sheave elevator without counterweight according to the invention;

fig. 2 presents a diagrammatic view of another traction sheave elevator without counterweight according to the invention;

fig. 3 presents a diagrammatic view of a third traction sheave elevator without counterweight according to the invention and a compensating system according to the invention;

fig. 4 presents a diagrammatic view of a fourth traction sheave elevator without counterweight according to the invention;

fig. 5 presents a diagrammatic view of another traction sheave elevator without counterweight and a compensating system according to the invention;

fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of an elevator solution according to the invention, in which one or more elevators are run one above the other in the same elevator shaft;

fig. 7 presents a diagrammatic view of a hydraulic locking/damping device of the compensating system in the elevator.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 presents a diagrammatic illustration of a traction sheave elevator without counterweight according to the invention, in which the compensating system according to the invention is situated in the upper part of the elevator shaft, i.e. in the machine room 17 in the case of fig. 1. The elevator is an elevator with a machine room, with a drive machine 4 placed in the machine room 17. The elevator shown in the figure is a traction sheave elevator without counterweight, in which the elevator car 1 moves along guide rails 2. In elevators with a large travel height, the elongation of the hoisting ropes, which involves the need to compensate rope elongations, must be reliably accomplished within certain permitted limit values. In this case it is essential in respect of elevator operation and safety that the hoisting rope portion below the elevator car should be kept sufficiently tight. In the rope force compensating system 16 of the invention presented in fig. 1, a very long displacement for compensating rope elongations is achieved. This makes it possible toThe ability to compensate also has a great elongation, which is often not possible with simple lever solutions or with spring solutions. The compensating system 16 according to the invention presented in fig. 1 can put the rope tension T acting on the traction sheave₁And T₂Is kept at T₁/T₂At a constant ratio of (a). In the case shown in FIG. 1, T₁/T₂The ratio is 2/1. The compensating system 16 is disposed in the machine room or elevator shaft or elsewhere suitable for the purpose not connected to the elevator car in the case of even suspension ratios above and below the elevator car, and the compensating system 16 is connected to the elevator car in the case of odd suspension ratios above and below the elevator car.

In fig. 1, the hoisting ropes are routed as follows: one end of the hoisting ropes 3 is fixed to the diverting pulley 15 and/or any suspension arrangement for said diverting pulley. Diverting pulleys 14 and 15 constitute the compensating system in fig. 1. The compensating system 16 is disposed in the machine room 17 of the elevator. From diverting pulley 15 the hoisting ropes 3 run upwards encountering the other diverting pulley 14 of the compensating system 16, around which the ropes pass via the rope grooves on diverting pulley 14. These rope grooves may be coated and uncoated, for example with a friction enhancing material such as polyurethane or other suitable material. All diverting pulleys of the elevator or only some of them and/or the traction sheave can be coated with said material. Having passed around diverting pulley 14 the ropes continue downwards in the elevator shaft to diverting pulley 10 mounted on the elevator car 1 and having passed around this pulley the hoisting ropes 3 run across the top of the elevator car 1 to diverting pulley 9 mounted on the elevator car 1 and to the other side of the elevator shaft. The passage of the hoisting ropes 3 to the other side of the elevator shaft is arranged by means of diverting pulleys 10 and 9, the preferred way of arranging the hoisting ropes over the elevator car 1 being diagonally via the centre of mass of the elevator car. Having passed around diverting pulley 9, the ropes return upwards to the hoisting machine 4 and the traction sheave of said machine, which are located in the machine room 17. The diverting pulleys 14, 10, 9 together with the traction sheave 5 of the hoisting machine 4 form a suspension arrangement above the elevator car with a suspension ratio that is arranged suspended below the elevator carThe same ratio, the suspension ratio is 2: 1 in fig. 1. First rope tension T₁Acting on that part of the hoisting ropes above the elevator car. Having passed around the traction sheave 5, the elevator car continues along the elevator shaft to a diverting pulley 8, said diverting pulley 8 preferably being disposed in the lower part of the elevator shaft. Having passed around diverting pulley 8 the hoisting ropes continue upwards to a diverting pulley 11 mounted on the elevator car, which diverting pulley is not visible in fig. 1. Having passed around diverting pulley 11 the hoisting ropes continue their travel, diverting pulley 12 on the other side of the elevator car is diverted across the elevator car 1 in a similar manner to the roping above the elevator car while the hoisting ropes move to the other side of the elevator shaft. Having passed around diverting pulley 12 the hoisting ropes 3 continue downwards to a diverting pulley 13 in the lower part of the elevator shaft, and having passed around this diverting pulley continue and return to another diverting pulley 15 of the compensating system 16 in the machine room 17 of the elevator, and having passed around said diverting pulley 15 the hoisting ropes go to a fixing point at the other end of the hoisting ropes, said fixing point being located in the machine room 17 or in a suitable place in the elevator shaft. Diverting pulleys 8,11, 12, 13 constitute the suspension arrangement of the hoisting ropes and a part of the ropes below the elevator car. Another rope tension T of the hoisting rope₂Acting on the part of the hoisting ropes below the elevator car. The diverting pulleys of the lower part of the elevator shaft may be immovably fixed to the frame structure formed by the guide rails 2 or to a beam structure at the lower end of the elevator shaft or each separately to the lower part of the elevator shaft or to any other fixing means suited to the purpose. The diverting pulleys on the elevator car may be immovably fixed to the frame structure of the elevator car 1, e.g. to the car sling or to one or more beam structures on the elevator car, or each separately to the elevator car or to any other fixing arrangement suited to the purpose. The diverting pulleys may also be modular in structure, e.g. in such a way that they are separate modular structures, e.g. of the cassette type, immovably fixed to the structures of the elevator shaft, to the structures of the elevator car and/or to the car sling or to the elevator shaftAnother suitable place, or in the vicinity thereof, or integrated in the elevator car and/or in the elevator machine room. The diverting pulleys located in the elevator shaft and the devices of the hoisting machine and/or the diverting pulleys connected to the elevator can be disposed either all on one side of the elevator car in the space between the elevator car and the elevator shaft or alternatively they can be disposed on different sides of the elevator car in the desired manner.

The drive machine 4 placed in the machine room 17 is preferably of a flat construction, in other words the machine has a relatively thin thickness dimension compared to its width and/or height. In the elevator of the invention without counterweight it is possible to use almost any type and design of drive machine 4 that can be fitted into the space used for it. For example, it is possible to use geared and gearless machines. In the suspension solution according to the invention the rope speed is often high compared to the elevator speed, so it is even possible to use an uncomplicated machine type as the basic machine solution. The machine room of the elevator is preferably provided with equipment required for the supply of power to the motor-driven traction sheave 5 as well as equipment required for elevator control, both of which can be placed in a common instrument panel 6 or mounted separately from each other or integrated partly or wholly with the drive machine 4. A preferred solution is a gearless machine comprising a permanent magnet motor. Fig. 1 presents a preferred suspension solution, in which the suspension ratio of the diverting pulleys above the elevator car and below the elevator car is in both cases the same 2: 1. In practice to make this ratio more visible it means the ratio of the distance traveled by the hoisting rope to the distance traveled by the elevator car. The suspension above the elevator car 1 is implemented by means of diverting pulleys 14, 10, 9 and the traction sheave 5, and the suspension below the elevator car 1 is implemented by means of diverting pulleys 13, 12, 11, 8. Other suspension arrangements can also be used to implement the invention, such as a large suspension ratio achieved by a number of diverting pulleys above and below the elevator car. The elevator of the invention can also be implemented as a solution without machine room or the machine can be mounted to move together with the elevator. It is preferable to place the compensating system 16 in the upper part of the elevator, preferably in the machine room, especially in elevators with a large travel height, which elevators are usually also fast in terms of travel speed. In this case the provision of the compensating system according to the invention results in a considerable reduction of the overall rope elongation of the elevator hoisting ropes, because with such a compensating system arrangement the upper section of the hoisting ropes, i.e. the section located above the compensating system with the greater rope tension, becomes shorter. However, the section of hoisting ropes below the compensating system is then lengthened. Placing the compensating system in the machine room can also be done relatively easily.

A compensating system 16 for rope forces in an elevator, as presented in fig. 1, compensates rope elongations by means of the movement of diverting pulley 15. Diverting pulley 15 moves a limited distance so as to compensate the elongation of the hoisting ropes 3. In addition, the arrangement in question can keep the rope tension on the traction sheave 5 constant, so that the ratio between the first and second rope tensions, T₁/T₂The ratio, in the case of fig. 1, is about 2/1. The diverting pulley 15, which in fig. 1 functions as a compensating pulley, can be controlled by means of guide rails to stay on its desired track, especially in situations in which the compensating system 16 is subjected to strong impacts, for example during wedge gripping (wedge gripping) of the elevator. By means of the guide of diverting pulley 15 the distance between the elevator car and the compensating system can be kept at the desired distance and the movement of the compensating system can be kept under control. The guide rails for the compensating system can be almost any type of guide rail suitable for the purpose, for example guide rails made of metal or other materials suitable for the purpose or e.g. rope guides. A buffer may also be fitted to the compensating system 16 to damp the impact of the diverting pulleys of the compensating system and/or to prevent slackening of the compensating system. The buffer used can be arranged e.g. in such a way that the compensating sheave 15 remains buffered until the rope elongation of the hoisting ropes has had time to be completely released (relax) into the hoisting ropes, especially into the part of the ropes above the elevator carThe device is supported. One of the design criteria to be ensured in the elevator of the invention is: the compensating system is prevented from feeding the ropes from the compensating system in the direction of the rope portion below the elevator car when the normal compensation range of the compensating system is exceeded, so that a certain tension is maintained in the hoisting ropes. It is also possible to implement the compensating system 16 in a different way than in the preceding example, such as by using more complex suspension arrangements in the compensating system, for example by arranging different suspension ratios between the diverting pulleys of the compensating system. It is also possible to use a lever suited to the purpose, compensating pulleys or other rope tension compensating arrangements suited to the purpose, or a hydraulic rope force compensating device as the compensating system 16. A preferred embodiment of an elevator with a suspension ratio of 2: 1 as shown is an elevator with a speed of about 6m/s and a movable mass, which mass consists of the mass of the car and its equipment and the mass of the maximum load, of about 4000kg, and in which elevator only 6 elevator hoisting ropes each having a diameter of about 13mm are required. A preferred range of application of the elevator of the invention having a suspension ratio of 2: 1 is elevators whose speed is in the range above 4 m/s.

Fig. 2 presents a diagrammatic illustration of the structure of an elevator according to the invention. The elevator presented in fig. 2 is similar to the elevator in fig. 1 with the difference that the compensating system 216 of the elevator without counterweight, the hoisting machine 204 and the equipment needed for supplying the motor and for the elevator control 206 are preferably disposed in the elevator shaft. The elevator presented in fig. 2 is an elevator without machine room and the elevator presented in the figure is a traction sheave elevator with machine above and without counterweight, in which the elevator car 201 moves along guide rails 202 as shown in fig. 1. The travel of the hoisting ropes 203 in fig. 2 is similar to that in fig. 1. The difference with the elevator presented in fig. 1 is the number of times the hoisting ropes 203 have passed between the elevator car 201 and the diverting pulleys above the elevator car and between the elevator car and the diverting pulleys below the elevator car. Fig. 2 is an elevator with a suspension ratio of 6: 1, in which the suspension ratio above the elevator car has been increased to a ratio of 6: 1 by means of diverting pulleys 214, 213, 212, 211, 210, 209 and traction sheave 205. The suspension ratio below the elevator car is the same as above it, i.e. also 6: 1. This is obtained by diverting pulleys 208, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222. The compensation system shown in fig. 2 is similar to that of fig. 1, and the operation of the compensation system 216 is similar to that shown in fig. 1. A compensating system of a type different from that currently presented in this example can also be used in the elevator of fig. 2.

A preferred embodiment of the elevator without counterweight having a suspension ratio of 6: 1 shown in fig. 2 is an elevator with a speed of 1.8m/s and a movable mass, which mass consists of the mass of the car and its equipment and the mass of the maximum load, which is about 2000kg, and in which elevator only 5 hoisting ropes of about 8mm in diameter each are needed. A preferred range of application of the elevator of the invention having a suspension ratio of 6: 1 is elevators whose speed is in the range above 1 m/s.

Fig. 3 presents a diagrammatic illustration of the structure of an elevator according to the invention. The elevator is preferably an elevator without machine room, in which the drive machine 304 and the compensating system 316 are disposed in the elevator shaft. In the figure the compensating system 316 is located in the lower part of the elevator shaft, but it can also be located in the upper part of the elevator shaft or in the machine room. The elevator shown in the figure is a traction sheave elevator without counterweight and with machine above, in which the elevator car 301 moves along guide rails 302. The travel of the hoisting ropes in fig. 3 is similar to that shown in fig. 1, but in the example shown in fig. 3 the hoisting ropes of the elevator are preferably disposed to pass on one side of the elevator car via diverting pulleys 308,309, 310,312, 313, 315 and the compensating system 316 and its diverting pulleys 315,314 and the traction sheave 305 of the hoisting machine 304. The elevator shown in fig. 3 is an elevator suspended with a suspension ratio of 2: 1, wherein the suspension ratio above and below the elevator car is in both cases the same 2: 1. Fig. 3 presents the compensating system 316 of the elevator of the invention, comprising a locking arrangement according to the invention. In fig. 3, the movable diverting pulley 315 of the compensating system is preferably arranged 8 along the guide rails 31 to move on its track, and the diverting pulley 315 is preferably suspended on a frame 317, through which it moves along the guides 318. Locking devices 319, preferably clamping brakes, which preferably clamp guides 318 or the like for stopping and/or retarding the movement of the compensating system, are fitted to the frame 317 of the diverting pulley 315. In a situation in which the elevator safety gear grips or the elevator hits a buffer or other similar situations, the ratio between the speed of the hoisting ropes and the speed of the elevator car changes abruptly or tries to change abruptly. In this case, a sudden strong force is exerted on the compensating system, resulting in a sudden movement of the compensating pulleys or the like of the compensating system, which may cause slackening or damage of the hoisting ropes or parts thereof. Further consequences may be damage to the compensating pulleys of the compensating system or the like or damage to their rails. This problem is particularly important in elevators having a very high speed and/or a very large travel height. According to the invention this problem is solved by arranging a locking device 319 for the diverting pulley 315, or the like, or for its frame 317, of the compensating system, said locking device preferably gripping the diverting pulley 315 or the like, preferably the guide 318, in case the speed or acceleration of the movement of the compensating system exceeds a certain predetermined limit value.

Fig. 4 presents a diagrammatic illustration of an elevator according to the invention. The elevator is preferably an elevator without machine room, in which the drive machine 404 and the compensating system are disposed in the elevator shaft. The elevator shown in the figure is a traction sheave elevator without counterweight and with machine above, in which the elevator car 401 moves along guide rails 402. The compensating system 416 is arranged in the lower part of the elevator shaft. The compensation system 416 in fig. 2 is gravity-assisted and can have additional weight added to it as necessary to improve the operation of the compensation system. An additional force is provided on the compensating system 416, said additional force acting substantially on the first rope tension (T)₁) In the same direction. By means of this additional force, the second rope tension T₂Relative to the first rope tension T₁And is increased.

In fig. 4, the hoisting ropes are routed as follows: one end of the hoisting ropes 403 is fixed to the diverting pulley 417 and/or to any suspension arrangement thereforThe pulley 417 is fitted to rest on the rope portion coming down from the diverting pulley 418, which hoisting rope portion passes around the diverting pulley 417 and further to the fixing point of the other end of the hoisting ropes 403 in the elevator shaft. The compensating system 416 is fitted in place in the elevator shaft. From diverting pulley 415 the hoisting ropes 403 run upwards encountering the diverting pulley 414, which is fitted in place in the upper part of the elevator shaft and around which the ropes pass via the rope grooves on the diverting pulley 414. Having passed around diverting pulley 414 the hoisting ropes continue downwards to diverting pulley 413 mounted on the elevator car 401 and having passed around this pulley the hoisting ropes 403 run across the elevator car 401 to diverting pulley 412 mounted on the elevator car 401 and to the other side of the elevator shaft. The passage of the hoisting ropes 403 to the other side of the elevator shaft is arranged by means of diverting pulleys 413 and 412. Having passed around diverting pulley 412 the ropes return upwards to a diverting pulley 411 fitted in place above the upper part of the elevator shaft and after passing around this pulley to a diverting pulley 410 mounted on the elevator car, after passing around the latter the ropes continue across the elevator car to a diverting pulley 409 mounted on the elevator car and at the same time to the other side of the elevator shaft. After passing around diverting pulley 409 the hoisting ropes go further to the hoisting machine 404 fitted in place in the upper part of the elevator shaft and its traction sheave 405. Diverting pulleys 414, 413, 412, 411, 410, 409 together with the traction sheave 405 of the hoisting machine 404 constitute the suspension arrangement above the elevator car with the same suspension ratio as the suspension arrangement below the elevator, which suspension ratio is 4: 1 in fig. 4. First rope tension T₁Acting on the part of the hoisting ropes above the elevator car. Having passed around the traction sheave 405, the hoisting ropes go further to a diverting pulley 408 fitted in place in the lower part of the elevator shaft. Having passed around 408 the ropes 403 continue upwards to a diverting pulley 422 mounted on the elevator car. Having passed around diverting pulley 422 the hoisting ropes continue their travel below the elevator car 401 to the diverting pulley 419 on the other side of the elevator car in a similar manner to the ropes below the elevator car 401, while at the same time the hoisting ropes 403 move to the other side of the elevator shaft. Having passed around diverting pulley 419 the hoisting ropes 403 continue downwards to the diverting pulley 420 in the lower part of the elevator shaft, and having passed around itContinuing back to the elevator car 401 and to the diverting pulley 421 fixed to the elevator car and, having passed around this pulley, the hoisting ropes continue under the elevator car to the diverting pulley 418 on the other side of the elevator car, while the hoisting ropes 403 move back to the other side of the elevator shaft. Having passed around diverting pulley 418 the hoisting ropes go further to the other diverting pulley 417 of the compensating system 416, and having passed around diverting pulley 417 the hoisting ropes continue to the fixing point of the other end of the hoisting ropes, which is in a suitable place in the elevator shaft. Diverting pulleys 408, 422, 419, 420, 421, 418, 417 constitute the suspension arrangement and a part of the roping of the hoisting ropes below the elevator car. Second rope tension T of the hoisting rope₂Acting on the part of the hoisting ropes below the elevator car. The diverting pulleys of the lower part of the elevator shaft may be immovably fixed to the frame structure formed by the guide rails 402 or to a beam structure at the lower end of the elevator shaft or each separately to the lower part of the elevator shaft or to any other fixing means suited to the purpose. The diverting pulleys on the elevator car may be immovably fixed to the frame structure of the elevator car 401, e.g. to the elevator car sling or to one or more beam structures on the elevator car, or each separately to the elevator car or to any other fixing arrangement suited to the purpose. The diverting pulleys can also be modular in structure, e.g. immovably fixed to the shaft structures of the elevator, to the structures of the elevator car and/or to the car sling, or to another suitable place in the shaft, in such a way that they are separate modular structures, e.g. of the cassette type; either near the elevator shaft or in conjunction with the elevator car and/or in the machine room of the elevator. The diverting pulleys located in the elevator shaft and the devices of the hoisting machine and/or the diverting pulleys connected to the elevator car can be disposed either entirely in the space between the elevator car and the elevator shaft on one side of the elevator car or they can otherwise be disposed in a desired manner on different sides of the elevator car.

In the example shown in fig. 5, the elevator roping and the turnsThe diverting pulleys as well as the hoisting machine and its equipment are disposed symmetrically on both sides of the elevator car so that no diverting pulleys or hoisting machines are directly above and/or below the path of travel of the elevator car. This allows for example smaller safety clearances above and/or below the elevator car. Furthermore, the components of the elevator, such as the diverting pulleys and the travel of the hoisting machine and the hoisting ropes, are symmetrically located on different sides of the elevator shaft. A hydraulic compensating system is presented in the elevator presented in fig. 5, in which compensating system any hydraulic liquid suited to the purpose can be used as hydraulic liquid, e.g. oil, water, glycol or other liquid suited to the purpose. The hydraulic compensating system in fig. 5 comprises at least hydraulic cylinders 514 and 513, to which the respective free ends of the hoisting ropes 503 of the elevator are fixed. The cylinders 513 and 514 are connected to each other on the piston side by means of hydraulic hoses or pipes 515, so that hydraulic liquid can be transferred from the cylinder 513 to the cylinder 514 or vice versa, depending on the respective load. By means of the area ratio of the hydraulic cylinders 513, 514, the rope tension T of the hydraulic compensating system can be defined and adjusted₁And T₂The equilibrium state of the ratio between, as was the case in the other figures previously. A pressure gauge 518 may also be added to the hydraulic compensation system. By means of the pressure gauge 518 it is possible to obtain load weighing information of the elevator, by means of which the size of the load in the elevator car can be determined. Equalizing and/or compensating of rope tension and/or rope elongation in the compensating system and/or achieving a substantially constant ratio (T) between first and second rope tensions may be achieved by one or more hydraulic actuators, preferably hydraulic cylinders, acting on the hoisting ropes of the elevator₁/T₂). A throttle 517, or the like, may also be fitted in the hydraulic compensating system for adjusting sudden force deviations. Throttle 517 may be adjustable. The compensation system may also include a hydraulic reservoir to automatically or manually add more liquid to the system when needed. The hydraulic compensating system may also be one or more double-acting hydraulic cylinders, e.g. by means of different throttles on different sides of the cylinder piston or in another manner suitable for the purpose, e.g. byThrough the difference of the area ratio of the pistons and through the throttle valves, the tension of the ropes is balanced or kept constant. The hydraulic compensating system according to the invention can be located anywhere in the elevator, e.g. in the lower or upper part of the elevator shaft, or both in the lower and top part of the elevator shaft, or in the elevator machine room, or partly in the elevator machine room and partly in the elevator shaft, or in other ways suited to the purpose. The hydraulic compensating system may also be locked in place, for example by an adjustable throttle valve, to prevent operation of the compensating system. A preferred embodiment of the elevator with a suspension ratio of 4: 1 shown in fig. 5 is an elevator with a speed of about 4m/s and a movable mass, consisting of the mass of the elevator car and its equipment and the mass of the maximum load, of about 4000kg, in which elevator only 8 hoisting ropes of a diameter of about 8mm are required. The preferred range of application of the elevator of the invention is elevators whose speed is in the range of 1.6m/s-4.0 m.s.

Fig. 6 presents an elevator of the invention, in which two elevator cars without counterweight and their respective hoisting machines are fitted to run one above the other in the same elevator shaft. The suspension arrangements of both elevators are similar, the only difference being that the respective roping runs on the respective elevator car on different sides of the elevator shaft. Placing more than one elevator without counterweight in the same shaft often presents problems in terms of layout and often also requires increased shaft space, especially in high-rise buildings and fast elevators, where the arrangement of the hoisting ropes, elevator cables and any compensating sheaves increases the space requirement in the shaft. Also the safety clearances up and down and between the elevator cars may be difficult to control, or at least some of them must be made larger due to the counterweights. These problems are solved in the example shown in fig. 6 in such a way that two elevator cars 601 without counterweight are arranged to run one above the other in the same elevator shaft, with the hoisting machine 604 and the compensating system 616 of said elevator cars arranged in the machine room 617 of the elevator. Preferably, at least one of them is counterweight-free if there are several elevators one above the other in the same shaft. It is further advantageous that all elevators are without counterweight. Preferably at least two of the elevators operating in the same shaft serve one or more floors common to the elevators. This is to make the elevator system as efficient as possible. More than two elevators can be arranged to run one above the other in the same shaft. Furthermore, it is possible to implement a solution of the type in which the hoisting machines of the elevator and their control equipment, as well as the compensating system, are disposed in the elevator shaft. Secondly, a solution for a double-car elevator can be implemented in the manner described above, in which several elevator cars run in the same sling. In a similar manner it is also possible to implement a double-car elevator solution or to move the elevator cars relative to one another in the car sling of a double-car elevator. In a double-elevator-car elevator, both elevator cars may have their own machine or they may have the same hoisting machine. In this case an elevator car means an independent unit/structure suspended by ropes. A double-elevator-car elevator has two passenger cabins one above the other.

Fig. 7 shows a locking/damping device of a hydraulic compensation system. The elevator shown in the figure is identical to the elevator shown in fig. 3 and the course of the roping is similar to that shown in fig. 3. Fig. 7 differs from fig. 3 in the compensation system. The compensating system 716 of the elevator according to the invention is provided with a hydraulically operated locking device and/or damping device 720, preferably a hydraulic cylinder, and more preferably a double-acting hydraulic cylinder in accordance with fig. 5. The locking device/damping device 720 is arranged between the moving part of the compensating system, which in the case of fig. 7 is the fixing point of the hoisting ropes 703 in the elevator shaft and the hydraulic cylinder, and the fixed part, which in turn is the diverting pulley 715 together with its frame. This diverting pulley is guided to move on its track on each guide rail 718. The movement of the components of the compensating system is limited by stops 719 at the ends of the guide rails 718. The locking device/damping device 720 of the elevator according to the invention is arranged for the compensating system 716 in fig. 7. Each adjustable throttle valve is configured to be connected to a double acting hydraulic cylinder that functions as the locking device/damping device 720 in fig. 7 for stopping and/or retarding the motion of the compensating system. The two sides of the cylinder piston in the locking device/damping device are in communication with each other and with the reservoir 723 via line 722. Each adjustable throttle valve 721 is fitted to this pipe 722 and has at least one of them. Damping or locking can also be implemented in the locking device/damping device in another way suitable for the purpose. In some cases where the elevator safety gear grips or the elevator runs on a buffer or in some other similar cases, when the ratio of the speed of the hoisting ropes to the speed of the elevator car changes suddenly or tries to change suddenly, a sudden strong force is exerted on the compensating system, causing a sudden movement of the compensating pulleys of the compensating system etc., which may cause slackening or damage of the hoisting ropes or parts thereof. Another consequence may be damage to the compensating pulleys, or similar components of the compensating system or damage to its track. This problem is particularly pronounced in elevators with high speed and/or large travel heights. According to the invention this problem is solved by the locking/damping means 720 of the compensating system, the purpose of which is to prevent the speed or acceleration of the compensating system from exceeding a certain predetermined limit value. The mass of the compensating pulleys and frames of the compensating system also affects the operation of the required locking/damping device. Depending on how the pulleys of the compensating system are arranged to operate, the mass of the pulleys either slowing down the motion of the compensating system or strengthening it. In the case of fig. 7, the mass of the compensating system pulley assembly and the frame of said assembly may hinder the upward movement of the compensating system and promote its downward movement. This must be taken into account when setting the limit values for the hydraulic locking means/damping means. The adjustment of the limit value is effected by means of a throttle valve or the like. The compensating system of the invention together with its locking device/damping device can be located in the elevator shaft or in the machine room or separately in any place suitable for the purpose in both. The operation of the locking means/damping means is adjustable and the effective minimum speed can be set, for example, by adjustable throttles. In practice, the damping of the device 720 starts almost at zero speed of the diverting pulley 715 of the compensating system and the frame 717 of said diverting pulley, due to the throttling in the locking device/damping device 720 and/or due to the inertia of the flowing liquid in the liquid path.

When the elevator car is suspended with a small suspension ratio, e.g. 1: 1, 2: 1, 3: 1 or 4: 1, it is possible to use diverting pulleys of large diameter and thicker hoisting ropes. Smaller diverting pulleys can be used if necessary below the elevator car because the tension in the hoisting ropes is smaller than in the rope portion above the elevator car, allowing the use of smaller bending radii of the hoisting ropes. In elevators with less space below the elevator car it is preferable to use diverting pulleys of smaller diameter in the rope portion below the elevator car, because by using the rope force compensating system according to the invention the tension in the rope portion below the elevator car can be made from T₁/T₂The ratio of (a) is maintained at a constant level which is less than the tension of the rope portion above the elevator car. This makes it possible to reduce the diameter of the diverting pulleys in the rope portion below the elevator car without any significant loss in respect of the service life of the hoisting ropes. For example, the ratio of the diameter D of the diverting pulley to the diameter D of the rope used may be D/D < 40, and preferably the ratio D/D may simply be 25-30, when the ratio of the diameter of the diverting pulleys in the rope portion above the elevator car to the diameter of the hoisting ropes is 40. By using diverting pulleys of smaller diameter, the space required below the elevator car can be reduced to a small size, preferably to 200mm only.

A preferred embodiment of the elevator of the invention is an elevator with machine room in which the drive machine has a coated traction sheave. The hoisting machine has a traction sheave and a diverting pulley, in which machine the traction sheave and the diverting pulley are fitted at a correct angle relative to each other. The hoisting machine and its control equipment are fitted in place in the elevator machine room, in which machine room the compensating system of the elevator is also fitted. The elevator is made without counterweight and with a suspension ratio of 2: 1, so that the suspension ratio of the ropes above the elevator car and the suspension ratio of the ropes below the elevator car are both 2: 1, and so that the ropes of the elevator run on electricityBetween one of the walls of the elevator car and the wall of the shaft. The elevator has a compensating system for adjusting the ratio T between the tensions of the two ropes₁/T₂Maintaining a constant ratio of about 2: 1. The compensating system of the elevator comprises at least one locking device, preferably braking elements, and/or a slack rope prevention means, preferably a buffer, for preventing uncontrolled slackening of the hoisting ropes and/or uncontrolled movement of the compensating system. The additional force caused by the masses of the diverting pulley and its suspension arrangement and of additional weights connected to the diverting pulley, which additional force is directed substantially at the first rope tension T₁In the same direction, and this additional force increases the rope tension T₂So that the ratio T is₁/T₂Is more advantageous.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that different embodiments of the invention are not limited to the examples described above, but that they may be varied within the scope of the invention. The number of times the hoisting ropes pass between the upper part of the elevator shaft and the elevator car and between the diverting pulleys below the car and the elevator car is not a very decisive question, for example, although some additional benefits may be achieved by a number of rope passages. In general, the situation applies that the ropes go to the elevator car from above as many times as from below so that the suspension ratios of the diverting pulleys going upwards and the diverting pulleys going downwards are the same. It is also obvious that the hoisting ropes need not necessarily pass under the elevator car. In accordance with the examples described above, a person skilled in the art can vary the embodiments of the invention and the coated metal wheels can also be replaced by uncoated metal wheels or uncoated wheels of some other material suited to the purpose for the traction sheaves and rope pulleys.

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 function as diverting pulleys and which are coated with a non-metallic material at least in the area of their grooves, can be implemented using a material such as rubber, plastic, polyurethane or some other material suited to the purpose. It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that rapid movements of the compensating system, such as occur during wedge-like gripping of the elevator, the additional force of the invention can also form an inertia value in the rope force, which tries to counteract the movement of the compensating system. The greater the acceleration of the diverting pulley/diverting pulleys of the compensating system and any additional weights, the greater the importance of the inertial mass, which attempts to hinder the movement of the compensating system and reduce the impact on the buffer of the compensating system, since the movement of the compensating system takes place against the force of gravity. It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that the elevator car and the machine unit can be arranged in the cross-section of the elevator shaft in a different layout than described in the examples. Such a different lay-out may e.g. be one in which the machine is located behind the elevator car as seen from the door of the elevator shaft, and the roping passes under the elevator car in a diagonal direction with respect to the bottom of the elevator car. Passing the ropes under the elevator car in a diagonal or otherwise oblique direction with respect to the shape of the bottom also has advantages when the suspension of the elevator car on the ropes is to be made symmetrical to the center of mass in other types of suspension lay-out.

It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that the equipment needed for the supply of power to the motor and the equipment needed for elevator control can be placed elsewhere than in relation to the machine unit, e.g. in a separate instrument panel, or the equipment needed for control can be made as separate units, possibly placed in the elevator shaft and/or in different places in other parts of the building. It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that an elevator applying the invention can be equipped in a manner differing from the examples described above. It is further obvious to the person skilled in the art that the elevator of the invention can be implemented using almost any type of flexible hoisting means, such as flexible rope of one or more strands, flat belt, cogged belt, v-belt or some other type of belt suited to the purpose, as hoisting roping. It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that instead of using ropes with a filler, the invention can be implemented using ropes without filler, which are either lubricated or unlubricated. Furthermore, it is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that the ropes can be twisted in many different ways.

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 angles a described above beyond those described in the examples. For instance the diverting pulley/diverting pulleys, the traction sheave and the hoisting ropes can be arranged in some other way than in the examples described. It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that in the elevator of the invention, the elevator can also be provided with a counterweight, in which elevator the counterweight has e.g. a weight preferably below that of the elevator car and is suspended with separate roping, and the elevator car is suspended partly by the hoisting ropes and partly by the counterweight and its roping.

Due to the bearing resistance of the rope pulleys used as diverting pulleys and due to the friction between the ropes and the rope sheaves and possible losses occurring in the compensating system, the ratio between the rope tensions may deviate somewhat from the nominal ratio of the compensating system. Since the elevator must have a certain inherent adaptability in any case, even a deviation of 5% will not cause any significant drawbacks.

Claims (22)

1. An elevator, comprising:

an elevator car without counterweight;

a plurality of first diverting pulleys on the elevator car;

a plurality of second diverting pulleys on the elevator car;

a hoisting rope consisting of a single rope or a plurality of parallel ropes;

a traction sheave disposed in a first position fixed relative to a hoistway of the elevator;

a compensation system comprising a first portion and a second portion;

wherein the elevator car is suspended on the hoisting ropes by a number of first and second diverting pulleys,

wherein the traction sheave moves the elevator car with the hoisting ropes,

wherein the first and second ends of the hoisting ropes are operatively connected to the compensating system,

wherein the hoisting ropes have rope portions going upwards from the first diverting pulley,

wherein the hoisting ropes have a rope portion going downwards from the second diverting pulley,

wherein the rope portion going upwards from said first diverting pulley is subjected to a first rope tension,

wherein the rope portion going downwards from said second diverting pulley is subjected to a second rope tension,

wherein the first part of the compensating system is disposed in a second position fixed in relation to the elevator shaft of the elevator,

wherein the second portion of the compensation system moves relative to the first portion of the compensation system as the elevator car moves up or down;

wherein the compensating system acts on the hoisting ropes so as to exert one or more balancing tensions on the hoisting ropes, compensate the tensions on the hoisting ropes, balance the elongation of the hoisting ropes, compensate the elongation of the hoisting ropes, and keep the ratio of the first rope tension to the second rope tension substantially constant,

wherein the compensation system further comprises a device to damp, lock, or damp and lock the compensation system;

wherein in case of an acceleration, the speed of the compensating system, or acceleration and speed, rises above a predetermined limit value, the device blocks or prevents the operation of the compensating system;

wherein forces other than the first rope tension and the second rope tension are arranged in the compensating system, an

Said force acting substantially in conjunction with a first rope tension (T₁) In the same direction.

2. Elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that the compensating system (16) of the elevator and/or the hoisting machine (4) are disposed in the upper part of the elevator shaft.

3. Elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that the compensating system (16) of the elevator and/or the hoisting machine (4) are disposed in the machine room (17) of the elevator.

4. Elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that the compensating system (16) is at least partly in the vicinity of the hoisting machine.

5. Elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that the compensating system (16) extends at least partly to the upper part of the elevator near any machine room in or above the elevator shaft.

6. Elevator according to claim 5, characterized in that the compensating system (16) extends at least partly to the upper end of the elevator shaft.

7. Elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that the compensating system is at least partly in the elevator machine room.

8. Elevator as defined in any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the elevator is suited for use in high-rise buildings.

9. Elevator according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that the compensating system comprises one and/or more diverting pulleys.

10. Elevator according to any of the preceding claims 1-7, characterized in that the compensating system of the elevator is a hydraulic compensating system.

11. Elevator according to claim 10, characterized in that in the compensating system adjusting and/or compensating rope tension and/or rope elongation and/or maintaining the ratio (T) between the first rope tension and the second rope tension is achieved by at least one or more hydraulic actuators acting on the hoisting ropes of the elevator₁/T₂) Is substantially unchanged.

12. The elevator of claim 11, wherein said hydraulic actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.

13. Elevator as defined in claim 10, characterized in that a restrictor or similar is fitted in the compensating system for stabilizing sudden force deviations.

14. Elevator according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that two or more elevator cars are disposed to run one above the other in the same elevator shaft.

15. Elevator according to claim 14, characterized in that at least two elevator cars arranged to run one above the other have their own hoisting machine, and at least one of the elevators is an elevator without counterweight.

16. Elevator according to claim 14, characterized in that at least two elevator cars traveling one above the other serve one or more floors common to the elevators.

17. Elevator according to any of the preceding claims 1-7, characterized in that the means for damping, locking or damping and locking the compensating system are hydraulically operated.

18. Elevator according to claim 17, characterized in that the means for damping, locking or damping and locking the compensating system are arranged between a fixed part and a movable part of the compensating system.

19. The elevator according to claim 17, characterized in that the device damping, locking or damping and locking the compensating system is a hydraulic cylinder.

20. The elevator of claim 19, wherein said hydraulic cylinder is double-acting.

21. Elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that the hoisting machine of the elevator with its control instrument panel (6) is disposed in the upper part of the elevator shaft.

22. Elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that the hoisting machine of the elevator with its control gear box (6) is disposed in the machine room (17) of the elevator.