LIFTING DEVICE FOR CONTROLLED LIFTING OF A PAYLOAD WITHIN AN ELEVATOR SHAFT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a lifting device for the controllable lifting of a payload within an elevator shaft, as well as to an elevator system equipped therewith. Elevator systems are known that can be operated while a building to be served by the elevator system is still under construction. Such elevator systems are sometimes also referred to as climb lifts. A lower part of an elevator shaft may already be completed, and an elevator car may be relocated within this lower elevator shaft section, while an upper part of the elevator shaft is not yet completed. The elevator car can thus be used during a construction phase of the building, for example, to transport construction workers and / or building materials between lower floors of the building. One possible embodiment is described, for example, in EP 2 636 629 A1 and in US2018 273 349 A1.

[0002] It is also known that during the construction phase, objects also need to be transported in the upper part of the building. For example, it may be desired to transport building materials within the partially completed upper part of the elevator shaft. For this purpose, a lifting device can be installed within the upper part of the elevator shaft. This lifting device has a pulling mechanism, for example, in the form of a cable winch, which can be used to raise and lower a payload within the elevator shaft.

[0003] However, it must be ensured that any objects falling from the lifting device do not endanger the elevator car located below or even passengers inside it.

[0004] WO 2015 / 003964 A1 therefore describes a fall protection device for a platform which protects the elevator car from falling objects. DE2 445 374 A1 also shows a fall protection device in which a chain is used to secure a load in addition to the holding devices which are connected to a lifting device.

[0005] However, such platforms usually only protect against smaller falling objects such as screws, tools or similar.

[0006] However, during the construction phase, it may also be desirable to lift heavy objects weighing, for example, more than 20 kg within the elevator shaft. For example, it may be necessary to lift a guide rail element within the elevator shaft in order to extend a guide rail of the elevator system upwards, allowing the elevator system to "grow" with the building. KR 10-2019-0012506 describes, as an example, a holding device that can be used to connect a guide rail element to a lifting rope, allowing the guide rail element and the lifting rope to be pulled up within the elevator shaft using a pulling device.

[0007] If such a heavy object were to accidentally become detached and fall towards the elevator car below, it would most likely penetrate any platform or car roof, thus posing a serious danger to passengers.

[0008] Therefore, such heavy objects are typically lifted using two independent pulling devices, e.g. two separate cable winches, so that if one of the pulling devices fails, the object is at least still held by the other pulling device and prevented from falling.

[0009] However, providing two drawbars generally requires additional equipment and thus leads to additional costs. Furthermore, the two drawbars should be operated synchronously, which requires additional effort.

[0010] Among other things, there may be a need for a lifting device for the controllable lifting of a payload within an elevator shaft that is simple and / or cost-effective in construction and / or can be operated easily and reliably. Furthermore, there may be a need for a correspondingly equipped elevator system.

[0011] Such a need can be met by the lifting device and the elevator system according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0012] According to a first aspect of the invention, a lifting device for controllably lifting a payload within an elevator shaft is described, which comprises a platform to be fixed in the elevator shaft, a holding device to be fixed to the payload, a lifting rope attached to the holding device, a pulling device fastened to the platform, a safety rope cooperating with the holding device at a first coupling point and with the platform at a second coupling point, and a safety catch device. The pulling device is configured to actively and controllably displace the lifting rope relative to the platform. The lifting device is configured such that, during a relative movement between the holding device and the platform, the safety rope is displaced relative to the safety catch device such that it remains taut between the first and second coupling points.The safety rope and the arresting device are designed in such a way that in the event of a failure of the lifting rope, the arresting device blocks further relative movement between the safety rope and the arresting device.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the invention, an elevator system is described which has an elevator car to be displaced within a lower region in an elevator shaft and a lifting device arranged above the lower region according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention.

[0014] Possible features and advantages of embodiments of the invention may be considered, among other things and without limiting the invention, to be based on ideas and findings described below.

[0015] In brief, with the lifting device described here, a payload to be lifted can be fixed to a holding device, which in turn is held by both the lifting rope and secured by the safety rope. The lifting rope can be actively shifted using the pulling device fixed to the platform in order to lift the payload within the elevator shaft. In contrast, the safety rope is not used to actively shift the payload, but merely to prevent the payload actively shifted using the lifting rope from falling, for example in the event of a failure of the lifting rope, in particular if the lifting rope breaks. In other words, the safety rope is not shifted using its own pulling device, which would be able to actively lift the payload on its own via the lifting rope. Instead, the safety rope is merely kept taut, i.e., shifted in such a way that it does not sag.The safety rope interacts with the fall arrester. This fall arrester is designed, for example, to prevent the safety rope from moving excessively fast relative to the fall arrester. Thus, in the event of a lifting rope failure, the fall arrester can prevent the safety rope from accelerating sharply along with the falling payload, exceeding the speed limit. By blocking the relative movement of the safety rope with respect to the fall arrester, the payload can be prevented from falling.

[0016] In the following, properties of the lifting device proposed herein and its components as well as their embodiments are described in more detail.

[0017] The lifting device is intended to be used to move, especially to lift, heavy payloads, particularly in the upper part of a possibly partially completed elevator shaft. A payload can weigh, for example, more than 20 kg, preferably more than 50 kg, or even more than 100 kg. In particular, heavy rail elements, typically weighing well over 100 kg, can be lifted as payloads.

[0018] For this purpose, the lifting device has a platform that can be fixed within the elevator shaft. The platform can be fixed in place in such a way that it can be reversibly released, for example to relocate the platform to a higher part of the elevator shaft and then fix it there again as soon as the elevator shaft has been structurally extended upwards. The platform can be temporarily anchored in the elevator shaft with screws, for example. It is also conceivable to force-fit the platform in the elevator shaft in order to temporarily fix the platform in place in the elevator shaft. On the other hand, the fixation should be designed in such a way that the platform remains securely anchored in the elevator shaft even when loaded with the weight of the payload. The platform can, for example, be designed with resilient structural elements such as beams, retaining profiles, and the like.In particular, the platform may have load-bearing steel beams.

[0019] In order to lift the payload, the lifting device has a holding device that can be fixed to the payload, at least temporarily. The holding device should be structurally designed such that it can withstand the weight of the payload to be lifted. In particular, the holding device can be designed to be easily and quickly coupled to the payload. For this purpose, the holding device can have a structure or geometry with which it can be easily but reversibly connected to the payload. For example, the holding device can have a shape complementary to the payload in order to be able to be coupled to the payload in a form-fitting manner. Furthermore, the holding device can be designed so that both the lifting cable and the safety cable can be easily and reliably attached to it.

[0020] The lifting rope is intended to be able to lift the holding device together with the payload attached to it. To this end, the lifting rope should have sufficient mechanical strength or load-bearing capacity to at least withstand the weight of these two components, but preferably also greater forces, such as those that may occur when the two components accelerate. In particular, the lifting rope should be able to withstand forces of, for example, more than 1 kN, preferably more than 5 kN or even more than 10 kN. The lifting rope can have transverse dimensions, i.e. a diameter in the case of a round rope, of several millimeters, for example between 2 mm and 20 mm, preferably between 5 mm and 10 mm.

[0021] The term "rope" should be interpreted broadly here and understood as representative of elongated components capable of tensile loads and moving transversely to the direction of tension. Thus, a "rope" can also be designed as a belt or strap. The lifting rope can be a steel rope or a metal rope composed of a multitude of metallic strands. Alternatively, the lifting rope can also be a highly resilient textile rope composed of fibers.

[0022] The pulling device is used to actively and controllably move the lifting rope together with the holding device attached to it and the payload attached to it. To do this, the pulling device should be able to exert sufficiently high forces on the lifting rope to move it, together with the payload held on it, upwards within the elevator shaft and, if necessary, also downwards again with braking. In other words, the pulling device should not only be able to hold the weight of the payload including the weight of the holding device, but should also be able to move these components upwards against their own weight. In this case, the pulling device can preferably achieve lifting speeds of more than 0.1 m / s, preferably more than 0.3 m / s or even more than 1 m / s. The pulling device has an active drive for this purpose. The active drive can exert the desired force on the lifting rope. The drive can, for example, have an electric motor.The drive can optionally also have a gearbox to transmit the driving force. The drive can be activated and deactivated in a controlled manner, and its drive speed can possibly be changed. The pulling device can have a control system for this purpose. The drive can, for example, drive a pulley onto which the lifting rope can be wound. Accordingly, the drive can be designed as a type of cable winch, in particular a drum winch. Alternatively, the drive can drive a pulley or a traction sheave, over or along whose outer surface the lifting rope runs, and the resulting friction creates the desired traction between the outer surface and the lifting rope. In particular, the pulling device can be designed as a continuous rope winch. Such a continuous rope winch is sometimes also referred to as a Tirak.

[0023] The safety rope can be designed similarly or identically to the lifting rope. In particular, the safety rope should also have a load-bearing capacity sufficient to support the total weight of the payload and the holding device. For example, the safety rope should have a load-bearing capacity of at least 2 kN, preferably at least 5 kN or at least 10 kN. The load-bearing capacity of the safety rope should preferably even be sufficiently high to withstand dynamic forces, such as those that can occur if, for example, the lifting rope fails and the payload falls or swings briefly, only to be caught by the safety rope.

[0024] The holding device may comprise a shackle, and the safety rope may be attached to the same shackle to which the lifting rope is attached.

[0025] At least part of the safety rope runs between the first coupling point and the second coupling point. At the first coupling point, the safety rope is attached to the holding device or at least held thereon, so that forces from the safety rope can be transferred to the holding device. At the second coupling point, the safety rope is attached to the platform or at least held thereon, so that forces from the safety rope can be transferred to the platform. Additional components can be arranged between the safety rope and the holding device or the platform, via which forces can be transferred between the safety rope and the holding device or the platform.In particular, the safety rope can interact with the arresting device and transmit forces to it, and the arresting device, in turn, can be attached to the platform, whereby the safety rope can, for example, be attached to the holding device at an opposite end. Alternatively, the arresting device can be attached to the holding device, so that the safety rope can transmit forces to the holding device by interacting with the arresting device, whereby the safety rope can, for example, be attached to the platform at an opposite end.

[0026] The arresting device is designed to quickly block any relative movement between the safety rope and the arresting device if the hoist rope fails, leaving the payload suspended solely by the safety rope. By selectively blocking the safety rope, any movement of the safety rope and the payload attached to it relative to the arresting device attached to the platform fixed in the elevator shaft can be prevented, thus preventing the payload from falling.

[0027] For example, the safety rope and the arresting device can be configured such that, if a relative speed between the safety rope and the arresting device exceeds a predetermined speed limit, the arresting device blocks any further relative movement between the safety rope and the arresting device. The arresting device preferably interacts with the safety rope in such a way that the safety rope can be moved at a relatively low speed relative to the arresting device. However, if the relative speed increases excessively, a mechanism is activated in the arresting device, by means of which any further relative movement between the safety rope and the arresting device is blocked, i.e., at least significantly braked or preferably braked to a standstill.

[0028] For example, the safety gear can be small, lightweight, and compact and attached to the platform of the lifting device. The safety rope can run through the safety gear. If the speed of the safety rope exceeds a specified value while moving the safety rope, the safety gear closes automatically and safely catches a load. The safety rope can be held between clamping jaws, for example, to prevent it from slipping further. The surface of the clamping jaws can be sufficiently large so that the safety rope is not damaged. The design of the safety gear can ensure that the clamping jaws hold more firmly the more load is pulled on the safety rope. The safety gear is typically tested with a multiple of its rated load to ensure greater safety.This safety can be confirmed, for example, by certification according to a European standard EN 1808 by an independent certification body.

[0029] According to a specific embodiment, the arresting device can be designed such that the speed limit value of the arresting device is greater than a maximum controllable speed at which the pulling device can displace the lifting rope.

[0030] In other words, the arresting device can be structurally or functionally configured in such a way that it blocks the relative movement between the safety rope and the arresting device as soon as the safety rope moves faster than the pulling device can move the lifting rope. If the safety rope moves faster than the maximum speed of the lifting rope displacement that can be achieved by the pulling device, this indicates that the lifting rope has broken and that the holding device, now held only by the safety rope, is accelerating the safety rope along with the payload to an excessive speed. In this case, the arresting device can slow and ultimately stop the incipient free fall of the payload by blocking the displacement movement of the safety rope.

[0031] In an alternative embodiment, the safety gear can activate its brake shoes not due to excessive speed, but rather by sensing the lifting rope. The safety gear can be held open, for example, by a lever supported on the lifting rope, for example, with a pulley. If the lifting rope breaks, the support is lost and the safety gear closes its brake shoes, thus blocking further relative movement between the lifting rope and the safety gear.

[0032] In both of the above-described designs, such an arresting device can also be referred to as Blocstop ®<.

[0033] To prevent the holding device and its attached payload from initially beginning to fall freely when the lifting rope fails until the safety rope arrests the free fall, the lifting device is designed in such a way that the safety rope always remains taut when the holding device moves relative to the platform due to a pull on the lifting rope caused by the pulling device. In other words, a suitable design of the components of the lifting device ensures that the safety rope never sags slackly, even when the holding device attached to one end moves relative to the platform of the lifting device holding the safety gear, but is always at least slightly taut. In the event that the lifting rope suddenly fails, there is no need to first tighten the safety rope, and the payload does not first fall a little until the safety rope is taut.Accordingly, excessive dynamic forces can be avoided when catching such a free fall.

[0034] Such continuous tensioning of the safety rope can be technically realized in different ways.

[0035] For example, according to one embodiment, the lifting device can further comprise a deflection device attached to the platform. The safety rope can extend from a first end attached to the holding device upwards to the deflection device and from there downwards again to a second end. A counterweight can then be attached to the second end of the safety rope.

[0036] In other words, a deflection device can be provided on the platform of the lifting device, over which the safety rope can run and be deflected. The deflection device can be, for example, a deflection pulley or a deflection disk. The safety rope can run along a circumferential surface of the deflection device. The deflection device can be mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis.

[0037] The safety rope is attached to the holding device at its first end and is therefore at least partially loaded with the weight of the holding device and the payload attached to it. A counterweight is provided on the safety rope at the opposite, second end. The counterweight ensures that the safety rope is always subjected to sufficient tensile stress to prevent sagging and thus keeps it taut. In other words, due to the forces acting on the safety rope at both opposite ends in parallel directions, the safety rope bears a corresponding force on the deflection device and is therefore always subjected to tensile stress and thus kept taut.

[0038] However, the force exerted by the counterweight should be significantly lower than the force exerted by the traction device via the lifting rope on the holding device. For example, the counterweight should weigh significantly less than 50%, preferably less than 20%, of the payload to be lifted.

[0039] Maintaining the safety rope under continuous tension using the described arrangement of deflection device and counterweight is technically simple, cost-effective and reliable to implement.

[0040] According to a further specific embodiment, a weight of the holding device can be greater than a sum of a weight of the counterweight and a weight of the safety rope.

[0041] In other words, the weight of the counterweight should be sufficient to reliably keep the safety rope taut. However, the weight of the counterweight should not exceed the weight of the holding device minus the weight of the safety rope, as otherwise it could be difficult or even impossible to lower the holding device after the payload has been lifted upwards with its help and then separated from the holding device. Preferably, the weight of the holding device should be at least 10% greater than the sum of the weight of the counterweight and the weight of the safety rope.

[0042] According to an alternative embodiment, the safety rope can be taut between the second coupling point on the platform and a position arranged below the arresting device, wherein the arresting device can be fastened to the holding device and can interact there as a first coupling point with the safety rope.

[0043] In other words, the safety rope can be attached to the platform at its upper end and hang down from there. A lower end can, for example, be weighted down or attached to another component of the elevator system located below the platform, so that the safety rope as a whole is kept taut. The safety rope can interact with the safety catch device between the upper and lower ends. The safety catch device can be attached to the holding device. The safety catch device can be lifted together with the payload by lifting the lifting rope and can move vertically upwards along the safety rope. In the event that the lifting rope fails, in particular breaks, the payload is then held on the safety rope together with the holding device and the spontaneously blocking safety catch device and is thus prevented from falling.In such an embodiment, the safety rope can be installed relatively easily in the lifting device or elevator system.

[0044] According to yet another alternative embodiment, the safety rope can be attached to the platform at a first end and an opposite second end. The lifting device can then further comprise a deflection device attached to the platform, over which the safety rope runs. The arresting device can then be attached to the holding device and interact there as a first coupling point with a first region of the safety rope extending between the first end and the deflection device. The safety rope can be weighted and held under tension by a counterweight acting in a second region between the deflection device and the second end.

[0045] In other words, the safety rope can be attached to the platform in a similar way to a 2:1 suspension. Between the first end, attached to the platform, and the area extending over the deflection device, the safety rope runs downwards to the arresting device. Between the area extending over the deflection device and the second end, the safety rope runs to a counterweight attached to the safety rope. The counterweight constantly keeps the safety rope taut. Similar to the previously described embodiment, the arresting device can move along with the payload and the holding device, lifted by the lifting rope. Should the lifting rope break, the safety rope can prevent the payload from falling.In many cases, the safety rope can prevent a fall even if the safety rope breaks in a partial area, especially if the safety gear is designed to block in both directions of movement of the safety rope relative to the safety gear in the event of excessive speed.

[0046] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the arresting device can be configured to block further relative movement between the safety rope and the arresting device only when the relative speed between the safety rope and the arresting device exceeds the predetermined speed limit value in a direction of movement in which the holding device attached to the safety rope is displaced downwards.

[0047] In other words, the safety catch device can be configured to block the relative movement between the safety rope and the safety catch device only when the safety rope moves in a direction in which the attached holding device moves downwards, and the specified speed limit is exceeded. In the opposite direction, i.e., when the holding device moves upwards, the safety catch device generally does not need to be able to block. This can simplify the design of the safety catch device.

[0048] In an embodiment of the elevator system according to the second aspect of the invention, the elevator system can be operated by means of the lifting device even before the elevator shaft is completed for moving the elevator car and for lifting payloads above the elevator car.

[0049] In other words, the proposed elevator system can be a climb lift, which can be used even before the elevator shaft or the building housing the elevator shaft is completed. On the one hand, the elevator car can be relocated within a lower area of ​​the elevator shaft to transport people and / or materials there. On the other hand, the lifting device described herein can be used to transport payloads in an area of ​​the elevator shaft above the lower area, i.e., above the travel range of the elevator car.

[0050] Due to the implementation proposed here, in which the payload is not only held and shifted with the lifting rope but also secured with the safety rope, there is no significant risk that the payload will fall uncontrollably in the event of a failure of the lifting rope and endanger the elevator car below or the persons inside.

[0051] It should be noted that some of the possible features and advantages of the invention are described herein with reference to different embodiments of the lifting device, on the one hand, and the elevator system equipped therewith, on the other. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the features can be combined, adapted, or exchanged as appropriate to achieve further embodiments of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

[0052] Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein neither the drawings nor the description are to be construed as limiting the invention. Fig. 1 shows an elevator system with a lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows an enlarged view of a holding device for a lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 shows an elevator system with a lifting device according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 shows an elevator system with a lifting device according to a further alternative embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] The figures are merely schematic and not to scale. The same reference numerals designate the same or equivalent features in the various figures.

[0054] Fig. 1 shows an elevator system 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The elevator system 1 is designed as a climb lift. In a building still under construction, an elevator shaft 3 is not yet fully completed.

[0055] In a lower area 5 of the elevator shaft 3, the elevator system 1 is already operating to transport passengers such as construction workers or objects such as building materials between lower floors of the building. For this purpose, the elevator system 1 has an elevator car 7, which can be moved within the lower area 5 of the elevator shaft 3 using a drive machine 9. For this purpose, the drive machine 9 is held on a platform 11 temporarily fixed in the elevator shaft 3. The drive machine 9 can move rope-like support means 13, from which the elevator car 7 is suspended, upwards and downwards.

[0056] In an upper region 15 of the elevator shaft 3, i.e. above the platform 11 that defines the upper limit of the lower region 5, the elevator system 1 has a lifting device 17 according to the invention. With the help of the lifting device 17, objects can be transported as payloads 23 through the upper region 15 of the elevator shaft 3 even during the construction of the building. The lifting device 17 is designed to lift even heavy objects, such as guide rail segments 35 weighing over 100 kg, within the upper region 15 of the elevator shaft 3. Precautions have been taken to reliably prevent such heavy objects from falling and thus endangering the elevator car 7 located below.

[0057] For this purpose, the lifting device 17 has an additional platform 19. This additional platform 19 is arranged near an upper end of the at least partially completed elevator shaft 3 and fixed in the elevator shaft 3. For this purpose, the platform 19 can be temporarily and reversibly anchored in the walls of the elevator shaft 3 using fixing means 21 such as screws, bolts, or the like. Alternatively, the platform 19 can be spread within the elevator shaft 3 using suitable fixing means 21.

[0058] The lifting device 17 also has a pulling device 25 attached to the platform 19, a safety device 27 also attached to the platform 19, a lifting rope 29, a safety rope 31 and a holding device 33.

[0059] The holding device 33 is, as in Fig. 2 enlarged and shown in a perspective view by way of example, designed to hold the payload 23, for example in the form of a guide rail segment 35, or to be at least temporarily and detachably fastened to it. For this purpose, the holding device 33 can be designed with an angled metal sheet 37 in which a recess 39 is formed. A shape of the recess 39 can be essentially complementary to a cross-sectional shape of the guide rail segment 35 acting as the payload 23. In the example shown, the metal sheet 37 with its recess 39 can be pushed over the guide rail segment 35 and then a stop plate 41 can be temporarily fastened to the guide rail segment 35 with screws 43 above the metal sheet 37.The screws 43 can be screwed into drilled holes in the guide rail segment 35, which are provided for later fastening the guide rail segment 35 to the walls of the elevator shaft 3. In this way, the guide rail segment 35 can be fixed to the holding device 33 as a payload 23. Furthermore, the illustrated holding device 33 has another hole in which a shackle 45 is held. Using the shackle 45, one end of the lifting rope 29 can be attached to the holding device 33, for example, using a snap hook 47.

[0060] Starting from the holding device 33, the lifting cable 29 then runs to the traction device 25 attached to the platform 19. The traction device 25 is configured to actively and controllably displace the lifting cable 29 relative to the platform 19. For this purpose, the traction device 25 can be designed as a cable winch, in particular as a continuous cable winch or Tirak. Operation of the traction device 25 can be controlled using a controller (not shown). The lifting cable 29 can be a steel cable composed of several steel strands and, for example, have a diameter of 8 mm.

[0061] The safety rope 31 provided in addition to the lifting rope 29 in the lifting device 17 is intended to secure the payload 23, ie to prevent the payload from falling in the event that the lifting rope 25 fails.

[0062] For this purpose, the safety rope 31 is also attached at a first end to the holding device 33. For example, the safety rope 31 can be attached to the same shackle 45 to which the lifting rope 29 is attached. Alternatively, a further shackle or similar device (not shown) can be attached or arranged on the holding device 33 for this purpose. Starting from the holding device 33, the safety rope 31 then runs upwards to a deflection pulley 51 serving as a deflection device 49. The deflection device 49 is held on the platform 19 and can rotate about an axis of rotation. The safety rope 31 runs over a lateral surface of the deflection device 49 and then down to a counterweight 53, which is attached to a second end of the safety rope 31. Between the deflection device 49 and the counterweight 53, the safety rope 31 also runs through the arresting device 27.

[0063] Due to the counterweight 53 and the deflection of the safety cable 31 at the deflection pulley 51, the safety cable 31 is thus always kept taut. In other words, the counterweight 53 ensures that the safety cable 31 never sags, even if its opposite end, together with the attached holding device 33, is lifted by means of the lifting cable 29. In particular, a section of the lifting cable 29 running between the holding device 33 and the arresting device 27 always remains taut.

[0064] The arresting device 27 is configured and interacts with the safety rope 31 in such a way that in the event of a failure of the lifting rope 29, it does not block any relative movement between the safety rope 31 and the arresting device 27.

[0065] For this purpose, the arresting device 27 can be designed as a so-called Blocstop 55. The safety rope 31 runs through such a Blocstop 55. The Blocstop 55 can be designed to directly detect a failure of the lifting rope 29 and subsequently block the movement of the safety rope 31. Alternatively, the Blocstop 55 can be designed to indirectly detect the failure of the lifting rope 29 by the safety rope 31 running through the Blocstop 55 at a relative speed exceeding a speed limit, and subsequently block the movement of the safety rope 31. The speed limit can, for example, be selected such that it is greater than a speed at which the pulling device 25 can maximally displace the lifting rope 29 upwards.

[0066] In Fig. 3 1 shows an elevator installation 1 with an alternative lifting device 17. In this embodiment, the safety rope 31 is fixed at one end to the platform 19. An opposite end of the safety rope 31 is loaded with a counterweight 53 so that the safety rope 31 is always kept taut. Alternatively, the safety rope 31 can be attached at its lower end to another elevator component, such as the lower platform 11, and placed under tension. The safety rope 31 runs through a safety arrester 27 in the form of a block stop 55, which is fastened to the holding device 33. When the holding device 33, together with the payload 35, is slowly lifted by the pulling device 25, the safety arrester 27 can move along the taut safety rope 31.In the event that the lifting cable 29 breaks, the safety catch 27 blocks, so that the payload 23 is held to the safety cable 31 via the holding device 33 and the safety catch 27, preventing it from falling. The lifting device 17 with a safety cable 31 arranged in this way is particularly easy to install.

[0067] In Fig. 4 1 shows an elevator system 1 with a further alternative embodiment of a lifting device 17. The safety rope 31 is attached at both ends to the platform 19. Furthermore, a deflection device 49 in the form of a deflection pulley 51 is arranged on the platform 19. A first section of the safety rope 31 runs between the first end of the safety rope 31 and the deflection pulley 51 through the arresting device 27 in the form of a block stop 55 attached to the holding device 33. A second section of the safety rope 31 runs between the deflection pulley 51 and the second end of the safety rope 31 and is held under tension by a counterweight 53 attached to it. With such a configuration, the safety rope 31 can in many cases prevent the payload 35 from falling even if not only the lifting rope 29 but also the safety rope 31 itself should break in one of its sections.

[0068] With embodiments of the described lifting device 17, payloads 23, in particular heavy guide rail segments 35, can be transported in the upper region 15 of the elevator shaft 3 during the construction phase of a building and in particular while the elevator car 7 is already being used as a means of transport in the lower region 5 of the elevator shaft 3. While the lifting of the payload 23 is carried out using the traction device 25 and the lifting rope 29, the payload 23 is always secured against falling by means of the safety rope 31, for example in the event of an unexpected failure of the lifting rope 29. The safety rope 31 is kept taut by means of the counterweight 53 and, in the event of failure of the lifting rope 29, is blocked in its movement by the arresting device 27 and thus immobilized relative to the platform 19.

[0069] After the payload 23 has been raised within the elevator shaft 3 to a target height, the holding device 33 can be released from the payload 23. A weight of the counterweight 53 together with a weight of the safety rope 31 should be used, particularly in the Fig. 1 In the embodiment shown, the weight of the holding device 33 can be smaller than the weight of the holding device 33, so that the holding device 33 can be lowered back into the elevator shaft 3 due to its own weight even after the payload 23 has been released, in order to be able to attach a payload 23 to it again. For example, with a counterweight weighing 8 kg and a safety rope 40 m long, with a length weight of 0.5 kg / m, i.e. a weight of the safety rope of 20 kg, the weight of the holding device 33 can be at least 30 kg.

[0070] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "having," "comprising," etc., do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above within the scope of the appended claims. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limitations.

Claims

1. A lifting device (17) for lifting a payload (23) within an elevator shaft (3) in a controllable manner, having: a platform (19) to be fixed in the elevator shaft (3), a holding device (33) to be fixed to the payload (23), a lifting cable (29) which is attached to the holding device (33), a pulling device (25) which is secured to the platform (19), a securing cable (31) interacting with the holding device (33) at a first coupling point and with the platform (19) at a second coupling point, and a catching device (27), wherein the pulling device (25) is designed to actively and controllably displace the lifting cable (29) relative to the platform (19), wherein the lifting device (17) is designed to displace the securing cable (31) relative to the catching device in the event of a relative movement between the holding device (33) and the platform (19) such that the securing cable remains tensioned between the first and the second coupling point, and the securing cable (31) and the catching device (27) are designed such that the catching device (27) blocks a further relative movement between the securing cable (31) and the catching device (27) in the event that the lifting cable (25) fails.

2. The lifting device according to claim 1, wherein the holding device (33) comprises a shackle (45) and the securing cable (31) is attached to the same shackle (45) to which the lifting cable (29) is attached.

3. The lifting device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the catching device (27) is secured to the platform (19) and the securing cable (31) is secured to the holding device (33).

4. The lifting device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the catching device (27) is secured to the holding device (33) and the securing cable (31) is secured to the platform (19).

5. The lifting device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the securing cable (31) and the catching device (27) are designed such that the catching device (27) blocks a further relative movement between the safety cable (31) and the catching device (27) in the event that a relative speed between the securing cable (31) and the catching device (27) exceeds a predetermined speed limit value.

6. The lifting device according to claim 5, wherein the speed limit value of the catching device (27) is greater than a maximum speed to be controlled at which the pulling device (25) can displace the lifting cable (29).

7. The lifting device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lifting device (17) also has a deflection device (49) secured to the platform (19), wherein the securing cable (31) runs from a first end secured to the holding device (33) upward to the deflection device (49) and from there downward again to a second end, and wherein a counterweight (53) is secured to the second end.

8. The lifting device according to claim 7, wherein a weight of the holding device (33) is greater than a sum of a weight of the counterweight (53) and a weight of the securing cable (31).

9. The lifting device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the securing cable (31) is taut between the second coupling point on the platform (19) and a position arranged below the catching device (27), and wherein the catching device (27) is secured to the holding device (33) and interacts there as a first coupling point with the securing cable (31).

10. The lifting device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the securing cable (31) is secured to the platform (19) at a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the lifting device (17) also has a deflection device (49) secured to the platform (19) and over which the securing cable (31) runs, wherein the catching device (27) is secured to the holding device (33) and interacts there as a first coupling point with a first region of the securing cable (31) running between the first end and the deflection device (49), and wherein the securing cable is weighted down and held under tension by a counterweight (53) acting in a second region between the deflection device (49) and the second end.

11. The lifting device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the catching device (27) is designed to block further relative movement between the securing cable (31) and the catching device (27) only when the relative speed between the securing cable (31) and the catching device (27) exceeds the specified speed limit value in a movement direction in which the holding device (33) secured to the securing cable (31) moves downwards.

12. The lifting device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the securing cable (31) has a carrying capacity that is sufficient to hold a total weight of the payload (23) and the holding device (33).

13. An elevator system (1) comprising: an elevator car (7) to be displaced within a lower region (5) in an elevator shaft (3), and a lifting device (17) arranged above the lower region (5) according to one of claims 1 to 11.

14. The elevator system according to claim 13, wherein the elevator system (1) is operable before the completion of the elevator shaft (3) in order to displace the elevator car (7) and to lift payloads (23) above the elevator car (7) by means of the lifting device (17).