Method for constructing an elevator

Abstract

With a view to quick and secure construction of an elevator (1) using cost-effective and simple design means, the invention relates to a method for constructing an elevator (1), in particular a freight elevator, on a construction site, preferably in a factory hall, wherein the elevator (1) is built from a plurality of components (4, 5, 7) arranged one atop the other, said method comprising the following steps: providing a base for the elevator (1); positioning a lifting device (2) on the base; raising a top component (4) of the elevator (1) by means of the lifting device (2); positioning a lower component (5), which is to be arranged underneath the top component (4), under the raised top component (4); lowering the top component (4) by means of the lifting device (2) onto the lower component (5); and removing the lifting device (2) from the base. The invention further relates to an elevator (1) constructed according to said method.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for erecting a lift, in particular a goods lift, on a construction site, preferably in a factory hall, wherein the lift is constructed from several components arranged one above the other.

[0002] Methods for erecting elevators, as well as elevators of the type mentioned above, are known in practice and exist in a variety of designs. For example, it is known to erect elevators floor by floor, and thus one component after the other, one on top of the other. Starting with the lowest floor or component, which is positioned on a base, the subsequent floors or components are erected one on top of the other until the top floor or component usually forms the end of the elevator. The floors or components can be assembled manually using scaffolding that can be erected to a correspondingly high level. Alternatively or in addition to this, suitable cranes can be used to place individual components on top of each other. Depending on the desired height of the elevator, appropriately large and powerful cranes must be used that can lift components to the required height.

[0003] Furthermore, from the prior art according to DE 2 157 669 A, a method for assembling a structure in the form of a crane is known, according to which leg sections are placed under boom parts by means of complex guides. JP H05 201648 A discloses a method for erecting an elevator on a construction site, wherein the elevator is constructed from several components arranged one above the other. The method comprises the following steps: - providing a base for the elevator; - positioning a lifting device on the construction site; - lifting an upper component of the elevator by means of the lifting device, wherein the lifting device has several individual lifts; - positioning a lower component, to be arranged below the upper component, below the raised upper component; - and lowering the upper component by means of the lifting device onto the lower component.

[0004] The known methods are very material-intensive due to the use of scaffolding and / or large cranes and / or complex guides. In addition, manual assembly of the individual levels or components on top of each other is usually very time-consuming, since ultimately each individual component must be assembled from its individual parts when mounted on a lower component. Both the large amount of material required and the considerable time required for manual assembly are very costly and, for example, when retrofitting an elevator on a construction site or in a factory hall, often result in long periods of downtime for other construction activities or normal factory activities. This is often necessary for safety reasons for elevator fitters or other people working on a construction site or in a factory hall.

[0005] The present invention is based on the object of specifying a method of the type mentioned at the outset, according to which a quick and safe installation of an elevator is possible using structurally simple and cost-effective means.

[0006] According to the invention, the above object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1.

[0007] Thereafter, the method according to claim 1 comprises the following steps: Providing a base for the elevator; positioning a lifting device on the base; lifting an upper component of the elevator by means of the lifting device; wherein the lifting device has a plurality of individual lifts that are positioned on the base; positioning a lower component, to be arranged below the upper component, below the raised upper component; lowering the upper component by means of the lifting device onto the lower component; and removing the lifting device from the base, wherein a lifting and / or lowering of the component or components by means of the lifts is synchronized by means of a synchronization device, wherein each lift is individually controllable.

[0008] According to the invention, it has been recognized that the above object is achieved in a surprisingly simple manner through a clever sequence of method steps, departing from previous erection methods. First, a base for the elevator is provided. Then, a lifting device is positioned on the base, and an upper component of the elevator is lifted by means of the lifting device. This upper component can already be arranged on the base before the lifting device is positioned on the base. In this case, care must be taken to ensure that the lifting device can still be positioned appropriately relative to the upper component to enable safe lifting of the upper component.In this case, the lifting device may need to be lifted using an additional lifting device over a frame element or rod element of the upper component, if present, and then placed on the ground.

[0009] After the upper component has been lifted, a lower component, which is to be arranged below the upper component, is positioned beneath the lifted upper component. This positioning of the lower component is combined, if necessary, with a suitable adjustment step of the lower component relative to the upper component, so that the upper component can then be lowered onto the lower component using the lifting device with precise fit and the desired relative positioning and orientation of the upper component to the lower component. The upper component and the lower component can now be fixed relative to one another using suitable coupling means. The lifting device is then removed from the substrate, creating a lift structure with two components arranged one above the other.

[0010] It should be noted at this point that the term "component" in this document and with respect to the present teaching should be understood in the broadest sense. For example, a component can form a floor of an elevator. Alternatively, a component can be a component, such as a frame part or a rod, of a floor, so that several such components are arranged one above the other to form a floor. Such a construction of a floor from several components arranged one above the other enables the use of a relatively small and handy lifting device that does not have to allow for a very high lifting height. However, it has the disadvantage of requiring several steps of arranging the several components one above the other to erect a complete floor, so that more time is required to erect a floor than in a case where one component forms a complete floor.

[0011] With the method according to the invention, scaffolding or large cranes are no longer required for the erection or assembly of the elevator. Furthermore, time-consuming manual assembly of the individual components during elevator installation is no longer necessary, as the components are pre-assembled in a time-saving manner and only need to be lifted and appropriately positioned on the ground. Furthermore, assembly personnel no longer have to climb high scaffolding, which can be hazardous, to erect the elevator, which significantly increases the safety of the elevator installation. This eliminates the need for complex training of fitters for working at heights and the extensive equipment that requires annual inspection, such as personal fall protection equipment, lifting gear, and height rescue equipment.The use of a lifting device that operates only in the underground area and the lower part of the elevator further simplifies elevator installation compared to potentially very large cranes that are difficult to handle and require a lot of space. As a result, the method according to the invention enables significant cost savings.

[0012] Consequently, the method according to the invention provides a method and an elevator which enables a quick and safe installation of an elevator using structurally simple and cost-effective means.

[0013] In a particularly advantageous manner, the method according to the invention can be used to construct elevators with significantly more than two components arranged one above the other and therefore with completely different heights. In this case, after the step of lowering the upper component onto the lower component by means of the lifting device, the lower component can be lifted together with the upper component by means of the lifting device and then a further lower component can be positioned beneath the jointly lifted components, whereupon the jointly lifted components are lowered onto the further lower component by means of the lifting device. The then three components can then be lifted by means of the lifting device and then a further lower component can be positioned beneath the raised three components.The three raised components can then be lowered onto the additional lower component, creating a structure of four components. In this way, additional lower components can be introduced into the existing structure of the elevator from below or from below in the same way. In this way, the last-mentioned sequence of steps can be successively and advantageously carried out in a similar manner with one or more additional lower components.

[0014] It should be noted that the respective inserted lower or additional lower components do not necessarily have to have an identical structure. It is merely necessary that the individual components can be securely arranged one above the other, whereby the components arranged one above the other must be able to be securely connected to one another and, if necessary, coupled or fixed together using coupling means.

[0015] To ensure safe erection or installation of the elevator, the lifting device can be equipped with a control system, preferably frequency control, for smooth and / or jerk-free raising and / or lowering of the component(s). Such a control system can prevent the elevator from rocking during erection or installation and, in the worst case, from tipping over.

[0016] Furthermore, with a view to particularly safe and simple installation of a lift, the lifting device has several individual lifts. Instead of a single lifting device that may only be handled with great effort, the task of lifting and lowering components can be distributed among several individual lifts, which can possibly be smaller and easier to handle than a single lifting device. With several individual lifts, a particularly favorable relative arrangement of the individual lifts to one another can be realized for the safe lifting and lowering of components, whereby the weight distribution and / or center of gravity of the components to be lifted and lowered can be taken into account. For example, more lifts can be positioned in heavier areas of the components to be lifted than in lighter areas.For particularly safe, controllable lifting and lowering movements, four jacks can be arranged at different corners of rectangular components. In simple situations, two cleverly positioned jacks may also suffice.

[0017] In any case, the lifting device or the lifts can each have a coupling device for coupling to individual components. This enables particularly safe lifting and / or lowering, reducing the risk of a component, or even several components arranged one above the other, accidentally coming loose or slipping from the lifting device or lift during the installation of the elevator. Such a coupling device can advantageously be fork-shaped, for example, or have a support surface for a component.

[0018] Furthermore, with a view to particularly safe installation of a lift, the raising and / or lowering of the component(s) by means of the lifters is synchronized using a synchronization device. This ensures a coordinated, uniform and / or simultaneous lifting and / or lowering movement of the lifters or the lifters' rams, preventing the lifters from raising or lowering the component(s) at different speeds or to different extents per unit of time. This prevents unwanted misalignment of the component or of the components already arranged one above the other and, in the worst case, the toppling of an already constructed structure made up of stacked components, which may, for example, be 20 m or higher.

[0019] Furthermore, with a view to particularly safe installation of an elevator, the vertical alignment of the lifting device or the lifts can be monitored, preferably automatically, by means of a sensor system or sensor device. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the vertical alignment can be corrected automatically or manually. Both this monitoring and a subsequent correction of the vertical alignment can provide a particularly high level of safety for the assembly personnel. The risk of a lifting device or lift falling over can be significantly minimized in this way.

[0020] The term "subsurface" is to be understood in the broadest sense, meaning that a "subsurface" can be composed of any number of different components and / or areas. Depending on the application and design of the elevator to be installed, the subsurface may, for example, comprise a pit or a ramp in or on which the elevator can be installed.

[0021] As already mentioned above, the lower components can have different designs. However, the lower components, in particular, can advantageously have H-shaped frame parts. Such frame parts provide high structural stability for the elevator to be installed and can be pre-assembled in a simple and time-saving manner before the elevator is installed.

[0022] In a specific embodiment of an elevator, the uppermost component of the elevator can be designed as a head component or mast tip, in or on which, for example, a control cabinet or control device can be mounted. The lower components below can, for example, comprise elevator doors for individual floors or even for each floor.

[0023] Another specific design of an elevator can be a VRC (Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor). Such elevators are known as vertical conveyors for various goods.

[0024] Furthermore, with a view to particularly time-saving and flexible installation of an elevator, at least one component, preferably all of the components, or parts of at least one component and / or further components or assemblies of the elevator can be prefabricated, preferably by several people and / or teams of people, before the elevator is installed according to one of claims 1 to 9. This ensures particularly rapid installation of an elevator with the shortest possible disruption to other activities on a construction site or in an already existing and actively used factory hall caused by the installation of the elevator. This prefabrication or preassembly can take place at least before the step of positioning a lifting device on the ground, taking into account the case that the ground for the elevator is provided on site and thus possibly at an earlier point in time.

[0025] There are now various possibilities for advantageously embodying and developing the teaching of the present invention. Reference is made, on the one hand, to the dependent claims and, on the other hand, to the following explanation of preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention and the elevator according to the invention with reference to the drawing. In conjunction with the explanation of the preferred embodiments with reference to the drawing, generally preferred embodiments and developments of the teaching are also explained. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 in a side view, schematically an explanation of the principle of an embodiment of the method according to the invention for erecting a lift and Fig. 2 in a plan view, schematically, an arrangement of the lift to be erected and four lifters in connection with the explanation according to Fig. 1 .

[0026] Fig. 1 shows in a schematic side view an explanation of the principle of an embodiment of the method according to the invention for erecting an elevator 1 by means of a lifting device 2 in a sequence of five representations. Fig. 2 shows in a schematic plan view the arrangement of the lift 1 to be erected with the lifting device 2, whereby in conjunction with the Fig. 1 and 2 It can be seen that the lifting device 2 has a total of four individual lifters 3.

[0027] The embodiment shown here relates to an elevator 1, for example, a goods elevator, which is being erected on a construction site, for example, in a factory hall. For this purpose, a substructure is first prepared, which may be or include a pit or a ramp. Such a pit is usually provided on site.

[0028] In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 Five diagrams show the phases of the construction of an elevator 1. In the first diagram on the far left in Fig. 1 A lifting device 2 is already positioned on the ground, with two of the four jacks 3 of the lifting device 2 being visible in this side view. In this phase, the jacks 3 are already engaged with an upper component 4. A top component 7 is already positioned above the upper component 4. The jacks 3 each have a coupling device 6 in the form of a fork. The coupling device 6 can also be designed differently, as long as only a secure engagement with the component 4 or another component 5 or 7 is realized. The jacks 3 are arranged laterally of the upper component 4, with the jacks 3 according to Fig. 2 are arranged essentially at four corners of the elevator 1 or the upper component 4.

[0029] According to the second illustration in Fig. 1 The upper component 4 has already been lifted together with the uppermost component 7 by means of the jacks 3, for which purpose the coupling devices 6 or forks of the individual jacks 3 have been moved upwards together. Components 4 and 7 have been lifted together so high that - as shown in the third illustration of the Fig. 1 shown - a lower component 5 can be positioned under the raised components 4 and 7. Subsequently, according to the fourth illustration, the Fig. 1 The upper component 4 together with the uppermost component 7 is lowered onto the lower component 5 by means of the jacks 3. The coupling devices 6 of the jacks 3 are then moved in accordance with the Fig. 1 The fifth illustration, shown on the far right, is then lowered again. This completes the construction of an elevator 1 consisting of three components, 5, 4, and 7, and the jacks 3 can be removed from the ground.

[0030] Otherwise, the jacks 3 can be left in place and the coupling devices 6 can be engaged with the lower component 5 to form the overall structure of the components 5, 4 and 7 - according to the second illustration of the Fig. 1 - to raise and - according to the third representation of the Fig. 1 - to position another lower component 5 under this overall structure consisting of components 5, 4 and 7. Subsequently, this overall structure could be - according to the fourth representation of the Fig. 1 - lowered onto the further lower component 5, thus forming a new overall structure consisting of two components 5 and one component each of 4 and 7, i.e., a total of four components. Similarly, a desired number of additional lower components 5 can be inserted into the overall structure of the elevator 1 from below in order to construct an elevator 1 at the desired height and with the desired number of floors.

[0031] The lifting device 2 or the lifts 3 have a frequency-controlled movement device to ensure the lowest possible jolt-limited or jolt-free raising and lowering of the respective components 5, 4, and / or 7. Furthermore, the lifts 3 are moved synchronously by means of a synchronization device to largely prevent, or at least reduce to a harmless level, any swaying or even tipping of the elevator 1 or the entire structure during raising and / or lowering. Each lift 3 can be controlled individually to enable the greatest possible flexibility in controlling and regulating the movement of the lifts 3.

[0032] The lifting and lowering of components 5, 4, and / or 7 occurs without any further mechanical guidance of the respective lifted components 5, 4, and / or 7. In particular, there is no guidance of the components or any components of the components in an adjacent component or in any component of an adjacent component. Thus, the lifting and lowering occurs "freely suspended."

[0033] To ensure the highest possible safety during the erection of elevator 1, monitoring is preferably carried out automatically to determine whether the overall structure formed in the various phases of erection of elevator 1 or the completed elevator 1 is vertical or level. This can be achieved, for example, by means of suitably positioned light barriers, an electric spirit level, or an electrically conductive pendulum suspended centrally in a sheet metal circle and making contact with the sheet metal circle in the event of an inclination. This can trigger an emergency stop early before an excessive inclination occurs. This can force a manual correction of the alignment of the overall structure or elevator 1, and then raising and / or lowering can continue.

[0034] The jacks 3 can have a chassis with suitable rollers to enable easy movement of the jacks 3. The chassis can be moved into a suitable position beneath the jacks 3, for example, using an operating lever before the jacks 3 are moved or moved as desired. When used as intended, the chassis would then no longer be beneath the jacks 3, and the jacks 3 could be positioned safely and stably on the ground. Alternatively, the jacks 3 could have a chassis arranged on one side of the jacks 3, so that the jacks 3 could be moved or moved after the jacks 3 have been tilted toward the chassis. The jacks 3 are then moved or moved while the jacks 3 are tilted.

[0035] The lifts 3 used have a design specifically designed for the described application of erecting an elevator 1. Special motors, gears, and control systems are used, and forklifts are used.

[0036] The uppermost component 7 can be designed as a so-called "mast tip" and can have one or more shafts, gears and / or motors for moving a car of the elevator 1.

[0037] The erection of multiple elevators 1 on a construction site can be carried out by different teams, each with different tasks. For example, one team can construct the top component 7, another team can pre-assemble the side structures of the components, and yet another team can perform cabling on the top component 7. The teams can work on different elevators 1 to be erected simultaneously, which significantly saves overall assembly time. As much work as possible can be performed on the ground before the actual erection of the elevator 1 begins.

[0038] The previously explained embodiment is based on lifters 3 arranged laterally or outside the components 5, 4 and / or 7, as shown in the Fig. 1 and 2The jacks 3 are typically located outside a pit if such a pit is used as the substructure or forms part of the substructure. Alternatively, the jacks 3 can also be arranged "inside" the components 5, 4, and / or 7 to erect the elevator 1. In this case, the jacks 3 can be located in a pit if such a pit is implemented as the substructure or forms part of the substructure, and the components 5, 4, and / or 7 can be mounted around the arrangement of jacks 3—even before the erection of the uppermost component 7 or after lifting the already provided components 5, 4, and / or 7. An installed uppermost component 7 can then be lifted by means of the jacks 3, or already lifted components 5, 4, and / or 7 can be lowered onto the component 4 or 5 mounted below it by means of the jacks 3.

[0039] With regard to further advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the appended claims in order to avoid repetition.

[0040] Finally, it should be expressly pointed out that the embodiments of the device according to the invention described above serve only to explain the claimed teaching, but do not limit it to the embodiments. List of reference symbols

[0041] 1Lift 2Lifting device 3Lifter 4Upper component 5Lower component 6Coupling device 7Top component

Claims

1. Method for constructing an elevator (1) - in particular, a freight elevator - on a construction site, and preferably in a factory hall, wherein the elevator (1) is built from several components (4, 5, 7) arranged one atop the other, the method comprising the following steps: - providing a base for the elevator (1); - positioning a lifting device (2) on the base; - raising an upper component (4) of the elevator (1) by means of the lifting device (2), wherein the lifting device (2) has several individual lifters (3), which are positioned on the base; - positioning a lower component (5), which is to be arranged underneath the upper component (4), under the raised upper component (4); - lowering the upper component (4) onto the lower component (5) by means of the lifting device (2); and - removing the lifting device (2) from the base, wherein a raising and / or lowering of the component (4, 5, 7) or of the components (4, 5, 7) by means of the lifters (3) is synchronized by means of a synchronizing device, whereby each lifter (3) can be controlled individually.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, after the step of lowering the upper component (4) onto the lower component (5) by means of the lifting device (2), the lower component (5) is raised together with the upper component (4) by means of the lifting device (2), and a further lower component (5) is subsequently positioned under the jointly-raised components (4, 5), whereupon the jointly-raised components (4, 5) are lowered onto the further lower component (5) by means of the lifting device (2), wherein this sequence of steps listed last preferably takes place successively with one or more further lower components (5) in an analogous manner.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lifting device (2) has a control - preferably a frequency control - for the smooth and / or jerk-free raising and / or lowering of the component (4, 5, 7) or of the components (4, 5, 7).

4. Method according to one of claims 1 through 3, characterized in that the lifting device (2) or the lifters (3) each have a coupling device (6) for coupling to individual components (4, 5, 7).

5. Method according to one of claims 1 through 4, characterized in that a vertical orientation of the lifting device (2) or of the lifters (3) is preferably automatically monitored by means of a sensor system or sensor device, wherein the vertical orientation is preferably corrected automatically or manually.

6. Method according to one of the claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the base has a floor pit or a drive-on ramp.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 through 6, characterized in that the lower components (5), in particular, have preferably H-shaped frame parts.

8. Method according to one of claims 1 through 7, characterized in that an uppermost component (7) of the elevator (1) is designed in the sense of a head component or mast top, and / or in that the elevator (1) is a vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC).

9. Method according to one of claims 1 through 8, characterized in that at least one component (4, 5, 7), and preferably all components (4, 5, 7), or constituents of at least one component (4, 5, 7), and / or further structural elements or assemblies of the elevator (1) is or are prefabricated - preferably by several persons and / or teams of persons - prior to the construction of the elevator (1) according to one of claims 1 through 9, and at least prior to the step of positioning a lifting device (2) on the base.

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