AU625660B2

AU625660B2 - Lift shaft construction

Info

Publication number: AU625660B2
Application number: AU57086/90A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Anthony Wilfred Wright
Original assignee: Boral Johns Perry Industries Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Boral Johns Perry Industries Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1989-06-16
Filing date: 1990-06-14
Publication date: 1992-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 2010-06-14
Also published as: AU5708690A

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Form

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: 0 Related Art: o 4a 9 9 0 44 a 9 9 *94o 9 TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: BORAL JOHNS PERRY INDUSTRIES PTY. LTD.

Address of Applicant: 45 Wangara Road Cheltenham, Victoria

AUSTRALIA

Actual Inventor: Anthony Wilfred WRIGHT 4 4 t 4t 4 t Address for Service: GRIFFITH HACK CO., 601 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: LIFT SHAFT CONSTRUCTION JI 'If t The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me:-

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3' r 2 0 e S0 0 0 0 00 o 000 o o e 0 0 009 00 I bL00 0 0 0 4 0 0.; 0 0 4 I211 LIFT SHAFT CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to a method of constructing a lift shaft to modules used in the method, and to a lift shaft constructed by that method. The method, modules and lift well have particular application to steel frame buildings but could be used in buildings manufactured from other materials or in other manners.

The current method of constructing steel frame buildings, and particularly the lift shaft within the building, is to construct the frame work piece by piece on site, once the foundations have been cast. The -3 process is time consuming and has an element of danger as individual pieces of steel are lifted into position by the site crane.

Normally the lift shaft is constructed first and as it progresses the floors are built on below the growing lift shaft. Once the lift shaft has progressed far enough, the lift contractor can start installing the lift well equipment and fittings. However, before this process can begin the lift shaft has to be fitted with a suitable deck to protect the lift installers, while construction of the lift shaft continues above them. The installation of the lift is normally critical to the building programme and it is therefore vital that the installation of the lift is not hampered.

S 15 Once the building reaches its final height the lift motor room can be built and fitted out with the lift o machine and associated equipment. As can be appreciated 44, the building owner cannot successfully occupy a :04 i multi-storey building until the lifts are operational.

During construction builders c.ften need a lift to move men and material on site. This is achieved by installing a builder's lift which is normally one of the *444 441 final lifts but which cannot be made operational until at 44 least the low rise lift room is constructed and fitted 25 out. The other option is to install a jump lift which is 444' a platform fitted with a lift motor and associated equipment that can be moved up the building as the building progresses. This however results in extended delays when the jump lift is removed from the lift shaft 4 30 at the top floor, and then the final machine room is constructed and fitted out.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method of constructing a lift shaft, modules for use in the method, and the lift shaft constructed by that method which are cost effective and can speed up building construction work.

p I I, -4- The invention provides a method of constructing a lift shaft for enabling a lift car to be used in the lift shaft during construction of the lift shaft comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of lift modules which are prefabricated and which include well equipment used in the operation of the lift car; providing a lift car support unit for facilitating raising and lowering of the lift car in the lift shaft; locating a plurality of the modules one above the other in order to form a partly constructed lift shaft; releasably attaching said lift car support unit to one of said plurality of modules in order to enable said 15 lift car to be raised and lowered in said partly completed o0 1 lift shaft; locating further modules on said plurality of 0001 ~modules above said lift car support unit; and o 0 releasing said lift car support unit and raising S" said lift car support unit and connecting said lift car support unit to one of said further modules to thereby increase the height at which said lift car can be raised and lowered in said lift shaft.

I By forming the lift shaft from a number of modules the building construction work can be sped up since the modules can be manufactured in a factory environment off-site and thereby can be of consistent high quality. The formation of the lift modules off-site will reduce costs and also reduce time since the modules can be ready for installation in the building as soon as suitable foundations are formed. Since the modules can be easily stacked one above another the lift shaft can progress quickly thereby enabling the various floors of the building to be formed.

Furthermore, since the modules can include the equipment needed to operate a lift car, a lift car can be incorporated in the partly formed shaft and operated thereby enabling men and equipment to be moved on-site.

It r j -4A Preferably the step of locating the modules includes the step of coupling the modules together.

Preferably each module is provided with all normal equipment required for the operation of the lift car, said equipment including guide rails for guiding the lift car and counter weight, floor plates which are sensed by sensing equipment for enabling the location of the lift car in the lift shaft to be determined, lift doors, well lighting and limit switches.

Preferably the method includes the formation and installation of a pit unit module which is coupled to a foundation and said lift modules are arranged one above another above said pit module.

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V ,i ii 5 Preferably the pit module includes normal pit equipment including ladders, compensator support, lift guide rails, governor idler and limit switches.

Preferably the method includes the step of forming a lift upper unit and arranging and coupling the lift upper unit to a lift module in a partially completed lift shaft, said lift upper unit enabling a lift car to operate in the partially completed lift shaft to enable personnel and/or equipment to be moved up and down the building, and wherein after further modules have been located above an uppermost module said lift upper unit is disconnectable from said lift module and moved so as to be reconnectable to another lift module to enable the lift car to be raised up and down the lift shaft.

Preferably the lift upper unit is a lift motor unit including a lift motor platform. However, in some embodiments it could be a platform or unit supporting diverter sheaves or a lifter.

Preferably the lift motor unit is positioned so as to fit within a lift module so that after the unit is disconnected from said module it can be moved up through the lift modules arranged on that lift module and connected to said another lift module.

In one embodiment the lift motor unit can be in the form of a platform which is balanced so that it can be easily moved up the lift shaft. In a second embodiment the lift motor unit can be in the form of a module formed of a framework and a platform. The lift motor module may include one or more levels in order to accommodate all the equipment required in a completed lift motor room. In a further embodiment the lift motor unit could include a secondary unit which is adapted to be arranged beside said lift motor unit and to extend outwardly of said lift shaft for enabling some of the equipment to be accommodated in the completed lift motor room to be arranged on the secondary unit.

r 6 In a further embodiment of the invention the lift shaft system could be of the type in which the motor room is arranged at the bottom of the lift shaft. In this embodiment the upper unit includes the diverter sheaves for guiding cables and said lift motor room is constructed at the bottom of the lift shaft, preferably beside said lift shaft. In this embodiment the pit unit would include such equipment conventional for lift shafts which include a lift motor room at the bottom of the shaft rather than at the top of the shaft.

15 a 00 00 0 0000 oa 0 00 0 0 410 o be.0 0 60 0o 0 20 06 0 0 0 a u 9440 o 4 0 40 4 In a still further embodiment the shaft could be for a hydraulic lift and the pit module would be designed to include equipment included in a hydraulic lift pit. In this embodiment of the invention the upper unit would include a lifter to raise and lower a lift car in the event that the lift car becomes stuck in the lift shaft.

Preferably the means for defining the periphery of the module comprises steel frame members.

Preferably the equipment arranged in the modules includes guide rails along which a lift car will be guided, lift doors for allowing access into and out of a lift car, and other lift well equipment required for normal operation of a lift.

4 i 4 -L I~ i i' -7- The invention may also be said to reside in a lift shaft formed by the method described above.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a lift shaft being formed in a building; Figure 2 is a view of a pit unit module; Figure 3 is a view of a lift module; and Figure 4 is a view of a machine platform.

With reference to Figure 1 a partly completed building is shown which has four lift shafts 10A, o a00 10C and 10D. The partly completed building is shown 9° having three levels 11A, 11B and 11C which are arranged 00o 15 on a foundation 12.

0*00 o Each lift shaft 10A to 10D is formed from a 0° plurality of modules 20 which will be described in more oo detail hereinafter. The lift shafts are constructed by Dog fabricating a pit module 30 (see Figure 2) off-site in a factory environment where a high degree of accuracy and quality can be obtained. The pit unit 30 is delivered to 0000 site by road or any other suitable means and lifted off a aeo *000 vehicle using a site crane such as the crane 40. The pit 00 0 unit 30 (which is not shown in Figure 1) is placed in 25 position and correctly aligned and is then cast into the 0000 foundation or attached to suitable devices which have already been fixed to the foundation.

The lift modules 20 which are also formed $i off-site in the factory environment where a high degree of accuracy and quality can be maintained and are also transported to the building site. A lift module 20 is lifted by the site crane 40 into position and is attached to the pit unit 30. In the case of nested pit shafts, as shown in Figure 1, additional modules are placed adjacent to the first installed module on top of the respective I b: 8 4 44 14 4 4. 44 p444 o 4 444, 44 44 ol 44 44 4 4 444 444 444 44 4 $4( pit modules which have already been secured in place. As the lift shaft(s) starts growing the floors can be constructed and attached to the lift shaft(s).

As is best shown in Figure 2 the pit unit comprises a steel frame having four corner uprights 32 and interconnecting horizontal members 34. A pair of guide rails 36 are connected to horizontal frame members 34 on opposite sides of the pit module 30. The pit module 30 is also provided with buffers 38 supported on floor 33 in the unlikely event that a lift car should move beyond its lowest intended level during course of operation of the lift car. Instead of floor 33 rails or beams (not shown) could be used to support the buffers 38. The pit unit also includes a governor idler 39 15 together with all other normal pit equipment such as ladders, compensators support, lift switches and other auxiliary lift equipment. All of this equipment is installed in the pit module when the pit module is fabricated off-site in the factory environment.

20 As shown in Figure 3, the lift modules comprise a steel frame formed by four upright members 42 and interconnecting horizontal members 44. The units 20 are designed in accordance with the load requirements of the building and include all normal well equipment required for the operation of the lift. The equipment includes guide rails 46 which are arranged on opposite sides of the frame and which are aligned with the guide rails 36 on the pit module when the lift module 20 is arranged on the pit module 30. Unit 20 also includes lift doors well lighting (not shown), limit switches (not shown) and all other auxiliary lift equipment. Furthermore, the frame members 42 and 44 may include fasteners (not shown) to enable wall panels to be coupled to the frame members 42 and 44 to form a dry wall construction which encloses the lift shaft. The lift guide rails 46 are preferably

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9 built into the module in such a way as to contribute to the structural rigidity of the modules thereby reducing weight and costs.

Figure 3 also shows, in broken form, the upper portion 50 of a lift car which has a roller assembly 52 for receiving cables 54 for enabling the lift car to be raised and lowered in the lift well.

The lift modules 20 are stacked one above the other and on the pit unit 30 and are coupled together by any suitable means. As is shown in Figures 2 and 3 the frame members 32, 34, 42 and 44 are formed from I-beams.

The tops and bottoms of the members 32 and 44 can include suitable coupling devices to enable the modules to be securely coupled one above the other. The coupling 15 devices could include sleeves on the upper portions of Vo0 the frame members 32 and 41 together with slightly 0 a reduced projection portions on the lower of the frame o 00 members 42 which can be received in the sleeves of the 0a4 0 pit unit or of a lower frame unit in order to couple the modules together. 'ht. modules may then be secured by welding or fastening devices as appropriate. In an alternative embodiment the modules could be stacked one above the ot4her and the modules welded to one another to securely coupled the modules together.

S, 25 The process of connecting the modules 20 above the other continues until a point is reached whereby a builders lift is required. At this point a lift car (not all shown) is lowered into the lift shafc, which iz already fitted out with all of the necessary lift well equipment.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the lift car could be built into a module in the factory environment so that that particular module together with the lift car is lowered into place when the lift shaft reaches the height whereby a builders' lift is required.

In other embodiments the lift car could be installed in a module after the module is located in place in the lift shaft by transporting the lift car in pieces to -the site and assembling the pieces in the module at the site.

An upper unit, which in this embodiment, comprises a lift machine unit 60 (see Figure 4) is lowered into position by the site crane 40 and is attached to the uppermost module 20 of the particular lift sh-aft. As is shown in Figure 4, the machine unit includes a platform 62 and coupling members 64 at its corners which can be hydraulic or pneumatic coupling fixtures adapted to extend outwardly of the confines of the platform 62 to enable the unit to be coupled to a 00100 module 20. Alternatively, the machine platform could be fixed to the upper module 20 by any other releasable o 15 connection. The unit 60 is preferably constructed from 0 a coo,* steel and is sufficiently strong to support the lift car.

The unit 60 also supports a lift machine i geared or gearless) 66, secondary sheave 68 together with other motor room equipment including a motor controller switchboard and a governor etc. When the unit 60 is secured in position, -the lift car can be raised and 00060 lowered by means of cables 5tL..so that the lift can be used as a builder's jump lift -to transport personnel and 0 equipment in the partly completed building.

:010 25 The unit 60 can merely include the platform 62 together with the required equipment supported on the platform 62 together with the releasable connectors 64.

However, it would be required that the equipment be generally arranged so that the platform is balanced so 0 30 that when platform is lifted by a crane -the platform 62 will remain generally horizontal and move upwards without tilting. To ensure smooth movement of the unit 60 it is preferred that the unit include a framework 69 which includes upright members and horizontal connecting 11 members. One of the horizontal connecting members labelled 69' can include a coupling member 71 to enable a crane unit to lift the unit.

In other embodiments the unit 60 provides a machine platform for supporting some or all of the equipment required to raise or lower a lift car in the lift well. This would normally include cables 52 previously described which extend downwardly into the at least partly completed lift shaft.

When it is desired to increase the height of the lift shaft, the releasable connections 64 are actuated to disconnect the unit 60 from the particular module 20 with which the unit 60 has been connected. If releasable connectors 64 are in the form of hydraulic or o o.

o. 15 pneumatic extending pins or the like, Lhey are retracted o to disconnect from suitable couplings on the unit The unit 60 is dimensioned to be smaller than the internal dimensions of the units 20 so that the units o0 0 can move through the units 20. Before disconnection of the unit 60 further modules 20 can be located on the existing lift shaft to increase the height of the lift o.09. shaft. When it is desired to move the unit 60 the 000$ oG,0 connectors 64 are disconnected from the respective unit P 20 and the unit 60 is lifted by a crane up through the modules which have been located on the lift shaft above the unit 60. When the unit 60 is raised to the new i desired level it is coupled with another of the modules 20 by actuating the connectors 64 so that they securely connect the unit 60 to the new module When the lift shaft has been erected to the full height of the building, the unit 60 may be raised into a desired position and used as the final building lift machine room by enclosing it with suitable walls (not shown).

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12 Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with reference to a lift shaft which has a lift machine room arranged at the top of the shaft, the invention could be practised with a lift machine at the bottom of the shaft. In this embodiment, the lift unit 60 need only include diverter sheaves or the like to guide cables for raising and lowering a lift car. The lift motor room could be built at the bottom of the lift shaft beside the pit unit.

Still further, the unit 60 could be constructed from the framework as shown in the drawings, or a platform. In other embodiments the unit could include more than one level so that machine room equipment can be arranged on o 0. more than one level to provide sufficient room for all 00o °o 15 the equipment which is required. In still further 0 00 oo embodiments it would be possible to provide a secondary unit or platform which is arranged beside the unit 60 and o J SO which is coupled to the unit 60, to the building or to the modules 20 and which can support additional equipment. Any power or communication lines could be provided with connectors so that communication between oOO equipment on the unit 60 and on the secondary platform soa s can be disconnected to enable the two units to be disconnected from the module 20 etc. and raised 0 0 25 separately up to a new level.

000* Furthermore, it is generally required that cables used for raising and lowering a lift car not be broken and since the usable height of the lift shaft will S change during construction of the lift shaft as the 30 building increases in height, it is necessary to provide a cable of the desired height for the size of the partly completely lift shaft which is being used at that time.

In order to achieve this, it is preferred that the cable be provided on a drum beside the lift shaft and be fed out to provide sufficient length of cable for the particular height of the lift shaft which is being used i i 13 13 at that time. The cable is then clamped in position to enable the lift car to be operated in the partly completed lift shaft. When the unit 60 is moved and the lift shaft is to be used in a different height of lift shaft, more cable is fed out from the drum and is then clamped in position so that the desired amount of cable is provided in the lift shaft for raising and lowering the lift car. The amount of cable on the drum matches the amount of cable which will be required in the completed lift shaft so that when the lift shaft is completed, all the cable is merely fed out from the drum and is arranged in the lift shaft for final operation of the lift car.

In still further embodiments, the lift to be used in the shaft could be hydraulically driven and the pit unit could include the required equipment for use with hydraulic lifts and the top of the lift shaft can only be provided with a unit comprising a platform having a lifter for raising or lowering the lift car in the event that the lift car becomes stuck in the lift shaft.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has the following advantages.

1) The modules would be built under factory conditions to ensure a consistently high degree of quality.

2) The building could be erected quickly as existing steel frame buildings are erected piece by piece C(Qee6%ered *lrodce -ckr similar to "Meccano kset" technology. Thus no one can begin before the foundations have been cast and set.

This method allows the modules to be built concurrently with the earthworks and foundation phases. Therefore the building of the lift core would be quickly erected, immediately after casting of the foundations.

i 14 3) The installation of the lift is normally on the critical path of the building programme and any delays can cause significant construction delays. In this method the installation of lift equipment is virtually completed once the module is put in place.

4) Significant cost savings because a high proportion of the work is performed in a factory and factory labour is normally less expensive than site labour due to various factors.

5) Early occupancy of the building as lifts are operational early, therefore tenants can occupy lower floors as soon as they are fitted out.

6) Increased site safety as individual steel s" *girders are no longer being lifted in place with the 15 danger of colliding with and dislodging workers from the S building. Fewer pieces of steel sections to be handled e thereby reducing normal handling injuries.

0 0 "04 Since modification within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove.

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Claims

1. A method of constructing a lift shaft for enabling a lift car to be used in the lift shaft during construction of the lift shaft comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of lift modules which are prefabricated and which include well equipment used in the operation of the lift car; providing a lift car support unit for facilitating raising and lowering of the lift car in the lift shaft; locating a plurality of the modules one above the other in order to form a partly constructed lift shaft; releasably attaching said lift car support unit to one of said plurality of modules in order to enable said lift car to be raised and lowered in said partly completed o 94 lift shaft; *'oa locating further modules on said. plurality of oOa0 modules above said lift car support unit; and releasing said lift car support unit and raising uo vat said lift car support unit and connecting said lift car support unit to one of said further modules to thereby increase the height at which said lift car can be raised and lowered in said lift shaft.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of locating the modules includes the step of coupling the modules together.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein each module is 1 provided with all normal equipment required for the operation of the lift car, said equipment including guide rails for guiding the lift car and counter weight, floor plates which are sensed by sensing equipment for enabling the location of the lift car in the lift shaft to be determined, lift doors, well lighting and limit switches.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the method includes the formation and installation of a pit unit module which is coupled to a foundation and said lift modules are arranged one above another above said pit module. rii -ii 16 The method of claim 4 wherein the pit module includes normal pit equipment including ladders, compensator support, lift guide rails, governor idler and limit switches.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the lift car support unit is a lift motor unit including a lift motor platform.

7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the lift car support unit is a platform or unit supporting diverting sheaves or a lifter.

8. The method of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the lift car support unit is dimensioned so as to fit within said modules so that after the unit is released from a module it can be moved up through the lift modules arranged S above it to be connected to said further lift module.

9. The method of any one of the preceding claims ~wherein when said lift shaft has been erected to the full height the support unit may be secured into a desired position and used as a final building lift machine room. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein a secondary unit or platform is arranged beside the lift support unit which is adapted to be moved separately to the lift support unit when the lift support unit is moved.

11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein a cable drum is provided having sufficient cable for the lift r shaft to operate when the lift shaft reaches its full height, sufficient of said cable being fed out from said drum to enable the lift car to be raised in a partly constructed lift shaft and wherein when a different height of lift shaft is in operation more cable is fed out from the drum for raising and lowering the lift car. DATED THIS 31 DAY OF MARCH 1992 BORAL JOHNS PERRY INDUSTRIES PTY. LTD. By Its Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK CO., Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia I! ii