CN112777454A

CN112777454A - Elevator cage

Info

Publication number: CN112777454A
Application number: CN202011203671.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: O·乌尔帕拉
Original assignee: Kone Corp
Current assignee: Kone Corp
Priority date: 2019-11-04
Filing date: 2020-11-02
Publication date: 2021-05-11
Also published as: EP3816084A1; EP3816084B1

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to elevator cars. The elevator car comprises a roof frame structure (15) and a roof (13) supported on the roof frame structure. The support of the roof comprises a hinge support (100) connecting a first edge (13A) of the roof to the roof frame structure such that the roof is pivotable about the hinge support between an open position and a closed position. A support element (200) supports the first edge of the roof to the roof frame structure in the closed position of the roof. Locking means are provided to lock and unlock the second edge of the roof to and from the roof frame structure.

Description

Elevator cage

Technical Field

The invention relates to an elevator car.

Background

An elevator may generally include a car, an elevator hoistway, a hoisting machine, a hoisting member, and a counterweight. The car frame may surround and support the car, or the car frame may form an integral part of the car. The hoisting machine may be located in a machine room or in a hoistway and may comprise a drive, an electric motor, a traction sheave and a mechanical brake. The hoisting machine can move the car in a vertically extending elevator shaft upwards and downwards in a vertical direction. The car frame may be connected to the counterweight by a hoisting member passing over the traction sheave. The car frame may also be supported by sliding means on guide rails extending along the height of the hoistway. The guide rails may be supported on the sidewall structure of the hoistway by fastening brackets. The sliding device may engage the guide rail and maintain the car in a position in a horizontal plane as the car moves up and down in the elevator hoistway. The counterweight may be supported in a corresponding manner on a guide rail supported on a wall structure of the hoistway. Elevator cars may transport people and/or cargo between landings in a building. The elevator hoistway may be formed such that the wall structure is formed of solid walls, or such that the wall structure is formed of an open steel structure.

The elevator car can include a bottom, a roof, and a sidewall extending between the bottom and the roof. The roof may include an outer roof and a ceiling at a distance below the outer roof. The external roof may form a structural support portion of the roof. The external roof may be upwardly openable or may include an upwardly openable hatch to enable maintenance work to be performed from inside the car. The ceiling forms only a visible surface towards the interior of the car, hiding the mechanical parts of the roof. The ceiling does not form a structural part of the roof.

For high quality indoor designs, it is highly desirable that the interior components of the elevator car be fitted with brackets, hinges, and other fixtures that are hidden from passengers to provide sufficient structural strength and minimize gaps between components.

EP3530603 discloses an elevator car and an elevator system comprising an elevator car. The elevator car defining an interior space for accommodating passengers includes a support frame positioned on a top side of the interior space, a support structure pivotally mounted to the support frame, and a work platform pivotally mounted to the support structure. The support structure is pivotable relative to the support frame, and the work platform is pivotable relative to the support structure between a retracted position in which the work platform and the support structure are oriented proximate the support frame, and a deployed position in which the support structure extends away from the support frame toward the interior space, and the work platform extends away from the support structure.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is an improved elevator car.

The elevator car according to the invention is defined in claim 1.

A hinge support at a first edge of the lid enables the lid to pivot between an open position and a closed position.

When the roof is in the closed position, the support element supports the first edge of the roof on the roof frame structure and the locking device supports the second edge of the roof on the roof frame structure.

Thus, when the roof is closed, the roof constitutes a structural part of the elevator car. The roof may be sized so that maintenance personnel can walk on the upper surface of the roof when the roof is closed. The mechanical load will be transferred from the roof to the roof frame structure via the support element and the locking means. The hinge support does not have to carry mechanical loads at all when the lid is closed.

The roof may simultaneously form the interior ceiling of the car. When the roof is in the closed position, the roof closes the upper portion of the car, leaving a small gap between the edge of the roof and the wall of the car. Ventilation can be arranged from the car interior via the edge of the roof to a channel arranged above the roof, which channel is covered from the car interior.

Drawings

The invention will be described in more detail below by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a side view of an elevator,

figure 2 shows a horizontal cross-section of an elevator,

figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the elevator car with the top cover open,

figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the elevator car with the roof closed,

figure 5 shows a first view of a supporting device of the roof of an elevator car,

figure 6 shows a second view of the supporting means of the roof of the elevator car,

figure 7 shows the hinge support of the support arrangement of the roof of the elevator car in the open position,

figure 8 shows the hinge support of the support arrangement of the roof of the elevator car in the closed position,

figure 9 shows a view of the upper surface of the roof of an elevator car,

figure 10 shows a view of the roof frame structure of an elevator car,

fig. 11 shows an axonometric form above the elevator car.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 presents a side view of a prior-art elevator.

The elevator may include a car 10, an elevator hoistway 20, a hoisting machine 30, a hoisting member 42, and a counterweight 41. A separate or integrated car frame 11 may surround the car 10.

The car 10 may include a bottom 12 and a top 13 positioned relative to the bottom 12. The bottom 12 and the roof 13 may be positioned at a vertical distance from each other to define the height of the car 10. Car 10 may also include a front wall 14A, a rear wall 14B, and two

opposing side walls

14C, 14D extending between bottom 12 and roof 13 of car 10. The front wall 14A and the rear wall 14B are shown in the following figures.

The hoisting machine 30 may be located in a machine room or in the hoistway 20. The hoisting machine may comprise a drive 31, an electric motor 32, a traction sheave 33 and a machinery brake 34. The hoisting machine 30 can move the car 10 vertically up and down in a vertically extending elevator hoistway 20. The machinery brake 34 can stop the rotation of the traction sheave 33 and thereby stop the movement of the elevator car 10.

The hoisting member 42 may be formed by a hoisting rope or by a plurality of hoisting ropes running in parallel.

The car frame 11 can be connected to the counterweight 41 by means of a hoisting member 42 passing over the traction sheave 33. The car frame 11 may also be supported on guide rails 25 extending in the vertical direction of the hoistway 20 by sliding devices 27. The sliding device 27 may include rollers that roll on the guide rails 25 or a slide that slides on the guide rails 25 as the car 10 moves up and down in the elevator hoistway 20. The guide rails 25 may be attached to the sidewall structure 21 in the elevator hoistway 20 by fastening brackets 26. The sliding device 27 maintains the car 10 in position in a horizontal plane as the car 10 moves up and down in the hoistway 20. The counterweight 41 may be supported in a corresponding manner on a guide rail attached to the wall structure 21 of the hoistway 20.

The car 10 can transport people and/or cargo between landings in a building. The elevator hoistway 20 may be formed such that the wall structure 21 is formed of a solid wall, or such that the wall structure 21 is formed of an open steel structure.

Fig. 2 shows a horizontal cross-section of the elevator.

The hoistway 20 may be provided with a front wall 21A, an opposite rear wall 21B, and two

opposite side walls

21C, 21D. The front wall 21A may be provided with an opening in the landing, whereby the opening is provided with a hall door. The car guide rails 25 are positioned on

opposite side walls

21C, 21D in the hoistway 20, and the counterweight guide rails 25 are positioned on a rear wall 21B in the hoistway 20.

Car 10 may be provided with a front wall 14A, an opposite rear wall 14B, and two

opposite side walls

14C, 14D. The front wall 14A may have an opening provided with a car door element 19. The car door element 19 can comprise a central-opening or a side-opening door panel. The car door element 19 can comprise any number of door panels.

Fig. 1 illustrates a first direction S1, which is a vertical direction in the elevator hoistway 20. Fig. 2 shows a second direction S2, which is a direction between guide rails (DBG), and a third direction S3, which is a direction from the rear wall 21C to the front wall 21A in the hoistway 20 (BTF). The second direction S2 is perpendicular to the third direction S3.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the elevator car with the roof open.

The figure shows the roof frame structure 15, the car 10 and the roof 13. The roof 13 is shown in an open position in which the roof 13 is folded into the car 10. Thus, there is a maintenance opening O10 in the roof frame structure 15 at the upper end of the car 10. The service opening O10 may be used by a service person to perform service operations on equipment in the hoistway 20 from the interior of the car 10. The figure further shows a handrail 18 in the car 10.

The figure also shows the hinge support 100 associated with the first edge 13A of the lid 13 and the locking mechanism 300 associated with the second edge 13B of the lid 13.

Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the elevator car with the roof closed.

The figure shows the roof frame structure 15, the car 10 and the roof 13. The top cover 13 is shown in a closed position in which the top cover 13 is closed relative to the top cover frame structure 15. Thus, the maintenance opening O10 between the beams of the roof frame structure 15 at the upper end of the car 10 is closed by the roof 13. The upper surface of the cap 13 may include a seal extending near the outer edge of the cap 13. The seal may seal the top cover 13 against the lower surface of the top cover frame structure 15. The figure further shows a handrail 18 in the car 10.

Fig. 5 shows a first view of a support device of a roof of an elevator car.

This figure shows a portion of the roof frame structure 15 of the elevator car 10. The figure shows a portion of the front beam 15A extending in the direction of the front wall 14A of the car 10 and a portion of the first side beam 15C extending in the direction of the first side wall 14C of the car 10. The roof frame structure 15 may be formed by substantially horizontal beams. The beams may form a closed perimeter. The perimeter may be substantially rectangular in shape. The roof frame structure 15 may form the upper frame structure of the car 10. The beams in the roof frame structure 15 may be hollow structures having polygonal cross-sections. The equipment connected to the roof of the car 10 may be supported on a roof frame structure 15. Vertical support beams (not shown) may extend at the corners of the car 10 between the bottom 12 and the roof frame structure 15.

The figure also shows a portion of the roof 13, which roof 13 may be supported on the roof frame structure 15 by two hinge supports 100. The figure shows only one of the two hinge supports 100. The hinge support 100 may include a first support bracket 110, a second support bracket 120, and two hinge

arms

130, 140. The top cover 13 may be placed under the top cover frame structure 15.

The first support bracket 110 may be attached to the top cover 13 and the second support bracket 120 may be attached to the top cover frame structure 15.

The first support bracket 110 may include a bottom portion 111 and a connection portion 112 perpendicular to the bottom portion 111. The bottom portion 111 of the first support bracket 110 may be attached to the upper surface 13U of the top cover 13. The connection portion 112 of the first support bracket 110 may extend upward from the upper surface 13U of the top cover 13.

The second support bracket 120 may include a bottom portion 121 and a connection portion 122 perpendicular to the bottom portion 121. The bottom portion 121 may be attached to the lower surface of the top cover frame structure 15. The connecting portion 122 may extend upward from the lower surface of the top cover frame structure 15.

In an alternative embodiment, the frame support for the hinge support 100 may be arranged to protrude inside the front beam 15A, in which case the

hinge arms

130, 140 would be provided with slots through the lower surface of the roof frame structure 15.

Two hinge

arms

130, 140 may extend between the connection portion 112 of the first support bracket 110 and the connection portion 122 of the second support bracket 120. Each end of each

hinge arm

130, 140 may be attached to the connecting

portion

112, 122 of the

respective support bracket

110, 120 by a hinge joint.

The figure shows only the hinge support 100 at the upper left corner of the lid 13. At the upper right corner of the top cover 13 there is a corresponding hinge support 100, which is not shown in this figure. The first support bracket 110 of the hinge support 100 may be attached to the top cover 13 in opposite corners of the top cover 13, near the first edge 13A of the top cover 13.

The support means of the cap 13 may further comprise a support element 200 attached to the cap 13. The figure shows only one support element 200, which support element 200 may be attached to the upper surface 13U of the lid 13 near the first edge 13A of the lid 13. A number of support elements 200 may be positioned on the upper surface 13U of the top cover 13 between the two hinge supports 100. In this figure, the support element 200 is in an idle position in which the roof 13 is open, i.e. hanging down from the hinge support 100 into the interior of the car 10. When the top lid 13 is closed, the support element 200 will protrude into the first opening O1 in the top lid frame structure 15. When the top cover 13 is fully closed, the outer ends of the support elements 200 will sit on the inner surface of the lower part of the top cover frame structure 15. Thus, when the top cover 13 is fully closed, the support element 200 supports the top cover 13 on the top cover frame structure 15.

The support element 200 may have a tongue-like form. The support element 200 may comprise a first part having a contact surface against the upper surface 13U of the top cover 13 and a second part parallel to the first part but positioned at a distance above the first part, the second part forming a locking tongue. The transition between the first portion and the second portion may form a fold.

The upper surface 13U of the top cover 13 may be provided with a reinforcing member 210. The cross-section of the reinforcing member 210 may include two horizontal outer portions 211, a vertical portion 212 extending upward from each inner end of the outer portions 211, and a horizontal portion 213 connecting upper ends of the vertical portions 212. The outer portion 211 may abut against the upper surface 13U of the top cover 13.

The support element 200 may be integrated into the stiffening element 210 such that the support element 200 forms part of the stiffening element 210.

Fig. 6 shows a second view of the support device of the roof of the elevator car.

The figure shows the roof frame structure 15, two hinge supports 100 at each edge of the roof 13, and a reinforcing element 210 on the upper surface 13U of the roof 13. In this embodiment, there are four reinforcing elements 210 and four support elements 200.

Fig. 7 shows the hinge support of the support device of the roof of the elevator car in the open position.

The figure shows the roof frame structure 15, hinge supports 100 and roof 13.

The lid 13 is oriented substantially vertically in this open position. The two hinge

arms

130, 140 limit the opening angle of the top cover 10 to a maximum of substantially 90 degrees. The two hinge

arms

130, 140 are further arranged such that the lid 13 is subject to horizontal movement in the plane of the lid 13, from the hinge support 100 in a direction towards the locking mechanism 300 when the lid 13 is open, and back from the opposite direction when the lid 13 is closed.

The lower surface 13L and the upper surface 13U of the top cover 13 are also shown in the figure.

The hinge support 100 may include a first support bracket 110, a second support bracket 120, and two hinge

arms

130, 140 extending between the first support bracket 110 and the second support bracket 120.

The figure also shows a support element 200, which support element 200 is not part of the hinge support 100, but forms part of the support means of the lid 13.

A first end of the first hinge arm 130 may be attached to the connection portion of the first support bracket 110 by a first hinge joint J1, and an opposite second end of the first hinge arm 130 may be attached to the connection portion of the second support bracket 120 by a second hinge joint J2.

A first end of the second hinge arm 140 may be attached to the connecting portion 112 of the first support bracket 110 by a third hinge joint J3, and an opposite second end of the second hinge arm 140 may be attached to the connecting portion 122 of the second support bracket 120 by a fourth hinge joint J4.

Each articulated joint J1, J2, J3, J4 provides only rotational movement of the articulated

arm

130, 140 about the articulated joint J1, J2, J3, J4. Thus, the articulated joints J1, J2, J3, J4 will remain in a constant position on the

respective support bracket

110, 120 in all positions of the roof 13.

The figure also shows the path P10 of the outer end portion 201 of the support element 200 when the lid 13 is rotated from the open position to the closed position. The outer end portion 201 may form a tongue of the support element 200.

The figure also shows a first opening O1 in the roof frame structure 15. When the top cover 13 is closed, the outer end portion 201 of the support member 200 enters the top cover frame structure 15 through the first opening O1.

The articulated joints J1, J3 on the first support bracket 110 are positioned at a distance L1 from each other in the open position of the lid 13, which distance is substantially on a vertical line.

Fig. 8 shows the hinge support of the roof of the elevator car in the closed position.

The hinge support 100 has been rotated to the closed position. The roof 13 extends in a substantially horizontal direction, and a first end 13A of the roof 13 is closed with respect to a side wall of the car.

The first support bracket 110 has been moved from a substantially vertical position (i.e., an open position) to a substantially horizontal position (i.e., a closed position).

The articulated joints J1, J3 are positioned on a substantially horizontal line in the closed position. The distance L1 between the articulated joints J1, J3 on the first support bracket 110 remains constant in all positions.

Fig. 9 shows a view of the upper surface of the roof of an elevator car.

The figure shows a second edge 13B of the top cover 13. The second edge 13B is opposite the first edge 13A of the top cover 13.

The second end of the reinforcing element 210 may be provided with a first locking part 220. The first locking member 220 may be attached to the reinforcement element 210, or the first locking member 220 may form an integral part of the reinforcement element 210.

The first locking member 220 may include an upper portion extending upward from the upper surface 13U of the top cover 13. The upper portion of the first locking member 220 may include an opening 221 through the upper portion of the first locking member 220.

Fig. 10 shows a view of the roof frame structure of an elevator car.

The locking mechanism 300 is attached to the upper surface of the roof frame structure 15 above the second opening O2 in the second side beam 15D of the roof frame structure 15. When the top cover 13 is closed, the upper portion of the first locking member 220 enters the locking mechanism 300 through the second opening O2.

The locking mechanism 300 may include a rotating latch that passes through an opening 221 in the first locking member 220. Thus, the first locking member 220 is locked to the locking mechanism 300. This means that the roof 13 is locked to the second side beam 15D in the roof frame structure 15, and thereby to the roof frame structure 15, by the locking mechanism 300. Any commercial locking mechanism 300 having a rotary latch may be used.

The locking mechanism 300 is operable with an operating handle from inside the car 10 between a locked position and an open position. The operating handle may extend from the inside of the car to the locking mechanism 300 through a gap between the edge of the roof 13 and the side wall of the car. Thus, a mechanic within the car 10 can operate the handle to open and close the locking mechanism 300.

Fig. 11 shows an isometric view of an elevator car.

The figure shows a roof frame structure 15, a roof 13,

side walls

14C, 14D of the car, a handrail 18 in the car, a reinforcing element 210 with a first locking part 220 on the upper surface of the roof 13, and a locking mechanism 300.

The roof frame structure 15 may form a substantially horizontal frame. The roof frame structure 15 may be formed by substantially

horizontal beams

15A, 15B, 15C, 15D forming a closed perimeter. The perimeter may have a rectangular shape. The

beams

15A, 15B, 15C, 15D may be connected to each other at the corners of the roof frame structure 15. The roof frame structure 15 may include a service opening O10 in the middle of the roof frame structure 15. The maintenance opening O10 is defined by the

beams

15A, 15B, 15C, 15D forming the roof frame structure 15. The service opening O10 may be used by a service person to facilitate performing service operations on equipment in the hoistway 20 from the interior of the car 10. The roof frame structure 15 may include a first opening O1 in the side sill 15C on the left side in the drawing and a second opening O2 in the side sill 15D on the right side. The

side members

15C and 15D extend in the direction of the side walls of the car 10. The upper edges of the

side walls

14C, 14D may be supported on the

side sills

15C, 15D. The upper edge of the front wall 14A may be supported on the front beam 15A, and the upper edge of the rear wall 14B may be supported on the rear beam 15B.

There is a first opening O1 in the first side beam 15A. Each first opening O1 receives a respective support element 200. There is also another second opening O2 in the second side beam 15D. Each second opening O2 receives a corresponding first locking member 220. The locking mechanism 300 is positioned on the upper surface of the second side beam 15D connected to each second opening O2.

The top cover frame structure 15, the first opening O1, and the second opening O2 may be symmetrical such that the top cover 13 may be installed into the top cover frame structure 15 in two opposing positions. The roof 13 may be installed such that the hinge support 100 is positioned to the left in the drawing, whereby the roof 13 opens downward into the car 10 in a clockwise direction. On the other hand, the top cover 13 may be installed such that the hinge support 100 is positioned to the right in the drawing, whereby the top cover 13 opens downward into the car 10 in the counterclockwise direction.

There may also be one or more gas spring devices between the top cover 13 and the top cover frame structure 15 to facilitate the opening and closing of the top cover 13.

The first locking member 220 and the locking mechanism 300 shown in the drawings are only to be seen as examples of how the locking of the top cover 13 to the top cover frame structure 15 is accomplished. The present invention is not limited to such a locking device. The invention may be implemented by any type of locking means capable of locking the second edge 13B of the top cover 13 to the top cover frame structure 15 and unlocking the second edge 13B of the top cover 13 from the top cover frame structure 15. The locking device may be implemented such that it comprises a plurality of locks which can be operated with one single operating handle.

The use of the invention is not limited to the elevator disclosed in the drawings. The figure shows a graph having 1: 1, but the invention can be used in elevators with any suspension ratio (e.g. 2: 1, 4: 1, etc.). The invention can be used in any type of elevator, e.g. an elevator comprising a machine room or without a machine room. The counterweight may be positioned on either or both of the side walls or the back wall of the elevator hoistway. The drive, the electric motor, the traction sheave and the machinery brake can be positioned in the machine room or somewhere in the elevator hoistway. The car guide rails may be positioned on opposite side walls of the hoistway or on a rear wall of the hoistway in a so-called rucksack elevator.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that as technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An elevator car (10) comprising a roof frame structure (15) and a roof (13), the roof (13) having a first edge (13A), an opposing second edge (13B), an upper surface (13U) and a lower surface (13L), the roof (13) supported on the roof frame structure (15), the support of the roof (13) on the roof frame structure (15) comprising:

a hinge support (100) connecting the first edge (13A) of the roof (13) to the roof frame structure (15) such that the roof (13) is pivotable about the hinge support (100) between an open position in which the roof (13) is oriented downwardly into the interior of the car (10) and a closed position in which the roof (13) is seated against the roof frame structure (15),

locking means (220, 300) for locking the second edge (13B) of the roof (13) to the roof frame structure (15) and unlocking the second edge (13B) of the roof (13) from the roof frame structure (15),

characterized in that said roof (13) further comprises, at said support of said roof frame structure (15):

a support element (200) supporting the first edge (13A) of the roof (13) to the roof frame structure (15) in a closed position of the roof (13).

2. The elevator car of claim 1, wherein each hinge support (100) comprises a first support bracket (110), a second support bracket (120), and two hinge arms (130, 140), the first support bracket (110) being attached to the upper surface (13U) of the roof (13), the second support bracket (120) being attached to the roof frame structure (15), the two hinge arms (130, 140) extending between the first support bracket (110) and the second support bracket (120), each end of each hinge arm (130, 140) being attached to a respective support bracket (110, 120) by a hinge joint (J1, J2, J3, J4).

3. The elevator car according to claim 2, wherein the first support bracket (110) and the second support bracket (120) comprise a bottom portion (111, 121) and a connection portion (112, 122), the connection portion (112, 122) being perpendicular to the bottom portion (111, 121), whereby the bottom portion (111) of the first support bracket (110) is attached to the upper surface (13U) of the roof (13) and the bottom portion (121) of the second support bracket (120) is attached to the roof frame structure (15), the two hinge arms (130, 140) extending between the connection portion (112) of the first support bracket (110) and the connection portion (122) of the second support bracket (122).

4. The elevator car according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the two articulated arms (130, 140) are arranged such that: -exposing the cap (13) to a horizontal displacement in the plane of the cap (13) in a direction from the hinge support (100) towards the locking device (220, 300) when the cap (13) is opened, and-returning the cap (13) in the opposite direction when the cap (13) is closed.

5. The elevator car as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the two hinged arms (130, 140) are arranged such that the opening of the top cover (13) is limited to a maximum of substantially 90 degrees.

6. The elevator car according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the support element (200) comprises a first part having a contact surface against the upper surface (13U) of the roof (13) and a second part parallel to the first part but positioned at a distance above the first part, the second part forming a locking tongue.

7. The elevator car according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the roof frame structure (15) comprises a first opening (O1), the first opening (O1) being in a side sill (15C) of the roof frame structure (15) adjacent to the first edge (13A) of the roof (13) such that when the roof (13) is closed, the support element (200) can enter the roof frame structure (15) through the first opening (O1) so as to support the first edge (13A) of the roof (13) onto the roof frame structure (15).

8. The elevator car according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the locking device (220, 300) comprises a first locking member (220) and a locking mechanism (300), the first locking member (220) is attached to the upper surface (13U) of the top cover (13) adjacent to the second edge (13B) of the top cover (13), the locking mechanism (300) is attached to an upper surface of the roof frame structure (15), whereby the first locking member (220) can be locked to the locking mechanism (300) or unlocked from the locking mechanism (300) by means of an operating handle, the operating handle is transferred from the interior of the car (10) to the locking mechanism (300) via a gap between the second edge (13B) of the roof (13) and an adjacent side wall (13D) of the car (10).

9. The elevator car of claim 8, wherein the roof frame structure (15) includes a second opening (O2), the second opening (O2) being in a bottom surface of the roof frame structure (15) adjacent to the second edge (13B) of the roof (13) such that when the roof (13) is closed, the first locking member (220) can pass through the second opening (O2) to the locking mechanism (300) in the roof frame structure (15) to lock the second edge (13B) of the roof (13) to the roof frame structure (15).

10. The elevator car of claims 8 and 9, wherein the roof frame structure (15), the first opening (O1), and the second opening (O2) are symmetrical such that the roof (13) can be installed to have the first edge (13A) of the roof (13) adjacent to the first opening (O1) or to have the first edge (13A) of the roof (13) adjacent to the second opening (O2).

11. The elevator car as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the roof frame structure (15) is formed by substantially horizontal beams (15A, 15B, 15C, 15D) forming a closed perimeter and thereby defining a service opening (O10) in the middle of the roof frame structure (15), the roof (13) being arranged to open and close the service opening (O10).