EP2650248A1

EP2650248A1 - A modular lift apparatus and a method for assembling a modular lift apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP2650248A1
Application number: EP13163365.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Robin Reigwein
Original assignee: RECO Liftbeheer BV
Current assignee: RECO Liftbeheer BV
Priority date: 2012-04-11
Filing date: 2013-04-11
Publication date: 2013-10-16
Also published as: NL2008623C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular lift apparatus (1). The apparatus comprises a top module (2) for placement on top of a lift shaft module (3). The top module (2) comprises a frame (4) mountable on a lift shaft module (3), and a guiding wheel (5) mounted in the frame (4) for at least partly carrying and guiding a traction cable (6) between a first portion (61) and a second portion (62) thereof, for lifting and lowering a lift car (7) in the lift shaft module (3). Further, the top module (2) comprises a cable clamp (8) for releasably clamping the first portion (61) of the traction cable (6) relative to the frame (4), and a cable reel (9) for winding at least a part (63a) of a surplus portion (63) of the traction cable (6) extending from the cable clamp (8) to a first end (64) of the traction cable (6).

Description

The invention relates to a modular lift apparatus.
When constructing new buildings, or reconstructing, maintaining or renovating buildings, access to stores, and dwellings, businesses and other living areas located thereon becomes difficult if not impossible via existing staircases, lifts and the like. This may be because they have been closed off for maintenance or alteration, or are not yet or not yet fully operational. In such cases, a modular lift apparatus may be erected next to the respective building, with which persons and goods can be moved along the outside of the building. Further, a modular lift apparatus is applicable as a temporarily lift during events.
Such a modular lift apparatus, for instance, is described in applicant's European patent EP 1 780 162 , incorporated herein by reference. The apparatus comprises a plurality of lift shaft modules placed on top of each other, wherein each lift shaft module comprises a toothed rack fitting to the toothed rack of an adjacent module. The toothed racks of the stacked up lift shaft modules form a substantially continuous toothed rack for cooperation with a drive means provided on top of a lift car. However, a lift apparatus driven with the aid of a toothed rack driving technique works at relatively low speeds and makes relatively a lot of noise, which can be undesirable, for instance when the lift apparatus is temporarily replacing a permanent lift of a building that is still in use.
Another known modular lift apparatus comprises a plurality of lift shaft modules placeable on top of each other. The topmost module comprises a traction wheel for at least partly carrying and guiding a traction cable between a first portion and a second portion thereof, for lifting and lowering a lift car in the lift shaft modules. A first distal end of the cable is connected to the top of a lift car, while a second distal end of the cable is connected to a counterweight. Depending on the desired height of the lift apparatus, every time the modular lift apparatus is erected next to a building, a different number of lift shaft modules may be placed on top of each other. Depending on the height, a cable with a corresponding length is provided. However, keeping cables of different lengths on hand is uneconomical.
It is an object of the invention to provide a modular lift apparatus, with which at least one of the drawbacks mentioned and/or other drawbacks is/are counteracted. In particular, it is an object of the invention, to provide a modular lift apparatus being relatively quiet on the one hand and relatively economical on the other hand.
Thereto, the modular lift apparatus according to an aspect of the invention comprises a top module for placement on top of a lift shaft module, wherein the top module comprises a frame mountable on a lift shaft module, a guiding wheel mounted in the frame for at least partly carrying and guiding a traction cable between a first portion and a second portion thereof, for lifting and lowering a lift car in the lift shaft module, a cable clamp for releasably clamping the first portion of the traction cable relative to the frame, and a cable reel for winding at least a part of a surplus portion of the traction cable extending from the cable clamp to a first end of the traction cable.
By providing a guiding wheel for at least partly carrying and guiding a traction cable between a first portion and a second portion thereof, the modular lift apparatus is arranged for lifting and lowering a lift car in the lift shaft module by means of a traction cable. The modular lift apparatus is thus arranged as a so called cable borne lift apparatus. By making the modular lift apparatus cable borne, the modular lift apparatus is relatively quiet in use.
An additional advantage of making the modular lift apparatus cable borne may be that a lift car can be hoisted and lowered relatively quickly.
Besides, the cable borne lift apparatus may be energy-saving, since a counterweight can be used, as a result of which moving the lift car may consume relatively little power compared, e.g. compared to using a toothed rack driving technique.
By providing a cable clamp for releasably clamping the first portion of the traction cable relative to the frame, the length of traction cable positioned between a first portion and a second portion of said traction cable can be easily adjusted to correspond to the actual desired height of a temporary lift apparatus assembly.
By providing a cable reel for winding at least a part of a surplus portion of the traction cable extending from the cable clamp to a first end of the traction cable, said part of the surplus portion of the traction cable can be stored in the top module of an assembled temporary lift apparatus. Therefore, the need of shortening the cable, e.g. by cutting the surplus portion from the cable, becomes superfluous.
Consequently, the invention provides a modular lift apparatus being relatively quiet on the one hand and relatively economical on the other hand, which modular lift apparatus is very flexible in use.
In an advantageous embodiment a fastener can be provided for permanently fastening the second portion of the traction cable relative to the frame, preferably in the top module. Therefore, a counterweight and a lift car may both be suspended from a traction cable between the guiding wheel and the cable clamp and the fastener, respectively. As a result, the distance travelled by the counterweight can substantially equal the distance travelled by the lift car, which can result in a relatively economical lift apparatus.
By providing a lift car module including a pulley unit suspending from a traction cable, a lift car can easily be suspended from the traction cable by connecting it to said lift car module. Consequently, the modular lift apparatus can be assembled relatively easily.
By providing a counterweight module including a pulley unit suspending from a traction cable, a counterweight can easily be suspended from the traction cable by connecting it to said lift counterweight module. Therefore, the modular lift apparatus can be assembled relatively easily.
By providing a tension control device for controlling the tension in a part of the surplus portion of the traction cable, the tension of said part can be controlled in order to wind said part at a desired tension onto the traction cable reel. This may be additionally advantageous when the lift apparatus comprises multiple, substantially parallel traction cables for hoisting a single lift car, which each can be provided with its own tension control device. Therefore, each of a set of multiple, substantially parallel traction cables can be reeled substantially as tight as each of the others.
The invention also relates to a method for assembling a modular lift apparatus.
Advantageous embodiments according to the invention are described in the appended claims.
By way of example only, embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a modular lift apparatus according to an aspect of the invention; and
Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a tension control device according to a further aspect of the invention.

It is noted that the figures show merely preferred embodiments according to the invention. In the figures, the same reference numbers refer to equal or corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a modular lift apparatus 1 according to an aspect of the invention. The modular lift apparatus 1 comprises a top module 2 for placement on top of a lift shaft module 3. The top module 2 comprises a frame 4 mountable on a lift shaft module 3, and a guiding wheel 5 mounted in the frame 4 for at least partly carrying and guiding a traction cable 6 between a first portion 61 and a second portion 62 thereof, for lifting and lowering a lift car 7 in the lift shaft module 3. Further, the top module 2 comprises a cable clamp 8 for releasably clamping the first portion 61 of the traction cable 6 relative to the frame 4, and a cable reel 9 for winding at least a part 63a of a surplus portion 63 of the traction cable 6 extending from the cable clamp 8 to a first end 64 of the traction cable 6.
Preferably, the guiding wheel 5 is traction wheel 5 or so called sheave 5. The traction wheel 5 can comprise a drivable fixed pulley 5 having a rotation axle 50 substantially fixed relative to the frame 4. Additionally, the traction wheel 5 can have a groove around its rim, preferably relatively deep and/or V-shaped, in which groove a traction cable 6 may be pulled due to the weight of a lift car module 11 and/or a counterweight module 13 suspended from said cable 6. Preferably the groove and the cable 6 are arranged to cooperate in order to produce friction between them, thus furnishing traction at least during rotation of the traction wheel 5. Said friction may be enhanced by the weight of the lift car 7 and/or counterweight 16 suspended from the cable. Additionally or alternatively, a traction assist 51 may be provided, preferably in the top module 2, for pushing the traction cable 6 onto the traction wheel 5, preferably into a groove around its rim. For example, the traction assist 51 may be used to enhance the traction force when the lift car 7 and/or the counterweight 16 are/is not suspended from the traction cable 6, e.g. during assembling and/or de-assembling of the modular lift apparatus 1.
Further, the lift apparatus 1 may have a drive unit 17, e.g. comprising an engine, which can be connected to the traction wheel 5 by means of e.g. a toothed belt, gear wheels, or other transmission means 18. The drive unit 17 is preferably provided in the top module 2.
Preferably, the cable clamp 8 comprises two clamp elements 8a, 8b each provided with a clamp groove positioned opposite of each other. The grooves can be arranged for receiving a part of the cable 6. At least one of the clamp elements 8a, 8b may be movable relative to the other, such that the space defined by the opposite grooves can be enlarged and/or reduced. The clamp elements 8a, 8b may be fixed in a position wherein the cable 6 is clamped between the clamp elements, wherein the cable clamp 8 can ensure that the first portion 61 of the cable is not substantially pulled through the grooves in the cable clamp elements 8a, 8b, e.g. due to the weight of a lift car 7 suspended from the traction cable 6. For example for readjusting the length of traction cable 6 between the first portion 61 and the second portion 62 of said traction cable 6, the clamp elements may be loosened, such that the clamp 8 not longer tightly clamps the first portion 61 of the traction cable 6.
In a preferred embodiment, the cable clamp elements 8a, 8b are each formed as a plate provided with a single or a multiple number of grooves in the surface facing the surface of the other clamp element. Alternatively, only one of the plates is provided with grooves in the surface facing the surface of the other clamp element. The clamp elements 8a, 8b are releasably fixed to each other via a releasable connection structure, e.g. via a bolt connection, such that the distance between the clamp elements is minimized and the cable is securely clamped between the clamp elements. Advantageously, the releasable connection structure of the clamp elements 8a,b includes a pre-stressed pressure spring so that the pressure exerted by the clamp elements 8a,b on the cable is dynamically maintained, also when the cable diameter reduces, e.g. due to extreme load.
The modular lift apparatus 1 may further comprise a fastener 10 for permanently fastening the second portion 62 of the traction cable 6 relative to the frame 4.
It is noted that the second portion 62 of the cable can be defined as a portion of the cable 6 extending between the fastener 10 and the guiding wheel 5, whereas the first portion can be defined as extending from the cable clamp 8 up to the first portion 61, wherein the first and second portion are joined at top of the guiding wheel 5.
According to an aspect of the invention, the apparatus 1 can comprise a lift car module 11 including a pulley unit 12 suspending from a traction cable 6. The lift car module 11 may releasably connectable to a lift car 7, e.g. by using first connecting means 18 provided on a top part of the lift car and/or second connecting means 19 provided on the lift car module 11, the first and second connection means preferably being releasably attachable to each other. Preferably, the lift car module 11 fits in a lower room 20 of the top module 2. More preferably, lift car module fixation means 11f are provided on the lift car module 11 and/or in the top module 2 for temporarily fixation of the lift car module 11, e.g. during transport of the top module 2 to or from a construction side.
Alternatively, the lift car module 11 may include a lift car 7, e.g. forming a substantially non-detachable part of said module 7.
In the shown embodiment the pulley unit 12 comprises two pulleys 12a, 12b positioned substantially in line with each other for guiding a single traction cable 6. However, in other embodiment the pulley unit 12 may comprise another number of pulleys substantially in line with each other, e.g. three, four or five pulleys, or the unit 12 may comprise a single pulley, for guiding said single traction cable 6.
The pulley or pulleys 12a, 12b can have their rotation axes substantially fixated relatively to the lift car module 11. Preferably, the pulley or pulleys are suspended from the traction cable 6.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the apparatus may further comprise a counterweight module 13 including a pulley unit 14 suspending from a traction cable 6. Here, said pulley unit 14 comprises a single pulley for a single traction cable 6. Alternatively, said unit 14 can comprise multiple pulleys, e.g. two or three, preferably placed substantially in line, for guiding a single cable 6. The counterweight module 13 may releasably connectable to a counterweight 16, e.g. by using connecting means 22 provided on the counterweight module 13 and/or further connecting means 23 provided near a top part of the counterweight 16. Preferably, the counterweight module 13 fits in the lower room 20 of the top module 2. More preferably, counterweight module fixation means 13f are provided on the counterweight module 13 and/or in the top module 2 for temporarily fixation of said counterweight module 13, e.g. during transport of the top module 2.
Here, the modular lift apparatus 1 comprises a traction cable 6. Said cable 6 has a first portion 61 and a second portion 62, wherein the first portion 61 of the traction cable 6 is releasably clamped by the cable clamp 8 to the frame 4, and wherein at least a part 63a of a surplus portion 63 of the traction cable 6 extending from the cable clamp 8 to a first end 64 of the traction cable 6 is wound on the cable reel 9. The cable reel 9 can be a drum 9 having a cylindrical core 90 and two opposing walls 91 extending radially from said core 90. Preferably the first end 64 is attached to the cable reel 9, more preferably to the cylindrical core 90.
Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a tension control device 15 according to an aspect of the invention. The tension control device 15 comprises a driving pulley 27, a driving belt 28 and a control mechanism 159. The driving belt 28 interconnects the driving pulley 28 and the cable reel 9 using a friction coupling. The control mechanism 159 comprises a cable contact element 152 for sensing a tension in a part 63b of the surplus portion 63 to be wound onto the cable reel 9, a belt contact element 153 for adjusting a tension in the driving belt 28, and an intermediate unit 150. The intermediate unit 150 is associated with the cable contact element 152 and the belt contact element 153, so as to increase the friction in the friction coupling of the driving belt 28 when a reduction in the tension of said part 63b of the surplus portion 63 is sensed, and to decrease the friction in the friction coupling of the driving belt 28 when an increase in the tension of said part 63b of the surplus portion is sensed.
For example, the tension control device 15 can be provided in an apparatus having a cable reel for reeling one or multiple cables, ropes, cord, strings and/or chains, preferably substantially at a predetermined tension. It is noted that the tension control device can comprise additional features, e.g. as described below in relation with a lift apparatus.
The tension control device 15, which is left out from Fig. 1 for illustration purposes, may be provided in a modular lift apparatus 1 according to an aspect of the invention, preferably at least partly in the top module 2. Here, the tension control device 15 is arranged for controlling the tension in a part 63b of the surplus portion 63 of the traction cable 6 to be wound onto the cable reel 9. Here, the intermediate unit 150 comprises an intermediate frame 150 substantially freely rotatable around a pivot 151. The intermediate frame 150 is provided with the cable contact element 152, here comprising a substantially freely rotatable cable contact roll 152b, and the belt contact element 153, here comprising a substantially freely rotatable belt contact roll 153b. The part 63b to be wound may comprise a horizontal component, and more preferably said part 63b is oriented substantially horizontal. Thereto, in the shown embodiment the lift apparatus 1 comprises an adjusting wheel 29 for adjusting the direction of the cable, which wheel 29, along the path of the cable 6, is located between the cable clamp 8 and the cable reel 9. In the shown embodiment, the lift apparatus 1 further comprises a second drive unit 27, e.g. comprising an engine and the driving pulley 27b of the tension control device 15, which unit 27 is connected to the cable reel 9 by means of the driving belt 28. Alternatively, in stead of the driving belt another transmission means may be provided. The second drive unit 27is preferably provided in the top module 2.
The driving belt 28 is prestressed to such extent that when the driving pulley 27b is rotating, the cable reel 9 is only driven when the belt 28 is at least tightened to a predetermined extent. This is, at least when the belt contact element 153 is not pressing against the belt 15, the belt is not tightened tight enough around the driving pulley 27b and/or a reel pulley 9b attached to the cable reel 9 to drive the reel pulley 9b, e.g. because the belt 15 slips over the driving pulley 27b and/or the reel pulley 9b. Here, the belt contact element 153 can cause said further tightening by pressing against the belt 128 due to rotation 154 of the intermediate frame 150, thereby increasing the friction in the friction coupling of the driving belt. Preferably, said rotation 154 can be caused at least partly by a gravitation force 155 working onto the intermediate frame 150 exceeding the pressing force 156 the cable portion 63b to be wound exerting to the cable contact element 152. Additionally or alternatively, the rotation 154 can be caused at least partly by pressing and/or pulling means, e.g. by a spring providing a force 155 working onto the intermediate frame 150.
On the other hand, when the tension in the part 63b to be wound is increasing due to reeling of the surplus portion, the cable contact element 152 can be pushed aside by said part, thereby pivoting the intermediate frame 150 and moving the belt contact element 153 in a direction away from a driving belt 28. As a result, the friction in the friction coupling can decrease and the belt can start to slip over the driving pulley 27b and/or the reel pulley 9b.
Further, the intermediate frame 150 may comprise at least one weight, preferably movable with respect to the pivot 151, in order to adjust the predetermined cable tension at which the cable reel 9 can be driven. Consequently, the tension at which the cable 6 can be reeled can be adjusted.
Here, the lift apparatus 1 has one tension control device 15. Alternatively, the apparatus 1 may have multiple tension control devices 15, e.g. six or eight tension control devices 15. Preferably, each of the tension control devices 15 is arranged for controlling the tension in a respective part 63b of a respective surplus portion 63 of one of a plurality of traction cables 6 to be wound onto a respective one of a plurality of cable reels 9. The multiple tension control devices 15 can share one or a multiple number of common drive units 27, e.g. for substantially simultaneously driving multiple belts 28, each arranged for driving one of the multiple cable reels 9. Preferably, the multiple cable reels 9 can rotate indepently of each other. More preferably, the rotation axes of the multiple cable reels are substantially in line with each other.
Although in the shown embodiment the belt contact element 153 presses against an outer surface 28a of the belt 28 to increase the friction in the friction coupling, the belt contact element 153 may press against an inner surface 28b of the belt 28 to increase the friction in the friction coupling in an alternative embodiment.
Besides, the apparatus 1 can comprise at least one cable guide 47 for guiding a cable being reeled and/or unreeled. The cable guide 47 may comprise at least one aperture 47b, e.g. a hole 47b or a slot, through which the cable 6 can extend. Preferably, the cable guide 47 is movable in a substantially lateral direction relative to the cable, more preferably a direction substantially parallel to the cable reel 9 and/or the cylindrical core 90. Therefore, the cable can be reeled substantially equally spread over the width of the cable reel 9 and/or the cylindrical core 90. For example, the cable guide 47 is located substantially between the cable contact element 152 and the cable clamp 8, preferably between said contact element 152 and the adjusting wheel 29. Alternatively, the cable guide 47 is located substantially between the cable contact element 152 and the cable reel 9.
In an advantageous embodiment, the cable guide 47 comprises multiple offset apertures 47b for guiding multiple offset cables 6 to be wound onto multiple offset cable reels 9.
It is noted that embodiments of a tension control device as described above can not only be used in combination with a modular lift apparatus. Alternatively, the tension control device can be provided for other purposes and/or may be provided without a modular lift apparatus. According to an aspect of the invention, a tension control device is provided, wherein the tension control device comprises: a driving pulley; a driving belt interconnecting the driving pulley and the cable reel using a friction coupling; and a control mechanism having: a cable contact element for sensing a tension in a part of the surplus portion to be wound onto the cable reel; a belt contact element for adjusting a tension in the driving belt; and an intermediate unit associated with the cable contact element and the belt contact element, so as to increase the friction in the friction coupling of the driving belt when a reduction in the tension of said part of the surplus portion is sensed, and to decrease the friction in the friction coupling of the driving belt when an increase in the tension of said part of the surplus portion is sensed.
In an advantageous embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, the modular lift apparatus 1 further comprises a governor line reel 24 for winding at least a part of a surplus portion of a governor line 26. The governor line 26 is arranged for cooperation with a governor 25 for detecting whether the lift car 7 is descending faster than its predetermined maximum speed. Preferably, said governor line 26 comprises a toothed belt 26. The governor 25 can be arranged to activate an emergency brake upon detecting that the lift car 7 is descending too fast. The emergency brake for instance comprising clamps for clamping guiding rails in the shaft. In the shown embodiment the governor line 26 is tightened substantially vertically in the lift apparatus. Thereto a lower end 26a of the governor line 26 is mounted by a governor line mounting means 40, preferably provided in the base lift shaft module 30, while an upper end 26b of the governor line 26 may be substantially hold in position by a governor line clamp 41 and/or by means of a brake 42 counteracting unwinding of the governor line reel 24.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the modular lift apparatus 1 may comprises a height line reel for winding at least a part of a surplus portion of a height line for cooperation with a height meter arranged for determining the current position of a lift car 7. In an embodiment the height line can be tightened substantially vertically in the lift apparatus 1. For instance, hereto a lower end said line may be mounted by a height line mounting means, preferably provided in the base lift shaft module 30, while an upper end of the height line may be substantially hold in position by a height line clamp and/or by means of a brake counteracting unwinding of the governor line reel.
Preferably, the governor line reel 24 and the height line reel are integrated in a single reel 24.
Here, the modular lift appartus 1 is borne by a single traction cable. Alternatively, the modular lift appartus 1 can be borne by multiple traction cables 6, for instance six or eight cables 6. Preferably, each of the cables 6 is capable on its own of supporting at least the weight of the counter weight 16 and/or the lift car 7, preferably when substantially maximally loaded.
The modular lift apparatus 1 may further comprise multiple guiding wheels 5 mounted in the frame 4 for at least partly carrying and guiding a respective traction cable 6 between a first portion 61 and a second portion 62 thereof, for lifting and lowering the lift car 7 in the lift shaft module 3, multiple cable clamps for releasably clamping the first portion of the respective traction cable 6 relative to the frame 4, and multiple cable reels 9 for winding at least a part 63a of a surplus portion 63 of the respective traction cable 6 extending from the respective cable clamp 8 to a first end 64 of the respective traction cable.
Moreover, the modular lift apparatus 1 comprises at least one lift shaft module 3 having a lift shaft part 3b and lift guiding means for guiding a lift car 7, and a lift car 7 movable in the lift shaft part 3 being guided by the guiding means.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided for a method for assembling a modular lift apparatus 1 having a plurality of lift shaft modules 3. The method comprises the step of providing a top module 2 for placement on top of a lift shaft module 3. The top module 2 has a frame 4 mountable on a lift shaft module, a guiding wheel 5 mounted in the frame 4 for at least partly carrying and guiding a traction cable 6 between a first portion 61 and a second portion 62 thereof, for lifting and lowering a lift car 7 in the lift shaft module 3, a cable clamp 8 for releasably clamping the first portion 61 of the traction cable 6 relative to the frame 4 , and a cable reel 9 for winding or unwinding at least a part 63a of a surplus portion 63 of the traction cable 6 extending from the cable clamp 8 to a first end 64 of the traction cable 6.
Further, the method comprises the step of selecting a desired distance between a first portion 61 and a second portion 62 of the traction cable 6, corresponding with a lifting and lowering height 43 of the lift car 7 in the modular lift apparatus 1. Said height 43 can be the substantially vertical distance 43 between the lowest desired lowering position 7a of the lift car 7 and the highest desired lifting position 7b of said lift car 7. For example, the desired distance between a first portion 61 and a second portion 62 of a traction cable 6 can be the distance measured along said cable from a cable clamp 8 for releasably clamping the first portion 61 of the traction cable 6 and a fastener 10 for permanently fastening the second portion 62 of said cable 6.
The method further comprises the step of rotating the cable reel 9 until the desired distance between the first and second portion of the traction cable 6 is reached.
Moreover, the method comprises the step of releasably clamping the second portion 62 relative to the frame 4 of the top module 2.
It is noted that the method may further comprise other steps. For example, the modular lift apparatus 1 may be partly assembled in a substantially conventional way, e.g. by hoisting a first lift shaft module 31 on top of a base lift shaft module 30 and mounting said first lift shaft module 31 to said base module 30. Additionally, one or more further lift shaft modules 32 may be hoisted on and mounted on top of a previous module 3. For example, the assembled modular lift apparatus 1 may comprise two to sixteen lift shaft modules 30, 31, 32.
During at least a part of the assembly of the lift apparatus 1, the roof of the lift car 7 may be used as a working platform. Thereto, the lift car can be hoisted to a working level 70, e.g. by using a hoisting device at least partly included in the lift apparatus 1 such as a tooth rack system, or by an external hoisting device such as a hoisting crane. After being hoisted to the desired working level 70, the lift car 7 can be temporarily suspended at said desired working level 70, e.g. by means of suspension means 44 provided in the module 3 and or on the lift car 7. Additionally or alternatively, the lift car 7 may comprise a, for instance collapsible, rail 45, preferably located at the roof of said lift car 7.
In an advantageous embodiment of the method, a desired number of lift shaft modules 3 can be placed on top of each other and a top module can subsequently be placed on top of topmost lift shaft module 35. It is noted that prior to placement of the top module 2, preferably the cable 6 is reeled substantially as far as possible onto the cable reel 9, and the lift car module 11 and the counterweight module 13 are each positioned into a hoisted position 11h, 13h, said positions 11h, 13h preferably being inside the lower room 20 of the top module 2. Further, the lift car 7 is suspended in the topmost lift shaft module 35, i.e. in the lift shaft module 35 placed directly beneath the top module 2, preferably using the suspension means 44.
Preferably thereafter, the cable 6 can be at least partly unreeled, thereby enabling lowering of the lift car module 11 and the counterweight module 13, which can then be attached to the lift car 7 and the counterweight 16, respectively. The cable 6 is preferably unreeled with the aid of the traction wheel 5, which thereto may advantageously cooperate with the traction assist 51. Thereafter, a part of the surplus portion 63 of the cable 6 can be reeled onto the cable reel 9. However, said part 63 of the surplus portion 63 can alternatively be left reeled on the cable reel 9 in the fist place. Subsequently, the first portion 61 of the cable can be clamped by the cable clamp 8. Thereafter, the lift car 7 can be released from the suspension means 44, because the lift car 7 then is cable borne, and may subsequently be used, e.g. for transporting goods and/or people 49.
Further, the invention can provide for a method for de-assembling a modular lift apparatus 1. The method for de-assembling a modular lift apparatus 1 can substantially comprise the inverse steps of the above method for assembling, the steps preferably being executed in the reverse order.
It will be understood that the above described embodiments of the invention are exemplary only and that other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. It will be understood that many variants are possible.
As an example, the traction cable 6 can be a steel cable 6, a rope 6 or a chain.
Further, the top module 2 may comprise a lower room 20 and a top room 21, preferably separated by a dividing floor 46, wherein the top room 21 can form an engine room 21 of the apparatus 1. The top room 21 may comprise at least one guiding wheel 5, drive unit 17, cable reel 9, governor line reel 24, height line reel, cable clamp 8 and/or fastener 10. The dividing floor 46 can form a work floor 46 of the top room 21.
Alternatively or additionally, the cable reel 9 and/or the guiding wheel 5 can be provided with a brake for slowing down said reel 9 or wheel 5 and/or can be provided with a fixation means for temporally fixating said reel 9 or wheel 5 to temporally prevent it from rotation.
Furthermore, it is noted that although the lift car module 11 in the shown embodiments is suspended by the first portion 61 of the traction cable 6 and the counterweight module 13 is suspended by the second portion 62, the positions of said suspended modules 11, 13 can be reversed. This is, the lift car module 11 may be suspended by the second portion 62 while the counterweight module 13 may be suspended by the first portion 61 of the traction cable 6.
Such variants will be apparent to the person skilled in the art and are considered to fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

A modular lift apparatus, comprising a top module for placement on top of a lift shaft module, wherein the top module comprises:
- a frame mountable on a lift shaft module;

- a guiding wheel mounted in the frame for at least partly carrying and guiding a traction cable between a first portion and a second portion thereof, for lifting and lowering a lift car in the lift shaft module;

- a cable clamp for releasably clamping the first portion of the traction cable relative to the frame; and

- a cable reel for winding at least a part of a surplus portion of the traction cable extending from the cable clamp to a first end of the traction cable.
A modular lift apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fastener for permanently fastening the second portion of the traction cable relative to the frame.
A modular lift apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guiding wheel is a traction wheel.
A modular lift apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a lift car module including a pulley unit suspending from a traction cable.
A modular lift apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a counterweight module including a pulley unit suspending from a traction cable.
A modular lift apparatus according to any of the claims 3-5, further comprising a traction assist, preferably in the top module, for pushing the traction cable onto the traction wheel, preferably into a groove around the rim of the traction wheel.
A modular lift apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cable clamp includes clamp portions that are fixed to each other via a releasably connection structure including a pre-stressed pressure spring.
A modular lift apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a traction cable having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the traction cable is releasably clamped by the cable clamp to the frame, and wherein at least a part of a surplus portion of the traction cable extending from the cable clamp to a first end of the traction cable is wound on the cable reel.
A modular lift apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a tension control device for controlling the tension in a part of the surplus portion of the traction cable to be wound onto the cable reel.
A modular lift apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tension control device comprises:
- a driving pulley;

- a driving belt interconnecting the driving pulley and the cable reel using a friction coupling; and

- a control mechanism having:
- a cable contact element for sensing a tension in a part of the surplus portion to be wound onto the cable reel;

- a belt contact element for adjusting a tension in the driving belt; and

- an intermediate unit associated with the cable contact element and the belt contact element, so as to increase the friction in the friction coupling of the driving belt when a reduction in the tension of said part of the surplus portion is sensed, and to decrease the friction in the friction coupling of the driving belt when an increase in the tension of said part of the surplus portion is sensed.
A modular lift apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a governor line reel for winding at least a part of a surplus portion of a governor line for cooperation with a governor for measuring the speed of a lift car.
A modular lift apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a height line reel for winding at least a part of a surplus portion of a height line for cooperation with a height meter of determining the current position of a lift car.
A modular lift apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising:
- multiple guiding wheels mounted in the frame for at least partly carrying and guiding a respective traction cable between a first portion and a second portion thereof, for lifting and lowering the lift car in the lift shaft module;

- multiple cable clamps for releasably clamping the first portion of the respective traction cable relative to the frame; and

- multiple cable reels for winding at least a part of a surplus portion of the respective traction cable extending from the respective cable clamp to a first end of the respective traction cable.
A modular lift apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising multiple traction cables.
A modular lift apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one lift shaft module having a lift shaft part and lift guiding means for guiding a lift car, and a lift car movable in the lift shaft part being guided by the guiding means.
A method for assembling a modular lift apparatus having a plurality of lift shaft modules, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a top module for placement on top of a lift shaft module, the top module having:
- a frame mountable on a lift shaft module;

- a guiding wheel mounted in the frame for at least partly carrying and guiding a traction cable between a first portion and a second portion thereof, for lifting and lowering a lift car in the lift shaft module;

- a cable clamp for releasably clamping the first portion of the traction cable relative to the frame; and

- a cable reel for winding or unwinding at least a part of a surplus portion of the traction cable extending from the cable clamp to a first end of the traction cable;

- selecting a desired distance between a first portion and a second portion of the traction cable, corresponding with a lifting and lowering height of the lift car in the modular lift apparatus;

- rotating the cable reel until the desired distance between the first and second portion of the traction cable is reached; and

- releasably clamping the second portion relative to the frame of the top module.