EP4601984A1 - Elevator arrangement and method for constructing elevator - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a an elevator arrangement (100, 200) comprising a rope anchoring device (11) mounted in a first rope anchor position (11A) in the hoistway (2), the rope anchoring device (11) comprising a support structure (110) and a rope gripper (111) fixed to said support structure (110), to which rope gripper (111) one or more hoisting ropes (7) pass from a car (9) or a counterweight (10), the rope gripper (111) being arranged to grip the one or more ropes (7) in a releasable manner, via which rope gripper (111) said one or more ropes (7) pass to the rope supply storage (20). The rope anchoring device (11) is mounted in its first position (11A) separately from the hoisting machine unit (8) of the elevator arrangement on at least one (3) of the guide rail lines (3,4) to be vertically supported by said at least one of the guide rail lines (3,4).The invention also relates to a method utilizing the elevator arrangement (100, 200).

Description

ELEVATOR ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING ELEVATOR

Field of the invention

The invention relates to an elevator arrangement and a method for constructing an elevator.

Background of the invention

Such construction time elevators are known, hereinafter also referred to as jump-lifts, where the bottom part of an elevator hoistway is taken into transportation use already when the upper parts of the building and the hoistway are still under construction or even non-existent. In this kind of project, the upper parts of the building as well as the top part of the elevator hoistway can be constructed at the same time as an elevator moving in the bottom part of the elevator hoistway already serves people on the lower floors of the building under construction. Typically in construction time elevators, the elevator car moving in the lower parts of the elevator hoistway is supported and moved during construction-time use with a hoisting machine supported on a machine room which is vertically movable in the elevator hoistway. Also such construction time elevators are known where the hoisting machine is mounted on a guide rail and detachable for moving it upwards by hoisting. The construction time elevators typically comprise two guide rail lines for the car and two guide rail lines for a counterweight. The hoisting machine typically comprises a drive wheel engaging hoisting ropes suspending on opposite sides thereof an elevator car and a counterweight. From said car the rope passes further to a rope anchor and from the counterweight to another rope anchor. One of the anchors is made releasable and the ropes continue via it unbroken to a rope supply storage.

When a portion of the elevator hoistway under construction higher than the hoisting machine has reached a sufficient stage of completion, the completed part of the elevator hoistway can be taken into use. At this stage a configuration change, hereinafter also referred to as "a jump", is performed, wherein the hoisting machine and rope anchors are hoisted higher in the elevator hoistway. Thereafter, the car can reach a higher position than before the jump and start to serve additional floors. One of the rope anchors has been releasable for allowing moving of rope via the rope anchor from a rope supply storage for thereby increasing length of the rope on opposite side of the rope anchor. By releasing the rope anchor and thereafter pulling rope via the rope anchor, the length of the hoisting ropes between the rope anchors can be extended longer in the configuration change. The pulling can be simply produced e.g. by hoisting of the rope anchors and/or the drive wheel around which the hoisting ropes pass. The rope length to be added to the system could also be pulled via the releasable rope clamp separately from the hoisting of said components, if desired. In prior art, there has been different ways and positions to mount the releasable rope clamp. In jump-lifts with a machine room, it has been mounted to be supported on the same machine room platform as the hoisting machine unit. In machineroomless jump lifts it has been mounted typically level with the hoisting machine unit, but on the opposite side of the car than the hoisting machine. The support has been taken typically from a hoistway wall.

A drawback of prior solutions described above has been that they have not provided a simple and light system, where the mounting points of components to be hoisted and remounted in a configuration change can be simply found and accessed.

Brief description of the invention

The object of the invention is to introduce an improved construction time elevator solution, which facilitates simplicity of component mounting as well as hoisting step and subsequent remounting in a configuration change step occurring after a period of transporting passengers and/or goods. An object is particularly to introduce a new machineroomless solution by which one or more of the above-mentioned problems of prior art and/or drawbacks discussed or implied elsewhere in the description can be alleviated.

It is introduced, inter alia, embodiments where a hoisting machine unit and a rope anchor can be positioned such that they are easily accessible, dismountable, hoistable and remountable in a desired vertical position in the hoistway. It is facilitated that the mounting position of these components can structurally endure the loads caused. It is also easy to handle and operate with these components one by one without handling very heavy objects simultaneously.

It is brought forward a new elevator arrangement comprising a hoistway; and guide rail line lines in the hoistway, comprising at least a first guide rail line, which is preferably a guide rail line for guiding an elevator car, and a second guide rail line, which is preferably a guide rail line for guiding a counterweight, each guide rail line preferably comprising a plurality of guide rail sections piled on top of each other; and one or more hoisting ropes; and a rope supply storage; and a hoisting machine unit mounted in a first hoisting machine position in the hoistway on at least one of the guide rail lines to be vertically supported by said at least one of the guide rail lines; and an elevator car and a counterweight in the hoistway, which elevator car and counterweight are interconnected by the one or more hoisting ropes, the one or more hoisting ropes in particular being arranged to suspend them on opposite sides of a drive wheel of the hoisting machine unit; and a rope anchoring device mounted in a first rope anchor position in the hoistway, the rope anchoring device comprising a support structure and a rope gripper fixed to said support structure, to which rope gripper the one or more hoisting ropes pass from the car or counterweight, the rope gripper being arranged to grip the one or more ropes in a releasable manner, via which rope gripper said one or more hoisting ropes pass to a rope supply storage, the rope gripper being in particular releasable for allowing moving of rope via the rope anchor from the rope supply storage for thereby increasing length of the rope on opposite side of the rope anchor.

The rope anchoring device is mounted in its first position separately from the hoisting machine unit on at least one of the guide rail lines to be vertically supported by said at least one of the guide rail lines.

With this kind of solution one or more of the above-mentioned objects can be facilitated.

Preferable further details of the arrangement are introduced in the following, which further details can be combined with the method individually or in any combination.

In a preferred embodiment, the hoisting machine unit is mounted in its first hoisting machine position on the first guide rail line to be vertically supported by said first guide rail line. Preferably, the hoisting machine unit is mounted in its first position on only one guide rail line.

In a preferred embodiment, the rope anchoring device is mounted in its first position on the first guide rail line to be vertically supported by said first guide rail line.

In a preferred embodiment, the rope anchoring device and the hoisting machine unit are mounted in their first positions both on the first guide rail line to be vertically supported by said first guide rail line.

In a preferred embodiment, the rope anchoring device is mounted in its first position on the first and second guide rail lines to be vertically supported by said first and second guide rail lines. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting point between the rope anchoring device (mounted in its first position) and the first guide rail line is higher than the mounting point between the hoisting machine unit (mounted in its first position) and the first guide rail line. Thus, they receive support from the same side of the elevator car. However, the anchoring device, and particularly its support structure, is not in the way of the hoisting ropes passing away from the drive wheel, yet the gripper thereof is relatively freely positionable in horizontal direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the hoisting machine unit comprises a motor and a drive wheel engaging said one or more hoisting ropes, the drive wheel being rotatable by the electric motor.

In a preferred embodiment, the vertical projection of the gripper is horizontally displaced from the vertical projection of the motor and the drive wheel of the hoisting machine unit. Thus, the hoisting ropes can arrive thereto simply along a relatively direct route without collision risk with the hoisting machine components. The support structure facilitates this.

In a preferred embodiment, the support structure protrudes in horizontal direction from the mounting point between the rope anchoring device (mounted in its first position) and the first guide rail line, and the rope gripper is fixed to said support structure such that it is horizontally displaced from the first guide rail line, e.g. a distance between 0.5-1.5 meters. This facilitates that the rope anchor and the hoisting machine unit can both arranged to receive support from the same guide rail line yet such that the layout leaves safe clearance around the hoisting ropes.

In a preferred embodiment, the rope anchoring device and the hoisting machine unit are mounted in their first positions on the same guide rail section of said first guide rail line or on successive guide rail sections of said first guide rail line. In a preferred embodiment, the position of the gripper relative to a guide rail line on which it is mounted in its first position, in particular the first guide rail line and/or the second guide rail line, on which it is mounted in its first position is adjustable.

In a preferred embodiment, the support structure of the rope anchoring device mounted in its first position is fixed on a guide rail section of said first guide rail line.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide rail section of said first guide rail line comprises plurality of through-holes, and the support structure of the rope anchoring device mounted in its first position is fixed on the guide rail section by releasable fixing means comprising fixing members extending into said through-holes of the guide rail section.

In a preferred embodiment, the support structure of the rope anchoring device mounted in its first position is fixed on a guide rail section of said second guide rail line.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide rail section of said second guide rail line comprises plurality of through-holes, and the support structure of the rope anchoring device mounted in its first position is fixed on the guide rail section by releasable fixing means comprising fixing members extending into said through-holes of the guide rail section.

In a preferred embodiment, the one or more hoisting ropes pass from the hoisting machine unit down to the counterweight and around one or more rope wheels thereof, and from said one or more rope wheels up to the rope anchoring device.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and second guide rail line are both on one side of the car. Preferably, on said side there is also third guide rail line, which is in direction of the car wall closer to the first guide rail line than said second guide rail line, and the second and third guide rail line being arranged to guide the counterweight between them.

In a preferred embodiment, the one or more hoisting ropes pass from the hoisting machine unit down to the counterweight via a space extending beside the car and a hoistway wall and the one or more hoisting ropes pass from said one or more rope wheels up to the rope anchoring device via said same space extending beside the car and a hoistway wall, the counterweight being arranged to travel vertically in said space.

In a preferred embodiment, the hoisting machine unit is mounted in its first hoisting machine position on the back side of the first guide rail line, i.e. on the opposite side than where the car is, between a hoistway wall and the guide rail line.

In a preferred embodiment, the shape and/or size of the support structure is adjustable.

In a preferred embodiment, the rope supply storage stores more than 10 meters of each said one or more hoisting rope, preferably much more such as 20-100 meters. The rope supply storage is preferably in the form of one or more rope reels where additional length of hoisting rope can be taken from.

In a preferred embodiment, the rope anchoring device, in particular the support structure thereof, comprises plurality of parts fixable in horizontal direction in different positions relative to each other, and/or the rope anchoring device comprises horizontally elongated fixing holes by which components of the rope anchoring device ( can be fixed together in different positions relative to each other; and/or at least one part of the support structure comprises horizontally elongated fixing holes h for fixing parts of the support structure to each other in different positions relative to each other; and/or the support structure comprises plurality of fixing positions beside each other in horizontal direction for a guide rail section; and/or a part of the support structure comprises plurality of pairs of fixing holes that are beside each other in horizontal direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the elevator arrangement moreover comprises a hoisting arrangement higher in the hoistway than the rope anchoring device and the hoisting machine unit mounted in their first positions, the hoisting arrangement comprising a vertically movable platform arranged to carry or at least suitable for carrying a fitter (human) and/or one or more guide rail sections to be installed on top of the guide rail lines already mounted in the hoistway.

In a preferred embodiment, each guide rail line on which the hoisting machine unit is mounted in its first position extends substantially higher than the first hoisting machine unit position preferably at least to a level of a second hoisting machine unit position, which is more than 5 meters higher than the first hoisting machine unit position, and each guide rail line on which the rope anchoring device is mounted in its first position extends substantially higher than the first rope anchoring device position, preferably at least to a level of a second rope anchoring device position, which is more than 5 meters higher than the first rope anchoring device position.

In a preferred embodiment, the first guide rail line moreover comprises one or more guide rail sections on top of said guide rail section on which the rope anchoring device mounted in its first position is fixed, including a further guide rail section comprising through-holes for receiving said fixing members of the releasable fixing means of the rope anchoring device, whereby the support structure of the rope anchoring device can be fixed on the further guide rail section for remounting it in a second position by fixing the support structure on the further guide rail section by said releasable fixing means such that the fixing members extend into said through-holes of the further guide rail section.

In a preferred embodiment, the second guide rail line moreover comprises one or more guide rail sections on top of said guide rail section on which the rope anchoring device mounted in its first position is fixed, including a further guide rail section comprising through-holes for receiving said fixing members of the releasable fixing means of the rope anchoring device, whereby the support structure of the rope anchoring device can be fixed on the further guide rail section for remounting it in a second position by fixing the support structure on the further guide rail section by said releasable fixing means such that the fixing members extend into said through-holes of the further guide rail section.

In a preferred embodiment the rope gripper is arranged to grip the one or more ropes in a releasable manner by gripping members compressible against the sides of the ropes.

In a preferred embodiment, the rope anchoring device comprises a rope wheel for guiding the ropes from the rope gripper to the rope supply storage. Thus, the ropes between the gripper and the rope supply storage do not hang uncontrolled. Preferably, the ropes are arranged to pass from the car or counterweight to gripping means of the rope gripper, and in particular between gripping members thereof, and from said gripping means to the rope wheel, and from the rope wheel to the rope supply storage. The rope wheel is preferably higher than the gripping means and the ropes arrive from below to the rope wheel. The rope preferably arrives to the gripping means from below.

It is also brought forward a new method for constructing an elevator comprising providing an elevator arrangement as defined anywhere above or any of the claims of the application, and thereafter performing a configuration change. Said performing a configuration change comprises dismounting the hoisting machine unit from the at least one of the guide rail lines on which it is mounted in its a first hoisting machine position; and dismounting the rope anchor from the at least one of the guide rail lines on which it is mounted in its first the rope anchor position; hoisting the hoisting machine unit and the rope anchor; and mounting the hoisting machine unit to a second hoisting machine position, which is higher than the first hoisting machine position, on the same at least one of the guide rail lines on which it was mounted in its first the hoisting machine position; and mounting the rope anchor to a second rope anchor position, which is higher than the first rope anchor position, separately from the hoisting machine unit on the same at least one of the guide rail lines on which it was mounted in its first the rope anchor position.

With this kind of solution one or more of the above-mentioned objects can be facilitated.

Preferable further details of the method are introduced in the above as well as in the following, which further details can be combined with the method individually or in any combination.

In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises, in particular after said providing and before said configuration change, moving the elevator car for transporting passengers and/or goods with the hoisting machine unit while the hoisting machine unit and the rope anchor are in their first positions.

In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises, in particular after the performing configuration change, moving the elevator car for transporting passengers and/or goods with the hoisting machine unit while the hoisting machine unit and the rope anchor are in their second positions.

In a preferred embodiment, the method, preferably in particular the performing configuration change, comprises releasing the rope anchor and moving rope via the rope anchor from a rope supply storage for thereby increasing length of the one or more hoisting ropes on opposite side of the rope anchor, and thereafter closing the rope anchor. In a preferred embodiment, in said mountings, the rope anchoring device and the hoisting machine unit are mounted in their second positions as they were mounted in their first positions according to any of the preceding claims

In a preferred embodiment, in said performing the configuration change (i.e. in the mounting steps thereof), the rope anchoring device and the hoisting machine unit are mounted in their second positions both on the first guide rail line to be vertically supported by said first guide rail line.

In a preferred embodiment, the mounting point between the rope anchoring device (mounted in its second position) and the first guide rail line is higher than the mounting point between the hoisting machine unit (mounted in its second position 8B) and the first guide rail line. Thus they receive support from the same side of the elevator car however the anchoring device, and particularly its support structure, is not in the way of the hoisting ropes passing away from the drive wheel, yet the gripper thereof is relatively freely positionable in horizontal direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises, in particular after said providing and before said configuration change, constructing comprising: constructing each guide rail line on which the hoisting machine unit is mounted in its first position to extend substantially higher than the first hoisting machine unit position preferably at least to a level of a second hoisting machine unit position; and constructing each guide rail line on which the rope anchoring device is mounted in its first position to extend substantially higher than the first rope anchoring device position, preferably at least to a level of a second rope anchoring device position.

In a preferred embodiment, the first hoisting machine unit position is more than 5 meters higher than the first hoisting machine unit position (, and the second rope anchoring device position is more than 5 meters higher than the first rope anchoring device position. In a preferred embodiment, each said constructing a guide rail line comprises mounting on top of the guide rail line at least one further guide rail section.

In a preferred embodiment, the mounting the rope anchor to a second rope anchor position comprises fixing the support structure of the rope anchoring device on a guide rail section of said first guide rail line, in particular on a further guide rail section comprising through-holes for receiving fixing members of the releasable fixing means of the rope anchoring device.

In a preferred embodiment, the mounting the rope anchor to a second rope anchor position comprises fixing the support structure of the rope anchoring device on a guide rail section of said second guide rail line, in particular on a further guide rail section comprising through-holes for receiving fixing members of the releasable fixing means of the rope anchoring device.

Generally, the car preferably comprises an interior wherein passenger and/or goods can be transported. The car preferably also comprises one or more doors by which the interior can be opened and closed. The door is preferably an automatic door, whereby comfortable and safe elevator use can be provided by the elevator solution.

Brief description of the drawings

In the following, the present invention will be described in more detail by way of example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which

Figure 1 illustrates a first phase in a method for constructing an elevator according to an embodiment, as well as an elevator arrangement according to an embodiment.

Figure 2 illustrates a second phase in the method for constructing an elevator according to an embodiment, as well as an elevator arrangement as it is in the second phase. Figure 3 illustrates a third phase in the method for constructing an elevator according to an embodiment, as well as an elevator arrangement as it is in the third phase.

Figure 4 illustrates performing a configuration change in the method for constructing an elevator according to an embodiment.

Figure 5 illustrates preferred details of the arrangement according to an embodiment as a perspective view.

Figure 6 illustrates preferred details of the fixing between the rope anchoring device and a guide rail line.

Figure 7 illustrates schematically preferred details of the layout of the elevator arrangement.

Figure 8 illustrates preferred details of the arrangement according to an embodiment as a front view.

Figure 9 illustrates preferred details of the rope anchoring device as a perspective view.

Figure 10 illustrates preferred details of the rope anchoring device as a bottom view.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate preferred details of the rope gripper of the rope anchoring device.

Detailed description

Figure 1 illustrates a phase in a method for constructing an elevator according to an embodiment, as well as an elevator arrangement 100 according to an embodiment.

In the first phase, the method comprises providing an elevator arrangement 100 as illustrated in Figure 1. The elevator arrangement 100 comprises a hoistway 2 and guide rail line lines 3,4, 5, 6 in the hoistway 2. The guide rail lines comprise at least a first guide rail line 3, which is in this case a guide rail line for guiding an elevator car 9, and a second guide rail line 4, which is in this case a guide rail line for guiding a counterweight 10, each guide rail line 3, 4, 5, 6 preferably comprising a plurality of guide rail sections piled on top of each other, which is common in the field.

The elevator arrangement 100 moreover comprises a car 9, a counterweight 10 in the hoistway 2, and one or more hoisting ropes 7 interconnecting the car 9 and counterweight 10. The elevator arrangement 100 moreover comprises a hoisting machine unit 8 mounted in a first hoisting machine position 8A in the hoistway 2 on at least one of the guide rail lines, here guide rail 3, to be vertically supported by said at least one of the guide rail lines 3,4, here guide rail 3. The hoisting machine unit 8 comprises a motor 8a, such as an electric motor, and a drive wheel 8b engaging said one or more hoisting ropes 7, the drive wheel 8b being rotatable by the electric motor 8a. The one or more hoisting ropes 7 are arranged to suspend the car 9 and counterweight 10 on opposite sides of the drive wheel 6b. The elevator arrangement 100 moreover comprises a rope anchoring device 11, also referred to as a rope anchor 11, mounted in a first rope anchor position 11A in the hoistway 2, the rope anchoring device 11 comprising a support structure 110 and a rope gripper 111 fixed to said support structure 110, to which rope gripper 111 the one or more hoisting ropes 7 pass from the car 9 or counterweight 10, the rope gripper 111 being arranged to grip the one or more ropes 7 in a releasable manner, via which rope gripper 111 said one or more ropes 7 pass to a rope supply storage 20. The rope gripper 111 is in particular releasable for allowing moving of rope via the rope anchor from the rope supply storage 20 for thereby increasing length of the rope on opposite side of the rope anchor 11. The rope anchoring device 11 provides that a configuration change, i.e. a jump, can be performed for extending the travel height of the car to reach higher in the hoistway. The rope anchoring device 11 is mounted in its first position 11A separately from the hoisting machine unit 8 on at least one 3 of the guide rail lines 3,4 to be vertically supported by said at least one of the guide rail lines 3,4. Thus, the rope anchoring device 11 and the hoisting machine unit 8 are both supported vertically by one or more guide rail lines, but separately from each other. Thus, they can form relatively small and light units to move, handle and position, and they are movable relatively independently from each other, e.g. during a hoisting step.

The elevator arrangement 100 moreover comprises a hoisting arrangement 30 higher in the hoistway 2 than the rope anchoring device 11 and the hoisting machine unit 8 mounted in their first positions, the hoisting arrangement 30 comprising a vertically movable platform 31 arranged to carry or at least suitable for carrying a fitter human and/or one or more guide rail sections 3b, 4b to be installed on top of the guide rail lines 3,4 already mounted in the hoistway 2. The hoisting arrangement 30 moreover comprises a hoist not shown, e.g. a Trial ™ -hoist or any other known kind of hoist, for moving the platform 31 and arranged to take support from structures higher than the platform 31.

In the elevator arrangement 100, the hoisting machine unit 8 is mounted in its first hoisting machine position 8A on the first guide rail line 3 to be vertically supported by said first guide rail line 3. The hoisting machine unit 6 is more specifically mounted in its first position 8A,11A only on one guide rail line 3, i.e. said first guide rail line 3.

The rope anchoring device 11 is mounted in its first position 11A on the first guide rail lines 3 as well. The rope anchoring device 11 and the hoisting machine unit 6 are thus mounted in their first positions 8A,11A both on the same guide rail line, i.e. the first guide rail line 3 to be vertically supported by it. The rope anchoring device 11 is moreover mounted on the second guide rail line 3,4 to be vertically supported by second guide rail line 4 in addition to said first guide rail line 3, which is advantageous in terms of rigidity of the structures but not necessary however. The aforementioned same guide rail line is preferably a guide rail line for guiding an elevator car, because these are typically dimensioned more robust than counterweight guide rail lines. The rope anchoring device 11 and the hoisting machine unit 6 being mounted in their first positions 8A,11A both on the same guide rail line, has an advantage that they are simply accessible simultaneously, however they can be dismounted and handled separately owing to being separately mounted, which facilitates simplicity of the configuration change step. Moreover, utilizing the same guide rail line also makes unnecessary to provide mounting points, such as fixing holes to all guide rail lines, which facilitates that not a great amount of guide rail sections need be provided fixing holes, i.e. for the hoisting machine unit and the rope anchor.

The mounting point between the rope anchoring device 11, which is mounted in its first position 11A, and the first guide rail line 3 is higher than the mounting point between the hoisting machine unit 6, which mounted in its first position 8A, and the first guide rail line 3. Thus they receive support from the same guide rail line, and from the same side of the elevator car however the anchoring device 11, and particularly its support structure, is not in the way of the hoisting ropes 7 passing away from the hoisting machine drive wheel, yet the gripper thereof is relatively freely positionable in horizontal direction.

In the arrangement 100, the support structure 110 protrudes in horizontal direction from the mounting point between the rope anchoring device 11 mounted in its first position and the first guide rail line 3, and the rope gripper 111 is fixed to said support structure 110 such that it is horizontally displaced from the first guide rail line 3, e.g. a distance between 0.5-1.5 meters. This facilitates that the rope anchor 11 and the hoisting machine unit 8 can both be arranged to receive support from the same guide rail line 3 yet such that the layout leaves safe clearance around the hoisting ropes 7.

In the arrangement 100, the vertical projection of the gripper 111 is horizontally displaced from the vertical projection of the motor 8a and the drive wheel 8b of the hoisting machine unit 8. Thus, the hoisting ropes 7 can arrive to the gripper 111 simply along a relatively direct route without collision risk with said components of the hoisting machine unit 8.

Preferably, the shape and/or size of the support structure 110 is adjustable. Hereby, the support structure 110 can be adjusted such that it can be fixed to two guide rail lines 3,4. This also makes possible that the position of the gripper 111 relative to the guide rail line 3 on which it is mounted in its first position 11A is adjustable. Adjustability of the shape and/or size of the support structure 110 makes it usable with elevator layouts with different distances between guide rail lines. Adjustability also makes it easier to fix the support structure on two guide rail lines 3,4 if these have predrilled through-holes for fixing which are not positioned relative to each other exactly as intended or if in the through-holes of the guide rail lines at the area of the first position are slightly differently positioned than those at the area of the second position for some reason.

In the arrangement 100, the support structure 110 of the rope anchoring device 11 mounted in its first position 8A is fixed on a guide rail section 3a of said first guide rail line 3. The guide rail section 3a of said first guide rail line 3 comprises plurality of through-holes 12, and the support structure 110 of the rope anchoring device 11 mounted in its first position 8A is fixed on the guide rail section 3a by releasable fixing means 13 comprising fixing members 13a extending into said through-holes 12 of the guide rail section 3a. Preferred details of the fixing on a guide rail section 3a of said first guide rail line 3 are illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

In the arrangement 100, the support structure 110 of the rope anchoring device 11 mounted in its first position 8A is fixed moreover on a guide rail section 4a of said second guide rail line 4. The guide rail section 4a of said second guide rail line 4 comprises plurality of through-holes 14, and the support structure 110 of the rope anchoring device 11 mounted in its first position 8A is fixed on the guide rail section 4a by releasable fixing means 15 comprising fixing members 13a extending into said through-holes 14 of the guide rail section 4a. Preferred details of the fixing on a guide rail section 4a of said second guide rail line 4 are illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

In the arrangement 100, the one or more hoisting ropes 7 pass from the hoisting machine unit 8 down to the counterweight 10 and around one or more rope wheels thereof, and from said one or more rope wheels up to the rope anchoring device 11. This is visible in Figures 1, 4 and 5, for instance. The first and second guide rail line 3,4 are both on one side of the car 9. On said side there is also third guide rail line 5 which is in direction of the car wall closer to the first guide rail line than said second guide rail line, and the second and third guide rail line being arranged to guide the counterweight between them. The one or more hoisting ropes 7 pass from the hoisting machine unit 8 down to the counterweight 10 via a space s extending beside the car 9 and a hoistway wall w and the one or more hoisting ropes 7 pass from said one or more rope wheels up to the rope anchoring device 11 via said same space s extending beside the car 9 and a hoistway wall w, the counterweight 10 being arranged to travel vertically in said space s. These preferred features have been illustrated in Figures 1, 4 , 6 and 7.

In the arrangement 100, the hoisting machine unit 8 is mounted in its first hoisting machine position 8A on the back side of the first guide rail line 3, i.e. on the opposite side than where the car 9 is, between a hoistway wall and the guide rail line 3. These preferred features have been illustrated in Figures 1, 4 and 7.

As mentioned, the shape and/or size of the support structure 110 is preferably adjustable. In the preferred embodiments illustrated, the support structure 110 preferably comprises plurality of parts 110a, 110b, 110c fixable in horizontal direction in different positions relative to each other. Thus, the horizontal dimensions of the support structure 110 can be adjusted and the position of the gripper 111 adjusted. This also facilitates adjusting the dimensions of the support structure 110 to fit its intended position in the layout, such as in the illustrated case in particular the distance between the guide rail lines 3,4 to which it is supposed to be mounted on.

In the preferred embodiments illustrated, the support structure 110 comprises plurality of fixing positions beside each other in horizontal direction for a guide rail section. This facilitates that the size and shape of the support structure 110 need not be changed for adjusting distance between the gripper from a guide rail line as desired. In Figure 8 these fixing positions have been illustrated by broken line. This is achieved by the plurality of pairs pl-p3 of fixing holes 16 that are beside each other in horizontal direction.

In the preferred embodiments illustrated, the rope anchoring device 11 comprises horizontally elongated fixing holes by which components of the rope anchoring device 11 can be fixed together in different positions relative to each other. In the preferred embodiments illustrated, a part 110b of the support structure 110 comprises horizontally elongated fixing holes h for fixing parts 110,110d of the support structure 110 to each other in different positions relative to each other. In Figure 8, said part llOd of the support structure 110 serves additionally the function of being a cheek plate of the gripper 111.

In the first phase, after providing an elevator arrangement 100 as illustrated and described referring to Figure 1, the method comprises moving the elevator car 7 for transporting passengers and/or goods with the hoisting machine unit 8 while the hoisting machine unit 8 and the rope anchor 11 are in their first positions 8A,11A. This has been illustrated by arrow al in Figure 1.

After said providing, the method comprises, e.g. during said moving, preparing the arrangement for a configuration change so as to modify the arrangement 100 illustrated in Figure 1 to become an arrangement 200 as illustrated in Figure 2. Figure 2 illustrates thus the arrangement 200 as it is in a second phase of the method. For this purpose, the method comprises, after said providing and arrangement 100, performing constructing comprising: constructing each guide rail line 3 on which the hoisting machine unit 8 is mounted in its first position 8A to extend substantially higher than the first hoisting machine unit position 8A preferably at least to a level of a second hoisting machine unit position 8A, and constructing each guide rail line 3,4 on which the rope anchoring device 11 is mounted in its first position 11B to extend substantially higher than the first rope anchoring device position 11A, preferably at least to a level of a second rope anchoring device position 11B. Each said constructing a guide rail line 3,4 comprises mounting on top of the guide rail line at least one further guide rail section 3b, 4b.

Generally preferably, the first hoisting machine unit position 8A is preferably more than 5 meters higher than the first hoisting machine unit position 8A, and the second rope anchoring device position 11B is more than 5 meters higher than the first rope anchoring device position 11A. This facilitates that the height of the jump is substantial and need not be too frequent.

In the elevator arrangement 200, the first guide rail line 3 comprises one or more guide rail sections on top of said guide rail section 3a. Said one or more guide rail sections include a further guide rail section 3b comprising through- holes 12 for receiving said fixing members 13a of the releasable fixing means 13 of the rope anchoring device 11. Thereby, the support structure 110 of the rope anchoring device 11 can be fixed on the further guide rail section 3b for remounting it in a second position 8B by fixing the support structure 110 on the further guide rail section 3b by said releasable fixing means 13 such that the fixing members 13a extend into said through-holes 12 of the further guide rail section 3b.

In the elevator arrangement 200, also the second guide rail line 4 comprises one or more guide rail sections on top of said guide rail section 4a including a further guide rail section 4b comprising through-holes 12 for receiving said fixing members 15a of the releasable fixing means 15 of the rope anchoring device 11. Thereby, the support structure 110 of the rope anchoring device 11 can be fixed also on the further guide rail section 4b of the second guide rail line 4 for remounting it in a second position 8B by fixing the support structure 110 on the further guide rail section 4b by said releasable fixing means 15 such that the fixing members 15a extend into said through-holes 14 of the further guide rail section 4a.

At a suitable moment, the method comprises performing a configuration change. The configuration change comprises dismounting the hoisting machine unit 8 from the at least one of the guide rail lines 3,4 on which it is mounted in its a first hoisting machine position 8A; and dismounting the rope anchor 11 from the at least one of the guide rail lines 3,4 on which it is mounted in its a first the rope anchor position 11A; and hoisting the hoisting machine unit 8 and the rope anchor 11; and mounting the hoisting machine unit 8 to a second hoisting machine position 8B, which is higher than the first hoisting machine position 8A, on the same at least one of the guide rail lines 3,4 on which it was mounted in its first the hoisting machine position 11A; and mounting the rope anchor 11 to a second rope anchor position 11B, which is higher than the first rope anchor position 11A, separately from the hoisting machine unit 8 on the same at least one of the guide rail lines 3,4 on which it was mounted in its first the rope anchor position 11A.

Figure 3 illustrates the arrangement 300 as it is in a third phase of the method after the hoisting machine unit 8 and the rope anchor 11 have been mounted in their second positions 8B,11B.

The step of performing the configuration change comprises releasing the rope anchor 11 and moving rope via the rope anchor from a rope supply storage 20 for thereby increasing length of the rope on opposite side of the rope anchor 11, and thereafter closing the rope anchor, in particular when a suitable amount of rope has been moved via the rope anchor from a rope supply storage 20. The releasing is preferably performed before hoisting of the hoisting machine unit 8 and the rope anchor 11, whereby movement of said hoisting machine unit 8 and the rope anchor 11 causes movement of rope via the rope anchor from a rope supply storage 20.

The hoisting of the hoisting machine unit 8 and the rope anchor 11 are illustrated in Figure 4. Arrow a2 illustrates unwinding of rope from a rope supply storage 20. The hoisting can be realized in many alternative ways. For example, the hoisting of said components can comprise mounting them both, preferably simultaneously, on a vertically movable platform 31 and hoisting the platform 31, and subsequently hoisting the movable platform in the hoistway 2. The result of the configuration change is illustrated in Figure 3, which shows an arrangement 300 as achieved. The other guide rail lines 5 and 6 (not showed) have also been extended to extend higher in the hoistway as part of the configuration change.

In said mounting the hoisting machine unit 8 to a second hoisting machine position 8B and said mounting the rope anchor 11 to a second rope anchor position 11B, the rope anchoring device 11 and the hoisting machine unit 6 are mounted in their second positions 8A,11A in the same way as they were earlier above explained being mounted in their first positions. The only difference is that they are higher and the particular guide rail sections 3b, 4b on which they are mounted are above the ones they were earlier mounted on.

As described earlier, it is preferable that both receive support from the same guide rail line 3. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, in said performing the configuration change, i.e. in the mounting steps thereof, the rope anchoring device 11 and the hoisting machine unit 6 are mounted in their second positions 8A,11A both on the first guide rail line 3 to be vertically supported by said first guide rail line 3.

In the preferred embodiment of the method, the mounting the rope anchor 11 to a second rope anchor position 11B comprises fixing the support structure 110 of the rope anchoring device 11 on a guide rail section 3b of said first guide rail line 3, in particular on a further guide rail section 3b comprising through-holes 12 for receiving fixing members 13a of the releasable fixing means 13 of the rope anchoring device 11. Since in the illustrated preferred embodiment, the rope anchoring device 11 is mounted also on another guide rail line 4, in the presented preferred embodiment, the mounting the rope anchor 11 to a second rope anchor position 11B also comprises fixing the support structure 110 of the rope anchoring device 11 on a guide rail section 4b of said second guide rail line 4, in particular on a further guide rail section 4b comprising through-holes 14 for receiving fixing members 15a of the releasable fixing means 15 of the rope anchoring device 11.

In the preferred embodiment, the mounting point between the rope anchoring device 11 mounted in its second position 11B and the first guide rail line 3 is higher than the mounting point between the hoisting machine unit 6 mounted in its second position 8B and the first guide rail line 3. Thus they receive support from the same side of the elevator car however the anchoring device 11, and especially its support structure, is not in the way of the hoisting ropes 7 passing away from the drive wheel 8b, yet the gripper 111 is relatively freely positionable in horizontal direction.

During the configuration change, the car 9 is preferably stationary and supported by a structure other than the hoisting ropes 7, preferably anchored immovably in the hoistway 2. The counterweight 10 is preferably during the configuration change supported by a structure separate from the one or more hoisting ropes 7, such as by a counterweight buffer or another structure temporarily placed below the counterweight 10.

The elevator arrangement 100,200 preferably comprises an elevator control system (not showed) configured to control movement of the elevator car 9 by controlling rotation of the drive wheel 8b, in particular in response to car call signals received by the elevator control system from one or more user interfaces located at one or more landings and/or inside the car 9. Said elevator control system is preferably connected to the electric motor 8a and configured to control rotation of the drive wheel 8b by controlling the motor 8a and/or a brake comprised in the hoisting machine unit 8 for braking rotation of the drive wheel 8b.

Generally, there are alternative solutions for the structure of rope gripper 111. In the preferred embodiments, the rope gripper 111 is arranged to grip the one or more ropes 7 in a releasable manner by gripping members llla2 compressible against the sides of the ropes 7. The rope gripper 111 comprises a gripping means Illa, which are illustrated in Figures 11 and 12. The gripping means Illa is also visible in Figure 9. The gripping means Illa comprises gripping members llla2 compressible against the sides of the ropes 7. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the gripping members llla2 are tightenable by screw tightener 11 lai for compressing them against the sides of the ropes 3. A screw-tightener is simply openable whereby the grip is releasable.

In a preferred embodiment, the rope anchoring device 11 comprises a rope wheel 112 for guiding the ropes 7 from the gripper 111 to the rope supply storage 20. Thus, the ropes 7 between the gripper 111 and the rope supply storage do not hang uncontrolled. This is advantageous since otherwise the ropes 7 and/or other structures could be damaged due to the weight of the ropes 7. In a preferred embodiment, the ropes 7 are arranged to pass from the car 9 or counterweight 10 to gripping means Illa of the gripper 111, and in particular between gripping members thereof, and from the gripping means Illa to the rope wheel 112, and from the rope wheel 112 to the rope supply storage 20. The ropes 7 preferably arrive to the gripping means Illa from below. In the illustrated preferred case, more specifically, the ropes 7 arrive to the gripping means Illa directly from a rope wheel of the counterweight 10. The ropes 7 preferably depart from the rope wheel 112 downwards and/or to a side. The rope wheel 112 is preferably higher than the gripping means Illa and the ropes 7 arrive from below to the rope wheel 112. The rope wheel 112, and the way how ropes 7 are advantageous but not necessary, since at least some of the advantages of the invention are obtained also when ropes are guided differently. In the preferred embodiments illustrated, the ropes 7 are round in cross section. However, the ropes 3 could alternatively have some other shape, such as belt-shape. In the preferred embodiment of Figure 12, the gripping members llla2 are provided with an undercut groove whereby their gripping effect is facilitated. This is however not necessary. Alternatively, a knurling or any other surface pattern could be provided on the gripping members llla2, or, on the gripping members llla2 could be also formed without a pattern.

As an alternative to the solution of Figures 11 and 12 where the gripping members llla2 are screw-tightenable, the rope gripper 111 can be arranged to grip the one or more ropes 7 in a releasable manner by gripping members compressible against the sides of the ropes 3, which gripping members are wedging members placed in a wedging housing where the rope tension pulls them towards a narrow end of the wedging housing thereby tightening them against the ropes 7 by wedging effect.

Generally, the rope supply storage 20 is preferably in the form of one or more rope reels where additional length of hoisting rope can be taken from in a configuration change. The rope supply storage 20 stores an amount of rope that is required for one or more of said configuration changes. For achieving substantial height of jump, the rope supply storage 20 preferably stores more than 10 meters of each said one or more hoisting rope, preferably much more such as 20-100 meters.

Generally, the suspension ratio of the car and counterweight can be 2: 1 as illustrated in Figures. However, alternatively some other suspension ratio could be used such as 4: 1, for example or any combination of suspension ratios mentioned.

Generally, in the case where the rope anchoring device 11 and the hoisting machine unit 6 are mounted in their first positions 8A,11A and/or in their second positions 8B,11B on the same guide rail line, they are preferably then mounted on either the same guide rail section of said first guide rail line 3 or on successive guide rail sections of said first guide rail line 3.

As mentioned, the rope gripper 111 can be structurally of alternative kinds. Generally, the above-mentioned engagement of the ropes 7 from side by the gripping members facilitates that the ropes can pass unbroken via the rope gripper 111 to a rope supply storage 20. The releasing can comprise temporarily reducing rope tension (e.g. by driving the counterweight on a buffer and suspending the car by means other than hoisting ropes, e.g. by locking it immovably on the guide rails) and then moving the gripping members out of contact from the ropes.

Generally, the through-holes 12,14 described above are preferably either predrilled through-holes or drilled during the method. In the first case, the through-holes 12,14 of a guide rail section 3a, 4a, 3b, 4b have preferably been drilled already before the guide rail section is mounted in its position in the hoistway, such as at the factory or at the site outside the hoistway for example. In the second case, the through-holes 12,14 are preferably drilled after the guide rail section in question is already mounted in its position in the hoistway. In any case, a jig can be used as a tool in the drilling. The jig can define position of the through holes relative to each other.

It is to be understood that the above description and the accompanying Figures are only intended to teach the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The abovedescribed embodiments of the invention may thus be modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claims

1. An elevator arrangement (100,200) comprising a hoistway (2); and guide rail line lines (3, 4, 5, 6) in the hoistway (2), comprising at least a first guide rail line (3), which is preferably a guide rail line for guiding an elevator car, and a second guide rail line (4), which is preferably a guide rail line for guiding a counterweight, each guide rail line (3, 4, 5, 6) preferably comprising a plurality of guide rail sections piled on top of each other; and one or more hoisting ropes (7); and a rope supply storage (20); and a hoisting machine unit (8) mounted in a first hoisting machine position (8A) in the hoistway (2) on at least one of the guide rail lines (3,4) to be vertically supported by said at least one of the guide rail lines (3,4); and an elevator car (9) and a counterweight (10) in the hoistway (2), which elevator car (9) and counterweight (10) are interconnected by the one or more hoisting ropes (7); and a rope anchoring device (11) mounted in a first rope anchor position (11A) in the hoistway (2), the rope anchoring device (11) comprising a support structure (110) and a rope gripper (111) fixed to said support structure (110), to which rope gripper (111) the one or more hoisting ropes (7) pass from the car (9) or counterweight (10), the rope gripper (111) being arranged to grip the one or more hoisting ropes (7) in a releasable manner, via which rope gripper (111) said one or more hoisting ropes (7) pass to the rope supply storage (20); characterized in that the rope anchoring device (11) is mounted in its first position (11A) separately from the hoisting machine unit (8) on at least one (3) of the guide rail lines (3,4) to be vertically supported by said at least one of the guide rail lines (3,4).

2. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to claim 1, wherein the hoisting machine unit (8) is mounted in its first position (8A) on the first guide rail line (3) to be vertically supported by said first guide rail line (3).

3. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rope anchoring device (11) is mounted in its first position (11A) on the first guide rail line (3) to be vertically supported by said first guide rail line (3).

4. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rope anchoring device (11) is mounted in its first position (11A) on the first and second guide rail lines (3,4) to be vertically supported by said first and second guide rail lines (3,4).

5. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rope anchoring device (11) and the hoisting machine unit (6) are mounted in their first positions (8A,11A) both on the first guide rail line (3) to be vertically supported by said first guide rail line (3).

6. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to claim 5, wherein the mounting point between the rope anchoring device (11) mounted in its first position (11A) and the first guide rail line (3) is higher than the mounting point between the hoisting machine unit (6) mounted in its first position (8A) and the first guide rail line (3).

7. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure (110) protrudes in horizontal direction from the mounting point between the rope anchoring device (11) mounted in its first position (11A) and the first guide rail line (3), and the rope gripper (111) is fixed to said support structure (110) such that it is horizontally displaced from the first guide rail line (3).

8. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the position of the gripper (111) relative to a guide rail line (3,4) on which it is mounted in its first position (11A), in particular the first guide rail line (3) and/or the second guide rail line (4), on which it is mounted in its first position (11A) is adjustable.

9. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure (110) of the rope anchoring device (11) mounted in its first position (8A) is fixed on a guide rail section (3a) of said first guide rail line (3).

10. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to the preceding claim, wherein the guide rail section (3a) of said first guide rail line (3) comprises plurality of through-holes (12), and the support structure (110) of the rope anchoring device (11) mounted in its first position (8A) is fixed on the guide rail section (3a) by releasable fixing means (13) comprising fixing members (13a) extending into said through-holes (12) of the guide rail section (3a).

11. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure (110) of the rope anchoring device (11) mounted in its first position (8A) is fixed on a guide rail section (4a) of said second guide rail line (4).

12. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to the preceding claim, wherein the guide rail section (4a) of said second guide rail line (4) comprises plurality of through-holes (14), and the support structure (110) of the rope anchoring device (11) mounted in its first position (8A) is fixed on the guide rail section (4a) by releasable fixing means (15) comprising fixing members (13a) extending into said through-holes (14) of the guide rail section (4a).

13. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more hoisting ropes (7) pass from the hoisting machine unit (8) down to the counterweight (10) and around one or more rope wheels thereof, and from said one or more rope wheels up to the rope anchoring device (11).

14. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second guide rail line (3,4) are both on the same side of the car (9).

15. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more hoisting ropes (7) pass from the hoisting machine unit (8) down to the counterweight (10) via a space (s) extending beside the car (9) and a hoistway wall (w) and the one or more hoisting ropes (7) pass from said one or more rope wheels up to the rope anchoring device (11) via said same space (s) extending beside the car (9) and a hoistway wall (w), the counterweight (10) being arranged to travel vertically in said space (s).

16. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hoisting machine unit (8) is mounted in its first hoisting machine position (8A) on the back side of the first guide rail line (3) between a hoistway wall and the first guide rail line (3).

17. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shape and/or size of the support structure (110) is adjustable.

18. An elevator arrangement (100,200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rope anchoring device (11), in particular the support structure (110) thereof, comprises plurality of parts (110a, 110b, 110c) fixable in horizontal direction in different positions relative to each other; and/or the rope anchoring device (11) comprises horizontally elongated fixing holes by which components of the rope anchoring device (11 can be fixed together in different positions relative to each other; and/or at least one part (110b) of the support structure (110) comprises horizontally elongated fixing holes (h) for fixing parts (110,110d) of the support structure (110) to each other in different positions relative to each other; and/or the support structure (110) comprises plurality of fixing positions beside each other in horizontal direction for a guide rail section; and/or a part (110b) of the support structure (110) comprises plurality of pairs (pl, p2, p3) of fixing holes (17) that are beside each other in horizontal direction.

19. An elevator arrangement (200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each guide rail line (3) on which the hoisting machine unit (8) is mounted in its first position (8A) extends substantially higher than the first hoisting machine unit position (8A) preferably at least to a level of a second hoisting machine unit position (8A), which is preferably more than 5 meters higher than the first hoisting machine unit position (8A), and each guide rail line (3,4) on which the rope anchoring device (11) is mounted in its first position (11B) extends substantially higher than the first rope anchoring device position (11A), preferably at least to a level of a second rope anchoring device position (11B), which is preferably more than 5 meters higher than the first rope anchoring device position (11A).

20. An elevator arrangement (200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first guide rail line (3) moreover comprises one or more guide rail sections on top of said guide rail section (3a) on which the rope anchoring device (11) mounted in its first position (8A) is fixed, including a further guide rail section (3b) comprising through-holes (11) for receiving said fixing members (13a) of the releasable fixing means (13) of the rope anchoring device (11), whereby the support structure (110) of the rope anchoring device (11) can be fixed on the further guide rail section (3b) for remounting it in a second position (8B) by fixing the support structure (110) on the further guide rail section (3b) by said releasable fixing means (13) such that the fixing members (13a) extend into said through-holes (12) of the further guide rail section (3a).

21. An elevator arrangement (200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second guide rail line (4) moreover comprises one or more guide rail sections on top of said guide rail section (4a) on which the rope anchoring device (11) mounted in its first position (8A) is fixed, including a further guide rail section (4b) comprising through-holes (12) for receiving said fixing members (13a) of the releasable fixing means (13) of the rope anchoring device (11), whereby the support structure (110) of the rope anchoring device (11) can be fixed on the further guide rail section (4b) for remounting it in a second position (8B) by fixing the support structure (110) on the further guide rail section (4b) by said releasable fixing means (15) such that the fixing members (15a) extend into said through- holes (14) of the further guide rail section (4a).

22. Method for constructing an elevator comprising providing an elevator arrangement (1) as defined in any of the preceding claims 1-18, and thereafter performing a configuration change comprising dismounting the hoisting machine unit (8) from the at least one of the guide rail lines (3,4) on which it is mounted in its first hoisting machine position (8A); and dismounting the rope anchoring device (11) from the at least one of the guide rail lines (3,4) on which it is mounted in its first rope anchor position (11A); and hoisting the hoisting machine unit (8) and the rope anchoring device (11); and mounting the hoisting machine unit (8) to a second hoisting machine position (8B), which is higher than the first hoisting machine position (8A), on the same at least one of the guide rail lines (3,4) on which it was mounted in its first hoisting machine position (11A); and mounting the rope anchoring device (11) to a second rope anchor position (11B), which is higher than the first rope anchor position (11A), separately from the hoisting machine unit (8) on the same at least one of the guide rail lines (3,4) on which it was mounted in its first the rope anchor position (11A).

23. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises, in particular after said providing and before said configuration change, moving the elevator car (7) for transporting passengers and/or goods with the hoisting machine unit (8) while the hoisting machine unit (8) and the rope anchoring device (11) are in their first positions (8A,11A).

24. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises, in particular after the performing configuration change, moving the elevator car (7) for transporting passengers and/or goods with the hoisting machine unit (8) while the hoisting machine unit (8) and the rope anchoring device (11) are in their second positions (8B,11B).

25. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method, preferably in particular the performing configuration change, comprises releasing the rope anchoring device (11) and moving rope (7) via the rope anchoring device (11) from a rope supply storage (20) for thereby increasing length of the one or more hoisting ropes (7) on opposite side of the rope anchoring device (11), and thereafter closing the rope anchoring device (11).

26. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in said mountings, the rope anchoring device (11) and the hoisting machine unit (6) are mounted in their second positions (8A,11A) as they were mounted in their first positions (8B,11B) according to any of the preceding claims 1-18.

27. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in said performing the configuration change, the rope anchoring device (11) and the hoisting machine unit (6) are mounted in their second positions (8A,11A) both on the first guide rail line (3) to be vertically supported by said first guide rail line (3).

28. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting point between the rope anchoring device (11) mounted in its second position (11B) and the first guide rail line (3) is higher than the mounting point between the hoisting machine unit (6) mounted in its second position (8B) and the first guide rail line (3).

29. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises, in particular after said providing and before said configuration change, constructing, which comprises: constructing each guide rail line (3) on which the hoisting machine unit (8) is mounted in its first position (8A) to extend substantially higher than the first hoisting machine unit position (8A) preferably at least to a level of a second hoisting machine unit position (8B), and constructing each guide rail line (3,4) on which the rope anchoring device (11) is mounted in its first position (11B) to extend substantially higher than the first rope anchoring device position (11A), preferably at least to a level of a second rope anchoring device position (11B).

30. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each said constructing a guide rail line (3,4) comprises mounting on top of the guide rail line (3,4) at least one further guide rail section (3b, 4b).

31. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting the rope anchoring device (11) to a second rope anchor position (11B) comprises fixing the support structure (110) of the rope anchoring device (11) on a guide rail section (3b) of said first guide rail line (3), in particular on a further guide rail section (3b) comprising through-holes (12) for receiving fixing members (15a) of the releasable fixing means (15) of the rope anchoring device (11).

32. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting the rope anchor (11) to a second rope anchor position (11B) comprises fixing the support structure (110) of the rope anchoring device

(11) on a guide rail section (4b) of said second guide rail line (4), in particular on a further guide rail section (4b) comprising through-holes

(12) for receiving fixing members (15a) of the releasable fixing means (15) of the rope anchoring device (11).

33. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in said constructing the elevator arrangement (100) is constructed to be elevator arrangement (200) as defined in any of the preceding claims 19- 21.