EP4622904A1

EP4622904A1 - Transport box on top of an elevator car, elevator and method for transporting objects

Info

Publication number: EP4622904A1
Application number: EP22818875.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matti RÄSÄNEN; Mika IJÄS; Markku Haapaniemi; Mikko Kukkola; Otto Lanz; Jari Heikkinen
Original assignee: Kone Corp
Current assignee: Kone Corp
Priority date: 2022-11-23
Filing date: 2022-11-23
Publication date: 2025-10-01
Also published as: WO2024110686A1; CN120225455A

Abstract

The invention relates to an elevator car (1) having a back side and a front side, and comprising a cabin (2), the cabin (2) comprising an interior (II), a roof (2a), walls (2b), a floor (2c), and a doorway (2d) on the front side of the car (1), leading to the interior (II) of the cabin (2) for allowing moving of passengers and/or objects between the exterior of the car (1) and the interior (II) of the cabin (2); and a transport box (3) on top of the cabin (2), the transport box (3) comprising an interior (12) and walls (31-34) and a cover (30) delimiting the interior (12); wherein the elevator car (1) comprises a hatchway (4) in the roof (2a) leading from the interior (11) of the cabin (2) to the interior (12) of the transport box (3) for allowing insertion of objects in the car (1) such that it extends from the interior (II) of the cabin (2) through the hatchway (4) to the interior (12) of the transport box (3); and wherein the hatchway (4) and the interior (12) of the transport box (3) are positioned on the back side of the car (1); and wherein the cover (30) is non-horizontal, the non-horizontal cover (30) comprising one or more inclined cover parts (30a, 30b) extending above the interior (12) of the transport box (3) and rising towards the back of the car (1). The invention also relates to an elevator and a method implementing the car (1).

Description

TRANSPORT BOX ON TOP OF AN ELEVATOR CAR, ELEVATOR AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING OBJECTS

Field of the invention

The invention relates to an elevator car, an elevator and a method for transporting with an elevator, where the elevator is an elevator for transporting passengers and/or goods.

Background of the invention

During construction or repair work of a building, people and goods need to move vertically for enabling construction work in the upper parts of the building. For example, construction workers need to move to the floor where their construction site is located, as well as away from that floor. Likewise, goods, such as tools, equipment and construction material need to move to the floor where the construction site of the respective tools, equipment and construction material is located. Also, people not participating in the construction work may need to be transported between floors.

Conventionally transportation of long construction material has been performed by lifting with a building crane and/or by temporary hoists and/or by a temporary elevator installed outside a building under construction. People have been transported by a car operating in a hoistway of the building.

Also such solution have been suggested where long construction material objects are transported by temporarily modifying the structure of an elevator car. Such a solution is disclosed for instance in EP3909897A1, where the car has a roof deck which is displaceable for increasing the height of the cabin interior.

A drawback of said known solutions for transporting long objects has been that they have not been sufficiently good in terms of simplicity, efficiency, ease of use and safety. Brief description of the invention

The object of the invention is to achieve a new elevator car, a new elevator and a new method, which facilitate safe, convenient and efficient flow of both people and goods to be transported in a building. An object is particularly to introduce a solution suitable for occasionally transporting large-sized goods, e.g. construction material of a construction-time building, while still ensuring safety. An object is particularly to introduce a solution which is excellent in terms of simplicity, efficiency, ease of use and safety.

It is brought forward a new elevator car, the car having a front side and a back side, which are in particular on the opposite sides of the vertical central plane of the car. The car comprises a cabin comprising an interior, a roof, walls, a floor, and a doorway on the front side of the car, leading to the interior of the cabin for allowing moving of passengers and/or objects between the exterior of the car and the interior of the cabin; and a transport box on top of the cabin, the transport box comprising an interior and walls and a cover delimiting the interior; wherein the elevator car comprises a hatchway in the roof leading from the interior of the cabin to the interior of the transport box for allowing insertion of objects in the car such that it extends from the interior of the cabin through the hatchway to the interior of the transport box ; and wherein the hatchway and the interior of the transport box are positioned on the back side of the car; and wherein the cover is non-horizontal, the non-horizontal cover comprising one or more inclined cover parts extending above the interior of the transport box and rising towards the back of the car.

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

Preferable further details of the elevator car are introduced in the following, which further details can be combined with the elevator car individually or in any combination. In a preferred embodiment, each said inclined cover part is a plate or comprises a plate, preferably a metal plate.

In a preferred embodiment, the height of the interior of the transport box grows in function of horizontal distance from the front wall of the cabin, which front wall comprises the doorway.

In a preferred embodiment, the one or more inclined cover parts cover completely or at least majority of the interior of the transport box.

In a preferred embodiment, the non-horizontal cover does not comprise a horizontal upper face that is free of car components on top of it and has an area larger than 0.5 m2.

In a preferred embodiment, the one or more inclined cover parts rise at an angle steeper than 30 degrees towards the back of the car, said angle preferably being less than 60 degrees.

In a preferred embodiment, the area of the vertical projection of the one or more inclined cover parts is more than 1 m2.

In a preferred embodiment, the interior of the transport box has an upwards tapering cross sectional profile as viewed direction transverse to the front to back direction of the car. Thus, it is spacious and can be arranged to easily receive and accommodate a head of an object that extends from the interior of the cabin through the hatchway to the interior of the transport box, while facilitating formation of the transport box upper side such that it does not attract a person to stand on top of it.

In a preferred embodiment, the length of the interior of the transport box in direction transverse to the front to back direction of the car is preferably at least 1 meter. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the hatchway leading from the interior of the cabin to the interior of the transport box is preferably at least 1 meter in direction transverse to the front to back direction of the car.

In a preferred embodiment, the cover is displaceable and/or it comprises a hatchway and an openable hatch covering the hatchway. Preferably, the hatch is one of the inclined cover parts.

In a preferred embodiment, the transport box comprises rigid side walls extending vertically on opposite sides of the interior of the transport box, and a rigid back wall extending vertically on the back side of the interior of the transport box. The rigidity of the walls provides that they can stand firmly in place, provide a rigid structure and give support for the cover. Said walls are preferably rigidly connected to each other.

In a preferred embodiment, the side walls are vertical and parallel with each other.

In a preferred embodiment, each said side wall and back wall of the transport box comprises a metal plate.

In a preferred embodiment, the back wall of the transport box is vertical.

In a preferred embodiment, the transport box comprises a front wall preferably vertical and parallel with the back wall.

In a preferred embodiment, the cover is displaceable from its position where said one or more inclined cover parts extend above the interior.

In a preferred embodiment, the side walls of the transport box are more than 0.5 long and more than 1 meter apart, and when the cover is displaced from its position where said one or more inclined cover parts extend above the interior, the side walls and the end wall of the transport box border from lateral sides a working space on top of the cabin which is at least 0.5 m long and at least 1 meter wide. In a preferred embodiment, the inclined cover is displaceable to a position where one or more of the one or more inclined cover parts extend horizontally and against the cabin roof, there it can serve as a working platform on top of which a person can stand in said working space.

In a preferred embodiment, the cover is connected, preferably detachably, to a rigid frame structure comprising the rigid side walls and the rigid back wall of the transport box, said walls being rigidly connected to each other. The rigidity of the frame structure provides that they can stand firmly in place, provide a rigid structure and give support for the cover

In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned vertical central plane is parallel to the front wall and back wall of the car. The central plane extends through the centroid of the vertical projection of the car.

In a preferred embodiment, the interior of the transport box and the hatchway are positioned completely on the back side of the vertical central plane of the car.

It is also brought forward a new elevator comprising an elevator car as defined anywhere above.

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

In a preferred embodiment, the elevator comprises a hoistway wherein the car is movable.

In a preferred embodiment, the elevator comprises a motor and a drive wheel rotatable by the motor , and an elevator control system configured to control movement of the car in response to signals received from one or more user interfaces, such as user interfaces located at one or more landings and/or a user interface located inside the car, in particular by controlling rotation of the motor.

It is also brought forward a new method for transporting objects in a building with an elevator, comprising inserting an object in the elevator car of the elevator such that it extends from the interior of the cabin through the hatchway to the interior of the transport box, wherein the elevator car is as defined in any of the preceding claims; and thereafter moving the elevator car vertically; and thereafter removing the object from the elevator car.

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

In a preferred embodiment, the object is longer than the height of the interior of the cabin.

In a preferred embodiment, the inserting is performed via the cabin doorway, in particular such that the object is moved headfirst through the cabin doorway and the object is tilted and pushed such that the head thereof moves upwards and through the hatchway to the interior of the transport box.

In a preferred embodiment, the removing is performed via the cabin doorway, preferably to a landing located beside the car or through a hatchway comprised in the cover to the part of the hoistway located above the car.

In a preferred embodiment, the elevator is as defined anywhere above or in any of the claims. The car preferably also comprises one or more doors by which the doorway 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 schematically an elevator according to an embodiment and an elevator car according to an embodiment.

Figures 2-4 illustrate phases of a method according to an embodiment where the elevator and elevator car of Figure 1 are implemented.

Figure 5 illustrates preferred further details of the elevator car of Figure 1.

Figure 6 illustrates details of the upper end of the elevator car of Figure 5.

Figure 7 illustrates details of the upper end of the elevator car of Figure 5 when the cover has been displaced.

Figure 8 illustrates details of the structure of the transport box as viewed separately from the other parts of the car.

Figure 9 illustrates details of the structure of the transport box of Figure 8 when the cover has been displaced.

Figure 10 illustrates a partial, schematical and upwardly directed three- dimensional view of the interior of the cabin and the interior of the transport box of the car of Figures 1-5 (only upper parts visible).

Detailed description

Figure 1 illustrates an elevator 100 according to an embodiment comprising a hoistway 101 and an elevator car 1 according to an embodiment. The elevator car 1 is vertically movable in the hoistway 101. The elevator car 1 comprises a cabin 2. The elevator car 1 has a back side (on the right in Figure 1) and a front side (on the left in Figure 1), which are in particular on the opposite sides of the vertical central plane c of the car 1. The cabin 2 comprises an interior II, a roof 2a, walls 2b and a floor 2c. The cabin 2 comprises a doorway 2d on the front side of the car 1, in particular in the front wall 2b, the doorway 2d leading to the interior II of the cabin 2 for allowing moving of passengers and/or objects between the exterior of the car

I and the interior II of the cabin 2.

The elevator car 1 moreover comprises a transport box 3 on top of the cabin 2, the transport box 3 comprising an interior 12. The transport box 3 comprises walls 31-34 and a cover 30 delimiting the interior 12.

The elevator car 1 moreover comprises a hatchway 4 in the roof 2a leading from the interior II of the cabin 2 to the interior 12 of the transport box 3 for allowing insertion of objects in the car 1 such that it extends from the interior

II of the cabin 2 through the hatchway 4 to the interior 12 of the transport box 3. The elevator car 1 preferably moreover comprises an openable hatch 6 or panel covering the hatchway 4, as illustrated in Figure 1.

The interior 12 of the transport box 3 and the hatchway 4 are positioned on the back side of the car 1, i.e. on the opposite side of the car 1 than the aforementioned doorway 2d. Thus, a long object can be brought simply into the car 1. In particular, an object longer than the height of the interior II of the cabin 2, can be moved head first through the cabin doorway 2a and tilted and pushed such that the head thereof moves upwards and through the hatchway 4 to the interior 12 of the transport box 3.

The cover 30 of the transport box 3 is non-horizontal. The non-horizontal cover 30 comprises one or more inclined cover parts 30a, 30b extending above the interior 12 of the transport box 3 and rising towards the back of the car 1. Hereby, the cover 30 of the transport box 3 does not attract a person to stand on top of it, which facilitates safety of the car 1. Should the transport box 3 have a large horizontal upper face, a maintenance person might be tempted to utilize it as a working platform, and during service operation, manually drive the car 1 dangerously such that his head exceeds the intended safety clearance designed to be on top of the car. In the preferred embodiment, the interior 12 has an upwards tapering cross sectional profile, in particular as viewed in direction transverse to front to back direction of the car 1. This is visible for instance in Figure 1. The length of the interior 12 in direction transverse to the front to back direction of the car 1 is preferably at least 1 meter. Preferably, the length of the hatchway 4 leading from the interior II to the interior 12 is preferably at least 1 meter in direction transverse to the front to back direction of the car 1. Preferably, the length of the hatchway 4 is at least 0.5 meters in the front to back direction of the car 1. These features individually and together facilitate that the interior 12 and the way into it are spacious and can be arranged to easily receive and accommodate a head of an object that extends from the interior II of the cabin 2 through the hatchway 4 to the interior 12 of the transport box 3, while facilitating formation of the transport box upper side such that it does not attract a person to stand on top of it.

In the preferred embodiment, the one or more inclined cover parts 30a, 30b cover majority, i.e. more than 50 %, of the interior 12 of the transport box 3. In the illustrated case the one or more inclined cover parts 30a, 30b cover completely the interior 12 of the transport box 3. Large areal coverage by the inclined parts provides that the interior 12 below can easily receive an object that needs to be tilted when bringing it into the car 1, while also facilitating that the cover 30 does not tempt the maintenance person to be used as a working platform. Preferably, the area of the vertical projection of the inclined cover parts 30a, 30b as well as the area of the vertical projection of the interior 12 of the transport box 3 is more than 1 m2.

By aid of the aforementioned inclined cover parts, in the preferred embodiment, it is achieved that the height h of the interior 12 grows towards the back of the car 1, in particular in function of horizontal distance from the front wall 2b comprising the doorway 2d. Thereby it can easily receive an object that needs to be tilted when bringing it into the car 1, while being able to facilitate that the upper face thereof is does not tempting to be used as a working platform.

The inclination angle of the inclined cover parts 30a, 30b is preferably relatively steep. Preferably, the inclined cover parts 30a, 30b rise at an angle steeper than 30 degrees towards the back side of the car 1, said angle more preferably being more than 40 degrees. Preferably however the angle is less than 60 degrees since a very steep angle would make the interior 12 unnecessarily high for most cases. The angle is in the preferred embodiment 45 degrees. The angle is in the preferred embodiment constant, whereby the horizontal cross section of the inclined cover parts 30a, 30b is straight. However, it is possible that the angle is made to be non-constant and cross section of the inclined cover parts 30a, 30b to be curved.

In the preferred embodiment, the cover 30 comprises a hatchway 30c and an openable hatch 30b covering the hatchway 30c. In the preferred embodiment, the hatch 30b is an inclined cover part.

Figures 2-4 illustrate phases of a method for transporting objects in a building according to an embodiment. The method comprises inserting an object 40 in the elevator car 1 of the elevator 100 such that it extends from the interior II of the cabin 2 through the hatchway 4 to the interior 12 of the transport box

3. This step is illustrated in Figure 2. The car 1 is as above described referring to Figure 1. After said inserting, the method comprises moving the car 1 vertically, such as from one landing to another, where the landings are at different floors of the building or at least lead to different floors of the building. This moving step is illustrated in Figure 3. After said moving, the method comprises removing the object from the car 1. This step is illustrated in Figure

4. In the preferred embodiment, the aforementioned object 40 is longer than the height of the interior II of the cabin 2.

In the preferred embodiment, the inserting is performed via the cabin doorway 2a, as illustrated in Figure 2. This is performed in particular such that the object 40 is moved head first through the cabin doorway 2a and the object 40 is tilted and pushed such that the head thereof moves upwards and through the hatchway 4 to the interior 12 of the transport box 3.

In the preferred embodiment, the removing is performed via the cabin doorway 2d, preferably to a landing located beside the car 1, or through a hatchway 30c comprised in the cover 30 to the part of the hoistway 101 located above the car 1. These alternative options of said removing have been illustrated in Figure 4. During said removing, the car 1 is preferably maintained parked at a landing, preferably in particular such that the sill of the doorway 2d is level with the sill of the landing.

Figures 5-8 illustrate preferred embodiment of the transport box 3. The transport box 3 comprises rigid side walls 31,32 extending vertically on opposite sides of the interior 12, and a rigid back wall 33 extending vertically on the back side of the interior 12. These walls 31-33 are visible in Figures 6 and 9, where the cover 30 does not block visibility. The cover 30 is connected to the side walls 31,32 and/or to the back wall 33, in particular to upper edges of the side walls 31,32 and/or to the back wall 33. In this case, the cover 30 is displaceable from its position where it extends above the interior 12. The rigidity of the walls provides that they can stand firmly in place, provide a rigid structure and give support for the cover 30. Said walls 31-33 are rigidly connected to each other, whereby they together participate in forming a rigid frame structure of the transport box 3,

The side walls 31,32 are vertical and parallel with each other. The transport box 3 comprises in addition to said back wall 33 a front wall 34, which is vertical and parallel with the back wall 33. In the preferred embodiment, each said side wall 31,32, back wall 3 and front wall 34 of the transport box 3 comprises a vertical metal plate.

As mentioned, the cover 30 is displaceable from its position also referred to as first position where said one or more inclined cover parts 30a, 30b extend above the interior 12. In the preferred embodiment, the inclined cover 30 is particularly displaceable from its first position to a second position where one or more of said one or more inclined cover parts 30a, 30b extend horizontally and against the cabin roof. In the second position the cover parts 30a, 30b can serve as a working platform on top of which a person can stand. This position is disclosed in Figures 6 and 9. Hereby, it is provided that the transport box 3 is partially collapsible from one useful state, i.e. where the cover 30 is in said first position, to another useful state, i.e. where the cover 30 is in said second position.

In the preferred embodiment, the side walls of the transport box 3 are more than 0.5 long in front to back direction of the car 1, and more than 1 meter apart in direction transverse to said front to back direction, and when the cover 30 is displaced from its first position where said one or more inclined cover parts 30a, 30b extend above the interior 12, the side walls 31,32 and the end wall 33 of the transport box border from lateral sides a working space on top of the cabin 2 which is at least 0.5 m long and at least 1 meter wide. The walls 31-33 can facilitate the function of handrail if a person stands between them. The car 1 preferably moreover comprises handrails not shown in Figures 6 and 7 on top of the cabin 2 in addition to the transport box 3.

In the preferred embodiment, the cover 30 is connected detachably to a rigid frame structure comprising the side walls 31,32 and the back wall 3 of the transport box 3. By detachability, it is simply facilitated said displaceability of the cover 30. The front wall 34 is also displaceable for making way for positioning of the cover 30 to extend horizontally and against the cabin roof 2a. As mentioned, the interior of the transport box 3 and the hatchway 4 are positioned on the back side of the car 1, i.e. on the opposite side of the car 1 than the aforementioned doorway 2d. In the preferred embodiment, the interior of the transport box 3 and the hatchway 4 are more specifically positioned completely on the back side of a vertical central plane c of the car 1, wherein the central plane is a vertical plane parallel to front wall and back wall of the car and extending through the centroid of the vertical projection of the car. This leaves the other side of the car 1 available for other functions.

Preferred further features of the elevator illustrated in Figure 1 are described hereinafter.

Preferably, the elevator 100 comprises a hoisting roping [not shown] arranged to suspend the elevator car 1. When the car 1 is as illustrated in Figure 5 the hoisting roping is arranged to suspend the elevator car 1 via pulleys 50 comprised in the car 1. In this case, the hoisting roping is arranged to pass around the pulleys 50 of the car 1.

Preferably, the elevator 100 comprises one or more guide rails [not shown] for guiding movement of the car 1, the car 1 comprising guide members 60, which are arranged to move by sliding or rolling along the one or more guide rails.

Preferably, the elevator 100 comprises a motor [not shown] and a drive wheel [not shown] rotatable by the motor, and an elevator control system [not shown] configured to control movement of the car 1 in response to signals received from one or more user interfaces, such as user interfaces located at one or more landings and/or a user interface located inside the car 1, in particular by controlling rotation of the motor.

Generally, the features of the car 1 are described in this application in a state where the car 1 is in an upright position.

In general, the non-horizontal cover 30 could comprise small horizontal portions but in any case it is preferable that the car 1 is such that the non- horizontal cover 30 does not comprise a horizontal upper face that has length and width exceeding 0.2 m.

As described, in the preferred embodiment the cover 30 is displaceable and/or it comprises a hatchway 30c and an openable hatch 30b covering the hatchway 30c. However, one or both of these features could be omitted, since the cover could be permanently fixed to be above the interior 12 and it is not necessary that the cover 30 has a hatchway. In general, when the cover 30 is displaceable, it is preferable that the car 1 is provided with a safety switch for detecting position of the cover 30 and the elevator is arranged to stop and/or prevent further car movement in response to detecting displacement of the cover. In general, when the cover 30 comprises an openable hatch 30b, it is preferable that the car 1 is provided with a safety switch for detecting opening of the hatch 30b and the elevator is arranged to stop and/or prevent further car movement in response to detecting opening of the hatch 30b. In the first case, the safety switch is preferably connected to the safety chain of the elevator, and arranged to cut the safety chain when it detects displacement of the cover 30. In the latter case, the safety switch is preferably connected to the safety chain of the elevator, and arranged to cut the safety chain when it detects opening of the hatch 30b.

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

1. An elevator car (1) having a back side and a front side, and comprising a cabin (2), the cabin (2) comprising an interior (II), a roof (2a), walls (2b), a floor (2c), and a doorway (2d) on the front side of the car (1), leading to the interior (II) of the cabin (2) for allowing moving of passengers and/or objects between the exterior of the car (1) and the interior (II) of the cabin (2); and a transport box (3) on top of the cabin (2), the transport box (3) comprising an interior (12) and walls (31-34) and a cover (30) delimiting the interior (12); wherein the elevator car (1) comprises a hatchway (4) in the roof (2a) leading from the interior (II) of the cabin (2) to the interior (12) of the transport box (3) for allowing insertion of objects in the car (1) such that it extends from the interior (II) of the cabin (2) through the hatchway (4) to the interior (12) of the transport box (3); and wherein the hatchway (4) and the interior (12) of the transport box (3) are positioned on the back side of the car (1); and wherein the cover (30) is non-horizontal, the non-horizontal cover (30) comprising one or more inclined cover parts (30a, 30b) extending above the interior (12) of the transport box (3) and rising towards the back of the car (1).

2. An elevator car (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the height (h) of the interior (12) of the transport box (3) grows in function of horizontal distance from the front wall (2b) of the cabin (2), which front wall (2b) comprises the doorway (2d).

3. An elevator car (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one or more inclined cover parts (30a, 30b) cover completely or at least majority of the interior (12) of the transport box (3).

4. An elevator car (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one or more inclined cover parts (30a, 30b) rise at an angle steeper than 30 degrees towards the back of the car (1), said angle preferably being less than 60 degrees.

5. An elevator car (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the area of the vertical projection of the one or more inclined cover parts (30a, 30b) is more than 1 m2.

6. An elevator car (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interior (12) of the transport box (3) has an upwards tapering cross sectional profile, as viewed in direction transverse to the front to back direction of the car (1).

7. An elevator car (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the interior (12) of the transport box (3) in direction transverse to the front to back direction of the car (1) is at least 1 meter.

8. An elevator car (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the hatchway (4) leading from the interior of the cabin to the interior (12) of the transport box (3) is at least 1 meter in direction transverse to the front to back direction of the car (1).

9. An elevator car (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (30) is displaceable and/or it comprises a hatchway (30c) and an openable hatch (30b) covering the hatchway (30c).

10. An elevator car (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport box (3) comprises rigid side walls (31,32) extending vertically on opposite sides of the interior (12), and a rigid back wall (33) extending vertically on the back side of the interior (12). An elevator car (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said rigid side walls (31,32) and the rigid back wall (33) are rigidly connected to each other. An elevator car (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side walls (31,32) of the transport box (3) are vertical and parallel with each other. An elevator car (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (30) is displaceable from its position where said one or more inclined cover parts (30a, 30b) extend above the interior (12). An elevator car (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side walls of the transport box (3) are more than 0.5 long and more than 1 meter apart, and when the cover (30) is displaced from its position where said one or more inclined cover parts (30a, 30b) extend above the interior (12), the side walls (31,32) and the end wall (33) of the transport box (3) border from lateral sides a working space on top of the cabin (2) which is at least 0.5 m long and at least 1 meter wide. An elevator car (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (30) is displaceable to a position where one or more of the one or more inclined cover parts (30a, 30b) extend horizontally and against the cabin roof (2a). An elevator car (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (30) is connected, preferably detachably, to a rigid frame structure comprising the side walls (31,32) and the back wall (33) of the transport box (3). An elevator car (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interior (12) of the transport box (3) and the hatchway (4) are positioned completely on the back side of the vertical central plane (c) of the car (1). An elevator (100) comprising an elevator car (1) according to any of the preceding claims. A method for transporting objects (40) in a building with an elevator (100), comprising inserting an object (40) in the elevator car (1) of the elevator (100) such that it extends from the interior (II) of the cabin (2) through the hatchway (4) to the interior (12) of the transport box (3), wherein the elevator car (1) is as defined in any of the preceding claims; and thereafter moving the elevator car (1) vertically; and thereafter removing the object (40) from the elevator car (1). A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the object (40) is longer than the height (h2) of the interior (II) of the cabin (2). A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inserting is performed via the cabin doorway (2a), in particular such that the object (40) is moved head first through the cabin doorway (2d) and the object (40) is tilted and pushed such that the head thereof moves upwards and through the hatchway (4) to the interior (12) of the transport box (3). A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the removing is performed via the cabin doorway (2d), preferably to a landing located beside the car (1) or through a hatchway (30c) comprised in the cover (30) to the part of the hoistway (101) located above the car (1).