JP4115823B2 - Elevator equipment - Google Patents

Elevator equipment Download PDF

Info

Publication number
JP4115823B2
JP4115823B2 JP2002365652A JP2002365652A JP4115823B2 JP 4115823 B2 JP4115823 B2 JP 4115823B2 JP 2002365652 A JP2002365652 A JP 2002365652A JP 2002365652 A JP2002365652 A JP 2002365652A JP 4115823 B2 JP4115823 B2 JP 4115823B2
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
existing
machine room
hoistway
car
main rope
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
JP2002365652A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Other versions
JP2004196469A (en
Inventor
公丈 鵜川
誠 富所
元紀 吉田
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mitsubishi Electric Building Techno-Service Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Mitsubishi Electric Building Techno-Service Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mitsubishi Electric Building Techno-Service Co Ltd filed Critical Mitsubishi Electric Building Techno-Service Co Ltd
Priority to JP2002365652A priority Critical patent/JP4115823B2/en
Publication of JP2004196469A publication Critical patent/JP2004196469A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of JP4115823B2 publication Critical patent/JP4115823B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Landscapes

  • Lift-Guide Devices, And Elevator Ropes And Cables (AREA)

Description

【0001】
【発明の属する技術分野】
この発明は、既設エレベーターを改修する工事において更新巻上機が既設昇降路内に設置されるエレベーター装置に関する。
【0002】
【従来の技術】
エレベーター装置においては建物に形成された昇降路の上方に機械室が設けられる。そして、機械室に設置された機械台に巻上機が据付けられ、また巻上機の駆動綱車にかご等の昇降体を吊持した主索が巻掛けられる。これによって、機械室有りエレベーターが構成される。そして、巻上機が付勢されることにより主索を介して昇降体が昇降運転される。このような機械室有りエレベーターにおいて、巻上機、昇降体、昇降体内の負荷、主索の重量が機械台によって支持される。
【0003】
そして、前述の機械室有りエレベーターを、巻上機が昇降路内に設置された、いわゆる機械室無しエレベーターに改修する場合があり、このときに従来の改修工事では、機械室無しエレベーターの更新巻上機を昇降路内に設置し、また昇降路内の上部に支持梁が配置されて滑車が枢着される。また、昇降体の昇降を案内する案内レールが昇降路に立設されて、この案内レールの上端によって昇降路内上部の支持梁が支持される。そして、昇降路を昇降する昇降体を吊持した主索が支持梁の滑車及び更新巻上機の駆動綱車に巻掛けられる。(例えば、特許文献1参照)。
【0004】
【特許文献 1】
特開2002−80178号公報(第7頁、第1図)
【0005】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
機械室無しエレベーターの構成においては、案内レールの上端によって昇降路の上部に配置された支持梁を支持し、支持梁に枢着された滑車に作用する昇降体等の荷重が案内レールにより支持される。このため、以上説明した従来における機械室有り既設エレベーターを、機械室無しエレベーターに更新する改修工事を行う場合に、機械室有り既設エレベーターの既設案内レールでは強度が不足する。このため、既設案内レールを流用することができず、支持梁の支持が可能である強固な案内レールに更新する必要があり費用が嵩むという問題点があった。
【0006】
この発明は、かかる問題点を解消するためになされたものであり、機械室有り既設エレベーターを機械室無しエレベーターに容易に改修することができるエレベーター装置を得ることを目的とする。
【0007】
【課題を解決するための手段】
この発明に係るエレベーター装置においては、既設昇降路上方の既設機械室に設置された既設機械台と、既設機械室から下方に延在し既設機械室の床を貫通部が既設昇降路内に配置された縦材と、縦材の下部寄りに設けられ、既設昇降路内の上部に配置された更新巻上機と、縦材の下端部に設けられ、縦材から水平方向に張り出した取付腕と、取付腕に枢着され、更新巻上機の駆動綱車に隣接して配置されたそらせ車と、駆動綱車及びそらせ車に巻掛けられた主索と、主索を介して互いに反対方向へ昇降するかご及びつり合おもりと、を備え、かご、かご内の負荷、つり合おもり、主索、更新巻上機、そらせ車、取付腕の重量が、縦材を介して既設機械台に支持される。
【0008】
【発明の実施の形態】
実施の形態1.
図1〜図5は、この発明の実施の形態の一例を示す図で、図1は昇降路上部を概念的に示す縦断面図、図2は図1の側面図、図3は図1において点検扉を開いた状態を示す図、図4は図1における箱状構造体の上に物品の載置した状態を示す図、図5は図4の平面図である。図において、建物に設けられた既設昇降路1の上方に既設機械室2が設けられ、また既設機械室2の床に既設機械台3が設けられている。
【0009】
そして、既設機械室2から既設昇降路1内へ下垂状態に配置された次に述べる支持体4が設けられる。すなわち、支持体4は両側の既設機械台3に架橋状態に配置された横材5、上端が横材5に締結されて下方に延在し既設機械室2の床を貫通して下端側は既設昇降路1内に配置された縦材6及び縦材6の下端部に一側が締結されて水平方向に張り出した取付腕7によって構成されている。
【0010】
また、更新巻上機8が支持体4の下部寄りに締結されて既設昇降路1内の上部に配置され、また支持体4の取付腕7にそらせ車10が枢着されて更新巻上機8の駆動綱車9に隣接して配置される。そして、更新巻上機8の駆動綱車9及びそらせ車10に主索11が巻掛けられ、主索11の一端に図示が省略してあるがエレベーターのかごが連結され、また他端につり合おもりが連結される。
【0011】
そして、既設機械室2の床から箱状構造体12が立設されて既設機械台3の側面及び上側を囲んで形成され、上面に後述する物品の載置スペース13を構成すると共に、上面における更新巻上機対応位置に点検口14が設けられる。また、箱状構造体12に設けられて点検口14を開閉する点検扉15が設けられ、点検扉15を施錠する錠16が設けられる。なお、箱状構造体12の載置スペース13には例えばロッカーからなる物品17が載置される。
【0012】
上記のように構成されたエレベーター装置において、更新巻上機8が付勢されると駆動綱車9が回転し、主索11を介してかご及びつり合おもりが互いに反対方向へ昇降する。そして、既設昇降路1上方の既設機械室2に巻上機(図示しない)が設置された機械室有り既設エレベーター(図示しない)を改修して、機械室無しエレベーターに更新した場合に、次に述べるようにかご等の重量が支持される。
【0013】
すなわち、改修された機械室無しエレベーターにおいて、かご、かご内負荷、つり合おもり、主索11、更新巻上機8、そらせ車10及び支持体4の重量が支持体4を介して既設機械台3によって支持される。このため、既設案内レール(図示しない)にかご等の重量による荷重が作用することがない。したがって、既設案内レールを流用することができて改修工事に要する資材を節減し、また改修工事の手数を省くことができ改修工事の費用を低減することができる。
【0014】
また、既設機械室2に箱状構造体12が設けられて既設機械台3の側面及び上側を囲んで形成されて、箱状構造体12の上面における更新巻上機対応位置に点検口14が設けられ、点検口14を開閉する点検扉15が設けられる。これによって、既設機械室2内から更新巻上機8、そらせ車10を容易に点検することができるので、エレベーターの保守作業能率を向上することができる。
【0015】
また、箱状構造体12の上面に物品17の載置スペース13が設けられるので、既設機械室2をトランクルーム等として有効に利用することができる。このため、機械室有り既設エレベーターを、機械室無しエレベーターに更新する改修工事を行うことによる建物の資産的価値向上と共に、既設機械室2を有効利用できて建物の利用効率を向上することができる。
【0016】
【発明の効果】
この発明は以上説明したように、既設昇降路上方の既設機械室に設置された既設機械台と、既設機械室から下方に延在し既設機械室の床を貫通部が既設昇降路内に配置された縦材と、縦材の下部寄りに設けられ、既設昇降路内の上部に配置された更新巻上機と、縦材の下端部に設けられ、縦材から水平方向に張り出した取付腕と、取付腕に枢着され、更新巻上機の駆動綱車に隣接して配置されたそらせ車と、駆動綱車及びそらせ車に巻掛けられた主索と、主索を介して互いに反対方向へ昇降するかご及びつり合おもりと、を備え、かご、かご内の負荷、つり合おもり、主索、更新巻上機、そらせ車、取付腕の重量が、縦材を介して既設機械台に支持されるものである。
【0017】
これによって、既設昇降路上方の機械室に巻上機が設置された機械室有り既設エレベーターを改修して、機械室無しエレベーターに更新した場合にかごや釣合い重り等の重量が支持体の縦材を介して既設機械室に設置された既設機械台によって支持される。このため、既設案内レールを流用することができて改修工事の資材を節減し、また改修工事の手数を省くことができ改修工事の費用を低減する効果がある
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図1】 この発明の実施の形態1を示す図で、昇降路上部を概念的に示す縦断面図。
【図2】 図1の側面図。
【図3】 図1において点検扉を開いた状態を示す図。
【図4】 図1における箱状構造体の上に物品の載置した状態を示す図。
【図5】 図4の平面図。
【符号の説明】
1 既設昇降路、2 既設機械室、3 既設機械台、4 支持体、8 更新巻上機、9 駆動綱車、11 主索、12 箱状構造体、13 載置スペース、14 点検口、15 点検扉、17 物品。
[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an elevator apparatus in which an update hoisting machine is installed in an existing hoistway in a work for repairing an existing elevator.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the elevator apparatus, a machine room is provided above a hoistway formed in a building. Then, the hoisting machine is installed on a machine base installed in the machine room, and a main rope holding a lifting body such as a car is wound around a driving sheave of the hoisting machine. This constitutes an elevator with a machine room. Then, when the hoisting machine is energized, the lifting body is moved up and down via the main rope. In such an elevator with a machine room, the hoisting machine, the lifting body, the load in the lifting body, and the weight of the main rope are supported by the machine base.
[0003]
In some cases, the elevator with machine room described above may be upgraded to a so-called elevator without machine room in which a hoisting machine is installed in the hoistway. The upper machine is installed in the hoistway, and the support beam is arranged at the upper part in the hoistway to pivot the pulley. In addition, a guide rail for guiding the raising and lowering of the lifting body is erected on the hoistway, and the upper support beam is supported by the upper end of the guide rail. And the main rope which suspended the raising / lowering body which raises / lowers a hoistway is wound around the drive sheave of the pulley of a support beam, and an update hoisting machine. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-80178 A (page 7, FIG. 1)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the elevator without a machine room, the upper end of the guide rail supports the support beam arranged at the upper part of the hoistway, and the load of the lifting body acting on the pulley pivotally attached to the support beam is supported by the guide rail. The For this reason, the strength of the existing guide rail of the existing elevator with a machine room is insufficient when renovation is performed to update the existing elevator with a machine room described above to an elevator without a machine room. For this reason, there is a problem that the existing guide rail cannot be diverted, and it is necessary to update the guide rail to a strong guide rail capable of supporting the support beam, which increases costs.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an elevator apparatus that can easily modify an existing elevator with a machine room to an elevator without a machine room.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In elevator apparatus according to the present invention, and the existing machine table installed in existing machine room of the existing hoistway direction, through the floor of the existing machine room extends downwardly from the existing machine room, the lower end existing A vertical member arranged in the hoistway, an update hoist installed near the lower part of the vertical hoistway and an upper part in the existing hoistway, and provided at the lower end of the vertical member, horizontally from the vertical member Mounting arm overhanging, a sled wheel pivotally attached to the mounting arm and disposed adjacent to the driving sheave of the rewind hoist, a main rope wound around the driving sheave and the sled wheel, and a main rope A car and a counterweight that move up and down in opposite directions, and the weight of the car, the load in the car, the counterweight, the main rope, the rewinding hoist, the deflector, and the mounting arm It is supported by the existing machine base.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 to 5 are diagrams showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view conceptually showing an upper part of a hoistway, FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a view showing a state where an inspection door is opened, FIG. 4 is a view showing a state where an article is placed on the box-like structure in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG. In the figure, an existing machine room 2 is provided above an existing hoistway 1 provided in a building, and an existing machine table 3 is provided on the floor of the existing machine room 2.
[0009]
And the support body 4 described below arrange | positioned in the hanging state from the existing machine room 2 in the existing hoistway 1 is provided. That is, the support 4 is a cross member 5 arranged in a bridged state on the existing machine bases 3 on both sides, the upper end is fastened to the cross member 5 and extends downward, penetrates the floor of the existing machine room 2 and the lower end side is A vertical member 6 disposed in the existing hoistway 1 and a mounting arm 7 having one side fastened to a lower end portion of the vertical member 6 and projecting in the horizontal direction.
[0010]
An update hoisting machine 8 is fastened near the lower part of the support body 4 and arranged at the upper part in the existing hoistway 1, and a baffle 10 is pivotally attached to the mounting arm 7 of the support body 4 to update the hoisting machine. It is arranged adjacent to the eight drive sheaves 9. The main rope 11 is wound around the driving sheave 9 and the deflector 10 of the rewind hoist 8, and an elevator car is connected to one end of the main rope 11, although not shown, and the other end is suspended. The weight is connected.
[0011]
A box-like structure 12 is erected from the floor of the existing machine room 2 so as to surround a side surface and an upper side of the existing machine base 3, and constitutes a placement space 13 for an article to be described later on the upper surface, An inspection port 14 is provided at the position corresponding to the updated hoisting machine. In addition, an inspection door 15 provided on the box-shaped structure 12 for opening and closing the inspection port 14 is provided, and a lock 16 for locking the inspection door 15 is provided. For example, an article 17 made of a locker is placed in the placement space 13 of the box-shaped structure 12.
[0012]
In the elevator apparatus configured as described above, when the updated hoisting machine 8 is energized, the driving sheave 9 rotates, and the car and the counterweight move up and down in opposite directions via the main rope 11. Then, when an existing elevator with a machine room (not shown) in which a hoisting machine (not shown) is installed in the existing machine room 2 above the existing hoistway 1 is repaired and updated to an elevator without a machine room, As described, the weight of the cage or the like is supported.
[0013]
That is, in the elevator without a machine room, the weight of the car, the load in the car, the counterweight, the main rope 11, the rewinding hoist 8, the deflector 10 and the support 4 are placed on the existing machine base via the support 4. 3 is supported. For this reason, the load by the weight of a cage | basket | car etc. does not act on the existing guide rail (not shown). Therefore, the existing guide rail can be diverted to save materials required for the renovation work, and the number of renovation work can be saved, so that the cost of the renovation work can be reduced.
[0014]
Further, a box-like structure 12 is provided in the existing machine room 2 so as to surround the side surface and the upper side of the existing machine base 3, and an inspection port 14 is provided at the position corresponding to the update hoisting machine on the upper surface of the box-like structure 12. An inspection door 15 is provided which opens and closes the inspection port 14. As a result, the rewind hoist 8 and the deflector 10 can be easily inspected from within the existing machine room 2, so that the maintenance work efficiency of the elevator can be improved.
[0015]
Moreover, since the placement space 13 for the article 17 is provided on the upper surface of the box-shaped structure 12, the existing machine room 2 can be effectively used as a trunk room or the like. For this reason, the existing machine room 2 can be used effectively and the use efficiency of the building can be improved along with the improvement of the asset value of the building by renovating the existing elevator with the machine room to the elevator without the machine room. .
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
As the invention has been described above, and the existing machine table installed in existing machine room of the existing hoistway direction, through the floor of the existing machine room extends downwardly from the existing machine room, the lower end existing A vertical member arranged in the hoistway, an update hoist installed near the lower part of the vertical hoistway and an upper part in the existing hoistway, and provided at the lower end of the vertical member, horizontally from the vertical member Mounting arm overhanging, a sled wheel pivotally attached to the mounting arm and disposed adjacent to the driving sheave of the rewind hoist, a main rope wound around the driving sheave and the sled wheel, and a main rope A car and a counterweight that move up and down in opposite directions, and the weight of the car, the load in the car, the counterweight, the main rope, the rewinding hoist, the deflector, and the mounting arm It is supported by the existing machine base .
[0017]
This, to repair the existing elevator machine room hoisting machine has been installed in the machine room of the existing hoistway side, if you update to the machine room without lift, vertical weight, such as the car and counterweight support It is supported by an existing machine stand installed in an existing machine room via a material . For this reason, the existing guide rail can be diverted to save the materials for the repair work, and the number of the repair work can be saved, thereby reducing the cost of the repair work .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view conceptually showing an upper part of a hoistway, showing the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which an inspection door is opened in FIG. 1;
4 is a diagram showing a state in which an article is placed on the box-like structure in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG. 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Existing hoistway, 2 Existing machine room, 3 Existing machine stand, 4 Support body, 8 Update hoisting machine, 9 Drive sheave, 11 Main rope, 12 Box-shaped structure, 13 Mounting space, 14 Inspection port, 15 Inspection door, 17 items.

Claims (1)

既設昇降路上方の既設機械室に設置された既設機械台
上記既設機械室から下方に延在し上記既設機械室の床を貫通部が上記既設昇降路内に配置された縦材と、
上記縦材の下部寄りに設けられ、上記既設昇降路内の上部に配置された更新巻上機と、
上記縦材の下端部に設けられ、上記縦材から水平方向に張り出した取付腕と、
上記取付腕に枢着され、上記更新巻上機の駆動綱車に隣接して配置されたそらせ車と、
上記駆動綱車及び上記そらせ車に巻掛けられた主索と、
上記主索を介して互いに反対方向へ昇降するかご及びつり合おもりと、
を備え
上記かご、上記かご内の負荷、上記つり合おもり、上記主索、上記更新巻上機、上記そらせ車、上記取付腕の重量が、上記縦材を介して上記既設機械台に支持されることを特徴とするエレベーター装置。
And the existing machine base, which is installed in the existing machine room of the existing hoistway side,
Extending downwardly from the existing machine room through the floor of the existing machine room, a longitudinal member lower end portion is disposed in the existing hoistway,
An updated hoisting machine provided near the lower part of the longitudinal member and disposed at the upper part in the existing hoistway ;
An attachment arm provided at a lower end portion of the vertical member and projecting horizontally from the vertical member;
A sled wheel pivotally attached to the mounting arm and disposed adjacent to the driving sheave of the renewal hoist,
A main rope wound around the drive sheave and the deflection sheave,
A car and a counterweight that go up and down in opposite directions via the main rope,
Equipped with a,
The weight of the car, the load in the car, the counterweight, the main rope, the rewind hoist, the deflector, and the mounting arm are supported by the existing machine base via the vertical member. Elevator device characterized by .
JP2002365652A 2002-12-17 2002-12-17 Elevator equipment Expired - Fee Related JP4115823B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2002365652A JP4115823B2 (en) 2002-12-17 2002-12-17 Elevator equipment

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2002365652A JP4115823B2 (en) 2002-12-17 2002-12-17 Elevator equipment

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
JP2004196469A JP2004196469A (en) 2004-07-15
JP4115823B2 true JP4115823B2 (en) 2008-07-09

Family

ID=32763148

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP2002365652A Expired - Fee Related JP4115823B2 (en) 2002-12-17 2002-12-17 Elevator equipment

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JP4115823B2 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1555232B1 (en) * 2004-01-07 2016-12-07 Inventio AG Method for converting and for mounting a driving gear of an elevator
FI122357B (en) * 2004-03-10 2011-12-15 Kone Corp Method of renovation of the space reserved for elevator use and arrangement in the building

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2004196469A (en) 2004-07-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP4191331B2 (en) Elevator equipment
KR20070049968A (en) Method of constructing a lift installation, and lift installation for that purpose
WO2004020322A1 (en) Elevator
JP4828084B2 (en) How to install the hoist
JP2000044146A5 (en)
JP4934941B2 (en) Elevator equipment
JP4339578B2 (en) Elevator equipment
JP4403142B2 (en) Elevator apparatus drive unit, elevator apparatus, elevator apparatus installation method, and elevator apparatus maintenance and inspection method
JP2007210703A (en) Device and method for installing hoist machine in machine-room-less elevator
JP4115823B2 (en) Elevator equipment
JP4091326B2 (en) Elevator equipment
JP3170559B2 (en) Elevator car fixing device
JP4804144B2 (en) Top sheave device in climbing method for construction elevators
JP4253394B2 (en) Winding type elevator
JP4268275B2 (en) Elevator equipment
JP2005008335A (en) Elevator apparatus
JPH0628548Y2 (en) Lifting device for self-propelled work platform
JP2008001509A (en) Structure for elevator machine room on roof
JP4091218B2 (en) elevator
JP2004196468A (en) Elevator device
JP4761666B2 (en) Elevator article lifting device and lifting method
JP2591299Y2 (en) Gondola for maintenance of elevator parking system
JP2549726Y2 (en) Construction lift
JP6440862B2 (en) Elevator equipment
JP2004026396A (en) Balance weight hoisting device for elevator system

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
A621 Written request for application examination

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A621

Effective date: 20050303

A977 Report on retrieval

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A971007

Effective date: 20071126

A131 Notification of reasons for refusal

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A131

Effective date: 20071204

A521 Written amendment

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A523

Effective date: 20080107

RD02 Notification of acceptance of power of attorney

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A7422

Effective date: 20080107

TRDD Decision of grant or rejection written
A01 Written decision to grant a patent or to grant a registration (utility model)

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A01

Effective date: 20080415

A61 First payment of annual fees (during grant procedure)

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A61

Effective date: 20080416

FPAY Renewal fee payment (event date is renewal date of database)

Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20110425

Year of fee payment: 3

R150 Certificate of patent or registration of utility model

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: R150

FPAY Renewal fee payment (event date is renewal date of database)

Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20110425

Year of fee payment: 3

FPAY Renewal fee payment (event date is renewal date of database)

Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20110425

Year of fee payment: 3

FPAY Renewal fee payment (event date is renewal date of database)

Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20130425

Year of fee payment: 5

FPAY Renewal fee payment (event date is renewal date of database)

Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20140425

Year of fee payment: 6

LAPS Cancellation because of no payment of annual fees