ELEVATOR APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an elevator apparatus without a machine room.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a related art elevator apparatus, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-297209, a load that causes a cage and a counterbalancing weight to be suspended is applied to a counter-main rope fixing base-side cage guide rail, a counterbalancing weight guide rail, a top sheave attached to a top beam that is fixed to a top portion of a top beam supporting pillar, and an end portion of a main rope, and this suspension load is adapted to be supported by a cage-side guide rail, the counterbalancing weight guide rail, and the top beam supporting pillar. Moreover, the counterbalancing weight guide rail is fixed onto a top surface of a pit base and the top beam supporting pillar is fixed onto the top surface of the pit base via a winder-fixing base, so that an upward pulling force which is applied to a winder sheave arranged adjacent a lowermost step is adapted to be supported by the counterbalancing weight guide rail and the top beam supporting pillar. When a suspension load except a load applied to a cage main-rope fixing base, and a load pulling the winder sheave up, and a positional relationship between the guide rail and the top beam supporting pillar

which support these loads are considered, positions to which some of the loads are applied are in positions that are outside a hypothetical triangle area which is formed by a straight line connecting the counter-main rope fixing base-side cage guide rail and a main rope fixing base-side counterbalancing weight guide rail, and the top beam supporting pillar. Moreover, the main rope fixing base-side counterbalancing weight guide rail and the top beam supporting pillar are provided so as not to stand up to a top portion of a hoistway and provided so as to stand up to a bottom surface of the top beam.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the related art elevator apparatus, if the suspension load except the load applied to the cage main-rope fixing base, and the load pulling the winder sheave up, and the positional relationship between the guide rails and the top beam supporting pillar which support these loads are considered, the positions to which some of the loads are applied are in the positions that are outside the triangle area which is formed by the straight line connecting the counter-main rope fixing base-side cage guide rail and the main rope fixing base-side counterbalancing weight guide rail, and the top beam supporting pillar. Therefore, a compression load is applied to a guide rail or a supporting pillar which is located on the side that is outside the triangle area, and a pulling load is applied to the guide rails or the

supporting pillar which are located on the opposite side, so that the loads tender to be concentrated into some of the guide rails or supporting pillars and there is a fear that production cost will be raised up in order to enhance the strength of these guide rails and supporting pillar. In addition, the main rope fixing base-side counterbalancing weight guide rail and the top beam supporting pillar are provided so as not to stand up to the top portion of the hoistway, so that for example, in a case where a building has a steel bar structure, a height for allowing the guide rails and the top beam supporting pillar to be fixed to the building via rail brackets is forced to be set at a position below the top beam and there is a problem that an intermediate beam or a fastener plate, etc. is required to be additionally employed.
The present invention has been made with a view to overcoming the foregoing problems and has as an object the provision of an elevator apparatus in which, with a relatively simple structure, the strength of guide rails is not required to be enhanced and which facilitates the reduction of the cost.
In the elevator apparatus according to the present invention, load application points which include a load application load point in a sheave attached to a top beam and a load application point in a sheave of a winder are located within a hypothetical polygon area which is surrounded by guide rails and a top beam supporting pillar which support these loads.

According to the present invention, loads which are applied to the guide rails and the top beam supporting pillar are restrained from being partially concentrated. Therefore, the strength or sizes of the guide rails and top beam supporting pillar are not required to be increased.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of an elevator apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a plane view of the embodiment shown in Fig.
i;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an uppermost step portion in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a plane view showing a load flow in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1; and
Fig. 5 is a plane view showing an elevator apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments according to the present invention will be discussed hereinafter with reference to the drawings.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of an elevator apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plane view of the embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing a section of the

elevator apparatus which is adjacent an uppermost step.
In a structure in which an elevator without a machine room is provided within a hoistway 1 for the elevator and a counterbalancing weight of the elevator is arranged on a rear side, a main rope 5 whose one end portion is attached to a cage-side main rope fixing base 6 arranged in a top portion of the hoistway is extended downwardly from the end portion, and returned around a sheave 7 under a riding cage 2 in a wound-up direction, to thereby suspend the riding cage 2. Moreover, the main rope 5 is extended toward cage-side top sheaves 8a, 8b, which are attached to a cage-side top beam 9 arranged in the top portion of the hoistway, wound around the cage-side top sheaves 8a, 8b and returned downward. Moreover, the main rope 5 is extended toward a sheave of a winder 4, arranged adjacent a lowermost step floor surface, wound around the sheave of the winder and returned upward. Moreover, the main rope 5 is wound around a weight-side top sheave 10, which is attached to a weight-side top beam 12 arranged in the top portion of the hoistway, extended downward, and wound around a sheave of a counterbalancing weight 3 arranged downward, to thereby suspend the counterbalancing weight 3, and fixed at the other end portion of the main rope 5 to a weight-side main rope fixing base 11 that is attached to the weight-side top beam 12.
The counterbalancing weight 3 is arranged behind the riding cage 2, namely, is arranged in a space between a side of the riding cage 2 that is opposite to a cage door

30, and a wall of the hoistway that faces the side of the riding cage 2. The winder 4 is also located in the space and fixedly arranged adjacent a lowermost step floor level in the hoistway on the side of the counterbalancing weight 3 that is opposite to a counter-main rope fixing base-side counterbalancing weigh guide rail 17. A sheave is attached directly to a rotating shaft of an electric motor section of the winder 4 without via a reduction gear. This sheave is arranged on the side of a winder body that is adjacent the riding cage 2.
When the winder 4 is driven, the riding cage 2 is hoisted up or down while being guided by a main rope fixing base-side cage guide rail 13 on the side of the main rope fixing base 6, and a counter-main rope fixing base-side cage guide rail 14 on the side in which the main rope 5 is extended to the cage-side top sheaves 8a, 8b from the sheave 7 under the cage, and the counterbalancing weight 3 is hoisted up or down in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the riding case 2 while being guided by a main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 16 on the side of the weight main rope fixing base 11, and the counter-main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 17 on the side in which the main rope 5 extends to a top weight-side sheave 10 from a sheave of the weight.
A suspension load that suspends from the riding cage 2 and the counterbalancing weight 3 is applied to the cage-side main rope fixing base 6, the cage-side top sheaves 8a, 8b, the weight-side top sheave 10, and the weight-side main

rope fixing base 11. On the other hand, an upward pulling load is applied to the sheave of the winder 4. The suspension load is supported by the cage-side guide rails 13, 14 that are fixed to a top surface of a cage-side pit base 15 laid on a bottom surface of the hoistway, the main rope fixing base-side guide rail 16 that is fixed to a top surface of a weight-side pit base 19 laid on the bottom surface of the hoistway, the counter-main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 17, and a top beam supporting pillar 18. Incidentally, a hypothetical line that connects the counter-main rope fixing base-side cage guide rail 14 and the top beam supporting pillar 18 becomes parallel to an adjacent hoistway wall. That is, the cage-side top beam 9 is parallel in a longitudinal direction thereof to an adjacent hoistway wall. Moreover, a hypothetical line that connects the main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 16 and the top beam supporting pillar 18 becomes parallel to an adjacent hoistway wall. That is, weight-side top beams 12a, 12b become parallel in longitudinal directions thereof to adjacent hoistway walls.
The cage-side guide rails (13, 14), the weight-side guide rails (16, 17), and the top beam supporting pillar 18 are firmly fixed to fastener plates 21a-d of the building or beams 22a-d of the building, etc. by rail brackets 20a-d (refer to Fig. 3).
The cage-side top beam 9 is formed from an elongated member and fixed at both end portions thereof to a top portion of the counter-main rope fixing base-side cage

guide rail 14 and a top portion of the top beam supporting pillar 18 in such a manner that a longitudinal direction of the cage-side top beam becomes parallel to a depth direction of the riding cage. The weight-side top beams 12a, 12b are formed from two elongated members and fixed at both end portions thereof to the top portion of the main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 16 and the top portion of the top beam supporting pillar 18 in such a manner that longitudinal directions of the top beams 12a, 12b become parallel to the wall of the hoistway which is located behind the riding cage 2. The cage-side top beam 9 and the weight-side top beams 12a, 12b are arranged in a substantially L-shape so as to be substantially perpendicular to each other at a corner within the hoistway. Incidentally, while the weight-side top beams are formed from the two elongated members in this embodiment, they may be formed from a single elongated member.
As shown in Fig. 2, the cage-side top sheaves 8a, 8b, the weight-side top sheave 10, the weight-side main rope fixing base 6, the cage-side top beam 9 mounting them, and the weight-side top beams 12a, 12b are located at positions offset from the surface positions of the counter-main rope fixing base-side cage guide rail 14, main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 16, and top beam supporting pillar 18, so that the counter-main rope fixing base guide rail 14, the main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 16, and the top beam supporting pillar 18 can be provided so as to stand up to the top portion of the hoistway. Thereby, even

in the case of the steel bar structure, the rail brackets 20a-d can be easily attached to the beam, fastener plate, etc. of the building which is located in the top portion of the hoistway, so that an intermediate beam, etc. is not required to be additionally provided at a location below the top beam.
As shown in Fig. 2, the cage-side top sheaves 8a, 8b are attached to the side of the cage-side top beam 9 which is adjacent the riding cage. Moreover, the cage-side top beam 9 is connected on the side thereof adjacent the riding cage to rear surfaces of the counter-main rope fixing base-side cage guide rail 14 and top beam supporting pillar 18. If such a horizontal sectional view of the hoistway as to be shown in Fig. 2 is seen, the main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 16, the weight-side main rope fixing base 11, the sheave of the counterbalancing weight, the weight-side top sheave 10, and the counter-main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 17, the sheave of the winder 4, and the top support pillar 18 are arranged in this order along the longitudinal directions of the two elongated members from which the weight-side top beams 12a, 12b are formed, and located between these elongated members. Of these components, the weight-side top sheave 10 is fixed to the weight-side top beams 12a, 12b.
In the arrangement of the parts, members, and equipment which is shown in Fig. 2, load application points of a suspension load in the cage-side top sheaves 8a, 8b are located more adjacent the riding cage as compared with

the cage-side top beam 9 and are, therefore, located more adjacent the riding cage as compared with the hypothetical line that connects the counter-main rope fixing base-side cage guide rail 14 and the top beam supporting pillar 18. Moreover, a load application point of a pulling-up load applied to the sheave of the winder 4, and load application points of a suspension load in the weight-side top sheave 10 and the weight-side main rope fixing base 11 are located more adjacent the riding cage as compared with the hypothetical line that connects the main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 16 and the top beam supporting pillar 18.
Namely, if suspension loads except a load applied to the cage-side main rope fixing base 6, and a pulling-up load of the sheave of the winder 4, and a positional relationship among the counter-main rope fixing base guide rail 14, the main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 16 and the top beam supporting pillar 18 which support these loads are considered, application positions of all loads are located within a hypothetical triangle area which is formed by the hypothetical line which connects the counter-main rope fixing base-side guide rail 14 and the main rope fixing base-side counterbalancing weight guide rail 16, and the top beam supporting pillar 18. The application positions of all loads are adapted to be located within a range except for the horizontal projection of the riding cage 2.
Referring now to Fig. 4, a description will be made

of, for example, a suspension load in the weight-side top sheave 10. In the case shown in Fig. 4, a load application point in the weight-side top sheave 10 is located in a hypothetical triangle area which is formed by a hypothetical line that connects the counter-main rope fixing base-side cage guide rail 14 and the main rope fixing base-side counterbalancing weight 16, and the top beam supporting pillar 18, so that respective loads become loads which are applied downward and, thus, the loads are restrained from being partially concentrated. Thereby, extreme concentration of force into one guide rail or the top beam supporting pillar 18 is reduced, the sizes of the guide rail and top beam supporting pillar are not reguired to be made increased, and production cost can be restrained. Moreover, in a case where a line that connects the rear surface of the counter-main rope fixing base-side cage guide rail 14 and the rear surface of the top beam supporting pillar 18 is made parallel to the hoistway walls, the structure of the cage-side top beam 9 can be made simple, thus making it possible to reduce the cost.
Fig. 5 is a plane view showing another embodiment of the elevator apparatus according to the present invention. The like references used in Fig. 1 denote the same components. The embodiment shown in Fig. 5 is configured such that, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, connection between the main rope fixing base-side cage guide rail 13 and the main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 16 in the top portion of the hoistway is made by a cage main rope

fixing base-side top beam 23 and the cage main rope fixing base 6 is attached to the cage main rope fixing base-side top beam 23. A hypothetical line that connects the main rope fixing base-side guide rail 13 and the main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 16 is parallel to a wall of the hoistway that is adjacent this hypothetical line. That is, the cage main rope fixing base-side top beam 23 is provided so as to become parallel to a wall of the hoistway which a longitudinal direction of the cage main rope fixing base-side top beam 23 is adjacent.
The cage-side top sheaves 8a, 8b, the weight-side top sheave 10, the weight-side main rope fixing base 11, the cage-side top beam 9, the cage-side top beam 9 to which they are attached, the weight-side top beams 12a, 12b, and the cage main rope fixing base-side top beam 23 are arranged at positions offset from plane positions of the main rope fixing base guide rail 13, counter-main rope fixing base guide rail 14, main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 16, and top beam supporting pillar 18. Therefore, the main rope fixing base guide rail 13, the counter-main rope fixing base guide rail 14, the main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 16, and the top beam supporting pillar 18 can be provided so as to stand up to the top portion of the hoistway, so that like the above-mentioned embodiment, even in the case of the steel bar structure, the rail brackets can be easily attached to the beam and fastener plate, etc. of the building which is arranged in the top portion of the hoistway. Thereby, it

is unnecessary to additionally provide an intermediate beam, etc. at a position below the top beam.
Moreover, if all suspension loads, a pulling-up load of the sheave of the winder 4, and a positional relationship among the main rope fixing base guide rail 13, the counter-main rope fixing base guide rail 14, the main rope fixing base-side weight guide rail 16 and the top beam supporting pillar 18 which support the loads are considered, application positions of all loads are adapted to be located in a hypothetical square area formed by a hypothetical line which connects both of the cage guide rails 13, 14, the main rope fixing base-side counterbalancing weight guide rail 16, and the top beam supporting pillar 18, so that partial concentration of the loads into the guide rails or the top beam supporting pillar is reduced, the sizes of the guide rails and top beam supporting pillar are not required to be made large, and the production cost can be restrained.
Moreover, in a case where a straight line that connects the rear surface of the main rope fixing base-side cage guide rail 14 and the rear surface of the main rope fixing base-side weight rail 16 is made parallel to the walls of the hoistway, the structure of the cage side-top beam 9 can be made simple, thus making it possible to lower the cost.
It should be noted that the terms and expressions having been employed herein are used as terms of description, not of limitation. In the use of such terms

and expressions, there is no intention of excluding any equivalents of the features illustrated and described or portions thereof. However, it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. An elevator apparatus comprising:
a riding cage;
a counterbalancing weight;
the riding cage and counterbalancing weight being adapted to be hoisted up and down in directions opposite to each other in a hoistway;
a cage guide rail guiding the riding cage;
a weight guide rail guiding the counterbalancing weight;
a beam provided on top portions of the cage guide rail and weight guide rail and supported by the cage guide rail, the weight guide rail, and a supporting pillar;
a sheave attached to the beam;
a winder provided in the hoistway and provided with a sheave; and
a main rope wound around the sheave of the winder and the sheave attached to the beam and suspending the riding cage and the counterbalancing weight;
the riding cage and the counterbalancing weight being adapted to be hoisted up and down by causing the sheave of the winder to be rolled to thereby cause the main rope to be driven;
wherein load application points that include a load application point in the sheave attached to the beam and a load application point in the sheave of the winder are located in a hypothetical triangle area that is formed by a

hypothetical line connecting the cage guide rail, the weight guide rail and the supporting pillar.
2. The elevator apparatus according claim 1, wherein the cage guide rail, the weight guide rail and the supporting pillar are provided so as to stand up to a top portion of the hoistway from a bottom portion of the hoistway.
3. The elevator apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sheave of the winder is attached to a side of the winder that is adjacent the riding cage.
4. The elevator apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a hypothetical straight line that connects the cage guide rail and the supporting pillar is parallel to walls of the hoistway.
5. An elevator apparatus comprising:
a riding cage;
a counterbalancing weight;
the riding cage and counterbalancing weight being adapted to be hoisted up and down in directions opposite to each other in a hoistway;
a pair of cage guide rails guiding the riding cage;
a weight guide rail guiding the counterbalancing weight;
a beam provided on top portions of the cage guide

rail and weight guide rail and supported by the pair of cage guide rails, the weight guide rail, and a supporting pillar;
a sheave attached to the beam;
a winder provided in the hoistway and provided with a sheave; and
a main rope wound around the sheave of the winder and the sheave attached to the beam and suspending the riding cage and the counterbalancing weight;
the riding cage and the counterbalancing weight being adapted to be hoisted up and down by causing the sheave of the winder to be rolled to thereby cause the main rope to be driven;
wherein load application points that include a load application point in the sheave attached to the beam and a load application point in the sheave of the winder are located in a hypothetical square area that is formed by a hypothetical line connecting the pair of cage guide rails, the weight guide rail and the supporting pillar.
6. The elevator apparatus according to claim 5,
wherein the pair of cage guide rails, the weight guide rail,
and the supporting pillar are provided so as to stand up to
a top portion of the hoistway from a bottom portion of the hoistway.
7. The elevator apparatus according to claim 5 or 6,
wherein the sheave of the winder is attached to a side of

the winder that is adjacent the riding cage.
8. The elevator apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein each of hypothetical straight lines connecting the pair of the cage guide rails and the supporting pillar is parallel to walls of the hoistway.