EQUIPMENT FOR LIFTING AND LOWERING AN OBJECT OF LARGE DIMENSIONS AND MASS

1 - 12 . (canceled)

13 . Equipment for lifting and lowering a platform in the middle of a large construction, whereby the construction comprises a stationary, fixed, lower platform and an upper platform arranged thereabove and having an adjustable height position, the lifting equipment comprising a plurality of lifting pylons locating on the sides of the platforms, a lifting rope arrangement arranged for each lifting pylon and connected to the upper platform, lifting machines connected to the lifting rope arrangements for lifting and lowering the upper platform by means of the lifting rope arrangements, and means for locking the upper platform into place at a desired height position, wherein

the lifting machine driving the lifting rope arrangement disposed in each lifting pylon is placed on the opposite side of the platforms in relation to the lifting pylon concerned and below the level of the lower platform,

each lifting rope arrangement comprises a lifting rope, a winch having an upper rope pulley set and a lower rope pulley set, the upper rope pulley set locating above the uppermost locking point of the upper platform, and a sheave which is located under the level of the lower platform and guides the lifting rope towards the lifting machine on the opposite side of the platforms, and

at each lifting point of the upper platform there is a lifting pylon pair consisting of two lifting pylons, which lifting pylons are interconnected by means of lifting rope arrangements disposed therein in such a manner that the lower rope pulley sets of the winches are interconnected through a rope tension equalizer whose opposite ends are guided to move in vertical gaps provided in the walls facing one another of the lifting pylons.

14 . The equipment of claim 13 , wherein the lifting machinery driving the lifting rope arrangement disposed in each particular lifting pylon is placed in the vicinity of the lifting pylon concerned locating on the opposite side of the platforms, for instance, behind it or below it.

15 . The equipment of claim 13 , wherein the platforms are rectangular in shape, the lifting pylons being arranged adjacent to the longer sides of the platforms.

16 . The equipment of claim 13 , wherein the platforms are rectangular in shape, the lifting pylons being arranged adjacent to all sides of the platforms.

17 . The equipment of claim 15 , wherein the lifting pylons are arranged at least in the vicinity of the corners of the platforms.

18 . The equipment of claim 15 , wherein the lifting pylons are also arranged in the area between the corners.

19 . The equipment of claim 13 , wherein there is an even number of lifting pylons.

20 . The equipment of claim 13 , wherein on the opposite sides of the rope tension equalizer there are first and second guide rolls in cooperation with the lifting pylon pair, the first guide rolls supporting to the opposite lateral edges of the vertical gap and the second guide rolls supporting to the support surfaces on the sides of the walls facing one another of the lifting pylons, on both sides of the vertical gap.

21 . The equipment of claim 20 , wherein the means for locking the upper platform into place comprise a latch which closes each vertical gap and to which each rope tension equalizer is supported in the locked position.

22 . The equipment of claim 13 , wherein the lifting pylons are supported to a surrounding structure.