Elevator system

1. An elevator system including a suspension apparatus having a plurality of electrically conductive tension members arranged parallel to and next to each other in a common plane, the tension members being electrically insulated from each other and surrounded by a common jacket, all of the tension members being interconnected forming a circuit comprising;

a current source or a voltage source connected to the tension members; and

a measuring device connected between a first group of the tension members and a second group of the tension members wherein electrical current from the current source or the voltage source flows first through the tension members of the first group, then through the measuring device and finally through the tension members of the second group back to the current source or the voltage source, and wherein the tension members of at least one of the first group and the second group are interconnected; and

wherein a first two of the tension members are electrically interconnected at a first end of the suspension apparatus, a second two of the tension members are electrically connected to the current source or the voltage source at a second end of the suspension apparatus, a third two of the tension members are electrically connected to the measuring device, and any remaining of the tension members are interconnected as pairs.

2. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein each of the tension members of the first group is directly adjacent only to the tension members of the second group, and wherein each of the tension members of the second group is directly adjacent only to the tension members of the first group.

3. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein a number of the tension members in the first group is equal to a number of the tension members in the second group.

4. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein the measuring device is configured as an ammeter or as a voltmeter.

5. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein the current or the voltage source generates an alternating current or a direct current.

6. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein the circuit further includes a line isolation monitor.

7. A method for monitoring a suspension apparatus in an elevator system, wherein the suspension apparatus includes a plurality of electrically conductive tension members arranged parallel to and next to each other in a common plane, the tension members being electrically insulated from each other and surrounded by a common jacket, the method comprising the steps of:

conducting a test current through a first group of the tension members;

conducting the test current through a second group of tension members;

determining a characteristic of the test current using a measuring device, wherein the test current is conducted through the measuring device after it is conducted through the first group of tension members and before it is conducted through the second group of tension members; and

wherein a first two of the tension members are electrically interconnected at a first end of the suspension apparatus, a second two of the tension members are electrically connected to the current source or the voltage source at a second end of the suspension apparatus, a third two of the tension members are electrically connected to the measuring device, and any remaining of the tension members are interconnected as pairs.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein, as the test current is conducted through the first group of tension members, the tension members of the first group are each spaced apart from each other by one of the tension members of a second group, and wherein, as the test current is conducted through the second group of tension members, the tension members of the second group are each spaced apart from each other by one of the tension members of the first group.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the test current is conducted through all of the tension members of the suspension apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 7 wherein the test current is one of an alternating current, a direct current and an electrical signal.

11. The method according to claim 7 wherein the characteristic of the test current is one of a voltage, an amperage, a resistance and a signal property.

12. The method according to claim 7 wherein, in the determination of the characteristic of the test current, it is determined whether the characteristic is above or below a predefined threshold value.

13. The method according to claim 7 including the step of:

checking the circuit including the first group of tension members and the second group of tension members for a ground fault.