Adjustable Elevator Cabin Seal for Air Leak and Noise Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seals in vacuum elevators create air pockets and leaks, leading to undesirable jumps, jerks, and whistling noises during operation, compromising the smooth ride and safety of the elevator.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable elevator cabin seal featuring a plate and a seal member made of silicone, with adjustment members that can expand or contract to ensure a tight seal against the internal surfaces of the elevator, eliminating air pockets and leaks by exerting adjustable force against the seal member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional seals are used in vacuum elevators, then the seal structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but air pockets and air leaks occur around the cabin creating jumps and jerks
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is designed to be adjustable and expandable, transitioning from a static seal to a dynamic one that can adapt its sealing force and position. The adjustment mechanism allows the seal to be tightened or loosened based on operational requirements, while the expandable design enables the seal to conform to the cabin shape and eliminate air pockets effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal's physical parameters such as length, cross-sectional area, and sealing force are made changeable through the adjustment mechanism. By modifying these parameters, the seal can optimize its performance under different operating conditions, ensuring reliable sealing without excessive complexity.
2Reliability
If conventional seals are used, then the seal installation is simple, but air leaks cause unintended suction and unsafe operation
Solution Approach 1:
The seal system is divided into modular components including the seal member, adjustment mechanism, and mounting elements. This segmentation allows for easier manufacturing and assembly while ensuring proper sealing function. The modular design enables independent optimization of each component for safety and ease of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism is designed to be user-friendly, allowing operators to easily adjust and tighten the seal without requiring complex tools or procedures. The self-adjusting features enable the seal to maintain optimal sealing force automatically, ensuring operational safety while simplifying installation and maintenance.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional seals are used, then the seal design is straightforward, but air pockets create whistling noises and unpleasant experience
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member utilizes flexible material properties to conform to the cabin surface and eliminate air pockets that cause whistling noises. The flexibility allows the seal to adapt to surface irregularities and maintain continuous contact, preventing air leakage and noise generation without requiring overly complex rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic adjustment capability allows the seal to be optimized in real-time to eliminate air pockets and prevent whistling noises. By adjusting the seal's position and sealing force, the system can adapt to different operational conditions and eliminate harmful noise effects effectively.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adjustable seal ensures an air-tight seal around the ceiling structure, preventing air from being suctioned from unintended areas, resulting in a smoother ride and eliminating unwanted noise and vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
The seal member may be arranged to press an internal surface of the elevator... The adjustment offers an option of pressing the seal into the internal surface of the elevator, thereby eliminating any air leaks and/or pockets
Implementation Method 2
The vacuum system extracts air from the unobstructed space above the cabin, thereby creating a vacuum or a low pressure space
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator cabin seal for an elevator is described. The elevator cabin seal includes a plate having a plate interior surface, a seal member, and a plurality of adjustment members. The seal member has a seal member interior surface and a seal member top surface contiguous with the seal member interior surface. The seal member top surface is coupled to the plate interior surface. Each adjustment member of the plurality of adjustment members is coupled to the plate interior surface and contacts the seal member interior surface to exert an adjustable force against the seal member interior surface.