Dual-Tube Elevator Door Seal for Low Transverse Force Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator door seals exert excessive transverse forces on the door, leading to premature wear and increased complexity in the door mechanism, especially when bridging varying door gaps due to manufacturing and assembly inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
A door seal comprising a first tube and a second tube made of elastically deformable material, where the first tube is deformable under fluid pressure to bridge the gap and the second tube allows pressure equalization, reducing transverse forces by compressing with minimal force while maintaining effective sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high pressure is applied to inflate the door seal, then the door gap is adequately sealed, but large transverse forces act on the door
Solution Approach 1:
The door seal is divided into two separate tubes: a first tube that is inflated to bridge the door gap and provide sealing, and a second tube that is compressed to apply contact pressure against the door or car wall. This segmentation allows the sealing function and the contact pressure function to be performed by different components, enabling adequate sealing without subjecting the door to excessive transverse forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The second tube acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the inflated first tube and the door/car wall. By compressing the second tube, the contact pressure is applied through this intermediary component rather than directly through the inflated first tube, thereby reducing the transverse forces transmitted to the door while maintaining effective sealing.
2Reliability
If contact pressure is set to close the door gap in the region of largest width, then the door gap is sealed, but high transverse forces act on the door or car wall
Solution Approach 1:
The door seal is divided into two separate tubes: a first tube that is inflated to bridge the door gap and provide sealing, and a second tube that is compressed to apply contact pressure against the door or car wall. This segmentation allows the sealing function and the contact pressure function to be performed by different components, enabling adequate sealing without subjecting the door to excessive transverse forces.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the door seal have different functions: the first tube provides sealing by inflating to bridge the gap, while the second tube provides contact pressure by compressing against the door or car wall. This local differentiation of function allows each region to perform its specific task optimally without compromising the other.
3Device complexity
If the door seal uses a single tube structure, then the device is simple, but excessive transverse forces cause premature wear of the door mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The door seal is divided into two separate tubes: a first tube that is inflated to bridge the door gap and provide sealing, and a second tube that is compressed to apply contact pressure against the door or car wall. This segmentation allows the sealing function and the contact pressure function to be performed by different components, enabling adequate sealing without subjecting the door to excessive transverse forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The second tube acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the inflated first tube and the door/car wall. By compressing the second tube, the contact pressure is applied through this intermediary component rather than directly through the inflated first tube, thereby reducing the transverse forces transmitted to the door while maintaining effective sealing.
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 solution effectively seals the door gap with reduced transverse forces, preventing premature wear and allowing for a simpler, cheaper door mechanism design.
Implementation Method 1
The first tube has a pressure connection for applying a fluid pressure to the first tube and is deformable, by changing the fluid pressure, between an initial shape and a final shape that is enlarged in the bridging direction compared to the initial shape
Implementation Method 2
The second tube has at least one pressure equalization opening which is designed to enable pressure equalization between an interior and an environment of the second tube when the second tube is compressed
Implementation Method 3
The door seal comprises at least a first tube and a second tube made of an elastically deformable sealing material
Data Source
AI summary
A door seal for an elevator car includes a first tube and a second tube made of an elastically deformable sealing material; the door seal adapted to be mounted on a car wall and/or car door of the elevator car such that the first and second tubes, when the door closes a door opening in the car wall, lie opposite one another within a door gap in a bridging direction and run at least partially around the door opening. The first tube has a pressure connection and can be deformed, by applying fluid pressure, between an initial shape and a final shape that is enlarged in the bridging direction compared to the initial shape. The second tube has at least one pressure equalization opening that enables pressure equalization between an interior and an environment of the second tube when the second tube is compressed.