Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator Seal Assembly Vibration Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional seal assemblies for pneumatic vacuum elevators are inefficient in reducing vibrations and ensuring a smooth, frictionless movement of the elevator cabin during vertical transitions, which affects the riding experience and maintenance requirements.

Innovation Solution

A seal assembly comprising an elevator cabin structural sealing plate with a top plate, u-shaped corner plates, reinforcement bars, and bumper and liner plates that fit over the cylindrical elevator cabin, providing mechanical and adhesive coupling, guiding rails, and constant contact with the elevator cylinder to reduce vibrations and ensure sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional seal assemblies are used in pneumatic vacuum elevators, then the basic sealing function is provided, but vibrations during vertical movement are not effectively reduced and frictionless movement is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidvibrations during movement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The seal assembly is divided into multiple functional components: a top plate for structural support, corner plates for guiding and positioning, liner plates for sealing contact, and reinforcement bars for structural integrity. Each segment performs a specific function to collectively achieve vibration reduction and effective sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seal assembly is pre-configured with reinforcement bars and properly positioned liner plates before operation. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the sealing components are already in optimal positions to cushion and reduce vibrations during the elevator cabin's vertical movement, preventing excessive vibrations before they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If a tight seal is maintained during vertical movement, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but friction and vibration increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidfriction during movement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different parts of the seal assembly have specialized properties: the liner plates are positioned to contact the cylinder wall at specific locations for sealing, while the corner plates provide guiding functions. This localized functional differentiation allows sealing at contact points while maintaining frictionless movement in guiding areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The liner plates act as intermediary elements between the elevator cabin and the cylinder wall. These plates maintain the necessary contact for sealing while being specifically designed to minimize friction and vibration, mediating between the requirement for tight sealing and the requirement for smooth movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a robust seal assembly structure is used to reduce vibrations, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functions are merged into a unified seal assembly structure. The top plate, corner plates, liner plates, and reinforcement bars are integrated into a single coordinated system that simultaneously provides structural support, guiding, sealing, and vibration reduction functions, rather than requiring separate systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal assembly components serve multiple functions: the top plate provides structural support and mounting, the corner plates provide both guiding and positioning functions, and the liner plates provide both sealing and vibration reduction. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, maintaining stability without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11814267B2Seal assembly for a pneumatic vacuum elevator

Publication Date: 2023.11.14 BABU KILLAKATHU RAMANATHAN

AI summary

A seal assembly for a pneumatic vacuum elevator is disclosed. The seal assembly comprises an elevator cabin structural sealing plate. The elevator cabin structural sealing plate is adapted to fit over a top portion of a cylindrical elevator cabin. The elevator cabin structural sealing plate is characterised by a top plate, a seal cover outer plate, a plurality of U-shaped corner plates, a set of reinforcement bars, at least one bumper and liner plates. Mechanical coupling of the plurality of U-shaped corner plates, the set of reinforcement bars, at least one bumper and liner plates allow easy movement of an elevator cabin through the elevator cylinder without vibrations.