Flatbar Labyrinth Seal for Elevator Wall Noise Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-rise elevators with fast travel speeds experience significant noise issues due to the interaction of side walls, which existing designs fail to adequately insulate, leading to a need for improved noise reduction solutions that are versatile and cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
The use of wall elements with noise-insulating materials like metal sheets, plastic panels, or fiberboard combined with noise-insulating materials such as stone wool, and a flatbar with specific perforations that creates a labyrinth seal when connecting adjacent wall elements, ensuring a tight and rigid joint without leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If wall elements are connected end-to-end to form side walls in high-rise elevators, then the elevator car can accommodate high-speed travel, but noise insulation deteriorates due to gaps and leaks at connection areas
Solution Approach 1:
A flatbar is introduced as an intermediary element between adjacent wall elements to seal the connection area. The flatbar covers the joint region and is fixed to both wall elements, creating a labyrinth seal that prevents noise leakage through the connection area while allowing the wall elements to be connected end-to-end for high-speed elevator applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall elements are constructed as composite structures combining support materials (metal sheets, plastic panels, or fiberboard plates) with noise insulating materials (such as stone wool or glass wool). This composite construction provides both structural integrity for high-speed operation and effective noise insulation, addressing the contradiction between speed capability and noise reduction.
2Device complexity
If wall elements are connected using traditional methods, then the structure is simple, but noise leaks through the joint areas between wall elements
Solution Approach 1:
The flatbar serves as a mediator element that is relatively simple in form (a longitudinal band or strip) but effective in function. It is fixed to the wall elements using simple fixing elements such as bolts or punch nuts, creating a labyrinth seal that blocks noise leakage without requiring complex connection structures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If wall elements are made with noise insulating materials, then noise insulation improves, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wall elements use composite construction with common, easily manufactured support materials (metal sheets, plastic panels, or fiberboard plates) combined with standard noise insulating materials (stone wool or glass wool). These are materials that are readily available and can be manufactured using conventional processes, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving good noise insulation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall structure is segmented into separate wall elements that can be manufactured independently and then assembled by connecting them end-to-end. Each wall element can be manufactured separately with noise insulating materials, and the modular design allows for easy assembly and replacement, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving noise insulation.
4Strength
If wall elements are connected rigidly to ensure structural integrity, then the joint rigidity improves, but noise insulation at the joint deteriorates due to potential gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The flatbar acts as a mediator that is fixed rigidly to both wall elements using fixing elements like bolts or punch nuts, ensuring joint rigidity. Simultaneously, the flatbar creates a labyrinth seal configuration that prevents noise leakage through the rigid joint, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and noise insulation.
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
This configuration significantly reduces noise levels within the elevator car during high-speed travel by creating a tight seal between wall elements, allowing for easy installation and maintenance, and maintaining noise insulation even in the connection areas.
Implementation Method 1
With this solution a kind of labyrinth seal is provided in the joint area between both adjacent wall elements which labyrinth seal has good noise insulating properties
Implementation Method 2
at least one noise insulating material as e.g. stone wool or glass wool
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an elevator car comprising a support frame, a floor structure and a ceiling structure, as well as at least one car door, and side walls extending between the floor structure and the ceiling structure, wherein the side walls are formed from several wall elements, which are aligned end-to-end or end-to side in corners, wherein the wall elements are composite panels consisting of at least one support material and at least one noise insulating material, that the elevator car comprises at least one flatbar, extending over the surface of both adjacent wall elements, and covering the joint between them, which flatbar comprises or is connectable with fixing elements to at least one of both adjacent wall elements. Via this means the joint between two noise insulating wall elements does prevent any essential noise leakage.