Panoramic Vacuum Elevator Hoistway Using Glass Panels and Air Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator designs are bulky, noisy, expensive, and pose safety and health hazards due to their clunky construction, high maintenance costs, and reliance on chemical lubricants, making them unsuitable for private installations.
Innovation Solution
A panoramic vacuum elevator system using large tempered glass panels as the main construction elements, eliminating the need for rails, guides, hydraulics, and lubricants, and utilizing vacuum forces for cabin movement, with a compact footprint and reduced maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional traction elevator designs with concrete shafts, rails, guides, and counterweights are used, then reliable vertical transportation is achieved, but the footprint and space occupation increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional elevator components including concrete shafts, rails, guides, and counterweights, retaining only the essential function of vertical transportation through vacuum pressure differential. This extraction of non-essential elements dramatically reduces the footprint while maintaining core functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical traction system (ropes, pulleys, rails, guides) with a pneumatic vacuum system that uses pressure differential to move the cabin. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical infrastructure, reducing space requirements.
2Ease of operation
If traction elevators with counterweights and lubricating oils are used, then vertical transportation function is achieved, but health risks and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical lubrication system with a pneumatic vacuum system. By using air pressure differential instead of mechanical friction-based movement, the system eliminates the need for lubricating oils entirely, removing the associated health risks and maintenance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles using vacuum compressors to create pressure differential that moves the cabin. This pneumatic approach replaces mechanical friction-based systems, eliminating the need for lubricants and their associated health hazards.
3Ease of operation
If hydraulic elevators with synthetic oil-based fluid are used, then lifting function is achieved, but environmental impact and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hydraulic fluid-based lifting system with a vacuum-based pneumatic system. This substitution eliminates synthetic oil-based fluids entirely, removing the environmental contamination risks associated with hydraulic fluid leaks while maintaining the lifting function through pressure differential.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic vacuum technology instead of hydraulic fluid systems. By employing air pressure differential created by vacuum compressors, the system achieves lifting without harmful hydraulic fluids, thereby eliminating environmental impact.
4Speed
If geared traction elevators with gearboxes are used, then high speed operation is achieved, but energy consumption and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the geared mechanical transmission system with a direct pneumatic drive system. Vacuum compressors directly create pressure differential to move the cabin without mechanical gearboxes, reducing energy losses from friction and mechanical inefficiency while maintaining operational speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic pressure differential directly to propel the cabin, eliminating the need for mechanical gearboxes and their associated energy losses. The vacuum system provides direct drive force, improving energy efficiency while achieving required speeds.
5Area of stationary object
If machine-room-less elevators are used, then space efficiency is improved, but noise levels and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the machine room entirely, placing only compact vacuum compressors at the top of the shaft. This extraction of the machine room space achieves maximum space efficiency while the vacuum system's inherent quiet operation addresses noise concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic vacuum compressors which operate significantly quieter than traditional mechanical elevator motors and gearboxes. This pneumatic approach reduces noise levels while enabling machine-room-less installation for maximum space efficiency.
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 glass vacuum elevator system is safer, more aesthetically pleasing, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective, with lower installation and maintenance costs, while occupying a significantly smaller footprint than traditional elevators.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum compressor, situated atop the Hoistway Shaft... pumps the air out of the Hoistway section above the Cabin... thus creating a low air pressure in the Upper Hoistway Chamber
Implementation Method 2
The air pressure difference between the Lower Hoistway Chamber and the Upper Hoistway Chamber... pushes the Cabin up the Hoistway Shaft
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
The present approaches are in the in the field of vacuum (or pneumatic) elevators, where the elevator cabin is brought into motion in a vertically situated or vertically inclined and hermetically sealed elevator shaft by means of aerial pressure differential above and below the elevator cabin. Such approaches do not require having any ropes, pulleys, chains, gears, or hydraulics that are traditionally used in conventional elevator systems. More specifically, the present approaches are in the field of panoramic vacuum elevators, where the elevator hoistway is built of panoramic glass panels running from floor to ceiling of every floor and the elevator cabin is built of panoramic glass panels running from floor to the ceiling of the cabin, and that this type of elevator does not incorporate any metal constructive structures - frames, mesh, guides or rails that are traditionally used in every conventional elevator product.