Modular Base Ring Assembly for Gap-Free Vacuum Elevator Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional base ring assemblies for pneumatic vacuum elevators suffer from improper assembly processes, leading to air gaps and poor functioning, resulting in an unpleasant riding experience for passengers.
Innovation Solution
A base ring assembly composed of an arc-shaped base ring made of aluminum die casting, L-shaped clamps, connectors, rivet nuts, and fasteners, which are used to securely couple and affix the components, ensuring a seamless integration with external cylinder assemblies and vertical pillars.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual bending and drilling process is used to fix base ring with Aluminum vertical pillar, then assembly flexibility is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates causing air gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The base ring assembly is divided into modular components (base ring, L-shaped clamps, connectors, rivet nuts, fasteners) that can be assembled in a standardized sequence. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured with high precision using die casting, while the assembly process becomes more controlled and less prone to creating air gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The L-shaped clamps are positioned on grooves of the base ring before final assembly, and connectors with rivet nuts are pre-configured for coupling. This preliminary positioning ensures proper alignment and eliminates air gaps before the final fastening operation, improving manufacturing precision while maintaining ease of assembly.
2Ease of operation
If manual cutting process is used for rubber beading outer rib, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates causing improper functioning
Solution Approach 1:
The L-shaped clamp acts as an intermediary component that holds the rubber beading rib in place during assembly. This mediator ensures the rubber rib is properly positioned and secured without requiring manual cutting operations, thereby eliminating precision issues while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Productivity
If improper assembling process is used, then assembly speed is improved, but reliability deteriorates causing air gaps and poor functioning
Solution Approach 1:
Components are pre-positioned on grooves and pre-aligned before final assembly operations. The L-shaped clamps are placed on the base ring grooves beforehand, and connectors are prepared with rivet nuts, ensuring proper alignment is achieved before fastening. This preliminary action maintains assembly speed while eliminating air gaps and ensuring reliable elevator functioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves in the base ring and the L-shaped clamps are designed to self-align during assembly. The geometry of the grooves and clamps guides proper positioning automatically, reducing the need for complex alignment procedures and ensuring consistent, gap-free assembly without sacrificing assembly speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A base ring assembly is disclosed. The base ring assembly an arc shaped base ring includes at least four parts. The arc shaped base ring is composed by an aluminum die casting. The base ring assembly also includes an L-shaped clamp comprises at least four parts. The at least four parts of the L-shaped clamp are located on grooves of the corresponding at least four parts of the arc shaped base ring. The L-shaped clamp is configured to hold a rubber beading rib of an external cylinder assembly. The base ring assembly further includes at least four connectors and a corresponding one or more rivet nuts configured to couple the at least four parts of the arc shaped base ring with each other to create a full round base ring. The base ring assembly further includes a plurality of fasteners configured to affix the arc shaped base ring with L-shaped clamp.