Orientable Cab Floor for Non-Vertical Travel

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional transportation systems, such as elevators, are limited to vertical travel and are not designed to handle non-vertical movements, which can cause discomfort and disorientation for passengers due to unfamiliar lateral accelerations.

Innovation Solution

A transportation system with a cab that includes an orientable floor, allowing it to be non-perpendicular to gravitational and resultant acceleration forces during non-vertical travel, combined with an outer and inner cab configuration and a notification system for passenger alerts, enables comfortable and safe travel in both vertical and non-vertical directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the cab is designed for vertical travel only, then the system is simple and reliable, but it cannot provide non-vertical travel capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetravel direction capabilityVSAvoidcab structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cab floor is made dynamically adjustable through an orientation system that can tilt the floor to different angles. During vertical travel, the floor remains horizontal, but during non-vertical travel, the floor tilts to align perpendicular to the resultant acceleration force, providing comfort while enabling versatile travel directions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cab is divided into an outer cab and an inner cab, where the inner cab containing the floor can be independently oriented relative to the outer cab. This segmentation allows the floor orientation to be adjusted without affecting the overall cab structure, enabling both vertical and non-vertical travel capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the cab floor remains horizontal during non-vertical travel, then the cab structure is simple, but passengers experience discomfort from lateral accelerations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger comfortVSAvoidfloor orientation system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cab floor is made dynamically adjustable through an orientation system that can tilt the floor to different angles. During vertical travel, the floor remains horizontal, but during non-vertical travel, the floor tilts to align perpendicular to the resultant acceleration force, providing comfort while enabling versatile travel directions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The orientation of the cab floor is changed as a controllable parameter. The system adjusts the floor angle based on travel direction and acceleration characteristics, changing from a fixed horizontal parameter to a dynamically adjustable one that optimizes passenger comfort during non-vertical travel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the cab is equipped with orientation system for non-vertical travel, then passenger comfort is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger comfortVSAvoidcab structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cab is divided into an outer cab and an inner cab, where the inner cab containing the floor can be independently oriented relative to the outer cab. This segmentation allows the floor orientation to be adjusted without affecting the overall cab structure, enabling both vertical and non-vertical travel capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner cab is nested within the outer cab, with the inner cab able to rotate or tilt independently. This nested configuration allows the orientation system to be integrated within the existing cab structure, adding functionality while minimizing overall structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 system effectively mitigates the effects of non-vertical accelerations, enhancing passenger comfort and safety by maintaining the cab floor perpendicular to resultant forces, allowing for efficient and comfortable travel at significant accelerations.

Implementation Method 1

the inner cab is rotatable relative to the outer cab to orient the cab floor non perpendicular to the gravitational force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotation:

Implementation Method 2

the cab floor is orientable such that the cab floor is perpendicular to a direction of a resultant acceleration force acting on the transportation cab

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitational force: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS10144616B2Cab for vertical travel with controllable orientation for non-vertical travel

Publication Date: 2018.12.04 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

AI summary

A transportation system for a building includes a horizontal travel lane, a vertical travel lane, and a transportation cab configured for travel along the horizontal travel lane and vertical travel lane, a cab floor of the transportation cab orientable such that the cab floor is non perpendicular to a gravitational force acting on the transportation cab. A method of operating a transportation system for a building includes locating a transportation cab at a travel lane positioned at a building, accelerating the transportation cab in a non-vertical direction along the travel lane and orienting a cab floor of the transportation cab to be non-perpendicular to a gravitational force acting on the transportation cab during non-vertical acceleration of the transportation cab.