ELEVATOR CABIN ASSEMBLY AND ELEVATOR SYSTEM

Cabin assembly (10) for an elevator system, the cabin assembly (10) comprises a cabin (12), a chassis (14) configured to rotationally support the cabin (12) about a cabin axis (16) extending through the cabin (12), a circular thrust profile (18) arranged on the cabin (12) substantially concentric to the cabin axis (16), and a drive member (68) configured to engage the thrust profile (18) to rotate the cabin (12) about the cabin axis (16).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a cabin assembly for an elevator system. In particular, a cabin assembly for an elevator system and an elevator system comprising the cabin assembly are provided.

BACKGROUND

Various types of elevator systems for vertically transporting people and/or goods are known. Some elevator systems include a rotatably supported cabin such that the cabin can be maintained in a horizontal orientation as the cabin transitions between horizontal and vertical track portions.

WO 2009125253 A1 discloses a transportation system for high-rise buildings with self-propelled cabins. A big gear is firmly attached to a supporting element while smaller gears are arranged on the top of the cabin. Interlocking of the gears makes it possible to control the tilt of the cabin.

The Articulated Funiculator® is a new concept of vertical transportation which is described in WO 2013159800 A1. This transportation system may be used in tall buildings, deep underground subway stations and deep mines.

The concept of the Articulated Funiculator® opens up for the use of a wide range of track configurations. For example, practically endless combinations of straight, curved, inclined and helical track sections may be used. For these track configurations, the tilt control according to WO 2009125253 A1 is not appropriate.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, one object of the present disclosure is to provide a cabin assembly with a simple, reliable, fast and accurate rotation of a cabin.

According to one aspect, a cabin assembly for an elevator system is provided, where the cabin assembly comprises a cabin, a chassis configured to rotationally support the cabin about a cabin axis extending through the cabin, a circular thrust profile arranged on the cabin substantially concentric to the cabin axis and a drive member configured to engage the thrust profile to rotate the cabin about the cabin axis. The thrust profile and the drive member may be spaced along the cabin axis or spaced along an axis perpendicular to the cabin axis.

The cabin assembly may be configured such that the cabin axis is substantially perpendicular to a yaw axis of the cabin when the cabin assembly is in an operational state on a track of an elevator system. The cabin may have an outer profile that is substantially rotation symmetric with respect to the cabin axis. Alternatively, the cabin may have a polygonal outer profile. For example, the cabin may have a substantially cuboid appearance. The cabin, the thrust profile and/or the chassis may be injection moulded.

The cabin assembly may comprise one or several circular thrust profiles arranged on the cabin. For example, the cabin assembly may comprise two circular thrust profiles arranged substantially concentric to the cabin axis. One or several drive members may be provided and configured to engage a respective thrust profile to rotate the cabin about the cabin axis. Each thrust profile may be integrally formed with the cabin or attached to the cabin.

Throughout the present disclosure, the cabin may alternatively be referred to as a carriage, pod or car and the chassis may alternatively be referred to as a support structure or support member.

A substantially concentric arrangement of the circular thrust profile with respect to the cabin axis is intended to include designs where the cabin axis is displaced up to 0.5 times, such as up to 0.2 times, such as up to 0.1 times, such as up to 0.05 times the length of an imaginary radius of the thrust profile measured from an imaginary centre point of an imaginary circle coinciding with the thrust profile. A corresponding definition is applicable to define the location of a cabin axis extending substantially through a geometrical centre of the cabin, see below.

The circular thrust profile may or may not be continuous. According to one variant, the thrust profile fully encircles the cabin axis, i.e. the thrust profile is continuous and has an angular extension about the pitch axis of 360°. According to alternative variants, the thrust profile has a circular appearance concentric with the cabin axis but does not fully encircle the cabin axis (i.e. a discontinuous thrust profile). For example, the thrust profile may have an angular extension about the pitch axis of 10°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 90°, 180° or 270°.

The rotation of the cabin may be used to maintain a cabin floor in a substantially horizontal orientation. However, the rotation may also be used to pitch the cabin in order to reduce horizontal forces on the passengers during horizontal accelerations and decelerations, i.e. to reduce the horizontal inertia forces on the passengers (or loads) during stops and starts.

The cabin axis may or may not be constituted by a pitch axis, i.e. an axis perpendicular to a roll axis and a yaw axis when the cabin assembly is in an operational state on a track of an elevator system. That is, in case the chassis is also configured to rotationally support the cabin about a yaw axis, the cabin axis may not always constitute the pitch axis.

Each cabin assembly according to the present disclosure may further comprise a yaw support member configured to be coupled to the track of an elevator system for movement along the track and configured to rotatably support the chassis for rotation about the yaw axis.

The cabin assembly may further comprise a track coupling arrangement for movement along an elevator track. The track may include a single rail or several rails. One suitable track is constituted by a pair of rails. The track may contain a wide range of combinations of straight, curved and inclined sections. The track may also contain helical or twisted sections such that the cabin assembly can roll in space as its moves along the track. The track coupling arrangement may comprise at least one wheel assembly for engaging a rail portion of the track to move along the track.

The cabin assembly according to the present disclosure is not limited to any particular type of propulsion system. For example, all cabin assemblies in the elevator system may be driven by a cable or set of cables or each carriage may have an individual propulsion system. Two or more different types of propulsion systems may also be combined in the elevator system.

According to one variant, the cabin axis may extend substantially through a geometrical centre of the cabin. For example, in case the cabin has a substantially cylindrical appearance (e.g. barrel shape), the cabin axis may be constituted by the axis of the cylinder.

The thrust profile and the drive member may be spaced along the cabin axis. The thrust profile may be a circular disc substantially concentric with the cabin axis. The circular disc may thus be referred to as a thrust disc.

The thrust profile may protrude radially outwards from the cabin with respect to the cabin axis. Alternatively, the thrust profile may be arranged at an end of the cabin along the cabin axis. As an example, the cabin assembly may comprise two thrust profiles, one at each end of the cabin.

The cabin assembly may further comprise at least one bearing member to allow a relative rotation of the cabin and the chassis about the cabin axis. The bearing member may be constituted by a roller bearing, a frictional bearing (by providing a low frictional material such as plastics to one or both of the bearing surfaces), a fluid bearing or an electromagnetic bearing.

Each bearing member may be associated with a thrust profile. For example, the cabin assembly may comprise two trust profiles and two bearing members associated with the thrust profiles. Each bearing member may further be distanced from an associated thrust profile, e.g. distanced along the rotational axis or in a radial direction.

According to one variant, the cabin assembly comprises two cabins and the chassis is at least partly arranged between the two cabins. In other words, the chassis is connected to the cabins between the cabins. For example, the chassis may comprise a support member constituting a hub. A rod member, interconnecting the two cabins, may be rotationally held by the support member to allow the cabins to jointly rotate about the cabin axis. The chassis is thereby configured to rotationally support both cabins for rotation about the cabin axis.

The thrust profile and the drive member may constitute a stator and a rotor of an electric motor. The drive member may be a stator provided with coils for producing a magnetic field and the thrust profile may be a rotor provided with magnets for being driven by the magnetic field.

The drive member may comprise at least one toothed gear configured to engage the thrust profile to rotate the cabin about the cabin axis. The thrust profile may comprise teeth configured to be engaged by the toothed gear of the drive member. The drive member may further comprise an elongated rotatable drive shaft on which the toothed gear is provided. In an operational state of the cabin assembly, the drive shaft may be oriented substantially parallel with, or concentric with, the yaw axis.

The thrust profile and the drive member may comprise bevel gears. Alternatively, the thrust profile may comprise a larger gear wheel having teeth facing substantially radially outwards with respect to the cabin axis and the drive member may comprise a smaller gear wheel with a rotation axis substantially parallel to the cabin axis and having teeth facing substantially radially inwards with respect to the cabin axis.

The drive member may comprise at least one friction wheel configured to engage the thrust profile to rotate the cabin about the cabin axis. In this variant, the thrust profile may be constituted by a surface facing radially outwards, for example by a surface substantially flush with the exterior profile of the cabin. Any means for increasing the friction of the thrust profile may be provided, such as the provision of a high friction rubber material on the thrust profile. The at least one friction wheel may be rotatably arranged about a friction wheel axis substantially parallel to the cabin axis.

The drive member may comprise a belt member configured to engage the thrust profile to rotate the cabin about the cabin axis. The belt member may be continuous and may form a closed loop around the thrust profile. The belt member may be of any type suitable to engage the thrust profile to rotate the cabin about the cabin axis, such as a belt comprising a rubber material.

In addition to the belt member, the drive member may comprise at least one friction wheel configured to drive the belt member. The at least one friction wheel may be rotatably arranged about friction wheel axis substantially parallel to the cabin axis. The thrust profile may be constituted by a surface facing radially outwards, for example by a surface substantially flush with the exterior profile of the cabin. Similar to the thrust profile drivable by the friction wheel, the thrust profile drivable by the belt member may be provided with any means for increasing friction.

According to a further aspect, there is provided an elevator system comprising a cabin assembly according to the present disclosure. The elevator system may for example be used in a tall building or underground to access a deep underground subway station or a deep mine. In the elevator system, the cabin axis may be arranged substantially perpendicular to a yaw axis of the cabin when the cabin assembly is in an operational state on a track of an elevator system.

The elevator system may comprise a series of separated trains, each train having a plurality of cabin assemblies according to the present disclosure, tracks on which the trains are configured to ascend and descend, the tracks constituting at least one loop configuration and at least one up-bound station and at least one down-bound station vertically separated from the up-bound station, wherein the system is configured to stop trains at each up-bound and down-bound station simultaneously for unloading and loading passengers from the cabin assemblies. This type of elevator system, the Articulated Funiculator®, is described in WO 2013159800 A1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, a cabin assembly for an elevator system and an elevator system comprising the cabin assembly will be described. The same reference numerals will be used to denote the same or similar structural features.

FIG. 1aschematically represents a perspective view of a cabin assembly10andFIG. 1bschematically represents a side view of the cabin assembly10inFIG. 1a. The cabin assembly10comprises a cabin12and a chassis14. The chassis14is configured to rotationally support the cabin12about a cabin axis16extending through the cabin12. InFIGS. 1aand 1b, the cabin assembly10is configured such that the cabin12can rotate 360° about the cabin axis16.

The cabin assembly10further comprises two circular thrust profiles18. Each thrust profile18is arranged on the cabin12substantially concentric to the cabin axis16.

The thrust profiles18are configured to be engaged to rotate the cabin12. InFIGS. 1aand 1b, the thrust profiles18are implemented as thrust discs having a flat circular appearance. The circular discs are substantially concentric with the cabin axis16. The cabin assembly10also comprises two drive members (not shown) configured to engage a respective thrust profile18to rotate the cabin12about the cabin axis16.

The cabin12may be configured to carry one or several passengers and/or loads. InFIGS. 1aand 1b, the cabin12has a substantially cuboid appearance. However, a wide range of alternative designs of the cabin12, for example with a cylindrical appearance, are conceivable. Windows20(only two visible inFIG. 1aand only one visible inFIG. 1b) can be provided on three of four longitudinal sides of the cabin12. An opening member (e.g. one or two doors) may be provided at one or both end faces22of the cabin12.

The chassis14is constituted by a frame with a substantially cylindrical appearance. The cylindrical frame comprises two parallel rings24and four interconnecting struts26. The struts26are substantially evenly distributed around the cabin axis16. More or less than four struts26may be used to interconnect the rings24.

FIGS. 1aand 1bfurther show that the cabin axis16is substantially coincident with the extension axis (longitudinal axis) of the cuboid shape of the cabin12. The cabin axis16extends substantially through a geometrical centre of the cabin12.

Although two circular thrust profiles18are illustrated inFIG. 1a, the cabin12may comprise only one thrust profile18or more than two thrust profiles18. In case only one thrust profile18is provided, the thrust profile18may be positioned anywhere along the cabin axis16, for example substantially flush with an end face22of the cabin12or substantially at a centre position along the longitudinal axis. In case two or more thrust profiles18are provided, these may be substantially evenly distributed along the longitudinal axis of the cabin12.

This type of cabin assembly10comprising a cabin12with a cuboid appearance rotationally supported to (e.g. inside) a chassis14with a cylindrical appearance may be referred to as a circular pod.

FIG. 2schematically represents a side view of a further cabin assembly10. The cabin assembly10is illustrated in an operational state on a track28of an elevator system. The cabin assembly10comprises a substantially barrel shaped cabin12.

A circular thrust profile18is provided at each end face of the cabin12. The thrust profiles18are constituted by circular discs substantially concentric with the cabin axis16.

In addition to the thrust profiles18, the cabin12comprises a central ring30and eight struts32(only six are visible inFIG. 2) interconnecting the thrust profiles18and the central ring30. The central ring30may however be omitted such that the cabin12comprises only four struts32interconnecting the thrust profiles18.

Four of totally eight windows20on the cabin12can also be seen in the side view ofFIG. 2. Since the cabin12has a barrel shaped appearance, this cabin assembly10may be referred to as a barrel pod.

The cabin12has an outer profile that is substantially rotation symmetric with respect to the cabin axis16.FIG. 2further shows that the cabin axis16extends substantially through a geometrical centre of the cabin12.

The chassis14comprises two arms34and a support member36associated with each arm34. The arms34extend along the exterior profile of the cabin12. The support members36are in the form of circular plates and are provided at the outer ends of the arms34. The chassis14inFIG. 2is configured to rotationally support the cabin12about the cabin axis16.

AlthoughFIG. 2shows two arms34, these arms34may replaced by one single arm. The support members36are arranged substantially perpendicular to the cabin axis16.

The cabin assembly10inFIG. 2further comprises a track coupling arrangement38and a yaw bearing member40. The arms34are rotationally supported by the yaw bearing member40for rotation about a yaw axis42. The yaw axis42is substantially perpendicular to the cabin axis16and to the track28. The track coupling arrangement38comprises at least one wheel assembly (not shown) for engaging a rail portion of the track28to move along the track28.

With the cabin assembly10ofFIG. 2, the cabin12may be allowed to rotate about the yaw axis42and about the cabin axis16which is perpendicular to the yaw axis42(the cabin axis16may not always constitute the pitch axis). A drive member (not shown) is provided at each support member36of the chassis14. The drive members are configured to engage the thrust profiles18on the cabin12to rotate the cabin12about the cabin axis16.

FIG. 3schematically represents a side view of a further cabin assembly10. The cabin12inFIG. 3has a vertically elongated cuboid appearance and comprises a circular thrust profile18in the form of a circular disc provided at one of its vertical sides. As can be seen inFIG. 3, the thrust profile18is arranged concentric to the cabin axis16.

Moreover, the thrust profile18is configured to be engaged to rotate the cabin12about the cabin axis16. An opening member (e.g. one or two doors) may be provided at an opening of the cuboid cabin12at a side opposite to the side of the thrust profile18. The cabin axis16inFIG. 3extends substantially through a geometrical centre of the cabin12.

As shown inFIG. 3, the cabin12is rotationally supported by a chassis14connected at one of the sides of the cabin12, e.g. by a swivel mount. The cabin12can rotate relative to the chassis14about the cabin axis16. This type of cabin assembly10may be referred to as a box pod.

The chassis14inFIG. 3is composed of two interconnecting support members in the form of linkages44,46. The upper linkage44comprises a support member48in the form of a plate rotatably coupled to the swivel mount of the cabin12for rotation about the cabin axis16. The lower linkage46comprises a support member50in the form of a plate rotatably coupled to the swivel mount of the cabin12(or to the support member48) for rotation about the cabin axis16.

The linkages44,46are further rotationally coupled to a respective wheel assembly52for rotation about a pivot axis54substantially parallel to the cabin axis16. Each wheel assembly52comprises a wheel support56holding a plurality of wheels (e.g. six) for engaging rails of the track28.

The chassis14can thereby move between an expanded state and a collapsed state. In the expanded state, the wheel assemblies52are brought closer to each other along the track28in the travel direction58. The cabin12is thereby moved away from the track28in a direction60perpendicular to the travel direction58and is free to rotate about the cabin axis16without interfering with the track28.

In the collapsed state, the wheel assemblies52are distanced from each other along the track28in the travel direction58such that the cabin12can be brought close to the track28(e.g. with one of the longitudinal sides of the cabin12) to adopt a compact configuration requiring reduced elevator shaft areas. The cabin12can be brought to a state between the wheel assemblies52, as seen in the travel direction58.

With the cabin assembly10ofFIG. 3, the cabin axis16coincides with the pitch axis. Although a chassis14comprising two linkages44,46is shown, the chassis14may alternatively be constituted by a single rigid support member.

FIG. 4schematically represents a side view of a further cabin assembly10. This cabin assembly10, which may be referred to as a split cabin, comprises two cabins12and a chassis14at least partly arranged between the two cabins12.

Each cabin12has a substantially cuboid appearance. However, each or one of the cabins12may alternatively be, for example, circular or barrel shaped. The chassis14comprises an arm62arranged to rotate about the yaw axis42. The rotation about the yaw axis42may however be omitted. The chassis14further comprises a support member64constituting a hub. A rod member66, interconnecting the two cabins12, is rotationally held by the support member64to allow the cabins12to jointly rotate about the cabin axis16. The chassis14is thereby configured to rotationally support both cabins12for rotation about the cabin axis16. The cabin axis16extends substantially through a geometrical centre of each cabin12.

As shown inFIG. 4, only one of the cabins12is provided with a thrust profile18(both cabins12may however be provided with thrust profiles18). The thrust profile18inFIG. 4comprises a rotor for being engaged by a drive member68in the form of a stator on the chassis14. The thrust profile18on one of the cabins12has a continuous circular shape enclosing and being concentric to the cabin axis16while the drive member68has a compact appearance that does not encircle the cabin axis16. The thrust profile18and the drive member68are spaced along the cabin axis16.

Although a stator and a rotor is shown inFIG. 4, this cabin assembly10may comprise any type of thrust profile18and drive member68according to the present disclosure to rotate the cabins12about the cabin axis16.

In the following, various alternative drive members68and thrust profiles18will be described with reference toFIGS. 5ato 5e. It is emphasized thatFIGS. 5ato 5emerely constitute schematic representations which are not drawn to scale. For example, the distance between an upper side of the cabin12to the cabin axis16has been decreased. Moreover, hatchings have been deliberately left out in order to improve visibility.

FIG. 5aschematically represents a partial cross-sectional side view of a cabin assembly comprising an electric motor70. InFIG. 5a, the thrust profile18and the drive member68constitute the stator72and the rotor74of an electric motor70.

A bearing member76provides a rotational support for the cabin12for a relative rotation to the chassis14about the cabin axis16. The bearing member76is a frictional bearing comprising two bearing surfaces.

As can be seen inFIG. 5a, the cabin12comprises a radially outwardly protruding flange78(i.e. protruding away from the cabin axis16). The chassis14comprises a radially inwardly protruding collar80. The radially outwardly protruding flange78(inner bearing surface) is received in a recess82(outer bearing surface) in the collar80. A low frictional plastic material is provided to the bearing surfaces. Although a frictional bearing is illustrated inFIG. 5a, the bearing member76may alternatively be constituted by a roller bearing, a fluid bearing or an electromagnetic bearing.

A drive member68in the form of a stator72is attached to the chassis14. More specifically, the stator72is attached to an axially outer side of the collar80of the chassis14. The stator72inFIG. 5ais circular and fully encloses the cabin axis16. However, the stator72does not need to enclose the cabin axis16. The stator72comprises coils for producing a magnetic field.

InFIG. 5a, the thrust profile18is formed by a radially outwardly (with respect to the cabin axis16) protruding collar flange84. The thrust profile18is a circular disc concentric with the cabin axis16. The thrust profile18is integrally formed with the cabin12.

The thrust profile18comprises a rotor74with magnets on an axial side of the thrust profile18facing the stator72. Thus, the thrust profile18and the drive member68are spaced along the cabin axis16. The thrust profile18and the rotor74are circular and fully encloses the cabin axis16.

By activating (i.e. electrically powering) the stator72provided with coils to produce a magnetic field, the rotor74, the thrust profile18and consequently also the cabin12can be driven to rotate about the cabin axis16. The stator72thus constitutes one example of a drive member68.

FIG. 5bschematically represents a partial side cross-sectional view of a further cabin assembly10comprising an electric motor70. Similar toFIG. 5a, the cabin assembly10inFIG. 5bcomprises a drive member68in the form of a circular stator72provided on the chassis14, a circular rotor74provided on the cabin12and a frictional bearing member76configured to rotationally support the cabin12for rotation about the cabin axis16relative to the chassis14. However, instead of a thrust profile18provided on a radially outwardly protruding collar flange84, the thrust profile18is provided on an end side of the cabin12.

FIG. 5cschematically represents a partial side view of a further cabin assembly10comprising bevel gears86,88. Similar toFIG. 5a, the cabin assembly10inFIG. 5ccomprises a frictional bearing member76configured to rotationally support the cabin12for rotation about the cabin axis16relative to the chassis14.

However, inFIG. 5c, the drive member68comprises a toothed gear86configured to engage the thrust profile18to rotate the cabin12about the cabin axis16. The thrust profile18comprises a bevel gear88having a rotation axis concentric with the cabin axis16. The toothed gear86of the drive member68is also a bevel gear configured to mesh with the bevel gear88. The bevel gear86is rotationally supported to the chassis14for rotation about a gear axis90substantially perpendicular to the cabin axis16.

Thus, by rotating the bevel gear86about the gear axis90, the bevel gear88, the thrust profile18and consequently the cabin12are driven to rotate about the cabin axis16. An electric motor may be used to drive the toothed gear86. As can be seen inFIG. 5c, the bevel gear88on the thrust profile18may have an outer diameter substantially conforming to, or being slightly smaller than, the outer diameter of the thrust profile18.

The bevel gear86may be provided on an elongated rotatable drive shaft. In case a drive member68comprising a bevel gear86provided on a drive shaft is implemented in connection with the split cabin assembly10inFIG. 4, the drive shaft may extend substantially parallel with, or coaxial with, the yaw axis42. By rotating the drive shaft, the bevel gear86engages a bevel gear88on the thrust profile18on one of the cabins12to rotate both cabins12(the second cabin12can be rotated due to its rotational coupling with the first cabin12) about the cabin axis16.

FIG. 5dschematically represents a partial side view of a further cabin assembly10comprising a friction wheel92. The thrust profile18inFIG. 5dis constituted by a surface facing radially outwards (with respect to the cabin axis16). InFIG. 5d, this surface is substantially flush with the exterior profile of the cabin12. However, the radially outwardly facing surface does not need to be flush with the exterior profile of the cabin12. For example, in case the friction wheel92is used with a box pod according toFIG. 3, the friction wheel92may engage the radially outer surface of the circular disc (constituting the thrust profile18) at one of the vertical sides of the cabin12.

The surface of the thrust profile18is also provided with a high friction rubber material for increasing the frictional contact between the friction wheel92and the thrust profile18. Also the friction wheel92is provided with this rubber material.

The friction wheel92is rotationally arranged about a friction wheel axis94substantially parallel with the cabin axis16. The friction wheel92thus configured to engage the thrust profile18to rotate the cabin12about the cabin axis16. Moreover, inFIG. 5d, the thrust profile18and the drive member68are spaced along an axis perpendicular to the cabin axis16.

As an alternative design, the friction wheel92may be replaced by a gear wheel rotatably supported about the wheel axis94and the high friction rubber material on the thrust profile18may be replaced by radially outwardly facing teeth. By driving the gear wheel about the wheel axis94, the radially outwardly facing teeth on the thrust profile18can be engaged to rotate the cabin12about the cabin axis16.

FIG. 5eschematically represents a partial side view of a further cabin assembly10comprising a belt member96. As can be seen, the belt member96is continuous and forms a closed loop around the thrust profile18on the cabin12. In addition to the belt member96, the drive member68also comprises a friction wheel92configured to drive the belt member96. The friction wheel92is arranged substantially in the same manner as inFIG. 5d, i.e. rotatably arranged about a friction wheel axis94substantially parallel with the cabin axis16.

The belt member96may be of any type suitable to engage the thrust profile18to rotate the cabin12about the cabin axis16, such as a belt comprising rubber material. Also the thrust profile18may be substantially the same as inFIG. 5d, i.e. constituted by a surface facing radially outwards, for example by a surface substantially flush with the exterior profile of the cabin12. Similar to the thrust profile18drivable by the friction wheel92inFIG. 5d, the thrust profile18inFIG. 5edrivable by the belt member96is provided with means for increasing friction.

Thus, the drive member68inFIG. 5ecomprises a belt member96configured to engage the thrust profile18to rotate the cabin12about the cabin axis16.

AlthoughFIGS. 5a, 5cand 5dare illustrated based on the cabin assembly10inFIGS. 1aand 1b, any bearing member76, drive member68and/or thrust profile18as described in connection withFIGS. 5a, 5cand 5dmay also be used in each of the cabin assemblies10inFIGS. 2 to 4. Moreover, althoughFIGS. 5band 5eare illustrated based on the cabin assembly10inFIG. 2, any bearing member76, drive member68and/or thrust profile18as described in connection withFIGS. 5band 5emay also be used in each of the cabin assemblies10inFIGS. 1a, 1b,3and4. The arrangements shown inFIGS. 5a, 5c, 5dand 5emay be provided at any position on the cabin12along the cabin axis16, in particular at a centre position.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to what has been described above. For example, it will be appreciated that the dimensions of the parts may be varied as needed. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention may be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.