Patent Publication Number: US-2023137945-A1

Title: Landing lever assembly of a pneumatic vacuum elevator and method to operate the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This Application claims priority from a Patent application filed in India having Patent Application No. 202041023083, filed on Jun. 2, 2020, and titled “LANDING LEVER ASSEMBLY OF A PNEUMATIC VACUUM ELEVATOR AND METHOD TO OPERATE THE SAME” and a PCT Application No. PCT/IB2020/058444 filed on Sep. 11, 2020, and titled “LANDING LEVER ASSEMBLY OF A PNEUMATIC VACUUM ELEVATOR AND METHOD TO OPERATE THE SAME”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a pneumatic vacuum elevator and more particularly to a landing lever assembly of a pneumatic vacuum elevator. 
     In elevators, the elevator cabin is arranged to travel up and down in an elevator hoist way, which is normally an enclosed space. The new elevator technologies allowing brakes to generate a risk of drifting the elevator cabin stopping at a floor landing, especially at the time of loading and unloading the elevator cabin. However, such phenomenon is the origin of accidents. Indeed, when stopping the elevator cabin at a floor landing a large number of mechanical elements of the elevator participates in the immobilization of the cabin, the brake or the like. However, only one faulty element of among various parts causes the drift of the cabin, to down or up, depending on its load or during loading or unloading. 
     Conventionally, if the electromagnetic brake is abnormal for some reason and the braking force is insufficient after the elevator cabin has landed, the elevator cabin will not be able to be held. For example, if there are no passengers in the elevator cabin, the elevator cabin is pulled by the counterweight, whereas the elevator cabin door and the landing door rises with the door open. As a result, the landing is detected by the position detecting device, when the elevator cabin is started. In such situation, the braking force of the electromagnetic brake is reduced. In the state of shortage, it is impossible to hold the elevator cabin with the electromagnetic brake and the elevator cabin will not be able to stay stopped even if passengers try to get off the car. 
     Hence, there is a need for an improved landing lever assembly to address the aforementioned issue(s). 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a landing lever assembly of a pneumatic vacuum elevator is provided. The assembly includes a landing lever plate coupled on a roof of an elevator cabin. The assembly also includes a locking plate coupled to the landing lever plate using a plurality of support plates. The assembly further includes a solenoid valve disposed on the landing lever plate and mechanically coupled to the locking plate using a guide pin, where the guide pin is configured to actuate the locking plate by sliding within the solenoid valve, in at least one operational mode, based on an activation signal received from a magnetic sensor. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method to operate the landing lever assembly is provided. The method includes providing a locking plate coupled to a landing lever plate using a plurality of support plates. The method also includes providing a solenoid valve disposed on the landing lever plate and mechanically coupled to the locking plate using a guide pin. The method further includes actuating the locking plate by sliding the guide pin within the solenoid valve, in at least one operational mode, based on an activation signal received from a magnetic sensor. 
     In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a pneumatic vacuum elevator is provided. The elevator includes an elevator cabin configured to carry one or more users between one or more levels of a structure. The elevator also includes a landing lever assembly mechanically coupled to the elevator cabin. The landing lever assembly includes a landing lever plate coupled on a roof of the elevator cabin. The assembly includes a locking plate coupled to the landing lever plate using a plurality of support plates. The assembly includes a solenoid valve disposed on the landing lever plate and mechanically coupled to the locking plate using a guide pin. The guide pin is configured to actuate the locking plate by sliding within the solenoid valve, in at least one operational mode, based on an activation signal received from a magnetic sensor. 
     To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the disclosure will follow by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended figures. It is to be appreciated that these figures depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the appended figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic representation of a landing lever assembly of a pneumatic vacuum elevator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic representation of an exploded view of landing lever assembly of  FIG.  1   , depicting position of various components in the landing lever assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the landing lever assembly of  FIG.  1    in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic representation of functional view of the landing lever assembly of  FIG.  1   , depicting operation of the landing lever assembly in locking condition in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic representation of functional view of the landing lever assembly of  FIG.  1   , depicting operation of the landing lever assembly in unlocking condition in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic representation of pneumatic vacuum elevator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  7    is a flow chart representing the steps involved in a method for operating the landing lever assembly of the pneumatic vacuum elevator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the figures and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the disclosure as would normally occur to those skilled in the art are to be construed as being within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such a process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components preceded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices, sub-systems, elements, structures, components, additional devices, additional sub-systems, additional elements, additional structures or additional components. Appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “in another embodiment” and similar language throughout this specification may, but not necessarily do, all refer to the same embodiment. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are only illustrative and not intended to be limiting. 
     In the following specification and the claims, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings. The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to a landing lever assembly of a pneumatic vacuum elevator and a method to operate the same. The assembly includes a landing lever plate coupled on a roof of an elevator cabin. The assembly also includes a locking plate coupled to the landing lever plate using a plurality of support plates. The assembly further includes a solenoid valve disposed on the landing lever plate and mechanically coupled to the locking plate using a guide pin, where the guide pin is configured to actuate the locking plate by sliding within the solenoid valve, in at least one operational mode, based on an activation signal received from a magnetic sensor. 
       FIG.  1    is a schematic representation of a landing lever assembly  10  of a pneumatic vacuum elevator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The landing lever assembly  10  includes a landing lever plate  20  mechanically coupled to a roof of an elevator cabin  30 . As used herein, the landing lever plate  20  is a base plate of the assembly  10 , where the assembly  10  is arranged on the landing lever plate  20  to lock the elevator cabin  30  in a pneumatic vacuum elevator cylinder. Further, the assembly  10  includes a locking plate  40  mechanically coupled to the landing lever plate  20  using support plates  50 . In one embodiment, the locking plate  40  may include a triangular shape. In a specific embodiment, the locking plate  40  may be composed of metal. In one embodiment, the locking plate  40  may be rested on a guide rail  55  in an elevator cylinder assembly  60  via a cut-out  70 . As used herein, the locking plate  40  is provided to support the elevator cabin  30  independently of the hoisting mechanism while the load transfer is being affected. The locking plate  40  prevents the elevator cabin  30  descending when the brake does not hold, the power is insufficient or, in case of traction elevators, when the traction is insufficient. 
     Furthermore, the assembly  10  includes a solenoid valve  80 , where bottom side of the solenoidal valve  80  is disposed on the landing lever plate  20 . The solenoid valve  80  includes a hollow portion which is adapted to receive a guide pin  90  via two holes  95  on each side of the solenoid valve  80 . In one embodiment, the solenoid valve  80  may use power to engage the locking plate  40 . The locking plate  40  does not require power to have it released. The locking plate  40  is mechanically coupled to the solenoid valve  80  using the guide pin  90 . In one embodiment, the solenoid valve  80  and the guide pin  90  may be composed of metal. The guide pin  90  actuates the locking plate  40  by sliding within the solenoid valve  80 , in at least one mode, based on an activation signal received from a magnetic sensor (not shown in  FIG.  1   ). In one embodiment, the magnetic sensor is coupled to the guide pin  90 , where the magnetic sensor is placed on an external cylinder at each landing position. In a specific embodiment, the at least one operational mode may include a lock applied condition or a lock released condition. In details, when the magnetic sensor sends the landing position of the elevator cabin  30 , the magnetic sensor sends the activation signal to the guide pin  90 . As a result, the guide pin  90  slides within the solenoid valve  80  and actuate the locking plate  40  in at least one direction depending upon the action of the elevator cabin  30  to lock or release the elevator cabin  30  with the guide rail  55 . 
       FIG.  2    is a schematic representation of an exploded view of the landing lever assembly  10  of  FIG.  1   , depicting position of various components in the landing lever assembly  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The landing lever assembly  10  includes the landing lever plate  20  which act as a base for the assembly  10 . The assembly  10  also includes support plates  50 . In an exemplary embodiment, the support plates  50  may two support plates. In one embodiment, the support plates  50  are coupled together using at least two intermediate plates  100 , where the at least two intermediate plates  100  are arranged in between the two support plates  50 . Each of the support plate  50  includes a hole  110 . The assembly  10  also includes the locking plate  40  which is coupled to the support plates  50  using a hex bolt  120 , at least two washers  130  and a locking nut  140  passed through the holes  110  of the support plates  50 . In such an embodiment, the locknut  130  may include a hex nyloc nut. As used herein, the nyloc nut may include a nylon-insert lock nut, polymer-insert lock nut, or elastic stop nut. The nyloc nut is a kind of locknut with a nylon collar that increases friction on the screw thread. 
     In addition, the assembly  10  includes the solenoid valve  80  which is coupled to the bottom of the landing lever plate  20  using multiple screws  150 . In a specific embodiment, the solenoid valve  50  may be coupled to the landing lever plate  20  using four pan head screws. As used herein, the pan head screws are machine screws with heads that are flat on top and rounded. on the sides. The solenoid valve  80  includes two holes  160  on each on left and right side of the solenoid valve  80 . The two holes  160  are adapted to receive the guide pin  90 . The guide pin  90  may slide within the solenoid valve  80  based on the activation signal received from the magnetic sensor. One end of the guide pin  90  is coupled to the locking plate  40 . The guide pin  90  slides within the solenoid valve  80  upon receiving the activation signal to actuate the locking plate  40  to control the movement of the elevator cabin  30 . 
       FIG.  3    is a schematic representation of one embodiment  20 . 5  of the landing lever assembly  10  of  FIG.  1    in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  3 ( a )  shows an exploded view of landing lever plate weldment with aligning position and  FIG.  3 ( b )  shows an assembled view of landing lever plate weldment with fixed position. The assembly  10  includes a landing lever plate  20 , where the landing lever plate  20  includes a first portion  170  and a second portion  180 . The first portion  170  is broader than the second portion  180 . The first portion  180  includes two slots  190  of a first predefined size. The assembly  10  also includes two support plates  50 , where each of the support plate  50  includes a protrusion  200 . The two slots  190  of the landing lever plate  20  are adapted to receive respectively protrusions  200  of the support plates  50 . The two support plates  50  accommodate at least two intermediate plates  100  to create a spacing between the two support plates  50 . The spacing between the two support plates  50  enable the locking plate  40  to move in predefined directions. 
     Subsequently, the second portion  180  of the landing lever plate  20  includes four slots  210  of a second predefined size. The assembly  10  includes the solenoid valve  80  which is fixed in the four slots  210  of the landing lever plate  20 . The second portion  180  of the landing lever plate  20  includes a side plate  220  which is coupled at the end of the landing lever plate  20 . 
       FIG.  4    is a schematic representation of functional view  230  of the landing lever assembly  10  of  FIG.  1   , depicting operation of the landing lever assembly  10  in locking condition in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. During the movement of the elevator cabin  30 , if the elevator cabin  30  is stopped at any floor landing, then the magnetic sensor senses this condition and generates the activation signal. The activation signal is provided to the guide pin  90  which slides within the solenoid valve  80  in a forward direction. The movement of the guide pin  90  in the forward direction actuates the locking plate  40  in a forward direction which then rest on the cut-out  70  of the guide rail  55  in the elevator cylinder assembly  75  and lock the elevator cabin  30 . 
       FIG.  5    is a schematic representation of functional view  250  of the landing lever assembly  10  of  FIG.  1   , depicting operation of the landing lever assembly  10  in unlocking condition in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. When the elevator cabin  30  is started moving from any floor landing, then the magnetic sensor senses this condition and generates the activation signal. The activation signal is provided to the guide pin  90  which slides within the solenoid valve  80  in a backward direction. The movement of the guide pin  90  in the backward direction actuates the locking plate  40  in a backward direction which then removed from the cut-out  70  of the guide rail  55  in the elevator cylinder assembly  75  and release the elevator cabin  30 . 
       FIG.  6    is a schematic representation of the pneumatic vacuum elevator  260  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The pneumatic vacuum elevator  260  includes an elevator cabin  30  to carry one or more users between one or more levels of a stricture. In one embodiment, the structure may include building, vessel or the like. The elevator  260  also includes a landing lever assembly  10  mechanically coupled to the elevator cabin  30 . The landing lever assembly  10  includes a landing lever plate  20  coupled on a roof of an elevator cabin  30 . The assembly  10  also includes a locking plate  40  coupled to the landing lever plate  20  using support plates  50 . The assembly  10  further includes a solenoid valve  80  disposed on the landing lever plate  20  and mechanically coupled to the locking plate  40  using a guide pin  90 , where the guide pin  90  actuates the locking plate  40  by sliding within the solenoid valve  80 , in at least one operational mode, based on an activation signal received from a magnetic sensor. 
       FIG.  7    is a flow chart representing the steps involved in method  300  for operating the landing lever assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method  300  includes providing a locking plate coupled to a landing lever plate using support plates in step  310 . In one embodiment, the support plates may be coupled to the landing lever plate using at least two intermediate plates arranged in between the support plates. In such embodiment, the locking plate may be coupled to the support plates using a hex bolt, at least two washers and a locking nut. 
     The method  300  also includes providing a solenoid valve disposed on the landing lever plate and mechanically coupled to the locking plate using a guide pin in step  320 . In one embodiment, the solenoid valve is coupled to the landing lever plate using screws. The solenoid valve includes two holes on each on left and right side of the solenoid valve. The two holes are adapted to receive the guide pin. In such an embodiment, the guide pin and the solenoid valve may be composed of metal. 
     Furthermore, the method  300  includes actuating the locking plate by sliding the guide pin within the solenoid valve, in at least one operational mode, based on an activation signal received from a magnetic sensor in step  330 . In a specific embodiment, the at least one operational mode may include a lock applied condition or a lock released condition. In one embodiment, actuating the locking plate may include actuating the locking plate in a forward direction by sliding the guide pin in the forward direction based on an activation signal received from a magnetic sensor. in another embodiment, actuating the locking plate may include actuating the locking plate in a backward direction by sliding the guide pin in the backward direction based on an activation signal received from a magnetic sensor. 
     Various embodiments of the landing lever assembly as described above enables safety lock for an enclosed pneumatic vacuum elevator cabin provides a simple mechanism for setting the elevator landing door safety locking plate. The landing lever assembly allows control over the energy supplied to the motor and so enabled the elevator to be accurately positioned 
     It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the disclosure and are not intended to be restrictive thereof. 
     While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended. As would be apparent to a person skilled in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method  250  in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. 
     The figures and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, order of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all of the acts need to be necessarily performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples.