Patent ID: 12252377

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 relate to a structure for a guide pillar system of a pneumatic vacuum elevator. As used herein, the term “guide pillar system” is defined as a system that offers a path for an elevator to ascend and descend. The guide pillar system also allows for the safe and precise movement of an elevator cabin and counterweight. Further, as used herein, the term “pneumatic vacuum elevator” is defined as an elevator that uses air pressure to cause the motion of a cabin within a thoroughfare or tubular cylinder that uses the air within it as a working fluid upon the confines of the cabin. In one embodiment, the pneumatic vacuum elevator may include one or more guide pillar systems. Furthermore, the structure described hereafter inFIG.1is the structure for the guide pillar system of the pneumatic vacuum elevator.

FIG.1is a schematic representation of an isometric view of a structure10for a guide pillar system of a pneumatic vacuum elevator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The structure10includes a central hollow pillar section20positioned in an external cylinder of the pneumatic vacuum elevator. The central hollow pillar section20includes at least four sides including a first side30, a second side40, a third side50, and a fourth side60. The central hollow pillar section20also includes at least three grooved rib profiles70adapted to mechanically couple the central hollow pillar section20to one or more elevator components using a screwing mechanism. Each of the at least three grooved rib profiles70are attached to an inner surface of the first side30, the second side40, and the third side50.

In one embodiment, the one or more elevator components may include at least one of a base ring, a band ring, a top of the external cylinder, a bottom of the external cylinder, and the like. Also, as used herein, the term “screwing mechanism” is defined as a mechanism that involves fixing one or more parts with each other using one or more mechanical coupling means. In one embodiment, the one or more mechanical coupling means may include at least one of one or more screws, one or more bolts, one or more nuts, and the like.

The structure10also includes at least two curved sections80positioned at a first predefined portion of an outer surface of the first side30and the third side50. Each of the at least two curved sections80are adapted to provide structural integrity and one or more radius edges to the fourth side60of the central hollow pillar section20.

In one exemplary embodiment, the structure10may also include a rail section90extruded at an outer surface of the second side40. The rail section90may be adapted to hold an elevator cabin upon mechanically coupling the rail section90with a predefined groove (as shown inFIG.3) on the elevator cabin via one or more coupling components. The rail section90may also be adapted to guide the elevator cabin in an upward direction and a downward direction based on predefined criteria. In one embodiment, the predefined criteria may include receiving a request to move in the upward direction, to move in the downward direction, to open an elevator door, to close the elevator door, or the like from a user of the pneumatic vacuum elevator.

Further, in one embodiment, the structure10may also include at least two single lip channeled sections100positioned at a second predefined portion of the outer surface of the first side30and the third side50. Each of the at least two single lip channeled sections100may include a first wall110and a second wall120. Each of the at least two single lip channeled sections100may be adapted to receive and support a covering sheet of the external cylinder of the pneumatic vacuum elevator at the first wall110. In one embodiment, the covering sheet may be transparent, translucent, colored, or the like. In one exemplary embodiment, the covering sheet may include a polycarbonate sheet. Each of the at least two single lip channeled sections100may also be adapted to receive and support a rubber beading at the second wall120.

FIG.2is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a cross-section view of the structure10for the guide pillar system of the pneumatic vacuum elevator ofFIG.1in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the rail section90may be hollow. Also, in an embodiment, the guide pillar system may be manufactured by an aluminum extrusion mechanism. As used herein, the term “aluminum extrusion mechanism” is defined as a process by which aluminum alloy material is forced through a die with a specific cross-sectional profile.

In one exemplary embodiment, the at least two single lip channeled sections100may possess a lip-like structure130on the second wall120. In one embodiment, the lip-like structure130may have a cuboid shape and be perpendicular to the second wall120. In such embodiment, the lip-like structure130may appear rectangular in the cross-section view or a top view of the guide pillar system. In another embodiment, the lip-like structure130may have a tetrahedron shape, a triangular prism shape, or the like. In such embodiment, the lip-like structure130may appear triangular in the cross-section view or the top view of the guide pillar system.

FIG.3is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a cross-section view of an assembly132of the structure10for the guide pillar system of the pneumatic vacuum elevator ofFIG.1in the external cylinder135and the elevator cabin140of the pneumatic vacuum elevator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, as the rail section90is mechanically coupled with the predefined groove150of the elevator cabin140via the one or more coupling components, the one or more coupling components may include at least one of a guide bracket160, a carpet layering170, and the like. In one exemplary embodiment, the guide bracket160may be welded with the rail section90along with the carpet layering170to avoid shaking of the elevator cabin140and smooth traveling during movement of the elevator cabin140. In one exemplary embodiment, the carpet layering170may be composed of cloth, nylon, or the like. Also, in an embodiment, as the at least two single lip channeled sections100receive and support the rubber beading180, the rubber beading180is adapted to lock the covering sheet190of the external cylinder135of the pneumatic vacuum elevator between the first wall110and the second wall120.

FIG.4is a schematic representation of an isometric view of the structure10for the guide pillar system of the pneumatic vacuum elevator in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. The structure10includes the central hollow pillar section20positioned in the external cylinder135of the pneumatic vacuum elevator. The central hollow pillar section20includes the at least four sides including the first side30, the second side40, the third side50, and the fourth side60. The central hollow pillar section20also includes the at least three grooved rib profiles70adapted to mechanically couple the central hollow pillar section20to the one or more elevator components using the screwing mechanism. Each of the at least three grooved rib profiles70are attached to the inner surface of the first side30, the second side40, and the third side50.

The structure10also includes at least one curved section200positioned at a first predefined portion of an outer surface of the first side30or the third side50. The at least one curved section200is adapted to provide structural integrity and a radius edge to a first edge of the fourth side60of the central hollow pillar section20. The fourth side60includes a second edge, wherein the second edge is adapted to receive the elevator door of the external cylinder135of the pneumatic vacuum elevator.

In one exemplary embodiment, the structure10may also include at least one projection210positioned on the outer surface of the first side30when the at least one curved section200is positioned on the third side50or the third side50when the at least one curved section200is positioned on the first side30. The at least one projection210may be adapted to lock the elevator door upon receiving the elevator door at the second edge of the fourth side60of the central hollow pillar section20.

In addition, in one exemplary embodiment, the structure10may also include the rail section90extruded at the outer surface of the second side40. The rail section90may be adapted to hold the elevator cabin140upon mechanically coupling the rail section90with the predefined groove150on the elevator cabin140via the one or more coupling components. The rail section9X) may also be adapted to guide the elevator cabin140in the upward direction and the downward direction based on the predefined criteria.

Subsequently, in an embodiment, the structure10may also include at least one single lip channeled section220positioned at the second predefined portion of the outer surface of the first side30when the at least one curved section200is positioned on the third side50or the third side50when the at least one curved section200is positioned on the first side30. The at least one single lip channeled section220may include the first wall110and the second wall120. The at least one single lip channeled section220may be adapted to receive and support the covering sheet190of the external cylinder135of the pneumatic vacuum elevator at the first wall110. The at least one single lip channeled section220may also be adapted to receive and support the rubber beading180at the second wall120.

FIG.5is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a cross-section view of the structure10for the guide pillar system of the pneumatic vacuum elevator ofFIG.4in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the rail section90may be hollow. Also, in an embodiment, the guide pillar system may be manufactured by the aluminum extrusion mechanism. In one exemplary embodiment, the at least one single lip channeled section220may include the lip-like structure130on the second wall120.

FIG.6is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a cross-section view of an assembly230of the structure10for the guide pillar system of the pneumatic vacuum elevator ofFIG.4in the external cylinder135and the elevator cabin140of the pneumatic vacuum elevator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, as the at least one single lip channeled section220receives and support the rubber beading180, the rubber beading180is adapted to lock the covering sheet190of the external cylinder135of the pneumatic vacuum elevator between the first wall110and the second wall120. In one embodiment, the assembly230inFIG.4also displays the elevator door240housed in the external cylinder135of the pneumatic vacuum elevator.

FIG.7is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of an isometric view of a mechanically coupling245of the structure10ofFIG.1orFIG.4with a base ring250of the pneumatic vacuum elevator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the base ring250may include at least three holes260, wherein the at least three holes260may enable fixing of the guide pillar system in a properly aligned position by mechanically coupling the central hollow pillar section20with the at least three grooved rib profiles70using the screwing mechanism. In such embodiment, the one or more screws used in the screwing mechanism may include at least three self-drilling screws270. The connection of the guide pillar system with the base ring250and the external cylinder135through the at least three grooved rib profiles70improve the functioning of the guide pillar system in guiding the movement of the elevator cabin140.

FIG.8is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a pneumatic vacuum elevator280with the structure10for the guide pillar system ofFIG.4in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The pneumatic vacuum elevator280includes the elevator cabin140adapted to carry a passenger for transiting across one or more floors of a building. The pneumatic vacuum elevator280also includes the external cylinder135positioned concentrically to the elevator cabin140externally. The external cylinder135includes the elevator door240adapted to allow entry and exit of the passenger corresponding to the elevator cabin140.

Further, the pneumatic vacuum elevator280also includes the structure10for the guide pillar system mechanically coupled to the elevator cabin140. The structure10includes the central hollow pillar section20positioned in the external cylinder135of the pneumatic vacuum elevator280. The central hollow pillar section20includes the at least four sides including the first side30, the second side40, the third side50, and the fourth side60. The central hollow pillar section20also includes the at least three grooved rib profiles70adapted to mechanically couple the central hollow pillar section20to the one or more elevator components using the screwing mechanism. Each of the at least three grooved rib profiles70is attached to the inner surface of the first side30, the second side40, and the third side50. The structure10also includes the at least one curved section200positioned at the first predefined portion of the outer surface of the first side30or the third side50. The at least one curved section200is adapted to provide structural integrity and the radius edge to the first edge of the fourth side60of the central hollow pillar section20. The fourth side60includes the second edge, wherein the second edge is adapted to receive the elevator door240of the external cylinder135of the pneumatic vacuum elevator280.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure enable construction or assembling of the pneumatic vacuum elevator easier, as the construction of the guide pillar system is easy because of the structure of the corresponding guide rail system. Also, the structure requires low maintenance, as irregular shaping, welding process, and manual cutting process is avoided because of usage of the aluminum extrusion mechanism. Also, the structure enhances an aesthetic view of the pneumatic vacuum elevator, thereby making the structure a most preferable one. Further, the structure also provides lightweight to the guide pillar system, easing the handling process while installation and loading-unloading process.

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 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.