# US 10,246,300 B2 · Elevator virtual aerodynamic shroud > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,300 B2 - Document ID: US10246300B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/185,571 - Filed: 2016-06-17 - Published: 2017-01-05 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-30 - Assignees: Otis Elevator Company - Applicants: Otis Elevator Company - Inventors: David R. Polak; Ray-Sing Lin; David E. Parekh; Mark S. Thompson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246300B2 ## CPC - B66B 11/0226: {Constructional features, e.g. walls assembly, decorative panels, comfort equipment, thermal or sound insulation} - B66B 11/0206: {Car frames} - B66B 13/30: Constructional features of doors or gates (of interest apart from this application E06B) - B66B 19/007: {method for modernisation of elevators} - B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00) ## Abstract An elevator car (20) comprises: a cab (24) having a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a front, and a back, the front having a door (50); and a frame (22) supporting the cab. The cab comprises a perimeter shroud (120; 320; 420; 620) protruding above a surface of the top and leaving a well (130) exposing a central portion of an upper surface (60) of the top; the perimeter shroud protrudes above the upper surface; and the perimeter shroud has, in vertical section, a curved portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An elevator car comprising: a cab having a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a front, and a back, the front having a door, a vertical direction going from the bottom to the top; a frame supporting the cab; and a fan, wherein; the cab comprises a perimeter shroud protruding above a surface of the top and leaving a well exposing a central portion of an upper surface of the top; the perimeter shroud protrudes above the upper surface; the perimeter shroud has, when viewed in vertical section, a curved portion; the fan is under the perimeter shroud aside the well; and the perimeter shroud covers the fan. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The elevator car of claim 1 wherein: the perimeter shroud extends at least 250° around the perimeter of the top. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The elevator car of claim 1 wherein: the perimeter shroud extends fully around the perimeter of the top. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The elevator car of claim 1 wherein: the perimeter shroud leaves a door exposed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The elevator car of claim 1 wherein: the fan is positioned to drive an air flow through ports in the perimeter shroud. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The elevator car of claim 1 wherein: the perimeter shroud encloses a fuse or circuit breaker box. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The elevator car of claim 1 wherein: the perimeter shroud encloses electrical equipment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The elevator car of claim 1 wherein: the frame comprises: a crosshead (28), a pair of stiles (26,27), and a bolster (30). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The elevator car of claim 8 wherein: the crosshead is spaced above the perimeter shroud by a gap of at least 0.5 m. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The elevator car of claim 1 wherein: the perimeter shroud has a depth of 0.2 m to 0.5 m. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The elevator car of claim 1 wherein: the perimeter shroud protrudes above the upper surface by 0.1 m to 0.4 m; and the curved portion has a radius of curvature of 0.05 m to 0.60 m over an arc of at least 45°. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The elevator car of claim 1 wherein: the curved portion has a radius of curvature of 0.15 to 0.30 m over an arc of at least 80°. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The elevator car of claim 12 wherein: the curved portion has a said radius of curvature over a continuous said arc. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The elevator car of claim 1 further comprising: a toe guard depending from the elevator along at least one side; and a bottom perimeter shroud along at least two sides. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The elevator car of claim 1 wherein: the perimeter shroud, in vertical section, is continuously curving over said arc. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The elevator car of claim 1 wherein: said arc extends to within 0.05 m of an apex of the perimeter shroud. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The elevator car of claim 1 wherein: said arc is formed along an extruded plastic member or along a bent sheet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The elevator car of claim 1 wherein: the curved portion is effective to provide at least one of a noise reduction or a drag reduction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A method for retrofitting an elevator car to form the elevator car of claim 1, the method comprising: installing the perimeter shroud. ### Claim 20 An elevator car comprising: a cab having a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a front, and a back, the front having a door, a vertical direction going from the bottom to the top; a frame supporting the cab; and electrical equipment atop the cab, wherein; the cab comprises a perimeter shroud protruding above a surface of the top and leaving a well exposing a central portion of an upper surface of the top; the perimeter shroud protrudes above the upper surface; the perimeter shroud has, when viewed in vertical section, a curved portion; and the perimeter shroud encloses the electrical equipment aside the well below the curved portion.