Seal assembly for an elevator and a method to operate the same

A seal assembly (100) for a pneumatic vacuum elevator (200), comprising:

• a covering structure (102) configured to cover a top portion of the pneumatic vacuum elevator (200), the covering structure (102) having a plurality of pairs of U-shaped slots (102A) integrally formed along a peripheral portion of the covering structure (102), the plurality of pairs of U-shaped slots (102A) being arranged in mutually orthogonal orientations;
• a plurality of U-shaped plates (104) disposed along the peripheral portion, each U-shaped plate (104) including a pair of outer side walls (104A, 104B) and being aligned with a corresponding U-shaped slot (102A) such that a curvature of the U-shaped plate (104) conforms to a curvature of the corresponding U-shaped slot (102A);
• and
• a plurality of seal moulds (106) each positioned in a respective region bounded by the peripheral portion and a lower surface of the covering structure (102), the pair of outer side walls (104A, 104B), and an elevator cabin (220) of the pneumatic vacuum elevator (200), the each seal mould (106) having a first end abutting an outer side wall (104A) of a first U-shaped plate (104) and a second end abutting an oppositely facing side wall (104B) of a second U-shaped plate (104) positioned adjacent to the first U-shaped plate (104), the each seal mould (106) further having a top bent portion (106C) extending toward a central region of the covering structure (102) and partially abutting the lower surface of the covering structure (102), and a lower portion (106B) extending from the top bent portion (106C) to abut the elevator cabin (220), the top bent portion (106C) and the lower portion (106B) of the each seal mould (106) forming respective sealing interfaces with the lower surface of the covering structure (102) and with the elevator cabin (220), thereby enhancing sealing performance and reducing vibration transmission to the pneumatic vacuum elevator (200).