Support systems and methods for a transportation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10974737-B2
Application number	US-201816203715-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2018
Priority date	Jan 24, 2017
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

Abstract

A transportation system includes a first support tower, a second support tower, a suspension cable extending between the first and second support towers, and a tube defining an interior channel extending between the first and second support towers. A vehicle is configured to travel through the interior channel. A tension support member has a first end coupled to the suspension cable and a second end coupled to the first tube through an actuator. The tension support member exerts tension force to upwardly pull the first tube towards the suspension cable. The actuator adjusts the tension force when the vehicle travels through the interior channel under the tension support member to reduce deflection of the tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transportation system, comprising:
a tension support member having a first end coupled to a suspension cable and a second end coupled to a first tube through an actuator,
wherein the tension support member exerts tension force to urge the first tube towards the suspension cable; and
a tension control unit including one or more processors in communication with the actuator, wherein the tension control unit is configured to control operation of the actuator to adjust the tension force in response to detection of a vehicle traveling through a first interior channel of the first tube to reduce deflection of the first tube.

2. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the suspension cable extends between a first support tower and a second support tower, and wherein the first interior channel extends between the first support tower and the second support tower.

3. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to contract to adjust the tension force.

4. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to adjust a length of the tension support member to adjust the tension force.

5. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises:
a bearing; and
an actuating member moveably secured to the bearing, wherein the actuating member is configured to move with respect to the bearing in order to adjust the tension force.

6. The transportation system of claim 5 , wherein the bearing is directly coupled to one of the suspension cable or the first tube, and wherein the actuating member is directly coupled to the other of the suspension cable or the first tube.

7. The transportation system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sensors coupled to the first tube, wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to detect a location of the vehicle within the first interior channel, and wherein the tension control unit is in communication with the plurality of sensors.

8. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the first tube is stacked over a second tube.

9. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the first tube is arranged to a side of a second tube.

10. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein a vacuum is formed in the first interior channel, wherein the vacuum reduces aerodynamic drag on the vehicle as the vehicle travels through the first interior channel.

11. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a magnetic levitation vehicle.

12. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the first tube comprises an outer tube surrounding an inner tube.

13. The transportation system of claim 12 , wherein the outer tube is separated from the inner tube by a space.

14. The transportation system of claim 13 , wherein the first tube further comprises a plurality of stiffeners within the space between the outer tube and the inner tube, wherein the plurality of stiffeners define a plurality of sealed compartments.

15. The transportation system of claim 14 , wherein the first tube further comprises at least one fluid sensor within at least one of the plurality of sealed compartments.

16. The transportation system of claim 13 , wherein the space is divided into a plurality of vacuum sections, wherein each of the plurality of vacuum sections includes a different degree of vacuum, and wherein the different degrees of vacuum within the plurality of vacuum sections are configured to set a vacuum within the interior channel to a desired level.

17. A method of supporting a transportation system, the method comprising:
exerting tension force with a tension support member to pull a tube towards a suspension cable;
detecting a vehicle traveling through an interior channel of the tube; and
controlling an actuator to adjust the tension force in response to said detecting the vehicle traveling through the interior channel of the tube to reduce deflection of the tube.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the controlling comprises contracting the actuator to adjust the tension force.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the controlling comprises using the actuator to adjust a length of the tension support member.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
communicatively coupling a tension control unit including one or more processors with the actuator; and
using the tension control unit to control operation of the actuator.

21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising forming the tube with an outer tube surrounding an inner tube.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising providing a plurality of stiffeners within a space between the outer tube and the inner tube, wherein the plurality of stiffeners define a plurality of sealed compartments.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising disposing at least one fluid sensor within at least one of the plurality of sealed compartments.

24. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
dividing the space into a plurality of vacuum sections;
varying a degree of vacuum within each of plurality of vacuum sections;
using the varying degrees of vacuum within the plurality of vacuum sections to set a vacuum within the interior channel to a desired level.

25. A transportation system, comprising:
a tension support member having a first end coupled to a suspension cable and a second end coupled to a first tube through an actuator,
wherein the first tube comprises:
an outer tube surrounding an inner tube;
a plurality of stiffeners within a space between the outer tube and the inner tube, wherein the plurality of stiffeners define a plurality of sealed compartments; and
at least one fluid sensor within at least one of the plurality of sealed compartments,

wherein the tension support member exerts tension force to urge the first tube towards the suspension cable, and
wherein the actuator is configured to be controlled to adjust the tension force upon detecting a vehicle traveling through a first interior channel of the first tube to reduce deflection of the first tube.

26. A transportation system, comprising:
a tension support member having a first end coupled to a suspension cable and a second end coupled to a first tube through an actuator, wherein the first tube comprises an outer tube surrounding an inner tube, wherein the outer tube is separated from the inner tube by a space, wherein the space is divided into a plurality of vacuum sections, wherein each of the plurality of vacuum sections includes a different degree of vacuum, and wherein the different degrees of vacuum within the plurality of vacuum sections are configured to set a vacuum within the interior channel to a desired level,
wherein the tension support member exerts tension force to urge the first tube towards the suspension cable, and
wherein the actuator is configured to be controlled to adjust the tension force upon detecting a vehicle traveling through a first interior channel of the first tube to reduce deflection of the first tube.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Grip Robert Erik

Classifications

• B61B13/08

  Sliding or levitation systems (vehicles with air cushions between rails and vehicles B60V3/04) · CPC title

• B61B13/10 Primary

  Tunnel systems (pneumatic tubes conveyors B65G {; B61C15/045 takes precedence}) · CPC title

• E01D11/00

  Suspension or cable-stayed bridges · CPC title

• B61B5/00

  Elevated railway systems without suspended vehicles (with monorail B61B13/04; tracks therefor E01B25/00) · CPC title