Support systems and methods for a transportation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11091176-B2
Application number	US-201916284165-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2019
Priority date	Jan 24, 2017
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

A transportation system includes a tube defining an interior channel. A vehicle is configured to travel through the interior channel. At least one tension support couples the tube to ground. The tension support(s) exerts tension force into the tube. The tension force exerted into the tube reduces deflection of the tube when the vehicle travels through the interior channel over the tension support(s).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transportation system, comprising:
a tube defining an interior channel, wherein a vehicle is configured to travel through the interior channel;
at least one tension support that couples the tube to ground, wherein the at least one tension support exerts tension force into the tube;
at least one motion sensor secured to the ground proximate to the at least one tension support, wherein the at least one motion sensor is configured to detect motion of the ground; and
a tension control unit in communication with the at least one tension support and the at least motion sensor, wherein the tension control unit is configured to adjust the tension force.

2. The transportation system of claim 1 , further comprising at least two support columns, wherein the tube extends between the at least two support columns, and wherein the at least one tension support couples to the tube between the at least two support columns.

3. The transportation system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one tension support is lighter and smaller than each of the at least two support columns.

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

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

6. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tension support comprises:
an anchor secured to the ground;
a tensioning actuator coupled to the anchor; and
a tensioning member having a first end coupled to the tensioning actuator, and a second end coupled to the tube.

7. The transportation system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sensors coupled to the tube, wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to detect a location of the vehicle within the 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 tube is cambered before being coupled to the at least one tension support, wherein the tension force exerted into the tube by the at least one tension support straightens the tube.

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

10. The transportation system of claim 9 , wherein the outer tube is separated from the inner tube by a space.

11. The transportation system of claim 10 , wherein the 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.

12. The transportation system of claim 11 , wherein the tube further comprises at least one fluid sensor within at least one of the plurality of sealed compartments.

13. The transportation system of claim 10 , 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.

14. A method of supporting a transportation system, the method comprising:
coupling a tube defining an interior channel to ground with at least one tension support, wherein a vehicle is configured to travel through the interior channel;
securing at least one motion sensor to the ground proximate to the at least one tension support;
communicatively coupling a tension control unit with the at least one motion sensor;
exerting tension force into the tube through the coupling;
using the at least one motion sensor to detect motion of the ground; and
using the tension control unit to adjust the tension force.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising reducing deflection of the tube through the exerting when the vehicle travels through the interior channel over the at least one tension support.

16. A transportation system, comprising:
a tube defining an interior channel, wherein a vehicle is configured to travel through the interior channel, wherein the tube comprises an outer tube surrounding an inner tube, wherein the outer tube is separated from the inner tube by a space that 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. The transportation system of claim 16 , wherein the vacuum within the interior channel reduces aerodynamic drag on the vehicle as the vehicle travels through the interior channel.

18. A method of supporting a transportation system, the method comprising:
coupling a tube defining an interior channel to ground with at least one tension support, wherein a vehicle is configured to travel through the interior channel;
surrounding an inner tube of the tube with an outer tube;
defining a space between the outer tube and the inner tube;
dividing the space into a plurality of vacuum sections;
varying a degree of vacuum within each of plurality of vacuum sections; and
using the varying degrees of vacuum within the plurality of vacuum sections to set a vacuum within the interior channel to a desired level.

19. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the tension control unit is configured to adjust the tension force based on the motion of the ground as detected by the at least one motion sensor.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein said using comprises using the tension control unit to adjust the tension force based on the motion of the ground as detected by the at least one motion sensor.

21. A transportation system, comprising:
a tube defining an interior channel, wherein a vehicle is configured to travel through the interior channel;
at least one tension support that couples the tube to ground, wherein the at least one tension support exerts tension force into the tube;
at least one motion sensor secured to the ground proximate to the at least one tension support, wherein the at least one motion sensor is configured to detect motion of the ground; and
a plurality of sensors coupled to the tube, wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to detect a location of the vehicle within the interior channel, and wherein the tension control unit is in communication with the plurality of sensors.

22. A transportation system, comprising:
a tube defining an interior channel, wherein a vehicle is configured to travel through the interior channel, wherein the 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;
at least one tension support that couples the tube to ground, wherein the at least one tension support exerts tension force into the tube; and
at least one motion sensor secured to the ground proximate to the at least one tension support, wherein the at least one motion sensor is configured to detect motion of the ground.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Grip Robert Erik

Classifications

• B61B13/10 Primary

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