Segmental tubes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11326723-B2
Application number	US-202117152304-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2021
Priority date	Dec 1, 2017
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

A segmental tube section structure having a length and a circumference, the segmental tube section structure including a plurality of tube segments extending the length in a longitudinal direction of the segmental tube section structure and extending in a circumferential direction of the segmental tube section structure, wherein each tube segment of the plurality of tube segments extends in the circumferential direction to span an equal arc of the circumference of the segmental tube section, and wherein each of the plurality of tube segments are connected to adjacent tube segments of the plurality of tube segments in the circumferential direction to form the segmental tube section structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for installing a segmental tube section structure having a length and a circumference, the segmental tube section structure comprising: a plurality of tube segments extending the length in a longitudinal direction of the segmental tube section structure and extending in a circumferential direction of the segmental tube section structure, wherein each tube segment of the plurality of tube segments extends in the circumferential direction to span an arc of the circumference of the segmental tube section, wherein each of the plurality of tube segments are connected to adjacent tube segments of the plurality of tube segments in the circumferential direction to form the segmental tube section structure, the system comprising:
a tube-segment remover structured and arranged to queue and position shipping containers for removing the plurality of tube segments therefrom at an installation site;
an assembly conveyor structured and arranged for queueing the plurality of tube segments removed from the shipping containers and conveying the plurality of tube segments from the tube-segment remover to the tube manufacturing location and through previously assembled segmental tube sections;
a connection or fastener arrangement for connecting the plurality of tube segments to adjacent tube segments of the plurality of tube segments, and connecting the plurality of tube segments to adjacent tube segments of a previously assembled segmental tube section structure; and
a controller comprising at least one processor operable to control the tube-segment remover, the assembly conveyor, and the connection or fastener arrangement to install the segmental tube section structure.

2. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of expansion bellows operable to retain a received tube segment, rotate by a distance of the arc, and retain a next tube segment,
wherein the received tube segment is connected to the next tube segment while retained by the plurality of expansion bellows.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of segmental tube section structures are connected with adjacent segmental tube section structures to form a tube extending in the longitudinal direction.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the system is operable to install tube segments in the longitudinal direction prior to installation of tube segments in the circumferential direction.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the system is operable to install tube segments in the longitudinal direction substantially the same time as installation of tube segments in the circumferential direction, such that the tube is assembled in multiple directions simultaneously.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the connection or fastener arrangement comprises a welder operable to form an air-tight interior surface.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the air-tight interior surface maintains a sub 100 Pa pressure environment.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tube segments comprise a sheet metal, and each of the plurality of tube segments are connected to the adjacent tube segments of the plurality of tube segments via welds formed between the adjacent tube segments.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of tube segments when welded to the adjacent tube segments of the plurality of tube segments forms an air-tight interior surface.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tube segments are nestable with each other when arranged adjacent each other, and are accommodateable in the shipping container for shipping from a manufacturing facility.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of tube segments comprises an outer metal layer and an inner metal layer.

12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of tube segments comprises a transportation vehicle track or an attachment structure to accommodate a vehicle track assembly.

13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tube segments comprise six segments each spanning 60 degrees of the circumference of the segmental tube section structure.

14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tube segments comprise between six and eight segments.

15. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a transfer mechanism operable to:
receive a tube segment in a radial fixture spanning from a first column to a second column of the transfer mechanism;
receive a next tube segment; and
rotate the tube segment by a distance of the arc, after receiving the tube segment but before receiving the next tube segment.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the transfer mechanism is operable to be fully populated prior to welding or connecting adjacent segments together along their longitudinal length.

17. The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the tube segments of the plurality of tube segments extends in the circumferential direction to span an equal arc of the circumference of the segmental tube section.

18. The system according to claim 1 , wherein all but one of the tube segments of the plurality of tube segments extends in the circumferential direction to span an equal arc of the circumference of the segmental tube section.

19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the tube segment not spanning an equal arc of the circumference of the segmental tube section accommodates a track assembly.

20. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a track attachment/assembly station for attaching at least one of a propulsion track and a levitation track to at least one of the plurality of tube segments.

Assignees

• Hyperloop Tech Inc

Inventors

• Reneau Ryan Matthew
• Matsumoto Matthew Thomas
• Mey Matthew Allan
• Chavan Sushant
• Hilgers Andy

Classifications

• F16L9/22 Primary

  Pipes composed of a plurality of segments · CPC title

• F16L9/17

  obtained by bending a sheet longitudinally and connecting the edges · CPC title

• F16L9/02

  of metal (F16L9/16 - F16L9/22 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16L9/00

  Rigid pipes · CPC title

• E04C3/00

  Structural elongated elements designed for load-supporting (as building aids E04G) · CPC title