Sealing device for hyper tube

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11549622-B2
Application number	US-201816652491-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2018
Priority date	May 21, 2018
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a sealing apparatus for use in a hypertube, which includes a first tube, a second tube having one end connected to an end of the first tube, and a gasket including a seal made of a fiber structure formed with a space that is filled with a sealing fluid, wherein the gasket is configured to seal a space between the first tube and the second tube.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sealing apparatus for use in a hypertube ultra-high-speed vacuum train system, the sealing apparatus comprising:
a first tube and a second tube having one end connected to an end of the first tube;
a gasket comprising a seal made of a fiber structure formed with a space that is filled with a sealing fluid, wherein the gasket is located in a radial space between the first tube and the second tube to maintain a seal between a vacuum or near-vacuum inside the first and second tubes and an atmosphere outside of the first and second tubes;
a fluid tank that is outside of the gasket and configured to store the sealing fluid; and
a sealing fluid leakage sensor configured to check a remaining amount of the sealing fluid in the fluid tank.

2. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid tank is configured to supply the sealing fluid to the gasket such that at least a portion of the sealing fluid contacts the gasket.

3. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sealing fluid is silicone oil.

4. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fiber structure of the seal comprises a glass fiber or a carbon fiber material.

5. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a conduit configured to interconnect the fluid tank and the gasket and to supply the sealing fluid from the fluid tank to the gasket such that at least a portion of the sealing fluid contacts the gasket.

6. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gasket has:
a circular cross-section;
an outer circumferential surface configured to be in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the first tube; and
an inner circumferential surface configured to be in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the second tube.

7. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gasket has:
a rectangular cross-section;
an outer circumferential surface configured to be in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the first tube; and
an inner circumferential surface configured to be in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the second tube.

8. A hypertube ultra-high-speed vacuum train system, comprising:
a first tube;
a second tube having one end connected to an end of the first tube, a fluid tank that is outside of the gasket, coupled to the first tube and the second tube, and configured to store a sealing fluid;
a gasket comprising a seal made of a fiber structure formed with a space that is filled with the sealing fluid, wherein the gasket is located in a radial space between the first tube and the second tube to maintain a seal between a vacuum or near-vacuum inside the first and second tubes and an atmosphere outside of the first and second tubes; and
a sealing fluid leakage sensor configured to check a remaining amount of the sealing fluid in the fluid tank.

Assignees

• Korea Railroad Res Institute

Inventors

• Choi Jaeheon
• Lee Kwansup
• Choi Suyong
• Lee Jinho
• Jang Yongjun
• Lee Changyoung
• Kim Leehyeon
• Ok Minhwan
• Lim Jungyoul
• Jo Jeongmin

Classifications

• F16L17/10 Primary

  the packing being sealed by the pressure of a fluid other than the fluid in or surrounding the pipe · CPC title

• F16J15/46

  with packing ring expanded or pressed into place by fluid pressure, e.g. inflatable packings (connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; {for sealing arrangements in vehicles B60J10/244; for sealing arrangements of openings in buildings E06B7/2318}; for tube connections F16L) · CPC title

• B61B13/10

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

• F16J15/02

  between relatively-stationary surfaces (F16J15/46, F16J15/48 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01M3/2861 Primary

  for pipe sections by testing its exterior surface · CPC title