Loading/unloading system and vehicle interface for a transportation system and methods of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018086353-A1
Application number	US-201715718473-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 28, 2017
Priority date	Sep 28, 2016
Publication date	Mar 29, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A modular loading and unloading system for a high-speed transportation system, the system including an airlock loading zone, at least one airlock arranged in the airlock loading zone and connecting the airlock loading zone to a transportation tube of the high-speed transportation system. The airlock loading zone is configured to receive a plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars, and is operable to arrange the plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars for insertion into a high-speed transportation vehicle arranged in the airlock.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A modular loading and unloading system for a high-speed transportation system, the modular loading and unloading system comprising:
an airlock loading zone; and at least one airlock arranged in the airlock loading zone and connecting the airlock loading zone to a transportation tube of the high-speed transportation system, wherein the airlock loading zone is configured to receive a plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars, and is operable to arrange the plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars for insertion into a high-speed transportation vehicle arranged in the airlock.

2 . The modular loading and unloading system of claim 1 , wherein the airlock includes a sealer structured and arranged to interact with the high-speed transportation vehicle when arranged in the airlock, such that the sealer and the high-speed transportation vehicle together provide a first air pressure barrier between a relatively lower pressure in the tube and a relatively higher pressure of the airlock loading zone.

3 . The modular loading and unloading system of claim 2 , wherein the airlock further includes an airlock door structured and arranged to provide a second air pressure barrier between the relatively lower pressure in the tube and the relatively higher pressure of the airlock loading zone.

4 . The modular loading and unloading system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a first pressure sensor arranged in the tube for quantifying a pressure in the tube; a second pressure sensor arranged adjacent the airlock door for quantifying a pressure in a region between the airlock door and the first pressure barrier, and a third pressure sensor in the airlock loading zone for quantifying a pressure in the airlock loading zone.

5 . The modular loading and unloading system of claim 3 , further comprising a pump structured and arranged for increasing and decreasing pressure in the region between the airlock door and the first pressure barrier.

6 . The modular loading and unloading system of claim 5 , wherein the high-speed transportation vehicle includes an outer shell door, which provides access to a payload area of the high-speed transportation vehicle when opened.

7 . The modular loading and unloading system of claim 6 , further comprising an airlock controller operable to control operation of the pump based on a pressure in the region between the airlock door and the first pressure barrier, and operable to control opening and closing of the airlock door and the outer shell door.

8 . The modular loading and unloading system of claim 1 , further comprising a loading bay configured for receiving the plurality of cars and/or payloads, and/or configured for loading and unloading of passengers and/or cargo into a plurality of the capsules.

9 . The modular loading and unloading system of claim 8 , further comprising an elevator system arranged between the loading bay and the airlock loading zone, and configured to move the plurality of cars, payloads, and/or capsules between the loading bay and the airlock loading zone.

10 . The modular loading and unloading system of claim 9 , wherein the elevator system is operable to move the cars, payloads, and/or capsules vertically and/or horizontally.

11 . The modular loading and unloading system of claim 1 , wherein the cars comprise modular cars having a respective payload that is removeably attachable to a chassis.

12 . The modular loading and unloading system of claim 1 , wherein the airlock loading zone includes an automated guided vehicle system operable to move the capsules, payloads, and/or cars.

13 . A method of operating a modular loading and unloading system for a high-speed transportation system, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars in an airlock loading zone having at least one airlock connecting the airlock loading zone to a transportation tube of the high-speed transportation system; arranging the plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars for insertion into a high-speed transportation vehicle arranged in an airlock; and inserting the plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars into the high-speed transportation vehicle, while the high-speed transportation vehicle is arranged at least partially in the airlock, wherein the airlock includes a sealer structured and arranged to interact with an outer shell of the high-speed transportation vehicle when arranged in the airlock, such that the sealer and the high-speed transportation vehicle together provide a first air pressure barrier between a relatively lower pressure in the tube and a relatively higher pressure of the airlock loading zone.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising moving the plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars to the airlock loading zone from a loading bay, wherein the moving comprises using one or more elevators.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
onboarding passengers in a parallel manner into respective capsules arranged in a loading bay, wherein the respective capsules are designated for transport in a particular high-speed transportation vehicle; and moving the respective capsules to the airlock loading zone, wherein the arranging the plurality of capsules for insertion into a high-speed transportation vehicle comprises arranging the respective capsules into a linearly arranged cartridge for serial loading into the particular high-speed transportation vehicle.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the cars comprise modular cars each having a respective payload and a respective chassis, the method further comprising:
receiving the modular cars at a loading bay; detaching the respective payloads from the respective chasses; and moving the payloads to the airlock loading zone.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the cars comprise conventional cars, the method further comprising:
receiving the cars at a loading bay; and moving the cars to the airlock loading zone.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the high-speed transportation vehicle includes an outer shell door, and wherein the airlock includes an airlock door, the method further comprising closing the outer shell door and closing the airlock door after the inserting.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising lowering a pressure in a region between the shell door and the first pressure barrier so as to equalize the pressure in the region with a pressure within the tube of the high-speed transportation system.

20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the arranging the plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars is based on at least one of destination, high-speed transportation vehicle availability, a size of the capsules, payloads, and/or cars, and a current queue.

21 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the sealer comprises at least one O-ring seal with an outer diameter approximating an inner diameter of the tube, and an inner diameter approximating an outer perimeter of the high-speed transportation vehicle.

22 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving the high-speed transportation vehicle at the airlock; engaging the outer shell of the high-speed transportation vehicle with the sealer to provide the air pressure barrier between the relatively lower pressure in the tube and the relatively higher pressure of the airlock loading zone; raising the pressure in a region between a shell door of the high-speed transportation vehicle and an airlock door of

Assignees

• Hyperloop Tech Inc

Inventors

• HOLBROOKE Colin
• Adam Jonathan
• Pearse Luke
• RAYCROFT Joshua
• CHEY Doug

Classifications

• B61D3/18

  for vehicles {(vehicles adapted to carry other vehicles, in general, B60P3/06)} · CPC title

• B61B1/005

  Rail vehicle marshalling systems; Rail freight terminals (transferring or trans-shipping at storage areas or railway yards; marshalling yard installations B65G63/00) · CPC title

• B61D1/00

  Carriages for ordinary railway passenger traffic (mine cars B61D11/00; tramcars B61D13/00) · CPC title

• B61B13/08 Primary

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

• B60L11/1816

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic