Deployable decelerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9533697-B2
Application number	US-201615007718-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2016
Priority date	Feb 8, 2015
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure is provided. The transport vehicle may include a deployable decelerator provided on the transport vehicle and configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure. When the decelerator is deployed the decelerator is configured to increase drag forces opposing a direction of motion of the transport vehicle and decelerate the transport vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure, comprising:
a deployable decelerator provided on the transport vehicle and configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure, wherein
the deployable decelerator comprises an airbag that is configured to deploy from a frontal area of the transport vehicle outward in a direction toward the low-pressure environment structure, and
when the decelerator is deployed the decelerator is configured to increase drag forces opposing a direction of motion of the transport vehicle and decelerate the transport vehicle.

2. The transport vehicle for traveling in the low-pressure environment structure of claim 1 , wherein
the deployable decelerator further comprises a brace configured to support the outward deployment of the airbag as the drag forces acting on the transport vehicle increase during deceleration.

3. The transport vehicle for traveling in the low-pressure environment structure of claim 1 , wherein
the deployable decelerator is configured to deploy such that the frontal area of the transport vehicle is increased and substantially fills an entire inner cross sectional area of the low-pressure environment structure.

4. The transport vehicle for traveling in the low-pressure environment structure of claim 1 , wherein
the airbag is configured to deploy outward in a direction toward the low-pressure environment structure such that an outer periphery of the deployed airbag is closer to an inner surface of the low-pressure environment structure than an outer periphery of the transport vehicle.

5. The transport vehicle for traveling in the low-pressure environment structure of claim 1 , wherein
the airbag is configured to deploy such that the airbag entirely surrounds the transport vehicle in a cross sectional view of the low-pressure environment structure.

6. A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure, comprising:
a deployable decelerator provided on the transport vehicle and configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure, wherein
the deployable decelerator comprises at least one plate that is configured to rotatably deploy from a frontal area of the transport vehicle outward in a direction toward the low-pressure environment structure, and
when the decelerator is deployed the decelerator is configured to increase drag forces opposing a direction of motion of the transport vehicle and decelerate the transport vehicle.

7. The transport vehicle for traveling in the low-pressure environment structure of claim 6 , wherein
the deployable decelerator is configured to deploy such that the frontal area of the transport vehicle is increased and substantially fills an entire inner cross sectional area of the low-pressure environment structure.

8. The transport vehicle for traveling in the low-pressure environment structure of claim 6 , wherein
the at least one plate is configured to deploy outward in a direction toward the low-pressure environment structure such that an outer periphery of the deployed at least one plate is closer to an inner surface of the low-pressure environment structure than an outer periphery of the transport vehicle.

9. A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure, comprising:
a deployable decelerator provided on the transport vehicle and configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure, wherein
the deployable decelerator comprises an airbag and at least one plate that are configured to both deploy from the transport vehicle outward in a direction toward the low-pressure environment structure, and
when the decelerator is deployed the decelerator is configured to increase drag forces opposing a direction of motion of the transport vehicle and decelerate the transport vehicle.

10. The transport vehicle for traveling in the low-pressure environment structure of claim 9 , wherein
at least one of the airbag and the at least one plate is configured to deploy outward in a direction toward the low-pressure environment structure such that an outer periphery of the at least one deployed airbag or the deployed at least one plate is closer to an inner surface of the low-pressure environment structure than an outer periphery of the transport vehicle.

11. A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure, comprising:
a deployable decelerator provided on the transport vehicle and configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure, wherein
the deployable decelerator comprises a deployable braking pad that is configured to deploy along an outer peripheral surface of the transport vehicle and configured to couple with a fixed braking pad provided on and extending along the low-pressure environment structure,
the deployable braking pad comprises a carbon reinforced carbon material contact surface that is configured to contact a corresponding contact surface of the fixed braking pad on the low-pressure environment structure,
when the decelerator is deployed the decelerator is configured to increase drag forces opposing a direction of motion of the transport vehicle and decelerate the transport vehicle, and
when the deployable braking pad is actuated, the carbon reinforced carbon material contact surface is pressed against the corresponding contact surface of the fixed braking pad on the low-pressure environment structure to generate frictional forces to decelerate the transport vehicle.

12. The transport vehicle for traveling in the low-pressure environment structure of claim 11 , wherein
the deployable braking pad comprises a plurality of braking pads deployable at spaced intervals along the outer peripheral surface of the transport vehicle in a direction toward the low-pressure environment structure.

13. A method of decelerating a transport vehicle in a low-pressure environment structure, comprising:
monitoring at least one operation parameter collected by at least one sensor in a transportation system;
analyzing, via a controller communicating with the at least one sensor, the at least one collected operation parameter;
detecting, via the controller, a triggering event based on the at least one collected operation parameter;
transmitting, via a signal from the controller, instructions to a transport vehicle deceleration system to decelerate the transport vehicle; and
deploying a decelerator from the transport vehicle deceleration system to decelerate the transport vehicle in the low-pressure environment structure when the triggering event is detected.

14. The method of decelerating the transport vehicle in the low-pressure environment structure of claim 13 , wherein
in the deploying of the decelerator, a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure is decreased, and
the deployed decelerator deploys such that a frontal area of the transport vehicle is increased and substantially fills an entire inner cross sectional area of the low-pressure environment structure.

15. The method of decelerating the transport vehicle in the low-pressure environment structure of claim 13 , wherein
the deployable decelerator comprises an airbag that deploys from the transport vehicle outwardly in a direction toward the low-pressu

Assignees

• Hyperloop Tech Inc

Inventors

• Avetian Tadeh
• Durden Helen
• Okerson Ryan
• BAMBROGAN Brogan
• Giegel Joshua

Classifications

• F16D63/008

  Brakes acting on a linearly moving member · CPC title

• B60T1/14

  directly on road (portable devices, e.g. chocks B60T3/00) · CPC title

• B61B13/10 Primary

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

• B61C15/00

  Maintaining or augmenting the starting or braking power by auxiliary devices and measures; Preventing wheel slippage; Controlling distribution of tractive effort between driving wheels (propelling locomotives or motor railcars by special means B61C11/00; driving wheels with non-slipping devices B60B; brakes B61H; wetting or lubricating rails B61K) · CPC title

• B61H9/00 Primary

  Brakes characterised by, or modified for, their application to special railway systems or purposes · CPC title