Gate valves and airlocks for a transportation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9599235-B2
Application number	US-201615007712-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2016
Priority date	Feb 8, 2015
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

A high-speed transportation system, the system including at least one transportation tube having at least one track, at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube between stations, a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the tube; a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the tube, and at least one tube sealer arranged along the at least one tube and configured to create an airlock in the at least one tube. In embodiments, the tube sealer may include a gate valve and/or an airbag.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A high-speed transportation system, the system comprising:
at least one transportation tube having at least one track along a transportation path;
at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube between stations;
a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the tube;
a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the tube; and
at least one tube sealer arranged along the at least one tube and configured to selectively create an airlock in the at least one tube,
wherein the at least one transportation tube is maintained as a low-pressure environment.

2. The high-speed transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tube sealer comprises a gate valve having a gate that is moveable into the transportation path to create the airlock in the at least one tube.

3. The high-speed transportation system of claim 2 , wherein the gate valve additionally comprises a gate housing configured to accommodate the gate.

4. The high-speed transportation system of claim 2 , wherein the gate valve additionally comprises at least one flange configured for attachment to the at least one tube.

5. The high-speed transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the gate valve comprises an iris-type aperture.

6. A high-speed transportation system, the system comprising:
at least one transportation tube having at least one track along a transportation path;
at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube between stations;
a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the tube;
a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the tube; and
at least one tube sealer arranged along the at least one tube and configured to selectively create an airlock in the at least one tube,
wherein the at least one tube sealer comprises a gate valve having a gate that is moveable into the transportation path to create the airlock in the at least one tube,
wherein the gate valve additionally comprises a gate housing configured to accommodate the gate, and

wherein the gate housing includes reinforcement structures to increase a strength and/or stiffness of the gate housing.

7. A high-speed transportation system, the system comprising:
at least one transportation tube having at least one track along a transportation path;
at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube between stations;
a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the tube;
a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the tube; and
at least one tube sealer arranged along the at least one tube and configured to selectively create an airlock in the at least one tube,
wherein the at least one tube sealer comprises a gate valve having a gate that is moveable into the transportation path to create the airlock in the at least one tube,
wherein the gate valve additionally comprises at least one gate actuator configured to selectively move the gate at least one of into and out of the transportation path.

8. The high-speed transportation system of claim 7 , wherein at least one gate actuator comprises at least two gate actuators, wherein one gate actuator is configured to move the gate in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the transportation path, and wherein a second gate actuator is configured to move the gate in a direction parallel to the direction of the transportation path.

9. The high-speed transportation system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one transportation tube is maintained as a low-pressure environment.

10. A high-speed transportation system, the system comprising:
at least one transportation tube having at least one track along a transportation path;
at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube between stations;
a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the tube;
a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the tube; and
at least one tube sealer arranged along the at least one tube and configured to selectively create an airlock in the at least one tube,
wherein the at least one tube sealer comprises a gate valve having a gate that is moveable into the transportation path to create the airlock in the at least one tube,
wherein the gate valve additionally comprises at least one gate guide within which the gate is operable to move into the transportation path to create the airlock in the at least one tube.

11. A high-speed transportation system, the system comprising:
at least one transportation tube having at least one track along a transportation path;
at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube between stations;
a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the tube;
a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the tube; and
at least one tube sealer arranged along the at least one tube and configured to selectively create an airlock in the at least one tube,
wherein the at least one tube sealer comprises a gate valve having a gate that is moveable into the transportation path to create the airlock in the at least one tube,
wherein the gate valve is linearly actuated into an operative position to create the airlock in the at least one tube.

12. The high-speed transportation system of claim 11 , wherein the gate valve is linearly actuated in one direction into an operative position to create the airlock in the at least one tube.

13. The high-speed transportation system of claim 11 , wherein the gate valve is linearly actuated in two discrete directions into an operative position to create the airlock in the at least one tube.

14. A high-speed transportation system, the system comprising:
at least one transportation tube having at least one track along a transportation path;
at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube between stations;
a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the tube;
a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the tube; and
at least one tube sealer arranged along the at least one tube and configured to selectively create an airlock in the at least one tube,
wherein the at least one tube sealer comprises a gate valve having a gate that is moveable into the transportation path to create the airlock in the at least one tube,
wherein the gate valve is rotationally actuated into an operative position to create the airlock in the at least one tube.

15. A high-speed transportation system, the system comprising:
at least one transportation tube having at least one track along a transportation path;
at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube between stations;
a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the tube;
a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the tube; and
at least one tube sealer arranged along the at least one tube and configured to selectively create an airlock in the at least one tube,
wherein the at least one tube sealer comprises a gate valve having a gate that is moveable into the transportation path to create the airlock in the at least one tube,
wherein the gate valve comprises a wedge-shaped gate.

16. A high-speed transportation system, the system comprising:
at least one transportation tube having at least one track along a transportation path;
at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube between stations;
a propulsion system adapted

Assignees

• Hyperloop Tech Inc

Inventors

• Cothern Kyle
• Gaunt Michael
• Ronacher Thomas
• SHAFRIR Daniel
• BAMBROGAN Brogan
• Giegel Joshua

Classifications

• F16K7/10

  with inflatable member · CPC title

• F16K3/12

  with wedge-shaped arrangements of sealing faces · CPC title

• F16K1/2014

  Shaping of the valve member · CPC title

• F16K3/03

  with a closure member in the form of an iris-diaphragm · CPC title

• F16K27/044

  slide valves with flat obturating members · CPC title