PASSENGER TRANSPORT SYSTEMS

Abstract: A passenger transport system includes capsules (10) which travel in at least a partial vacuum. The system includes at least one main transfer conduit (3), depressurising means to evacuate the transfer conduits at least partially and a plurality of passenger transfer capsules (10) which travel along and within the transfer conduits. The motive power for the transfer capsules is provided by a motive power cord (15) extending along the transfer conduits and to which the transfer capsules (10) are releasably connected.

Description: PASSENGER TRANSPORT SYSTEMS TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to passenger transport systems, particularly to energy efficient passenger transport systems, where the vehicles move within a vacuum. BACKGROUND ART Passenger transport systems have been proposed ia which the vehicles move within evacuated tubes, the vehicles being blown along wholly or partially supported on a cushion of air, or levitated and driven by magnetism in order to reduce or overcome friction. However, such systems which would generally involve very large fans or powerful magnets will be difficult to make and maintain, and transport within such systems would be difficult to control . DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a passenger transport system comprising at least one tubular main transfer conduit, depressurising means for at least partially evacuating air from the transfer conduits and, a plurality of passenger transfer capsules, independently movable along and within the conduits, in which system the motive power for the transfer capsules is provided by a motive power arrangement extending along the transfer conduit, releasable connectors being provided for mechanically coupling respective capsules to the motive power arrangement. Preferably the motive power arrangement consists of a common motive power cord extending along and within the transfer conduit (s). The transfer capsules may be pushed or pulled mechanically in unison along the transfer conduit by driving the power cord along. The power cord may be provided as a series of cord stages positioned end to end. The transfer capsules preferably include one or more wheels, such wheels providing support and most preferably full running support for the transfer capsule. The wheels may run along one or more tracks within the transfer conduits. The transport system is preferably arranged so that the transfer capsules can roll freely in the transfer conduits when not connected to the motive power arrangement. Stations may be provided as part of the main transfer conduit or in one or more station conduits distinct from the main transfer conduit (s). A transport system may include a combination of both types of station. For stations which are separate from the main transfer conduit, there are provided transitional transfer conduits to allow transfer capsules to travel between the main transfer conduit and the stations. These transfer conduits are probably also evacuated, e.g. continuously with the associated main conduit. There are preferably acceleration and deceleration types of transitional transfer conduit. Acceleration- type transitional conduits enable acceleration of transfer capsules from stations to the main transfer conduit, whereas deceleration-type transitional conduits enable deceleration of capsules from the main transfer conduit to a station. There may therefore be stations having both acceleration and deceleration type transitional conduits or either one of these, should the station be for only one of embarkation or disembarkation. The passenger transport system is preferably arranged so that the capsules move freely along the transitional conduits e.g. on capsule wheels. In particular the transport system may therefore be arranged so that the capsules are disconnected from the motive power arrangement on departure from the main transfer conduit to the transitional conduits, by action of the releasable connectors. Conversely, on entry to the main transfer conduit a capsule is connected to the motive power arrangement. For travel within the acceleration conduit a source of power would be required and this could be provided by a motive power arrangement, such as a separate motive power cord, within the acceleration conduit. In this situation, a capsule leaving the main transfer conduit may be disconnected from the motive power cord of the main transfer conduit and reconnected to the motive power cord of the transitional conduit. In a deceleration conduit such extra force should not be required as capsules decelerate to rest in the station. However means may be provided to assist the deceleration . Alternatively or additionally, inclination of conduits can be used to assist acceleration or deceleration adjacent stations. In the situation where a station is provided as part of the main transfer conduit, deceleration to and acceleration from that station can be accommodated for by providing for suitable gaps in the capsule flow, so that collisions are not caused by disconnecting from the motion power arrangement. The stations preferably include air seals arranged so as to act around the capsule doors when the capsule is in the station to allow the embarkation or disembarkation of passengers without release of the vacuum. To further avoid loss of the vacuum the station and capsule doors optionally open in coordination, e.g. simultaneously, when surrounded by the air seals. A reservoir for capsules may be provided at or near the stations or other points adjacent transitional transfer conduits. Empty capsules may be stored in the reservoir until required by passengers and sometimes empty capsules may be released to the main transfer track as required, for example to prevent the motive power cord from sagging. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the capsules include independent capsules for the carriage of any of single persons, couples, families or other passenger groups. In this manner, a particular passenger group having the same destination may travel around the main transfer conduit until the desired station is reached and then disembark, such a transport system providing fast and efficient transport for the individual passenger or small passenger group as the capsule does not have to stop at intermediate stations on the journey. Preferably a means for controlled release of capsules from stations or reservoirs is provided, such control means monitors the flow of capsules on the main transfer conduit and identifies suitable gaps in the flow, capsules being released only into such suitable gaps . As the transport system is under at least partial vacuum, a means for providing a controlled atmospheric environment within the capsules is preferably provided. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG 1. shows part of a passenger transfer conduit and a capsule in cross-section and illustrates the orientation of a passenger in a capsule , and FIG 2. is a schematic representation of the conduit layout of a transfer systems embodying the invention. SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Passengers travel individually in single-person capsules 10 (shown in Fig 1) which move through evacuated, circuitous, main transfer conduits 3 guided by wheels 11 which move along tracks 13 in the direction shown by arrows in Fig 2. There are two pairs of wheels 11a and lib (only one of each pair is shown in Fig 1) and correspondingly a pair of tracks 13. The power for the capsule 10 is provided by a motive power cord 15 to which the capsule 10 is connected by a releasable connector 17 when in the main transfer conduits 3. Suitable controllably releasable mechanical (i.e. fixed relative position) connectors include magnets, also hooks and other controllable interlock arrangements. Multiple capsules 10 are attached to the common motive power cord 15, all such capsules therefore travel in unison around the main transfer conduit 3. This arrangement avoids traffic jams and bottle necking and other features common to modern day transport systems. There are a pair of main transfer conduit 3a and 3b which run side by side to allow travel in both directions. Only one of the pair is shown in Fig 1 for clarity. In this example, main transfer conduit 3a is . westbound and main transfer conduit 3b is eastbound. The vacuum (reduced air pressure) is constantly maintained in the main transfer conduits by pumps distributed along the transfer conduit 3. Travel within a vacuum or reduced pressure environment considerably improves transport efficiency as energy is not wasted in displacing air as the vehicle moves forward. Less energy is expended, for a given speed. The motive power cord 15 in this embodiment is a chain, though other forms are possible e.g. cords or rails. The motive power may be generated by a small number of stationary engines and the consumption of hydrocarbons is therefore much lower than it would be were each vehicle to have its own engine. Moreover, the external source of power enables lightness of the capsules and therefore to their high speed. Passengers embark or disembark at stations 5 positioned around the main transfer conduits 3a and 3b. An example of a station 5 is shown in Fig 2 and contains a store of capsules 10 and has access to the public highway 30. Capsules 10 leave the station by acceleration conduit 7a for acceleration to westbound main transfer conduit 3a or by acceleration conduit 7b for acceleration to eastbound main transfer conduit 3b. On leaving westbound main transfer conduit 3a capsules . 10 decelerate in deceleration conduit 9a before arrival at station 5. Similarly on leaving eastbound main transfer conduit 3b capsules decelerate in deceleration conduit 9b before arrival at station 5. Types of station 5 may also exist which include only acceleration conduits or only deceleration conduits if the station 5 is for only one of embarkation or disembarkation, or only one of each of a terminus. The release of capsules 10 to the main transfer conduit 3 is controlled by an electronic monitoring system. The system monitors the flow of capsules 10 around the main transfer conduit 3 and when a suitable gap between capsules is recognised, the monitor allows the release of a capsule 10 from one of stations 5. A particular single-person capsule 10 can stop at any of the disembarkation stations described above and does not need to stop at intermediate stations on the journey, this is preferable for the traveller as his journey time can be shortened significantly by avoiding intermediate stops. On departure of a capsule 10 from the main transfer conduit 3, e.g to stations which are separate from the main transfer conduit, the capsule 10 is disconnected from the motive power cord 15 and then decelerates freely along tracks within a deceleration conduit 9 e.g deceleration conduit 9a until coming to rest at a station 5. On arrival at a station 5 the capsule 10 is locked against a passenger capsule access door 20 within the station 5, air seals form around the capsule-doors and the capsule-door and station-doors then open simultaneously so that passengers may then enter or exit the capsule. In this way air is prevented from entering the vacuum. At a station 5 passengers walk into the capsule 10 which is turned to an upright position e.g. capsule 10a; the capsule is then turned to the correct orientation for transport e.g. capsule 10b, so that the passenger is lying down as shown in figure 1. A support system 20 provides a supply of oxygen for the passenger environment. Some of the capsules can be used to carry cargo, such as passenger luggage.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A passenger transport system including a tubular main transfer conduit (3), depressurising means for at least partially evacuating air from the transfer conduit, and a plurality of passenger transfer capsules (10), independently movable along and within the conduits; characterised in that motive power for the transfer capsules is provided by a motive power arrangement (15) extending along the transfer conduit and controllably releasable connectors (17) for mechanically coupling respective capsules (10) to the motive power arrangement. 2. A passenger transport system according to claim 1 in which the motive power arrangement (17) is a common motive power cord extending along and inside the transfer conduit . 3. A passenger transport system according to claim 2 in which the common motive power cord (17) is provided as a series of cord stages disposed end to end. 4. A passenger transport system according to any one of the preceding claims in which wheels (11) support the capsule ( 10 ) . 5. A passenger transport system according to any one of the preceding claims having a station arrangement ( 5) with doors (20), said station doors having seals to fit around the capsule doors for passenger exchange. 6. A passenger transport system according to claim 5 comprising means for coordinating the opening of the capsule and station doors (20) at the station conduit for passenger exchange. 7. A passenger transport system according to claim 5 or 6 in which the station arrangement (5) includes a station conduit separate from the main transfer conduit. 8. A passenger transport system according to claim 7 in which there are provided one or more transitional transfer conduits (7,9) between the main transfer conduit and station conduits. 9. A passenger transport system according to claim 8 in which the transitional transfer conduits (7,9) are at least partially evacuated. 10. A passenger transport system according to any one of the preceding claims having a reservoir for capsules to be stored. 11. A passenger transport system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the capsules (10), when disconnected from the motive power arrangement (15), can roll freely along the transfer conduit. 12. A passenger transport system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the capsules (10) include single-person capsules. 13. A passenger transport system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the capsules (10) include a means for providing a controlled atmospheric environment (20) in the capsules (10) . 14. A passenger transport system according to any one of the preceding claims having a control system to identify available gaps between capsules (10) passing on the main transfer conduit and to time reintroduction of capsules (10) from stations (5) for reattachment to the motive power arrangement in such a gap.

Inventors: EARLE RICHARD JOSEPH, EARLE, RICHARD, JOSEPH
Applicants: EARLE RICHARD JOSEPH, EARLE, RICHARD, JOSEPH
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B61B13
IPC codes: B61B13