Vehicular transport system

Abstract

Abstract 913,736. Locomotives. LEE, F. W. M. Jan. 13, 1961 [Jan. 14, 1960; Feb. 20, 1960], Nos. 1348/60 and 6072/60. Classes 79(1) and 79(3). A locomotive for use in a tube system is provided with means for drawing air from ahead of the vehicle and accelerating that air rearwardly relative to the vehicle so that a pressure difference is created from ahead to astern of the vehicle whereby a pressure build-up in the tube is eliminated. The vehicle may be propelled wholly by means for transferring the air or may be additionally propelled by an internal combustion engine, or electric motor deriving its power from conductors along the tube. The means for transferring the air may be a gas turbine or an airscrew which may be contained in a nozzle to minimise tip losses. The vehicle may run on wheels or may be supported and located by air jets, the locating jets acting either on the side of the tube (supporting jets 17, centring jets 19, Fig. 4) or on guide rails 27, 26, Fig. 13. Auxiliary retractable wheels for supporting the vehicle when coming to rest or laterally guiding the vehicle may be provided. The tube may be provided with ventilating openings 15 or slots 16, Figs. 5 and 6, and may be laid on open ground between cities, or may pass concentrically through an outer tunnel 42 through high ground, or may be supported on pylons over low ground. A railway system may comprise two such tubes, one superposed on the other, Fig. 10, to provide a girder-like construction. A jet engine propelled vehicle, Fig. 4, may have conduits 4 for passing the air to the jet engine 10 located at the rear of the vehicle.

Inventors

No inventors recorded.

Bibliographic Details