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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
AN UNDERGROUND TRANSPORT SYSTEM
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2015/079453
Kind Code:
A2
Abstract:
India has a vast network of railways. The rail network stands fourth in the world where there are growing numbers in passenger travelling as well as freight transport. In order to fulfil the need for quick freight transportation across the country, an underground freight transport system is described herein. It comprises a moving unit travelling through an underground concrete pipeline/tunnel and one or more controlling station. The moving unit consists of at least one rolling stock running on at least two drive tracks beneath the rolling stock and at least one guide & power track above the rolling stock for powering the rolling stock. Wheels are provided to the rolling stock for running on the tracks. Each of the rolling stock contains a RFID tag for monitoring purpose.

Inventors:
MAHIDHAR PANKAJ CHANDRAKANT (IN)
Application Number:
PCT/IN2014/000682
Publication Date:
June 04, 2015
Filing Date:
October 27, 2014
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
MAHIDHAR PANKAJ CHANDRAKANT (IN)
International Classes:
B65G1/00
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
P. ARUNA SREE (Gopakumar Nair Associates3rd Floor, 'Shivmangal', Near Big Bazaar,Akurli Road, Kandivali ,, Maharashtra, IN)
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Claims:
I claim,

1. An unmanned, underground rail freight transport system comprising

(a) a moving unit comprising at least one rolling stock (4) travelling through an underground concrete pipeline/tunnel (1) on two drive tracks (7) beneath said rolling stock (4) and at least one guide & power track (2) above said rolling stock (4) powering the rolling stock, each of said rolling stock (4) containing a RFID tag and each of said rolling stock containing plurality of wheels, including plurality of drive wheels (6) running on said drive tracks (7) and at least one guide & power wheel (3) running on said guide & power track (2); and

(b) one or more control stations to control the moving system located in the area covering a fixed distance to operate the moving system.

2. The freight transport system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said moving unit is automated for the communication with said control station.

3. The freight transport system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said moving unit is SCADA operated by said control station.

4. The freight transport system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wheels (3,6) are optionally equidistant from each other.

5. The freight transport system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said wheels (3,6) are 120 degrees spaced from each other.

6. The freight transport system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rolling stock (4) is made up of alloys or any other new age materials.

7. The freight transport system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said rolling stock (4) is made up of steel.

8. The freight transport system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system is powered by electricity and/or rechargeable battery pack.

Description:
AN UNDERGROUND TRANSPORT SYSTEM

FIELD OF INVENTION;

The present invention relates to an underground pipeline transport system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rail transport system which is travelling through an underground a pipeline/tunnel.

BACKGROUND & PRIOR ART:

The transportation of goods by means of railway within the state as well as country is known for its economical and time saving service. Use of airlines is another option for quick transport, however, it may be expensive compared to the railways. Dedicated freight corridors are in progress and many new are being planned but they too may give incremental speed and benefits. In a continental country like India, road transportation between distant destinations becomes an expensive and time consuming affair. Therefore, generally the long distance freight is carried out by means of railways. Hence rail transportation turns out to be an important mode where special attention is needed. However, the average speed is very low as priorities are given to passenger and superfast trains travelling on the same tracks. The level of automation is low resulting in substantial halts at loading/unloading junctions.

India has a vast network of railways. The rail network stands fourth in the world where there are growing numbers in passenger travelling as well as freight transport. At the same time, India is speedily becoming urbanised as well as industrialised nation which furthermore increases the need for quick transportation.

In view of the aforementioned scenario, the inventor/s of present invention propose/s an underground freight transportation system.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION:

The present invention discloses an unmanned, underground rail freight transport system comprising a moving unit comprising at least one rolling stock travelling through an underground concrete pipeline/tunnel on two drive tracks beneath the rolling stock and at least one guide & power track above the rolling stock powering the rolling stock, each of the rolling stock containing a RFID tag and each of the rolling stock having plurality of wheels including plurality of drive wheels running on the drive tracks and at least one guide & power wheel running on the guide & power track; and one or more control stations to control the moving system located in the area covering a fixed distance to operate the moving system.

In a preferred embodiment, the underground rail transport system is completely automated. The moving unit is controlled by the control station using SCADA. The moving unit can be powered by electricity as well as diesel.

In an another embodiment, all the wheels of the moving unit are equidistant and 120 degrees spaced apart from each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION:

Fig. 1 illustrates front view of a moving unit.

Fig. 2 illustrates side view of the moving unit.

Fig. 3 illustrates alternate embodiment showing equidistant position of wheels of the moving unit, (a) cross sectional view, and (b) side view.

Fig. 4 illustrates moving unit travelling through a rectangular underground tunnel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

The present invention discloses an unmanned, underground rail freight transport system comprising a moving unit comprising at least one rolling stock travelling through an underground concrete pipeline/tunnel on two drive tracks beneath the rolling stock and at least one guide & power track above the rolling stock powering the rolling stock, each of the rolling stock containing a RFID tag and each of the rolling stock having plurality of wheels, including plurality drive wheels running on the drive tracks and at least one guide & power wheel running on the guide & power track; and one or more control stations to control the moving system located in the area covering a fixed distance to operate the moving system.

The moving unit includes at least one rolling stock moving through a concrete pipeline/tunnel on three tracks, namely two drive tracks beneath the moving system and a guide & power track above the moving system. In a preferred embodiment, the concrete pipeline/tunnel is of 3 to 3.5 meters in diameter. All the three tracks are attached to the concrete pipeline/tunnel at an inner surface. Each of the rolling stock has plurality of drive wheels at the bottom, rolling on the drive tracks and at least one guide & power wheel at the top, rolling on guide & power track.

The rolling stock is pulled by a locomotive which is powered by electricity. In another embodiment, each rolling stock is powered by electricity. Each of the rolling stock carries a rake/container to be transported to a destination. Each rolling stock contains a radio tag by which a real time information is made available on any given point during the travelling. Alternately, each rake/container contains a radio tag. The rake/container is made up of alloys to reduce weight on the rolling stock, thus effectively increasing the speed of the transport system. The frames of the rake/container may be made of alloys, more preferably steel.

At the time when the rolling stock is required to change the direction, an interchange hub is provided on the necessary point where rolling stock is able to change the direction of the journey which is operated by a computerised system at the controlling station. The computerised system is preferably SCADA based. The entire distance covered by the moving system is controlled by the control station located in the area covering a fixed distance. Preferably, the entire concrete pipeline/tunnel is underground. However, this is subject to change according to the circumstances owing to the situation. The destination station is present on the ground level. The entire tunnel is underground, only the warehouse/station may be overground if it is not feasible to have the area where unloading/reloading underground is required.

For ' emergency purposes such as power failure, a rechargeable battery pack can be used to pull the system for short distances.

The present invention can be understood more clearly with reference to the accompanying drawings and figures. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 represents the front view of the moving unit which travels through a concrete pipeline/tunnel (1). The moving unit includes at least one rolling stock (4). At an inner surface of the concrete pipeline/tunnel (1), three tracks are provided on which the moving unit travels, namely two drive tracks (7) beneath the moving unit and a guide & power track (2) above the moving unit. Each of the rolling stock (4) has plurality of drive wheels (6) at the bottom, rolling on the drive tracks and at least one guide & power wheel (3) at the top, rolling on the guide & power track (2). The guide & power track provides electric power as well as better stability to the rolling stock. Each of the rolling stock (4) carries a rake/container (5) to be transported to a destination.

Fig. 2 illustrates side view of the moving unit. Each rolling stock (4) is powered by electricity. In another embodiment, trail of rolling stock (4) is pulled by a locomotive which is powered by electricity. Fig. 3 illustrates the alternate embodiment of the present invention where the wheels (3,6) are positioned equidistant. In this alternate embodiment, the wheels (3,6) are positioned 120 degrees from each other. The equidistant arrangement of wheels (3,6) provides more stability and additional speed to the moving unit.

Fig. 4 shows another embodiment in which each of the rolling stock (4) has four wheels, that is two wheels on top and moving on two guide and power tracks, and two wheels at the bottom and moving on two drive tracks. Also, the moving unit is travelling through a rectangular tunnel.

The present invention has several advantages:

• The moving unit travels at the speed of 400-500 Km/hour without any halt. These speeds are already possible using locomotives globally but the hurdle in India is old tracks not supporting the same. Another issue is the huge number of rural and urban stations at the same level with crossings as the same level does not allow

• increase in speed to avoid accidents which are higher than global average. With the use of underground transportation, the aforementioned issues are eliminated. This reduces time required for transportation between distant cities.

• Since the transport system of the present invention is operated on electricity, it is cost effective in terms of use of fuel as well maintenance.

• The non-reliance on the road transport results in the decrease in transport cost.

• Reduced dependency on fossil fuels for transportation. Lower consumption of Diesel makes the present invention eco-friendly. This may save huge amount of foreign exchange spent on import of crude oil for freight transportation through rail and road.

Introduction of underground rail freight transport system may reduce the number of vehicles on highway resulting in reduced stress on highways and lower maintenance of the same. There also may be lower investment on highways planned specifically for freight movement.

Point to Point distance reduces as it does not have to circumvent any towns or cities but go right under them.

There have been incidences of pilferage of goods during the stoppages of freight trains at junctions or in-between destinations for traffic reasons. Since the system is underground there are no stoppages and the access to goods to robbers and gangs may be cut-off.

The transportation remains largely uninterrupted in case of occurrences any events such as riots or agitation.

With Radio-tagging, the location of material can be known in real time.

Fatalities which occur due to cargo movement happening at level crossing and in- between will get reduced.

Since acquisition of surface land is not heeded, the implementation of project may be faster and there may be no disputes with PAP (Project affected People), which are primary cause of delays in infrastructure projects.

With reduced number of vehicles on highways, there may be reduction in pollution due to fossil fuel exhaust and the diseases caused due to it. The burden on our health infrastructure will reduce.

Railways may be able to introduce more passenger services as number of freight trains will reduce.