TECHNICAU FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vacuum systems, and specifically relates to a vacuum transportation system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

[0003] Traditional transportation modes operating over water, land, rail, and air provide quick and convenient movement of persons and objects. The adverse environmental, societal, and economic impacts of these traditional modes of transportation, however, resulted into the need to find alternative modes of transportation that take advantage of the significant improvements in transportation technology, so as to efficiently move objects and persons between locations.

[0004] High-speed transportation systems such as aircrafts have been contemplated for reducing overall time for commuting between places. However, such transportation systems contribute to enormous greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, traditional transportation systems are responsible for major share of environmental pollution. One way to reduce the environmental pollution caused through the aircrafts without compromising the performance, is by using a highspeed vacuum transportation system for travelling.

[0005] A high-speed vacuum transportation system requires a continuous tube infrastructure that is maintained at low pressures. The high-speed vacuum transportation system has support structures that enable hyperloop pods/maglev vacuum trains to run at extremely high speeds. The tube has to be robust, stiff, capable of holding vacuum, and long-lasting. The tube needs to be thick for resisting loads acting on the tube from different sources. An overall weight of the tube and a cost of manufacturing of the tube is increased due to increase in thickness of the tube. Since the tube is a major part of the vacuum transportation system, it is vital to decrease the cost of manufacturing of the tube.

[0006] There is therefore a need to develop a vacuum transportation system capable of allowing high-speed transportation while optimizing cost without compromising overall performance of the vacuum transportation system.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum transportation system capable of allowing high-speed transportation while optimizing cost without compromising overall performance of the vacuum transportation system.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a vacuum transportation system manufactured seamlessly without requiring an advanced manufacturing machinery.

[0009] Still another object of the present invention to reduce an overall weight of the vacuum transportation system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[00010] The summary is provided to introduce aspects related to a vacuum transportation system, and the aspects are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. [00011] The present invention relates to a vacuum transportation system, for instance, for transportation of people and/or materials from one place to another. In one embodiment, the vacuum transportation system may include a tube, a platform, and a track. The tube may hold a vacuum within. The tube may comprise a skin and a framework. The skin may be made of a metallic sheet and may resist load acting on the tube from one or more sources. The one or more sources may comprise at least one of the vacuum inside the tube, wind outside the tube, and weight of the object moving inside the tube. The framework may provide support to the skin. The framework may comprise a plurality of formers, a plurality of flanges, and a plurality of longerons. The plurality of formers may be separated from each other by a first predefined distance and positioned beneath the skin in a longitudinal direction of the tube. The plurality of flanges may be separated from each other by a second predefined distance and positioned outside the skin in the longitudinal direction of the tube. The plurality of longerons may connect consecutive formers of the plurality of formers with each other. The platform may pass through and over a bottom area of the tube. The platform may rest over a plurality of pylons placed longitudinally. The track may be placed longitudinally on the platform. The track may enable movement of objects inside the tube.

[00012] In an aspect, the plurality of formers, the plurality of flanges, and the plurality of longerons may be made of one or more of stainless steel, aluminium, carbon fiber composite, and mild steel.

[00013] In an aspect, a layer of foam may be present between the tube and the plurality of pylons. The plurality of pylons may be separated by a third predefined distance in the longitudinal direction of the tube. The platform may be supported by a plurality of pillars over each pylon of the plurality of pylons for transferring loads of the objects moving inside the tube (204) to ground.

[00014] In an aspect, one or more vacuum pumps may be connected with the tube to maintain the vacuum. The platform and the plurality of pylons may be made of concrete. A plurality of rebars may arranged linearly within the platform for providing structural reinforcement to the platform.

[00015] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[00016] The accompanying drawings constitute a part of the description and are used to provide further understanding of the present invention. Such accompanying drawings illustrate the embodiments of the present invention which are used to describe the principles of the present invention. In the figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

[00017] The embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this invention are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and they mean at least one. In the drawings:

[00018] Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective front view of a vacuum transportation system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[00019] Fig. 2A illustrates a perspective side view of a framework of the vacuum transportation system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [00020] Fig. 2B illustrates a perspective side view of a tube of the vacuum transportation system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[00021] Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective front view of the tube, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[00022] Fig. 4 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of the platform of the vacuum transportation system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[00023] Fig. 5A illustrates von Mises equivalent stress plot obtained during simulation of a symmetric model of the vacuum transportation system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[00024] Fig. 5B illustrates a factor of safety plot obtained during simulation of the vacuum transportation system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00025] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration of the present invention, and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. [00026] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[00027] If the specification states a component or feature “may”, “can”, “could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.

[00028] The present invention relates to a vacuum transportation system for high-speed transportation of people and/or objects. Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective front view of a vacuum transportation system 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The vacuum transportation system 100 may include a skin 102, a plurality of formers 104, a plurality of flanges 106, a plurality of longerons 108, a platform 110, and a track 112. The plurality of formers 104, the plurality of flanges 106, and the plurality of longerons 108 may contribute to a framework of the vacuum transportation system 100. A structure of the framework has been described successively with reference to Fig. 2A.

[00029] Fig. 2A illustrates a perspective side view of a framework 202 of the vacuum transportation system 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The framework 202 may include stiffeners, such as the plurality of formers 104, the plurality of flanges 106, and the plurality of longerons 108. The plurality of formers 104 may be used as circular stiffeners separated from each other by a first predefined distance in a longitudinal direction of the framework 202. The plurality of flanges 106 may be used as circular stiffeners separated from each other by a second predefined distance in the longitudinal direction of the framework 200. The first predefined distance and the second predefined distance may be determined on the basis of buckling of the plurality of longerons 108, a manufacturing method for the platform 110, requirements to maintain a leak proof environment, and a total cost of manufacturing of the vacuum transportation system 100.

[00030] The plurality of longerons 108 may connect consecutive formers of the plurality of formers 104 with each other. In one implementation, a longeron may be welded with two consecutive formers. The plurality of formers 104, the plurality of flanges 106, and the plurality of longerons 108 may be made of a material like stainless steel, aluminium, carbon fiber composite, and mild steel. Tensile strength of the material may range from 100 MPa to 5000 MPa.

[00031] The framework 202 may provide a lightweight and safe supportive assembly for positioning the skin 102, to form a tube. Fig. 2B illustrates a perspective side view of a tube 204 of the vacuum transportation system 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The plurality of formers 104 may be positioned beneath the skin 102 and the plurality of flanges 106 may be positioned outside the skin 102, as shown in Fig. 3 illustrating a perspective front view of the tube 204. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the skin 102 may be held between the plurality of formers 104 and the plurality of flanges 106. In such manner, the skin 102 may be supported from inside and outside by the plurality of formers 104 and the plurality of flanges 106 respectively. Thus, buckling of the skin 102 may be prevented and stability of the tube 204 may be ensured by the plurality of formers 104 and the plurality of flanges 106. In one implementation, the plurality of formers 104 and the plurality of flanges 106 may be present at same location in the longitudinal direction of the framework 200, and thus the first predefined distance may be equal to the second predefined distance. In another implementation, the plurality of formers 104 and the plurality of flanges 106 may be present at different locations in the longitudinal direction of the framework 200, and thus the first predefined distance may not be equal to the second predefined distance.

[00032] The tube 204 may hold a vacuum within. A shape of the tube 204 may be defined by a shape of the framework 202. Importantly, the shape of the tube 204 may be designed based on operational requirements. In one implementation, the tube 204 may be present in a circular shape. In other implementations, the tube 204 may be present in other shapes, such as rectangle, square, and hexagon.

[00033] The skin 102 may be made of a high strength material, such as a metallic material. The skin 102 may resist load acting on the tube 204 from one or more sources. The one or more sources may comprise at least one of the vacuum inside the tube 204, wind outside the tube 204, and weight of an object moving inside the tube 204. Examples of the object may include, but not limited to, hyperloop pods, maglev trains, or any other vehicle capable of travelling through the vacuum transportation system 100.

[00034] Fig. 4 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of the platform 110 of the vacuum transportation system 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The platform 110 may rest over a plurality of pylons 114 placed longitudinally. The platform 110 and the plurality of pylons 114 may be made of concrete. A plurality of rebars 120 may be arranged linearly within the platform 110 for providing structural reinforcement to the platform 110. The plurality of pylons 114 may act as a supporting member mounted on a foundation, such as earth’s surface for providing support to the tube 204 and the platform 110. The plurality of pylons 114 may be present as rectangular blocks having an arch-like structure in center for accommodating the tube 204 of circular shape.

[00035] The plurality of pylons 114 may carry load exerted by the platform 110, the tube 204, and other components of the vacuum transportation system 100. The plurality of pylons 114 may transfer the load to the foundation. The plurality of pylons 114 may be separated from each other by a third predefined distance in the longitudinal direction of the tube 204. The third predefined distance may be determined by constraints on deflection of the tube 204 and the platform 110. [00036] The platform 110 may be supported by a plurality of pillars 116 present over each pylon of the plurality of pylons 114. The plurality of pillars 116 may provide a vertical support embedded in each of the plurality of pylons 114. In one implementation, the plurality of pillars 116 may be made of a material like stainless steel, Aluminium, a carbon fiber composite, and a mild steel. Tensile strength of the material may ranges from 100 MPa to 5000 MPa. The plurality of pillars may withhold dynamic loads exerted by weight of the platform 110 and the objects in motion. Thus, the plurality of pillars 116 may act as a reinforcement to the plurality of pylons 114 by handling a substantial part of compressive and tensile load transferred to the plurality of pylons 114. The plurality of pillars 116 may transfer the load exerted the object and the platform 110 directly to the foundation, via the plurality of pylons 114. The load exerted by the object and the platform 110 may not couple with the tube 204 as the platform 110 does not remain in contact with the tube 204.

[00037] The plurality of pillars 116 may ensure that there does not remain a direct contact between the plurality of pylons 114 and the platform 110. The plurality of pillars 116 may further ensure a minimum contact of the plurality of pylons 114 and the platform 110 with other components of the vacuum transportation system 100. Thus, stress concentration areas generated at edges of the tube 204 may be minimized.

[00038] Referring back to Fig. 1, a layer of foam 118 may be present between the tube 204 and the plurality of pylons 114 for avoiding stress concentrations in the tube 204 and the plurality of pylons 114. The foam 118 may be made of a soft material ensuring smooth contact between the skin 102 and the plurality of pylons 114, without causing any damage to the skin 102.

[00039] The track 112 may be placed longitudinally on the platform 110 for enabling movement of the objects inside the tube 204. In one implementation, the track 112 may be present as solid channels over which the objects may travel. The track 112 may be mounted on the platform 110 using bolts. The platform 110 may withstand most of the dynamic loads exerted due to the object running on the track 112. Maximum stress may be generated near a bottom and a top part of the platform 110. The platform 110 may be placed on the plurality of pillars 116 embedded in each pylon of the plurality of pylons 114. Thus, load exerted due to the object may be transferred directly to the foundation via the plurality of pylons 114.

[00040] For validating performance of the vacuum transportation system 100 designed according to one of the embodiments of the present invention, a computer- based simulation modelling may be used. An Analysis Software (ANSYS) may be used for simulating the vacuum transportation system 100. ANSYS may provide a dynamic environment for analysis of models using programmed algorithms and equations and also allow the possibility of inspecting the processes running in visual 2D or 3D manner. Constant optimization of a model may be obtained by varying the design parameters like dimensions and sectioned parameters of previously mentioned components, until the model with desired performance is obtained.

[00041] In one scenario, simulation was performed entirely in ANSYS Workbench 2020 Rl. Individual components of the vacuum transportation system 100 were modelled separately through Autodesk Fusion software. The modelled components were individually meshed and finally assembled to form the vacuum transportation system 100 in the ANSYS Workbench. Adequate mesh convergence studies were performed to ensure robustness of simulation results. Material properties for various components were obtained through an ANSYS Granta module.

[00042] Further, the material properties were assigned to various individual entities appropriately. To optimize computational cost and efforts, a half model of the vacuum transportation system 100 was considered for simulations and symmetrical boundary conditions were applied. In addition to the symmetrical boundary conditions, fixed boundary conditions were introduced to a pylon-ground interface. Further, a vacuum pressure difference, a load of an object, and the selfweight of the individual entities were duly considered in the simulations. For accounting dynamic moving loads, 2x of the static load was taken during the simulations.

[00043] Figs. 5A illustrates von Mises equivalent stress plot obtained during simulation of a symmetric model of the vacuum transportation system 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in Fig. 5A, a maximum stress occurs in the circular region of the tube 204 from where the plurality of pillars 116 are connected. Fig. 5B illustrates a factor of safety plot obtained during simulation of the vacuum transportation system 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The simulations were performed on a half symmetric model of the vacuum transportation system 100 designed according to the present invention, using the ANSYS workbench.

[00044] The one or more embodiment of the present invention described above provides the technical advantages mentioned henceforth. Cost of manufacturing the vacuum transportation system designed according to present invention is reduced to almost one-fourth as compared to a vacuum transportation system designed according to conventional approach. Further, buckling of a skin is prevented and stability of a tube is ensured by different components such as formers, flanges, and longerons of a framework of the vacuum transportation system. In addition, regions with high- stress concentrations are minimized and a safety factor of the vacuum transportation system is enhanced by a foam introduced in between the skin and the pylon. Foam being the comparatively soft material ensures smooth contact with the skin without causing any damage to skin. Load exerted by an object travelling through a platform of the vacuum transportation system is not coupled with the tube as the platform does not remain in contact with the tube. A skin of the tube does not carry the load exerted by the object and leads to reduction in thickness of the skin. [00045] Although a form of the invention has been described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations may be made in the construction and relation of parts and method without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein. While embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the disclosure is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.