An overhead passenger transport system, including a plurality of autonomous passenger cabins (12) carried on tubes, comprising:
- an infrastructure comprising two horizontal or inclined parallel tubes forming part of a composite tubular structure with a triangular cross section;
- a parallel third upper tube, the tube being connected together by tube studs (4) and diagonal braces (5),
- wherein the composite structure is supported elevated from the floor by poles (2) at predetermined distances, and wherein
- the poles are topped by a triangular structure supporting static steel cables wherein each of the pole's lower hanging hooks of variable length holds both tubular tracks (1) on which a plurality of autonomous passenger cabins (12) circulate wherein the tubular tracks (1) are supported by the hooks at the bottom so that the opposite side of the tracks are free for the circulation of the cabins (12), and wherein
- two tubes of square section with a top plate in the form of a “T”, inner diaphragms and post-tensioned steel cables;
- diverting elements (25) that are part of the tubular tracks (1) and are horizontally flexible such that they deflect the track towards the stations and the stations towards the track through operation of actuators (26), upon request of a control system;
- preferably the cabin deflecting mechanism is formed by rigid tubes, a straight one and a curved one, equally operated by electric or hydraulic or pneumatic actuators, by means of which the curved tube displaces the straight tube to achieve the purpose of deflecting the booths in the stations;
- the system further comprises:
- terminal and intermediate passenger stations;
- passenger cabins of two or three seats, which are autonomous in terms of their means of traction and control;
- the cabins are equipped with rotating front seats and doors or a front liftgate;
- a structural pendant that connects them from a metal frame of the reinforcement of the cabins with the case of the tractor pulley (18) or wheels, that move on top and below of the tubular tracks of the infrastructure;
- tractor pulleys (18) or wheels that are coupled to the electric motors (20) either directly or by speed reducers (21), which take power supply by trolleys (22) that come in contact with electric brushes with bare wires running on hanging electrical insulators at the bottom of the track tubes, or by batteries, and wherein the cabins are autonomous in terms of their traction and control means;
- the cabins (12) having two seats, one anterior and one rear, with a single side door receptacle, which has the particularity of containing its own energy source using ultracapacitor modules, which feed the energy to two motors that go directly coupled to two tractor wheels that make contact with the raised track, the source of energy storage being recharged at determined distances by means of electric brushes that make contact only with electric bars installed in each passenger station;
- a power supply system by means of electrical substations, suitably distributed over the transport line, for powering bare cables for the trolleys (22) of the autonomous electric motors (20) of the cabins;
- a control and automation system for booths containing servo motor controllers, a programmable logic controller (PLC), a remote terminal unit (RTU), sensors and control buttons, which by means of wired and wireless signals and radio frequencies establish communication with the PLC of the passenger stations and these at the same time with the PLC of the master control system, according to the programming;
- a system of sensors in the tubular track and in each cabin, configured to detect the programmed temporary destination of the same, such that from the PLC of each station the signal of operation is sent to the electric actuators of the track diverters (25), in order to bring that particular cabin to a station and vice versa by a second diverter, from the station again to the tubular track (1);
- a master control system, powered by a data acquisition system type SCADA, configured to know at all times and in real time the relative position of each cabin in relation to the complete system, to allow the correction of distances between cabins (12), and stops, accelerations and decelerations of the engines, both in the main tubular track and in the stations.