US 2014/0338557 A1Published application

Circulated Pneumatic Tube Transit System

OwnerBo ZHOUinventor

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Abstract

A circulated pneumatic tube transit system is used to transport passengers/cargo along a pair of pneumatic tubes, which are positioned along each other. Capsules are movably suspended within the tubes by either a maglev system or wheels. The capsules travel in opposite directions in each tube so that the system provides back and forth transportation between two destinations. A fluid loop mechanism cycles a volume of air through the tubes as a means to propel the capsules through each tube. A series of fluid loop mechanism can be air multipliers as the volume of air cycles through the tubes. Two one-directional valves are located at opposite ends of the tubes and are used to transfer the kinetic energy for an arriving capsule within one tube into kinetic energy for a departing capsule within the other tube.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A circulated pneumatic tube transit system comprises:

a first tube;
a second tube;
a plurality of capsules;
a volume of air;
an at least one fluid loop mechanism;
a first one-directional valve;
a second one-directional valve;
a first pressure tank;
a second pressure tank;
said first tube and said second tube each comprise an acceleration section, a cruising section, and a deceleration section;
said at least one fluid loop mechanism comprises a first compressor and a second compressor;
said first tube and said second tube being positioned along each other;
said volume of air being confined within said first tube and said second tube;
said plurality of capsules being movably levitated within said first tube and said second tube;
said deceleration section of first tube being in fluid communication with said acceleration section of second tube through said first one-directional valve;
said deceleration section of second tube being in fluid communication with said acceleration section of said first tube through said second one-directional valve;
and
said cruising section of said first tube and said cruising section of said second tube being in circular fluid communication by said at least one fluid loop mechanism.

15 more elements

A circulated pneumatic tube transit system comprises:

a first tube;
a second tube;
a plurality of capsules;
a volume of air;
an at least one fluid loop mechanism;
a first one-directional valve;
a second one-directional valve;
a first pressure tank;
a second pressure tank;
said first tube and said second tube each comprise an acceleration section, a cruising section, and a deceleration section;
said at least one fluid loop mechanism comprises a first compressor and a second compressor;
said first tube and said second tube being positioned along each other;
said volume of air being confined within said first tube and said second tube;
said plurality of capsules being movably levitated within said first tube and said second tube;
said deceleration section of first tube being in fluid communication with said acceleration section of second tube through said first one-directional valve;
said deceleration section of second tube being in fluid communication with said acceleration section of said first tube through said second one-directional valve;
said cruising section of said first tube and said cruising section of said second tube being in circular fluid communication by said at least one fluid loop mechanism;
said volume of air traversing through said cruising section of said first tube and into said first compressor;
said volume of air traversing out of said first compressor and into said cruising section of said second tube;
said volume of air traversing through said cruising section of said second tube and into said second compressor;
said volume of air traversing out of said second compressor and into said cruising section of said first tube;
said first compressor and said second compressor being separated by a loop length, wherein said loop length is positioned parallel with said cruising section of both said first tube and said second tube;
said first pressure tank being in fluid communication with said acceleration section of said first tube;
and
said second pressure tank being in fluid communication with said acceleration section of said second tube.

22 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.