Deployable decelerator
AssigneeHyperloop Technologies, Inc.
InventorsTadeh Avetian, Helen Durden, Ryan Okerson, Brogan Bambrogan, Joshua Giegel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure is provided. The transport vehicle may include a deployable decelerator provided on the transport vehicle and configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure. When the decelerator is deployed the decelerator is configured to increase drag forces opposing a direction of motion of the transport vehicle and decelerate the transport vehicle.
Claims23
A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure, comprising:
- a deployable decelerator provided on the transport vehicle and configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure, wherein
- the deployable decelerator comprises an airbag that is configured to deploy from a frontal area of the transport vehicle outward in a direction toward the low-pressure environment structure, and
- when the decelerator is deployed the decelerator is configured to increase drag forces opposing a direction of motion of the transport vehicle and decelerate the transport vehicle.
A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure, comprising:
- a deployable decelerator provided on the transport vehicle and configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure, wherein
- the deployable decelerator comprises at least one plate that is configured to rotatably deploy from a frontal area of the transport vehicle outward in a direction toward the low-pressure environment structure, and
- when the decelerator is deployed the decelerator is configured to increase drag forces opposing a direction of motion of the transport vehicle and decelerate the transport vehicle.
A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure, comprising:
- a deployable decelerator provided on the transport vehicle and configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure, wherein
- the deployable decelerator comprises an airbag and at least one plate that are configured to both deploy from the transport vehicle outward in a direction toward the low-pressure environment structure, and
- when the decelerator is deployed the decelerator is configured to increase drag forces opposing a direction of motion of the transport vehicle and decelerate the transport vehicle.
A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure, comprising:
- a deployable decelerator provided on the transport vehicle and configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure, wherein
- the deployable decelerator comprises a deployable braking pad that is configured to deploy along an outer peripheral surface of the transport vehicle and configured to couple with a fixed braking pad provided on and extending along the low-pressure environment structure,
- the deployable braking pad comprises a carbon reinforced carbon material contact surface that is configured to contact a corresponding contact surface of the fixed braking pad on the low-pressure environment structure,
- when the decelerator is deployed the decelerator is configured to increase drag forces opposing a direction of motion of the transport vehicle and decelerate the transport vehicle, and
- when the deployable braking pad is actuated, the carbon reinforced carbon material contact surface is pressed against the corresponding contact surface of the fixed braking pad on the low-pressure environment structure to generate frictional forces to decelerate the transport vehicle.
A method of decelerating a transport vehicle in a low-pressure environment structure, comprising:
- monitoring at least one operation parameter collected by at least one sensor in a transportation system;
- analyzing, via a controller communicating with the at least one sensor, the at least one collected operation parameter;
- detecting, via the controller, a triggering event based on the at least one collected operation parameter;
- transmitting, via a signal from the controller, instructions to a transport vehicle deceleration system to decelerate the transport vehicle;
- and
- deploying a decelerator from the transport vehicle deceleration system to decelerate the transport vehicle in the low-pressure environment structure when the triggering event is detected.
A transport vehicle deceleration system for decelerating a transport vehicle in a low-pressure environment structure, comprising:
- a deployable decelerator configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure;
- and
- a closable ambient-air port provided on a low-pressure environment structure and configured to draw ambient air into the low-pressure environment structure, wherein
- when at least one of the deployable decelerator and the ambient-air port are deployed drag forces acting on the transport vehicle are increased to decelerate the transport vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.