EP4543734A1

EP4543734A1 - Vacuum system for high-speed transportation

Info

Publication number: EP4543734A1
Application number: EP23830681.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thiruchengode Mahalingam Muruganandam; Satyanarayanan Raghuraman Chakravarthy; Ravindra Gettu; Siddhant Sagar Patole; Lokesh Kabdal; Chokkasamudram Anish; Ankit Bansal; Vibhor Jain; Anurag Patil; Rajaraman Sasisekaran
Original assignee: Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Current assignee: Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Priority date: 2022-06-27
Filing date: 2023-06-26
Publication date: 2025-04-30
Also published as: KR20250039932A; JP2025530893A; WO2024003934A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vacuum system (100) comprising an non-permeable tube (1) made of metal, an load bearing tube (2) made of concrete, a plurality of shear studs (3) arranged on outer circumference of the non-permeable tube (1) to increase bonding between the non-permeable tube (1) and the load bearing tube (2), a set of connection flanges (4) for allowing connection of multiple vacuum systems, and one or more clamping members (5) disposed at ends of outer circumference of the load bearing tube (2) for lifting and transportation of the vacuum system (100).

Description

VACUUM SYSTEM FOR HIGH-SPEED TRANSPORTATION

TECHNICAE FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of transportation systems, and to a vacuum system for high-speed transportation of people and/or materials between locations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely because of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may correspond to implementations of the claimed technology.

[0003] Traditional transportation modes via water, land, rail, and air revolutionized movement and growth of our current culture. The adverse environmental, societal and economic impacts of these traditional modes of transportation, however, initiated a movement to find alternative modes of transportation that take advantage of the significant improvements in transportation technology so as to efficiently move people and materials between locations.

[0004] High-speed transportation systems utilizing rails or other structural guidance components have been contemplated as a solution to existing transportation challenges while improving safety, decreasing the environmental impact of traditional modes of transportation and reducing the overall time commuting between, for example, major metropolitan communities. However, such transportation systems require high consumption of fossil fuel and/or electricity.

[0005] Levitating Vehicle system and Hyperloop system are a mode of transport which can provide for high-speed inter-city travel by removing all energy-consuming resistant elements. The major energy-consuming factor in such transportation systems is air drag faced by a Hyperloop pod/rail. By maintaining a vacuum environment around the pod, losses incurred by the air drag on the pod may be eliminated. To this effect, a vacuum tube is designed to handle structural loads while maintaining vacuum compatibility of the entire system.

[0006] There is therefore a need to develop a transportation system capable of allowing high-speed transportation of people and/or materials between locations while optimizing cost and strength characteristics thereof by using a composite structure of concrete and non- permeable material.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum system capable of allowing high-speed transportation between locations while optimizing cost and strength characteristics thereof by using a composite structure of concrete and non-permeable material.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a vacuum system employing a composite structure which reduces stresses acting on a non-permeable structure by distributing the stresses to a load bearing structure.

[0009] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a vacuum system capable of being implemented and/or retrofitted in typical transportation systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[00010] The summary is provided to introduce aspects related to a vacuum system for high-speed transportation of people and/or materials from one place to another, 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 vacuum system includes a non-permeable tube, a load bearing tube enclosing the non-permeable tube, and a plurality of shear studs arranged on the non- permeable tube to increase bonding between the non-permeable tube and the load bearing tube. The load bearing tube absorbs loads transferred by the non-permeable tube when a vacuum is generated in the non-permeable tube. The non-permeable tube may be made of a non-permeable or solid material, such as, metal, plastic, polymer, etc. Additionally or alternatively, the non-permeable tube may include a non-permeable coating on an outer surface thereof. The load bearing member may be made of concrete. The concrete structure of the load bearing member may be reinforced with fibers, rods, or a frame composed of metal or glass, or other natural and synthetic polymers.

[00012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, one or more connection flanges are disposed an axial end of the non-permeable tube to enable fitment of another non-permeable tube thereto. Using the connection flanges, a plurality of vacuum systems may be coupled together to form a vacuum transportation system for allowing high-speed transportation.

[00013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the non-permeable tube includes one or more clamping members disposed at an axial end thereof, to enable lifting and transportation of the vacuum system from one place to another. The clamping members penetrate through a radial direction of the load-bearing tube.

[00014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the non-permeable tube has at least one metal lining. Each shear stud is attached to the metal lining to transfer the loads from the non-permeable tube to the load bearing tube.

[00015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the shear stud is formed of a metallic bar attached to the non-permeable tube, and is sandwiched between the non- permeable tube and the load bearing tube.

[00016] The vacuum system is used for external pressure conditions where external pressure is more than internal pressure inside the non-permeable tube. The vacuum system acts as a composite structure of a concrete structure and a non-permeable structure, in which a non-permeable material, such as, metal, is used for its non-permeability qualities, and reinforced concrete is used as the load bearing tube for its high strength and load absorbing characteristics. As concrete is porous in nature, while an external pressure acts on the non- permeable tube, the loads experienced by the non-permeable tube gets transferred directly onto the metal linings of the non-permeable tube. The shear studs are attached to the metal linings of the non-permeable tube to transfer the loads from the non-permeable tube to the concrete structure of the load bearing tube, via compressive and shear stress. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[00017] The accompanying drawings constitute a part of the description and are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. Such accompanying drawings illustrate the embodiments of the present invention used to describe the principles of the present invention. The embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which 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] Figs. 1A and IB illustrate various perspective view of a vacuum system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[00019] Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a shear stud of the vacuum system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[00020] Fig. 3 illustrates a non-permeable tube of the vacuum system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00021] The embodiments herein and various features are explained fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments. Details of commercial off-the-shelf and well known components along with their processes to use have not been included in the embodiments mentioned here to simplify the explanations. The examples given herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of embodiments given herein and are intended to facilitate the understanding of ways in which the embodiments may be practiced by those of skilled in the art.

[00022] 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.

[00023] The terms “or” and “and/or” as used herein are to be interpreted as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” or “A, B and/or C” mean “any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C.” An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive. 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.

[00024] The present invention relates to a vacuum system, for example, for high-speed transportation of people and/or materials between locations. Figs. 1A and IB illustrate various perspective view of the vacuum system (100). The vacuum system (100) includes a non-permeable tube (1) and a load bearing tube (2). The non-permeable tube (1) may be made of a non-permeable or solid material, such as, metal, plastic, polymer, etc. capable of containing vacuum. The non-permeable tube (1) may include a non-permeable coating on an outer surface thereof. A shape of the non-permeable tube (1) may be selected as cylindrical, spherical, cuboidal, hexagonal, etc., depending on requirement of the vacuum system (100). The material of the non-permeable tube (1) may be any metal/compound metal, such as aluminium, stainless steel, mild steel, copper etc.

[00025] The load bearing tube (2) may be made of a concrete structure, and may enclose the non-permeable tube (1) forming a casing of the concrete structure around the non- permeable tube (1). The load bearing tube (2) encloses at least an axial length of the non- permeable tube (1). The load bearing tube (2) handles loads such as pressure loads due to vacuum generated in the non-permeable tube (1), and dead loads of a pod and track which might be deployed/installed within vacuum enclosure of the non-permeable tube (1). The load bearing tube (2) may be cuboidal in shape, with comers thereof fileted with a radius ranging from 100mm to 5000mm. The cuboidal shape of the load bearing tube (2) enable ease of manufacturing of such a component while providing a flat bottom surface of the load bearing tube (2), thereby improving handling and placing of the load bearing tube (2) on any support surface. The thickness of the load bearing tube (2) may be in the range of 25mm to 150mm.

[00026] The vacuum system (100) also includes a plurality of shear studs (3) arranged on an outer surface the non-permeable tube (1) to increase bonding between the non- permeable tube (1) and the load bearing tube (2). The shear studs (3) may be welded onto the outer surface of the non-permeable tube (1). The shear studs (3) may be attached to one or more metal linings of the non-permeable tube (1) to transfer the pressure loads from the non-permeable tube (1) to the concrete structure of the load bearing tube (2), via compressive and shear stress. The shear studs (3) are adapted to hold the non-permeable tube (1) from buckling due to pressure loads generated due to vacuum present within the non-permeable tube (1). A shear stud (3) as clearly shown in Fig. 2, is a structure which consists of a bent rebar welded onto the non-permeable tube (1) around which the concrete structure of the load bearing tube (2) is casted. The shear studs (3) are sandwiched between the non-permeable tube (1) and the load bearing tube (2). In an implementation, the vacuum system (100) may include 10 to 50 shear studs (3) evenly distributed across the axial length of the non-permeable tube (1). The shear studs (3) may be made up of material, such as stainless steel, different grade mild steel, aluminium etc. The shear studs (3) may have a shape in the form of shear connectors, bolts, rods etc. The shear studs (3) may be made from different materials, shape and thickness/diameter.

[00027] The non-permeable tube (1) may have a thickness ranging from 0.2mm to 20mm. The thickness may be chosen to match the requirement as per bonding requirements with the load bearing tube (2) and the shear studs (3). The main purpose of the reduced thickness is to reduce the amount of material used. The non-permeable tube (1) may have dish ends joined to ends thereof with holes to attach a vacuum pump configured to generate the vacuum in the non-permeable tube (1). The axial length of the non-permeable tube (1) may be in the range of 0.5m to 60m, and a diameter of the non-permeable tube (1) may be in the range of 0.6m to 10m.

[00028] The load bearing tube (2) may have M35 grade concrete and may be reinforced with steel fibers of a dosage of 0.6% by weight to that of concrete. These provide additional strength and avoid cracks by acting as micro-reinforcement. The dosage and the type of fibers used may be varied to increase strength. The load bearing tube (2) may be made with different grades of concrete ranging from M15-M100 grades. Concrete can be mixed with different admixtures, chemicals, fly ash etc., to make it self-compacting, flowable etc. The steel fibers in the load bearing tube (2) may be added in different possible percentages as well depending on the requirements. The load bearing tube (2) can also be made from basalt fiber reinforced concrete, coir fibers reinforced concrete, steel reinforced concrete, waste material, natural fibers, synthetic fibers added in concrete etc. The shape of the load bearing tube (2) can be anything suitable for the application for example circular, spherical, rectangular, square, hexagonal etc. The thickness of the load bearing tube (2) may range from 10mm to 400mm, depending on the requirement/application.

[00029] Fig. 3 shows the outer circumference of the non-permeable tube (1) vacuum system (100) is shown. The shear stud (3) is a component which acts as a connector between the metal non-permeable tube (1) and the concrete load bearing tube (2). As shown, the shear stud (3) is a 550 TMT Rebar bent in U-shape. The pressure loads experienced by the non-permeable tube (1) is transferred to the load bearing tube (2) via the shear studs (3), generating local shear and compressive forces. The load bearing tube (2), due to its concrete structure, absorbs the pressure loads transferred by the non-permeable tube (1) when a vacuum is generated in the non-permeable tube (1) with the help of the vacuum pump.

[00030] The vacuum system (100) includes a set of connection flanges (4) at axial ends of the non-permeable tube (1) for allowing connection of multiple vacuum systems. The connection flanges (4) are used for connecting two non-permeable tubes (1) of different vacuum systems (100) together via welding or any other such connecting process. The connection flanges (4) also provide additional strength at a joint of the non-permeable tubes

(1). The connection flanges (2) may be made of different materials, shape and thicknesses depending on the requirement.

[00031] The vacuum system (100) also includes one or more clamping members (5) disposed at ends of the outer surface of the non-permeable tube (1) for lifting and transportation of the vacuum system (100). The clamping members (5) may be in the form of hooks, clasps, grippers, etc. The clamping members (5) present on the outer surface of the non-permeable tube (1) may penetrate through a radial direction of the load bearing tube

(2). External attachments, such as fasteners, may be coupled to the clamping members (5) for lifting and transportation of the vacuum system (100) from one place to another.

[00032] In view of the present disclosure, which describes the present invention, all changes, modifications and, variations within the meaning and range of equivalency are considered within the scope of the invention. It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiment of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiment may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A vacuum system (100) comprising: a non-permeable tube (1); a load bearing tube (2) enclosing the non-permeable tube (1); and a plurality of shear studs (3) arranged on the non-permeable tube (1) to increase bonding between the non-permeable tube (1) and the load bearing tube (2), wherein the load bearing tube (2) absorbs loads transferred by the non-permeable tube (1) when a vacuum is generated in the non-permeable tube (2).

2. The vacuum system (100) as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising one or more connection flanges (4) located at an axial end of the non-permeable tube (1) to enable fitment of another non-permeable tube (1) thereto.

3. The vacuum system (100) as claimed in claim 1, the non-permeable tube (1) comprises one or more clamping members (5) disposed at an axial end thereof, to enable movement of the vacuum system (100) from one place to another.

4. The vacuum system (100) as claimed in claim 3, the one or more clamping members (5) penetrate through a radial direction of the load bearing tube (2).

5. The vacuum system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load bearing member (2) is made of reinforced concrete.

6. The vacuum system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-permeable tube (1) comprises at least one metal lining, and each shear stud of the plurality of shear studs (3) is attached to the at least one metal lining, to transfer the loads from the non-permeable tube (1) to the load bearing tube (2).

7. The vacuum system (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein each shear stud (3) is formed of a metallic bar attached to the non-permeable tube (1), and is sandwiched between the non-permeable tube (1) and the load bearing tube (2).