Superconducting Power and Transport System

Abstract

A transport and power system having a plurality of tubes or tunnels, a magnetic levitation and linear motor train, and a superconducting power cable. One of the tubes can be an escape, power distribution, and maintenance tunnel. These tubes can be above ground, below ground, at ground, or under water.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 61 / 106,970 filed Oct. 20, 2008 for “Terraspan—a Superconducting Power and Transport System including Emergency Safety and Recovery Techniques” (inventor Victor B. Kley), the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to techniques, devices, processes, and methods for creating a superconducting power distribution system for the transmission of electrical power in which the available power is used to provide a levitating and translation field for the purpose of supporting one or more magnetically levitated and accelerated transport structures or train cars.[0003]Heretofore there have been superconducting power distribution systems and vacuum based magnetically levitated systems for transporting, equipment, goods and people but all have suffered from a num...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]In an aspect of the invention, a system includes one or more tubes in which the air has been removed, thereby aiding cooling systems for superconducting power and eliminating air friction, which is the main source of energy loss in transport systems. The tubes can be located underground and / or underwater and / or at the surface and / or above ground. Underground tubes will sometimes be referred to as tunnels, but unless the context dictates otherwise, the terms “tunnel” and “tube” will be used somewhat interchangeably, and are intended to cover any of the above locations. The tubes can be level or sloped as dictated by the terrain or other functional requirements.

[0005]In another aspect of the invention, a safe transition mechanism is provided in the event of a loss of vacuum or power to a train in motion so that people and animals may safely leave the train and tunnels and reach or be rescued to the surface and ambient air.

[0008]In another aspect of the invention, implementation costs are reduced by sharing the construction of the tubes, and integrating their respective infrastructures.

Problems solved by technology

Heretofore there have been superconducting power distribution systems and vacuum based magnetically levitated systems for transporting, equipment, goods and people but all have suffered from a number of serious issues including the difficulty and cost of implementation and maintenance and the issue of safety with regard to high speed transit in a vacuum environment.

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