초록 ▼

Booster pump devices for maintaining air flow through a conduit system for sweeping vehicles along the path defined by the conduit operate in full flow fashion such as tends to create reverse flow of air in the conduit within those sections between the inlet and outlet connections of the pump with t

Booster pump devices for maintaining air flow through a conduit system for sweeping vehicles along the path defined by the conduit operate in full flow fashion such as tends to create reverse flow of air in the conduit within those sections between the inlet and outlet connections of the pump with the conduit. An overhead suspended air control plate is provided for each section movable incident to vehicle approach from a closed position blocking the section to an upwardly swung open position allowing the vehicle to pass beneath it. The plate is balanced by forces acting upon it to stabilize in the open position until the vehicle passes beyond it whereupon the plate automatically returns to closed position.

대표청구항 ▼

A transportation system comprising, in combination: conduit means defining a path for vehicular movement therewithin and having a generally uniform cross-sectional shape of generally constant area; a wheeled vehicle in said conduit means having a cross-sectional shape similar to but of smaller area

A transportation system comprising, in combination: conduit means defining a path for vehicular movement therewithin and having a generally uniform cross-sectional shape of generally constant area; a wheeled vehicle in said conduit means having a cross-sectional shape similar to but of smaller area than that of said conduit means, said vehicle presenting a high coefficient of drag with respect to air flowing through said conduit means past said vehicle; pump means for creating a flow of air through said conduit means at a selected mass rate of flow sufficient to sweep said vehicle along said path; said conduit means including a section having parallel branches, one of which branches defines a passage constituting a portion of said path along which the vehicle moves and the other of which branches defines an air by-pass for said passage, said other branch being overhead with respect to said one branch and joining same at a small angle; said pump means including a pump in said by-pass defined by said other branch and operating to divert the full flow of system air around said passage; and control means at the confluence of said branches, said control means including a plate pivotally suspended about an axis within said other branch transverse to said passage and normally hanging downwardly to engage the top of said passage at said confluence whereby to block said passage and prevent reverse air flow through said passage.