GB2570896A

GB2570896A - Tram transportation system

Info

Publication number: GB2570896A
Application number: GB1802052.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Al Aloosi Akram
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-02-08
Filing date: 2018-02-08
Publication date: 2019-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-08
Also published as: GB201802052D0; GB2570896B

Abstract

A tram transportation system has a supported guide cable 21,22 and a tram 100 having a cable guide (fig.2,4) for the tram to traverse along the cable, and a fuselage 90 joined to lateral wings 80,81 through which ducted fans 51-57 direct air to lift the tram. The wings may support the fuselage above them; attached together at a root and slanting downward, they extend the length of the fuselage with the fans arranged in a row in each wing. The wings may be concave aerofoils providing lift. Preferably, a safety cable 12, parallel to the guide cable, is provided; the cables and cable guide located on the wing underside, the cables held laterally separated. The fuselage may have a passenger cabin, with exit doors 93-95, located between ducted fans allowing exit onto a platform. During unloading at least one wing may be under the platform and a support takes the weight of the resting tram. The tram may have a propeller or jet to the fuselage or wings, perpendicular to the ducted fans, to propel the tram along the cables.

Description

TRAM TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a transport system for carrying people and cargo. More specifically the invention relates to a transport system that includes a tram to carry the people and cargo which has steering means for steering the tram along a preferred path.

Background

Transportation systems which utilize trams usually include a track on which the tram travels. Trams are thereby directed along predefined routes which are ideally separate from routes taken by other traffic, pedestrians and cyclists

Prior Art

Trams systems in the prior art include trams suspended from a cable. Typical examples are disclosed in: CN 201694190U (Yiqiang) and GB 115480 (Wells Reginald Fairfax).

Other tram systems include trams supported on a rail. Typical examples are disclosed in: WO 201625026 (Duren et al), CN 203958137U (Zheng et al), CN 102582636 (Zechen) and CN 101580066 (Longfei),

Too much effort and expense are required to design, build, and maintain extremely strong structures which suspend and support cables and rails.

In light of the foregoing prior art, there is a need for a tram system more particularly suited to the purpose of the trams which transport people and cargo.

Summary of the Invention

According to first aspect of the invention there is provided a tram transportation system comprising a tram and a supported guide cable, wherein the tram comprises: a cable guide for the tram to traverse along the cable, and a fuselage joined to lateral wings in which ducted fans direct air through the wings to lift the tram over the guide cable.

Advantageously the guide or first cable only steers the tram. Thus the cable and means of guidance are lightweight, inexpensive, and unobtrusive on the landscape.

In this way the first or guide cable or cable may be envisaged to guide the tram while moving from point A to B, determines the tram lifting level, and supports the tram in an emergency by taking a part of tram weight to reduce the deflection of safety cables.

The second or safety cable or cables instead support the tram on emergency by taking a part of tram weight to reduce the deflection of guide cables and suspend the electric power supply cable.

Preferably the wings extend from the bow to the stern of the fuselage. Advantageously there is a long lifting area of the wings so that less power is required by the ducted fans to lift the tram when flying forward.

Preferably the ducted fans are arranged in a row from the bow to the stern in each wing. Advantageously there is a long distance for a plurality of ducted fans which are able to lift the tram off the cable even when the tram is not moving forward. Power for driving the ducted fans proximate the bow may be increased relative the power to the ducted fans proximate the stern to raise bow to help the tram ascend and improve the lifting effect of the wings.

Preferably the wings are arranged to support the fuselage above the wings. People and cargo are carried in the fuselage which is above wings. People may step out of the fuselage onto the wings in an emergency and use the wings as a step when leaving tram.

Preferably the wings slant downward from a root where they are attached to the fuselage. Advantageously the tram rolls quickly which assists turning to follow the steer of the cable.

Preferably the wings are joined together at the root. Advantageously the wings may be formed as a single unit.

Preferably the profile of wings normal to the direction of the cable provided by the cable guide is concave. Advantageously a pocket of high pressure air is produced by the air driven by the fans into the concavity below the wings. This helps produce lift under the tram when the tram is moving forward to slowly to prevent stall of wings.

Preferably the wings have an airfoil shape for lift the fuselage while traversing along the cable. Advantageously, low power is required by the ducted fans when the tram is moving forward above the stall speed.

Preferably the fuselage encloses a passenger cabin. Advantageously the passengers travel safely and comfortably in the cabin.

Preferably the fuselage comprises exit doors for passengers to step out of the passenger cabin for example onto the wings. Preferably the exit doors are located intermediate two of the ducted fans in one of the wings. Passengers step on the station platform while loading and unloading, wherein wings may not be used to step on except in case of emergency.

Preferably the cable guide comprises a hook joined to an underside of the wing to retain the cable in a gap intermediate the hook and wing. Advantageously the tram lifts off the hook when the ducted fans are in operation to reduce friction between the cable guide and the fuselage.

Preferably the tram transportation system comprises a second cable, and the tram is guided by the first cable and the second cable which is parallel to the first cable. Preferably the cable guide is arranged so that the tram traverses along both cables. Preferably the tram comprises a set of safety cables located under and parallel to the guide cables, wherein both safety and guide cables may be used to lift the fuselage during an emergency situation.

Preferably the cable guide is located on the underside of the wings proximate where the wings are joined at the root.

Preferably the cable guide comprises a first portion proximate the bow and a second portion proximate the stern. Advantageously the cable applies a steering moment through the two portions to steer the tram and maintain the bow and stern in the fore and aft position as the tram moves forward.

Preferably the guide cables are pulled tightly with pre-tensioning force. Advantageously that provides stability to prevent the tram from rolling over.

Preferably the ducted fans in the starboard wing may rotate clockwise and the ducted fans in the port wing rotate counterclockwise. Advantageously the gyroscopic moment of the starboard ducted fans may cancel those of the port ducted fans so that tram is more easily turned by the cable guides which are guided by the cable(s).

Preferably the tram transportation system comprises a passenger unloading platform for passengers to alight from the fuselage.

Preferably the cable(s) is strung below the unloading platform to support the tram where one of the wings is under the unloading platform for unloading passengers. Advantageously the passengers may step out of the fuselage on the unloading platform. The platform shields the wing underneath the platform. The wing cannot be harmed by shoes of passengers or by their luggage or by cargo loading.

Preferably the unloading platform comprises a tram support to support the weight of the tram at rest or during landing. Advantageously the ducted fans may be powered down while the tram is docked at the unloading platform.

Preferably the tram support is arranged to withstand horizontal forces of bringing the tram to a stop at the platform. Advantageously the tram itself does not require a powerful braking means. In some embodiments there may be a motorized brake system fixed to the platform to stop the tram.

Preferably the tram comprises a propulsion means to propel the tram to traverse along the cable guide(s). Preferably the propulsion means comprises a propeller or jet fixed to the fuselage or in some embodiments wings.

Preferably the propeller or jet is substantially perpendicular to the ducted fans. In use the wings are horizontal with respect to the horizon and the propeller or jet directs thrust forward and backward in the direction from the bow to the stern of the fuselage.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 is a perspective view looking down on the fuselage and wings of a tram transportation system according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view looking up at the underside of the wings and fuselage of a tram transportation system according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows a side view of the wings, fuselage cables of tram transportation system; and

Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section view of a tram according to the system of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring to the Figures, there is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 a tram transportation system. The tram transportation system comprises a tram 100 and guide cables 21,22 and safety cables 11,12. Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the wings, fuselage and bogie of an embodiment of the tram according to the system of the present invention, wherein the bogie comprises the cables and guides, below the fuselage.

The tram 100 comprises: a cable guide including starboard and port before portions 2, 4, and starboard and port after portions 3, 5 which engage the cable(s). The tram is steered by the cable guide before and after portions as the tram traverses along the cable.

The foremost cable guide 4 comprises a hook or pulleys 6 joined to the underside of the wing 81 so as to retain the cable 21 in a gap intermediate the hook and wing. The aft cable guide 6 comprises a second hook 7 joined to the underside of the wing 81 to retain the cable 21 in a gap intermediate the hook and the wing or between pulleys. There are corresponding hooks for the starboard side portions 3, 5, of the cable guide.

The tram 100 comprises a fuselage 90 joined to lateral wings 80, 81.

Ducted fans direct air through the wings to lift the tram off the cable. The ducted fans in the port wing 80 include seven ducts 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 through the wing through which air drawn from the top side of the wing blown through the underside. The air is blown by a propeller in each duct shown by propellers 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67. The propellers rotate in a plan parallel with the port wing 80.

The ducted fans in the starboard wing 81 include seven ducts 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 through the wing through which air drawn from the top side of the wing blown through the underside. The air is blown by a propeller in each duct shown by propellers 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47. The propellers rotate in a plan parallel with the port wing 81.

The port and starboard wings 81, 81 extend from the bow 91 to the stern 92 of the fuselage 90.

The ducted fans are arranged in a row from the bow to the stern in each wing. The row in the starboard wing is aligned parallel to the starboard side of the fuselage. The row in the port wing is aligned parallel to the port side of the fuselage. The port and starboard rows of ducted fans are parallel to each other. The ducted fans are evenly spaces in the rows.

The wings 81, 82 are arranged to support the fuselage 90 above the wings. In use the tram travels with the fuselage above the wings. When the tram stops at a loading platform the fuselage remains above the wings.

The cable guide for portions 2, 4 are spaced apart laterally under the wings as are the cable guide aft portions 3, 5.

Power is the ducted fans on the starboard side is distinctly provided from power the ducted fans in the starboard side to help prevent the tram from rolling over.

The starboard wing 81 has a root where it is attached to the starboard underside of the fuselage 90. The port wing 80 has a port root 82 where it is attached to the port underside of the fuselage 90.

The wings 80, 81 slant downward from the root where they are attached to the fuselage.

The underside of the wings are joined together at the roots so that as shown in Figure 2 the underside of the wings forms a continuous concave surface. The profile of wings normal to the direction of the cable provided by the cable guide is concave.

The fuselage 90 encloses a passenger cabin in which there are passenger seats 96, 97 places from bow to stern.

The fuselage 90 comprises exit doors 93, 94, 95 in the port side of the cabin for passengers to step out of the passenger cabin onto the wings or a loading platform. As shown in Figure 1, the exit doors 93, 93, 95 or the port side are located intermediate two of the ducted fans in one of the port wing. In particular, foremost door 93 is located between ducts 52, 53. Mid door 94 is located between ducts 54, 6

55. Aft-most door 95 is located between ducts 56, 57.

The pictured embodiment of the device is envisaged to utilise an electric power supply and environmental clean energy.

The invention has been described by way of examples only. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A tram transportation system comprising a tram and a supported first guide cable, the tram comprises: a cable guide for the tram to traverse along the cable, and a fuselage joined to lateral wings in which ducted fans direct air through the wings to lift the tram.

2. A tram transportation system according to claim 1 wherein the wings extend from the bow to the stern of the fuselage.

3. A tram transportation system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the ducted fans are arranged in a row from the bow to the stern in each wing.

4. A tram transportation system according to any preceding claim wherein the wings are arranged to support the fuselage above the wings.

5. A tram transportation system according to any preceding claim wherein the wings slant downward from a root where they are attached to the fuselage.

6. A tram transportation system according to claim 5 wherein the wings are joined together at the root.

7. A tram transportation system according to any preceding claim wherein the profile of wings normal to the direction of the cable provided by the cable guide is concave.

8. A tram transportation system according to any preceding claim wherein the wings have an airfoil shape for lift the fuselage while traversing along the cable.

9. A tram transportation system according to wherein the fuselage encloses a passenger cabin.

10. A tram transportation system according to claim 9 wherein the fuselage comprises exit doors for passengers to step out of the passenger cabin onto the wings or a loading platform.

11. A tram transportation system according to claim 10 wherein the exit doors are located intermediate two of the ducted fans in one of the wings.

12. A winged system according to any preceding claim wherein the cable guide comprises a hook joined to the underside of the wing to retain the cable in a gap intermediate the hook and wing.

13. A tram transportation system according to any preceding claim comprising at least one supported second safety cable which is parallel to the first guide cable, wherein the cable guide is arranged from the tram to traverse along both cables.

14. A tram transportation system according to any preceding claim wherein the guide cables are located on the underside of the wings proximate where the wings are joined at the root.

15. A tram transportation system according to any preceding claim wherein the cable guide is located on the underside of the wings proximate where the wings are joined at the root.

16. A tram transportation system according to claim 14 or 15 dependent on claim 13 wherein the cable guide holds first cable and the second cable separated laterally beneath the tram.

17. A tram transportation system according to any preceding claim comprising a passenger unloading platform for passengers to alight from the fuselage.

18. A tram transportation system according to claim 17 wherein the cable(s) is strung below the unloading platform to support or guide the tram where at least one of the wing is under the unloading platform for unloading passengers.

19. A tram transportation system according to claim 17 or 18 wherein the platform comprises a tram support to support the weight of the tram at rest.

20. A tram transportation system according to claim 19 wherein the tram support is arranged to withstand horizontal forces of bringing the tram to a stop at the platform.

21. A tram transportation system wherein the tram comprises a propulsion means to propel the tram to traverse along the first cable(s).

22. A tram transportation system wherein the propulsion means comprises a propeller or jet fixed to the fuselage or wings.

23. A tram transportation system wherein the propeller or jet is substantially perpendicular to the ducted fans.