Vacuum transport tube vehicle, system, and method for evacuating a vacuum transport tube
US11091175B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Grant date | Aug 17, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 12, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF04B25/005
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vacuum transport tube vehicle for evacuating a vacuum transport tube has a first end, a second end, and a body comprising a piston head. The vehicle has a blade-actuator assembly, comprising a circumferential blade member sealed to the piston head and having a blade perimeter portion defining a first end outer surface forming an annular gap with an inner surface of the vacuum transport tube. The vehicle further includes a plurality of blade segment actuators arranged circumferentially around the piston perimeter portion and configured to actively adjust a radial position of the blade member at the corresponding blade circumferential locations in a manner accommodating non-uniformities in an inner surface profile of the vacuum transport tube, and maintaining the annular gap at a substantially constant and relatively short gap distance during movement of the vehicle through the vacuum transport tube.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.