AIRLOCK WITH A PNEUMATIC ORIFICE FOR THE VACUUM TRAIN SYSTEM

Abstract

The disclosure describes an airlock with a pneumatic orifice, characterized in that the orifice chamber is located inside the tunnel, together with an inactive expansion element made up of a flexible material consisting of an external torus and an internal membrane, which is activated by compressed air produced by compressors placed in a housing.

Claims

1. An airlock with pneumatic orifice, characterized in that the orifice chamber is located inside the tunnel, together with an inactive expansion element made up of a flexible material consisting of an external torus and an internal membrane, which is activated by compressed air produced by compressors housed in a housing.

2. The airlock according to claim 1 characterized in that the orifice chamber together with a folded expansion element is located both on the side of the tube and in its upper part.

3. The airlock according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one expansion element forming pneumatic elements of the airlock that cooperate with each other.

4. The airlock according to claim 4, characterized in that it consists of several expansion elements, which are triggered sequentially.

5. The airlock according to claim 5, characterized in that the contact between the expansion elements and between the expansion element and the tunnel wall is closed by friction and by means of magnets or by the use of adhesive substances.

6. The airlock according to claim 1, characterized in that it is stabilized against the inner surface of the tube by friction.

7. The airlock according to claim 1, characterized in that it is activated automatically.

8. The airlock according to claim 1, characterized in that it is activated manually.

9. The airlock according to claim 1, characterized in that it is stabilized against the inner surface of the tube by one or more magnets.

10. The airlock according to claim 1, characterized in that it is stabilized against the inner surface of the tube by one or more stabilizing rings.

11. The airlock according to claim 1, characterized in that it is stabilized against the inner surface of the tube by one or more adhesives.

12. The airlock according to claim 1, characterized in that it is stabilized against the inner surface of the tube by one or more pneumatic elements.

Description

[0021] The subject of the invention is depicted in the embodiment and shown in the figure on which the FIG. 1 represents a cross-section through a vacuum tunnel with an inactive air orifice, FIG. 2 shows the same vacuum tunnel with an active air orifice, FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of forces acting on the orifice and the place of installation of the holding flange is marked. Special variants of the solution of the invention are shown in FIG. 4, where the possible position of the orifice chamber 5 in the cross-section is shown, and FIG. 5 where the possibility of using a closing orifice consisting of more than one element is shown, FIG. 6 shows the active pneumatic orifice and FIG. 7 shows the operation of the airlock with a pneumatic orifice.

EXAMPLE 1

[0022] In tunnel 1, where orifice chamber 5 is installed with a folded expansion element 4, there is a vacuum. Pneumatic orifice 5 is defined as an expansion element with a membrane, which is active (filled with gas) during closing the tunnel clearance in order to isolate a fragment of the tunnel, while expansion element 4 is understood as a properly sewn material, closed in the orifice chamber and waiting to be activated. The pneumatic orifice is designed to choke or completely close the tunnel clearance, i.e. block the flow of gases. The pneumatic orifice chamber 5 is located on the side of the tunnel or at the top of the tunnel. Activation of the orifice by filling it with compressed air from compressor 10 mounted to the orifice chamber 5 housing, results in tight filling of the tunnel section with expansion element 4 of the pneumatic orifice consisting of torus 6 of flexible material and internal membrane 7 of high strength material and strict adjustment to the shape of the railroad bed 3. Expansion element 4 is stabilised and secured against displacement by internal rings integrated in the tunnel structure 8, by the roughness zone of the tunnel surface in the ring zone 8 or/and by magnets 9. The contact between the two parts of the airlock can be closed by frictional forces, by means of magnets or by the use of adhesive substances such as polyisobutylene or similar. The inner membrane 7 is made of at least two layersa sealing layer and a structural layer. The sealing layer may be made of elastomer based on synthetic rubber or similar (neoprene), while the structural layer is made of e.g. aramid fibres. Expansion element 4 (torus) has a similar structure as the membrane.

Example 2

[0023] Example of automatic operation of an airlock with a pneumatic orifice:

[0024] The pressure sensors are located along the tunnel at a certain distance (e.g. 200-1000 m). At a certain moment, one of the sensors detects a surge in pressure, which indicates a significant leakage of the tunnel. The information about the leakage is sent via a monitoring system to the two pneumatic locks closest to the pressure sensor. After receiving the information, the pneumatic locks are activated automatically causing the unsealed tunnel element to be cut off.

[0025] Example of manual operation of an airlock with a pneumatic orifice:

[0026] A vehicle moving in a tube breaks down and passengers need to be evacuated. As a result, it is stopped and the operator decides to operate the airlock with pneumatic orifices adjacent to the vehicle. After the locks have been activated, the pressure in the isolated section is equalized to atmospheric pressure and passengers are evacuated through an appropriate evacuation exit.

[0027] The locks of the invention can be used to protect vacuum train tunnels on the route, in station zones and service tunnels, depending on safety requirements and operational needs.