Archimedean-Screw Accelerators for Automatic Transportation.

摘要

Continuous-flow automatic transit systems known as personal rapid transit or people movers require automatic control of acceleration and merging of individual vehicles into the mainline. The report summarizes work done in development of a mechanical accelerator which performs this task. A variable-pitch screw the length of the acceleration lane was chosen as the most practical method. The various geometric parameters and relationships were studied,including force levels and efficiencies. Constraints on the design are also listed. A screw was specifically designed for a model of the proposed palleted automatic transportation system,observing the passenger-comfort limits on jerk and acceleration. Two screws,one of fabricated construction and the other machined,were built and tested. Both successfully accelerated pallets to a final velocity of four feet per second,and the machined screw performed quite smoothly. A method of switching pallets is also described. (Author)