Air Cushion Support for Evacuated Tube System Vehicles.

摘要

The practicality of a plenum-type air cushion suspension for evacuated tube system (TVS) vehicles is examined from the standpoint of ideal air cushion/vehicle characteristics (power,mass flow,self-support velocity,cushion temperature),the compressor design,and the compressor efficiency under low pressure operating conditions. For a representative 100,000lb TVS vehicle,an air cushion suspension is shown to be practical from all standpoints,providing tube pressure is no less than .015atm,and the cushion gap is of the order of .01ft. The method of analysis is presented graphically in a manner readily permitting analysis of other TVS configurations. (Author)