US 12,384,428 B2
Tube section for evacuated tube transport system
Paul Alexander De Vries, Velsen-Noord (NL)
Assigned to TATA STEEL NEDERLAND TECHNOLOGY B.V., Velsen-Noord (NL)
Appl. No. 17/753,892
Filed by TATA STEEL NEDERLAND TECHNOLOGY B.V., Velsen-Noord (NL)
PCT Filed Sep. 16, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/075825
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 17, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/052991, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 25, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 19198139 (EP), filed on Sep. 18, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0355830 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. B61B 13/10 (2006.01)
CPC B61B 13/10 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tube section, having a length L, for constructing a tube suitable for underpressure applications, with an incircle having a diameter of at least 2 m,
wherein the tube section comprises a plurality of longitudinal stringers, a plurality of circumferential sections and a plurality of skin sections having a radius of curvature R and wherein the curvature extends along the entire length of the skin sections,
wherein the longitudinal stringers are connected to the outer surface of the circumferential sections, wherein the plurality of longitudinal stringers are mounted to the circumferential sections to form a skeletal framework for attaching the skin sections,
wherein long edges of the skin sections are mounted air-tightly to the longitudinal stringers, and
wherein a centre point M of the radius of curvature R of the skin sections lies outside the tube section and wherein, the skin sections are adapted and configured such that during a state of an underpressure application, the skin sections between the longitudinal stringers are loaded in tension between the longitudinal stringers.