Superconducting Power and Transport System

Abstract

A transport and power system having a plurality of tubes or tunnels, a magnetic levitation and linear motor train, and a superconducting power cable. One of the tubes can be an escape, power distribution, and maintenance tunnel. These tubes can be above ground, below ground, at ground, or under water.

1 . A system combining magnetic levitation train car(s) with a superconducting wire assembly and electric power distribution system so that the basic infrastructure of each system may be shared and used by the other. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  in which the shared elements include magnetic fields associated with the transmission of large amounts of electrical power. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  in which train car(s) store energy in the form of kinetic energy. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  or  3  in which the kinetic energy is returned to the power system as electrical energy in a process of regenerative braking using the linear motor system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  or  2  or  3  or  4  in which train car(s) is operational in a closed tunnel or tube. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  or  2  or  3  or  4  or  5  in which the air is removed from the tunnel or tube and the electrical transmission lines to obtain a low air pressure and reduce or eliminate air friction, improve the electrical isolation of electrically charged system elements, and provide thermal isolation to maintain a constant temperature around the superconducting transmission system and any other superconducting elements. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  or  2  or  3  or  4  or  5  or  6  in which the reintroduction of air into the system can by itself without any other active component cause the train car(s) of  1  and  3  to come to a near complete stop. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  or  2  or  3  or  4  or  5  or  6  in which passive sealing members cause the motion of the train car to move and compress gas and/or air in the direction of the motion, and create a partial vacuum in the opposite direction. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  or  2  or  3  or  4  or  5  or  6  in which active sealing members cause the motion of the train car to move and compress gas and/or air in the direction of the motion, and create a partial vacuum in the opposite direction. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  or  2  or  3  or  4  or  5  or  6  in which active and passive sealing members cause the motion of the train car to move and compress gas and/or air in the direction of the motion, and create a partial vacuum in the opposite direction. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  or  2  or  3  or  4  or  5  or  6  in which active and passive sealing members seal against the tube or tunnel on one or more train cars and provide a region in the tube or tunnel in which air may be introduced and loading/unloading operations take place without permitting air to enter the tube/tunnel regions beyond the at rest sealing cars. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  or  2  or  3  or  4  or  5  or  6  in which one or more train cars are kept at rest and/or in motion in order to store and absorb electrical power by conversion of their kinetic energy to electrical energy via the linear motor used as a generator (decelerator) and/or the immediate storage of excess electrical energy by acceleration via the linear motor. 
     
     
         13 . An active seal system in which a gas such as air is introduced at varying pressures to obtain close sealing or contact and compliant sealing with adjacent walls. 
     
     
         14 . An active seal system of seal structures disposed on the outside of train cars in tunnels or tubes are not in contact with the tube or tunnel walls when the seal interior is at less than local ambient air pressure, are in contact when the seal interior is at ambient air pressure, and are in closer compliant contact when the seal interior is above ambient air pressure. 
     
     
         15 . A seal system such that the seal interior must be maintained below ambient air pressure to be out of contact with the tunnel/tube walls. 
     
     
         16 . An emergency support and braking system employing high temperature brake pads that contact the low-speed rail to support and decelerate the vehicle in the event of failure of the levitation system. 
     
     
         17 . A method of capitalizing a system that requires the excavation of tunnels comprising:
 setting aside by legal mandate a limited volume of subterranean real estate as an inducement and reward for the formation and use of the capital required to build and operate a system.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  in which the no mineral, water or surface rights are retained by the subterranean real estate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  or  18  in which a large surface area for access stations is provided as further inducement and reward for the formation and use of the capital required to build and operate the system.