Solar induction monorail system and method of using

• US 4,885,995 A
• Filed: 03/28/1988
• Issued: 12/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark J. Antosh
• Original Assignee: Mark J. Antosh
• Inventors: Antosh, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cherry, Johnny D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Jr., Frank H.
• Application Number:
  US07/174,422
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 104/2, 104/118, 104/281, 104/286, 104/288, 104/289, 105/49, 105/50, 105/51, 238/1, 238/2, 191/1 R, 191/2, 191/3, 191/4, 191/13, 136/291, 427/74, 264/31, 264/33, 264/34, 425/62, 425/63, 425/376.1, 404/1, 180/2.2
• US Class Current: 104/118
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 13/10 Combination of electric propulsion and magnetic suspension or levitation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 13/04 Monorail systems
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 25/305 Rails or supporting constructions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 30/00 Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications

Abstract

A transportation system including a solar energy collecting monorail structure formed with a photovoltaic surface layer having a solar energy converting means for converting the collected solar energy to electrical energy. A power distribution means for distributing stored energy to transit vehicles being propelled along the monorail structure or distributing excess energy to a remote power utility source. The monorail structure includes means for propelling a transit vehicle according to magnetic principals associated with transverse flux motors. The system also includes a computer controlled, elevation compensating monorail structure extrusion machine comprising a fabrication chamber which continuously fabricates the monorail structure along a monorail construction right-of-way.

Claims

1. A solar energy induction monorail system, said monorail system comprising:

(a) a monorail structure fabrication means for fabricating a solar energy induction monorail structure;

(b) a solar energy collecting monorail structure means for collecting solar energy and converting said solar energy into electrical energy for use by said monorail system; and

(c) a transit vehicle means for being propelled along said monorail structure means and adapted electro-magnetically and mechanically for using said electrical energy.

2. A solar induction monorail system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said monorail structure fabrication means comprises:

(a) a fabrication chamber for fabricating in an extrusion manner a solar collector monorail member of said solar energy collecting monorail structure; and

(b) an elevation compensating track driven assembly means for moving along a designated monorail construction right-of-way.

3. A solar induction monorail system, as recited in claim 2, wherein said fabrication chamber monorail structure fabrication means comprises:

(a) a material entry section;

(b) a monorail core assembly section;

(c) a monorail core body formation section;

(d) a solar collector layer formation section; and

(e) a solar collector monorail member finishing section.

4. A solar induction monorail system, as recited in claim 3, wherein said material entry section comprises:

material input accommodation means for receiving core body reinforcement material, power and communications conductors, aluminum and steel sheet material and liquid materials.

5. A solar induction monorail system, as recited in claim 4, wherein said monorail core assembly section comprises:

a plurality of mechanical means for positioning within a core design said received core body reinforcement material, power and communications conductors, aluminum and steel sheet materials.

6. A solar induction monorail system, as recited in claim 5, wherein said monorail core body formation section comprises:

(a) an electrical wiring means for interconnecting said power and communications conductors;

(b) a core body mold for containing a hardening core body liquid material member of said provided liquid materials; and

(c) a first liquid material injector means for injecting said hardening core body liquid material member.

7. A solar induction monorail system, as recited in claim 6, wherein said solar collector layer formation section comprises:

(a) a vacuum deposition chamber means for producing a solar photovoltaic layer, said vacuum deposition chamber means including a sequential arrangement of vacuum deposition chambers comprised of;

(i) an inner p-layer silicon material vacuum deposition chamber;

(ii) an intrinsic layer material vacuum deposition chamber;

(iii) an outer n-layer silicon material vacuum deposition chamber; and

(b) an applicator means for applying a metallic grid conductor layer.

8. A solar induction monorail system, as recited in claim 7, wherein said solar collector monorail member finishing section is comprised of:

(a) a spray chamber for applying an outer protective barrier layer; and

(b) a lifting and positioning means for installing a support post member of a support column assembly.

9. A solar induction monorail system, as recited in claim 2, wherein said elevation compensating track driven assembly means is comprised of:

(a) a plurality of vertical shaft leg members movably attached to said fabrication chamber for providing elevation compensation; and

(b) a plurality of track driven assemblies fixedly attached to each of said plurality of vertical shaft leg members.

10. A solar induction monorail system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said solar energy collecting monorail structure means is comprised of:

(a) a solar collector monorail member;

(b) a plurality of first column means for supporting said solar collector monorail member and for containing power and communication distribution interface equipment, electrical utilization controls and electrical storage means; and

(c) a plurality of second column means for supporting said solar collector monorail member.

11. A solar induction monorail system, as recited in claim 10, wherein said solar collector monorail member is comprised of:

(a) an inner core body member;

(b) a solar collector layer member, said solar collector layer member being bonded to said inner core body member; and

(c) an outer protective barrier layer member being bonded to said solar collector layer member.

12. A solar induction monorail system, as recited in claim 11, wherein said inner core body member is comprised of;

(a) reinforcement means;

(b) power conductors;

(c) communication conductors;

(d) a transit vehicle magnetic coupling means; and

(e) a core body material integrally containing said reinforcement means, said power conductors, said communication conductors and said transit vehicle magnetic coupling means.

13. A solar induction monorail system, as recited in claim 11, wherein said solar collector layer member is comprised of:

(a) an inner p-layer silicon material layer;

(b) an intrinsic silicon material layer;

(c) an outer n-layer silicon material layer; and

(d) a metallic grid conductor layer.

14. A solar induction monorail system, as recited in claim 11, wherein said outer protective barrier layer member is comprised of a hardened, transparent glaze material layer.

15. A solar induction monorail system, as recited in claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of first column means is comprised of:

(a) a post member, said post member including structurally supporting sides, an a mid section for housing said power and communication distribution interface equipment, said electrical utilization controls and said electrical storage means; and

(b) a footing member, said footing member having a post receiving means for receiving a bottom end of said post member and an external interface means for electrically coupling to a remote electric power utility source.

16. A solar induction monorail system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said transit vehicle means is comprised of:

(a) a transverse flux motor means for propulsion and levitation;

(b) an fiber optical control means for communicating with said solar energy collecting monorail structure means;

(c) a floor member having an omega-shaped bottom portion adapted to said solar energy collecting monorail structure means, said transverse flux motor means being housed in said omega-shaped bottom portion; and

(d) a monorail skid roller means for providing low friction contact between said transit vehicle means and said solar energy collecting monorail structure means.

17. A method of providing a solar energy powered monorail system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a monorail structure fabrication means for fabricating a solar energy collecting monorail structure means;

(b) fabricating a solar energy collecting monorail structure means;

(c) collecting solar energy and converting said solar energy into electrical energy by said fabricated solar energy collecting monorail structure means;

(d) storing said converted electrical energy;

(e) providing a transit vehicle means for being propelled along a monorail member of said monorail structure means;

(f) using said stored electrical energy by said provided transit vehicle;

(g) providing a back-up electrical power utility source integral with said solar energy powered monorail system for use by said provided transit vehicle; and

(h) providing excess stored electrical energy to said back-up power utility source.

18. A method of providing a solar energy powered monorail system as recited in claim 17, wherein said step of providing a monorail structure fabrication means includes the step of providing

(a) a fabrication chamber for fabricating in an extrusion manner a solar collector monorail member of said solar energy collecting monorail structure;

and

(b) an elevation compensating track driven assembly means for moving along a designated monorail construction right-of-way.

19. A method of providing a solar energy powered monorail system as recited in claim 17, wherein said step of fabricating a solar energy collecting monorail structure means includes the step of:

(a) fabricating a solar collector monorail member, said solar collector monorail member is comprised of;

(i) an inner core body member,

(ii) a solar collector layer member, said solar collector layer member being bonded to said inner core body member, and

(iii) an outer protective barrier layer member being bonded to said solar collector layer member;

(b) providing a plurality of first column means for supporting said solar collector monorail member and for containing power and communication distribution interface equipment, electrical utilization controls and electrical storage means; and

(c) providing a plurality of second column means for supporting said solar collector monorail member.

20. A method of providing a solar energy powered monorail system as recited in claim 17, wherein said step of providing a transit vehicle means includes the step of providing a transit vehicle provided with:

(a) a transverse flux motor means for propulsion and levitation;

(b) an fiber optical control means for communicating with said solar energy collecting monorail structure means;

(c) a floor member having an omega-shaped bottom portion adapted to said solar energy collecting monorail structure means, said transverse flux motor means being housed in said omega-shaped bottom portion; and

(d) a monorail skid roller means for providing low friction contact between said transit vehicle means and said solar energy collecting monorail structure means.