Apparatus and method for interconnecting and isolating very large vacuum volumes

• Main Authors: PETERSEN, JOHN, K, LANEY MATTHEW W
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 30.09.2022
• Subjects: CHECKS FOR WINGS; DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; KEYS; LOCKS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; RAILWAY SYSTEMS; RAILWAYS; SAFES; TRANSPORTING; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THEFUNCTIONING OF THE WING

The bridging module provides sealable interconnects between sections of the vacuum piping transport system. The pair of gate elements is transferred by the drive mechanism from a storage configuration level offset from the pipe section to an expanded configuration in which the expansion mechanism presses the gate elements outwardly to seal the inlet to the pipe section. Thereby, the module can be vented while the duct section remains vacuum. Rail brackets in the module may be bridged between pod support rails of a pipe section. A lifting mechanism may lift the track carriage into the track carriage section above the entrance to allow the gate element to deploy. The gate element may be supported by tracks and/or linear supports and pressed outwardly by opposing pneumatic pistons located therebetween, e.g., close to four corners of the gate element. The drive mechanism may include a motor having a rack and a gear. 桥接模块在真空管道运输系统的区段之间提供可密封的互连。通过驱动机构将一对闸门元件从偏离管道区段的存储构型水平转换到展开构型，在展开构型中，扩展机构向外按压闸门元件，以将入口密封到管道区段。由此，可