NTL Record

Title Development and Testing of a Completely Passive, Air Suspended, Air Propelled Personal Rapid Transit Vehicle
Record ID 49529
Personal Name
Creator
Smoot, Charles H.
Personal Name
Contributor
Kleven, Lowell A.; Wirth, Gary J.; Berggren, Lloyd E.; Palcher, Frank J.
Source 102p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator Uniflo Systems Company; John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.); United States. Department of Transportation. Research and Special Programs Administration. Transportation Systems Center
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Department of Transportation. Urban Mass Transportation Administration. Office of Research, Development and Demonstrations; Acoustical Testing Laboratories, Inc.
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. Urban Mass Transportation Administration
Publication Date 19730401
Language English
Abstract A prototype Uniflo vehicle base with mock-up superstructure was tested on 55 ft. of full-scale track. Sound treatment to meet NCA 60 at 25 ft. from the guideway enclosure and within the vehicle was proposed and the costs determined. A heating and cooling system using passive vehicle heat sink elements with station berth recharging was found desirable because of its lower cost and reliability. An evaluation of the estimated production quantity costs for the vehicle base, guideway surface, levitation and thrust elements showed a reduction of 49% compared to previous design estimates. Extensive tests confirmed the feasibility of the track based linear air turbine used for acceleration and service braking in the Uniflo PRT system. Ride quality measurements indicated a need for improved secondary suspension. Empty vehicle speeds over 20 ft./sec. and accelerations exceeding 5 ft./seconds squared were achieved with an air flow of 72.0 cubic feet/sec. Vehicle starting drag was less than 5 lbs. force.
Rosap ID dot:10968
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/10968
TRT Terms Acoustics; Air conditioning systems; Air cushion vehicles; Cost estimating; Estimates; Guideways; Building heating; Intelligent transportation systems; Performance tests; Personal rapid transit; Rapid transit; Suspension systems; Tracked air cushion vehicles; Turbines
General Subjects Acoustic measurement; Acoustic measuring instruments; Experimental design
Classification NTL - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Advanced Public Transit Systems;
NTL - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION;
NTL - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Transit Planning and Policy
Geographical
Coverage
United States
TRIS Online
Accession No
00047273
Contract Number DOT-TSC-367
Report Number DOT-TSC-UMTA-73-01; PB-220 795
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/49000/49500/49529/DOT_TSC_UMTA_73_1_02.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository