Vehicular Tunnel Patents (Class 454/166)
  • Patent number: 11655712
    Abstract: A ventilation device that enhances the effective longitudinal thrust of a fan assembly installed within a tunnel or other internal space. The nozzle trailing edge (6) is tilted so that it forms an angle (13) with respect to the fan centreline (7), with the surface of the nozzle throughbore being non-cylindrical in shape. The discharged flow (5) is turned away from the surrounding surfaces by a convergent-divergent bellmouth (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Mosen LTD
    Inventor: Fathi Tarada
  • Patent number: 9004994
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for decreasing airflow and improving ventilation within a tunnel, such as a railroad tunnel, including a path for movement of a vehicle (e.g., train) therethrough. The system has a plurality of air baffles mounted within the tunnel, each device comprising a body and a mounting device. Each mounting device positions each body inside and along the length of the tunnel between the entrance and the exit. The air baffles are configured to restrict airflow at least in part in a longitudinal direction of the tunnel, thereby increasing a relative difference between a vehicle speed and air speed in a tunnel annulus when the vehicle passes through the tunnel. The restriction (e.g., decrease) of airflow in the tunnel reduces the piston effect resulting from the vehicle or train passing through, thus reducing emissions and heat generated by the locomotives in the tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Union Pacific Railroad Company
    Inventor: Michael E. Iden
  • Publication number: 20130178143
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for decreasing airflow and improving ventilation within a tunnel, such as a railroad tunnel, including a path for movement of a vehicle (e.g., train) therethrough. The system has a plurality of air baffles mounted within the tunnel, each device comprising a body and a mounting device. Each mounting device positions each body inside and along the length of the tunnel between the entrance and the exit. The air baffles are configured to restrict airflow at least in part in a longitudinal direction of the tunnel, thereby increasing a relative difference between a vehicle speed and air speed in a tunnel annulus when the vehicle passes through the tunnel. The restriction (e.g., decrease) of airflow in the tunnel reduces the piston effect resulting from the vehicle or train passing through, thus reducing emissions and heat generated by the locomotives in the tunnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company
    Inventor: Michael E. IDEN
  • Publication number: 20110275302
    Abstract: A ventilation device that enhances the longitudinal thrust of a fan (2) installed within a tunnel, by the introduction of a convergent nozzle (7) to accelerate the outlet flow (8). An angled transition piece (6) can turn the flow by a specific angle (36). Multiple fans can be connected to common inlet and outlet plenums, supplying one or more convergent nozzles. Bi-directional flow can be achieved by fitting convergent nozzles to both sides of a fan, with bypass dampers optionally installed between the fan and the two nozzles. The nozzle trailing edge can be shaped with multiple lobes, chevrons or tongues, and the fan centre-body can be shaped with multiple lobes. A fire suppression agent such as water mist can be supplied into the ductwork between the fan and the nozzle trailing edge. Acoustic silencing can be achieved using the absorbent material on the nozzle and fan centre-body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: MOSEN LIMITED
    Inventor: Fathi Tarada
  • Patent number: 7832338
    Abstract: A bonnet captures exhaust gases from the exhaust pipes of diesel-powered locomotives. The bonnet includes a shell with a compliant fender. One or more of the bonnets are positioned over the exhaust pipe or pipes of the locomotive and are secured to the exhaust pipes or to a top surface of the locomotive. The bonnets are connected to a manifold, and the manifold carries the exhaust gasses to an Emissions Control Unit (ECU) for processing. The bonnets enclose a volume above and/or around the exhaust pipes and the compliant bumper closes against the internal or external surface of the exhaust pipe or pipes or against the top surface of the locomotive surrounding the exhaust pipe or pipes. The closing prevents or limits outside air from entering the bonnet and the exhaust gases from being emitted to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventors: Sal Caro, Kevin Connolly
  • Patent number: 7685943
    Abstract: A traveling duct allows a bonnet to remain over the exhaust pipes of diesel-powered locomotives in motion, and to remain in fluid communication with an Emissions Control Unit (ECU). The bonnet includes a shell with a compliant fender for enclosing the exhaust pipes. One or more of the bonnets are positioned over the exhaust pipe or pipes of the locomotive and are secured to the exhaust pipes or to a top surface of the locomotive. The traveling duct includes an outer duct having a bottom gap or slot. The bonnets may either be connected to an extendable inner duct within the traveling duct, or to a duct transport unit slidably residing within the traveling duct. Exhaust from the locomotive is captured by the bonnet and fed from the bonnet into the traveling duct. The exhaust is then carried by the traveling duct to the ECU for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventors: Sal Caro, Kevin Connolly, Jason McAuley
  • Patent number: 6724917
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a ventilator that ventilates a tunnel in response to visibility of the inside of the tunnel, including at least one picture image input device configured to take a picture of the inside of the tunnel, a visibility index determination device configured to determine a visibility index value on the basis of a picture image data of the picture taken by the picture image input device in light of a table representing a relationship between the picture image data and the visibility index value, a feedback controller configured to calculate an operation command for operating the ventilator on the basis of a feedback control value calculated by comparing the visibility index value with a target value of the visibility index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ohashi, Toshihiro Koyama, Kazuchika Nagao
  • Patent number: 6557374
    Abstract: A total flood fire suppression system is provided for transportation tunnels and other human-occupied environments, which employs a selective gas delivery method for supplying a breathable fire-extinguishing agent to a location closest to a fire site. The agent is produced from ambient air at site and stored in high-pressure containers communicating with an addressed gas delivery hose installed throughout a tunnel. When fire is detected, the agent is released from storage containers into the gas delivery hose that simultaneously becomes penetrated or broken in a location next to the fire site, allowing releasing the agent there and extinguishing the fire by totally flooding the affected portion of a tunnel. Additionally, the direction of the agent flow can be controlled by air blocks or inflatable tunnel plugs that, via a signal from a central control station, can inflate and block a tunnel tube in order to redirect the agent flow into the opposite to a block direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: Igor K. Kotliar
  • Patent number: 6139422
    Abstract: An exhaust gas extraction apparatus for a vehicle shed includes a running rail arranged in the exit direction of a vehicle in an upper shed region, with a carriage which can travel thereon and an extraction hose hanging down therefrom, with an extraction socket disposed at its lower, free end and capable of being clamped onto the exhaust of the vehicle. A connecting hose which can extend elastically in its longitudinal direction, is connected at one end to the carriage and at the other end to a collecting line and is carried from the running rail by a plurality of supports with rollers which can move in the running rail. A brake device is arranged on the carriage, with a movable brake shoe which can be pressed onto the running rail in its braking position by a pneumatic, electrical, electromagnetic or mechanical actuating device. A control device is also provided which acts through a control pulse on the actuating device on release of the extraction socket from the exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Inventor: Hans Blaschke
  • Patent number: 5609515
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a profiler device having a linear drive mechanism with enhanced tool holder support to effectively guide the substantially linear reciprocating movement of the tool holder so to maintain accuracy during machining operations and to extend the life of the tool and the device. The linear drive mechanism includes a reciprocating sleeve guided for substantially linear movement in a main guide sleeve, which is fixed to a profiler housing. The main guide sleeve includes a square socket formed in one end for receiving a square end of the tool holder. The surfaces of the square socket and the square end slidably engage one another for guiding and supporting the tool holder. The square end of the tool holder also includes a central bore which receives with a friction fit one end of reciprocating sleeve for being driven linearly with the reciprocating sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Inventor: Thomas G. Takach
  • Patent number: 5069115
    Abstract: The invention relates to an exhaust-gas removal duct formed from individual axially mutually adjacent sections for track-forming lanes, having a longitudinal slot closed by a pair of elastic sealing lips. Each section has two channel-shaped shells which are joined leaktightly along a common longitudinal edge. One yoke sheet is, furthermore, provided per section, surrounds the section up to the longitudinal slot, transversely to the longitudinal axis of the removal duct, and is connected to the channel-shaped shells only in the region of the longitudinal edge and in the region of the sealing lips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG
    Inventor: Horst Fleischer