ARCHIMEDEAN-SCREW ACCELERATORS FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSPORTATION

Continuous-flow automatic transit systems known as personal rapid transit or people movers require automatic control of acceleration and merging of individual vehicles into the mainline. The report summarizes work done in development of a mechanical accelerator which performs this task. A variable-pitch screw the length of the acceleration lane was chosen as the most practical method. The various geometric parameters and relationships were studied, including force levels and efficiencies. Constraints on the design are also listed. A screw was specifically designed for a model of the proposed palleted automatic transportation system, observing the passenger-comfort limits on jerk and acceleration. Two screws, one of fabricated construction and the other machined, were built and tested. Both successfully accelerated pallets to a final velocity of four feet per second, and the machined screw performed quite smoothly. A method of switching pallets is also described. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Department of Mechanical Engineering
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02139
• Authors:
  • Valaas, A M
• Publication Date: 1972-5-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 80 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Intelligent transportation systems; Personal rapid transit
• Old TRIS Terms: Accelerator systems; Advanced systems
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00047845
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: EPL-73504-72-3 Final Rpt
• Contract Numbers: MA-11-0005
• Files: NTIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 18 1974 12:00AM