Airdock assembly

Abstract

An airdock for connecting a transportation vehicle to a loading area in a high-speed, low-pressure transportation system. The airdock includes a pathway for off-loading and loading of passengers and/or cargo to the transportation vehicle. The airdock is operable to maintain the transportation vehicle in a low-pressure environment of the transportation system while providing the pathway through the low-pressure environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An airdock for connecting a transportation vehicle to a loading area in a high-speed, low-pressure transportation system, the airdock comprising:
 a pathway for off-loading and loading of passengers and/or cargo to the transportation vehicle,   wherein the airdock is operable to maintain the transportation vehicle in a low-pressure environment of the transportation system while providing the pathway through the low-pressure environment.   
     
     
         2 . The airdock of  claim 1 , wherein the pathway projects from the loading area and is sealingly connectable with the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The airdock of  claim 2  wherein the airdock is configured to move towards the transportation vehicle within the low-pressure environment to sealingly connect with the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The airdock of  claim 2 , wherein the airdock is configured to sealingly connect with the transportation vehicle by the transportation vehicle being moved within the low-pressure environment into contact with the airdock. 
     
     
         5 . The airdock of  claim 2 , wherein the pathway comprises:
 a structural frame;   a bulkhead door arranged at a first end of the structural frame and operable to maintain the low-pressure environment when closed and connect with the loading area when opened;   a sealing arrangement arranged at a second end of the structural frame and configured to sealingly contact with the transportation vehicle.   
     
     
         6 . The airdock of  claim 5 , wherein the pathway further comprises a flexible coupling arranged between the structural frame and the bulkhead door. 
     
     
         7 . The airdock of  claim 6 , wherein the flexible coupling is operable to expand as the structural frame is moved towards the transportation vehicle within the low-pressure environment to sealingly connect with the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The airdock of  claim 5 , wherein the pathway comprises a passenger walkway skin arranged within the structural frame. 
     
     
         9 . The airdock of  claim 5 , further comprising an air plunger attached to the low-pressure environment-side of the bulkhead door, and configured to plunge air from an inner volume of the airdock. 
     
     
         10 . The airdock of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of latches arranged on the structural frame and configured to latch with the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The airdock of  claim 5 , further comprising a suspension and guideway operable to move the airdock towards the transportation vehicle within the low-pressure environment to sealingly connect with the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The airdock of  claim 5 , further comprising jogging actuators attached between the bulkhead door and the structural frame on opposite sides of the structural frame. 
     
     
         13 . The airdock of  claim 12 , wherein each of the jogging actuators includes a ball joint at the bulkhead door, wherein the ball joints permit the structural frame to be tilted relative to the loading area. 
     
     
         14 . The airdock of  claim 5 , further comprising an airdock door arrangement arranged proximate a second end of the structural frame. 
     
     
         15 . The airdock of  claim 5 , wherein an interior volume of the airdock is operable to cycle between the pressure of the low-pressure environment and an ambient pressure of the loading area. 
     
     
         16 . The airdock of  claim 5 , wherein the second end of the structural frame has a curved profile corresponding to a tubular profile of the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating an airdock for connecting a transportation vehicle to a loading area in a high-speed, low-pressure transportation system, the airdock providing a pathway for off-loading and loading of passengers and/or cargo to the transportation vehicle, the method comprising:
 maintaining the transportation vehicle in a low-pressure environment of the transportation system while providing the pathway through the low-pressure environment.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the airdock comprises a structural frame; a bulkhead door arranged at a first end of the structural frame and operable to maintain the low-pressure environment when closed and connect with the loading area when opened; and a sealing arrangement arranged at a second end of the structural frame and configured to sealingly contact with the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising:
 moving the airdock into contact with the transportation vehicle and/or moving the transportation into contact with the airdock;   sealingly connecting the airdock to the transportation vehicle;   flooding an interior volume of the airdock with air to equalize an air pressure of the interior volume of the airdock with an ambient air pressure of the loading area;   opening the bulkhead door; and   opening a door of the transportation vehicle to provide the pathway.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising engaging a plurality of latches arranged on the structural frame with the transportation vehicle to sealing connect the airdock to the transportation vehicle.