| 摘要 |
An enclosed tubular continuous mechanical conveying system and method are provided for transporting bulk material or passengers at high speed along straight, curved or twisting paths with unlimited length in three-dimensional space. The conveying medium is a moving endless flexible toroidal surface that is elongated along the direction of motion. The inner surface of the toroid forms a moving enclosed duct that comprises the carrying portion of the surface while the outer portion forms another duct that moves in the opposite direction which encloses the inner duct and comprises the return run of the surface. A rigid, duct-like structure, is mounted inside the moving surface to maintain its shape. The surface is constructed with an elastic material to enable it to move around the rigid inner duct without tearing. The moving surface is mounted inside a rigid protective outer duct which completely encloses the conveyor. Driving means is provided for continuously moving the conveying surface around the inner duct structure. The carrying surface can be supported by a cushion of air trapped inside the toroidal surface or by a magnetic suspension system or by a slider-bed or roller-bed suspension system attached to the rigid inner duct.
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