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How to build a true "Tubo lift" How do you make an elevator car go sideways? Simple put it on rails. The only problem with this solution is that now it can never go up and down. Looking at it that way, you could say that we have had "side ways" going elevators for some time. We only call them trains.
But a turbo lift, at least one defined in Star Trek, is an elevator car that can travel in all directions. It can not only go up and down, but left, right, forewords, and backwards as well. Only that no one has been able to figure out how to do it. Well, lacking a life of my own, I have been giving the mater some thought.
Here is what I have come up with thus far.
First off, we start with the car. Using east, west, north, south, we would have conventional elevator exits located in the north and south of the passenger car. Conventionl that you have two sets of doors. One set built on the far, and the other set built into the structure or "receptacle." The car would have to line itself up to the receptacle to depart its passengers. Underneath the car is a set of convention rail trolleys, including a standard third rail to provide power. This trolley would allow the car to displace itself east and west.
Now in each of the four corners facing outwards, is a set of three rubber wheals, not unlike that of a car tire, mounted to a wheal assembly or VTA (Vertical Traction Assembly). (In fact, a car tire would be an ideal wheal.) The VTA would then be mounted to a VSDR or Vertical Suspension/Drive Rack. This gives a total of twelve VTA's, with three VTA's for each VSDR. This builds in a redundancy, so that if one VTA should suffer a critical failure, the other two will still permit the car to lower itself to safety.
Construction of a VTA; Vertical Traction Assembly, and the VSDR; Vertical Suspension/Drive Rack. Each VTA would be made in the following manner. First the traction tire. As I said before, a conventional auto tire and hub would be ideal. The hub would then be mounted to a brake/clutch assembly built in such a way that the brake is passively engaged. Unlike an automobile brake where the brake at rest is retracted, this brake will be fully engaged when at rest, most likely powered by a spring or exotic material. The brake/clutch would then be connected to a drive motor, and then in turn connected to a steering mechanism that would align the VTA to the elevator shaft track. From there, the assembly would be mounted onto the VSDR. The VSDR consist of an arm that holds the VTA against the elevator track, and again should be passively powered by a spring/shock absorber.
The VSDR will press the VTA against the vertical elevator track. With twelve in place, the car would be able to suspend itself vertically. That is one reason for the rubber tire as friction will play a vital role. The Brake/Clutch assembly would then keep each wheal immobile, preventing an uncontrolled decent. The VSDR would also have a landing arm that could swing out and be planted on a landing platform or hook eye, adding another layer of safety when the car is parked.
Ascending / Descending When the car is ordered to move up or down, the following things happen. First, power must be applied to the drive motor. Only when the motor is applying sufficient torque, will power then bee applied to the brake/clutch assembly to retract the brake. If the landing arm has been deployed, the car will then lift far enough to retract the arm. Then, the car is resting on the torque provided by the twelve drive motors, maintaining a "neutral bouncy." From there, the car can make an assent or decent.
Horizontal movement. At the bottom of the vertical elevator shaft will the horizontal running tracks. As the car fully descends, it will settle itself onto the horizontal tracks. Once fully "landed", power will be applied to the VSDR's to over come the passive springs pressing them outward, then locked into place. The power supply will then switch from the vertical track, to the horizontal track. The car is now free to move horizontally, now behaving like a small subway car.
The process can easily be reverse. When the car is ordered to assigned, it will move to position itself at the bottom of the shaft, then deploy the VSDRs, then switch to the vertical shaft's power supply, and it will be able to ascend.
Horizontal travel at the top of the shaft is possible as well, but would be a bit more complex, assuming it was designed to swing up a set of horizontal tracks under the car, then lock them into place. The car could then descend onto the elevated horizontal tracks. Do this, and you could have cars moving up a one shaft, then descending down another. You could also place several cars in one shaft, or even shuffle the cars to have them "hop" out of order.
Fire protocol. One problem with conventional elevators is in order to accommodate the cables, the shaft has to be left unobstructed. This makes the shaft itself a fire hazard as it acts like a giant chimney that ventilates the fire and smoke.
With a self powered H-V Car, fire doors could be opened and closed every few floors, with each door being opened only to allow a car to pass, then closing behind it. This could possibly allow such a car to be more reliable and safer to use in times of emergency. This was one problem encountered with the World Trade Center. Once the plains impacted, they very quickly took out the elevators, removing the fastest means to evacuate the building. If the cars were independent of any suspension cables, then the cars beneath the crash sight would still be able to function, and possibly aid with the evacuation.
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