Technology
In This Section
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A. Vehicle Type and Adaptation
1. Type of vehicle: Monorail vehicle on top of runway
2.
Guideway Layout: Any type of configuration (loops or
bi-directional)
Vehicles are easily switched from one guideway to another, elevated,
tunnel or surface.
3. Applications: Freeways, urban areas, city centers, park and ride systems, shopping center, airports, exhibitions, tourist resorts, sports and recreation.
B. Vehicle and Train Combinations:
1. Single vehicles with low or high floor
2. Dual vehicles (2 end cars)
3. Standard minimum train: 3 vehicles
4. Components for all trains:
Front car
Rear car
Middle car
5. Example: 7 car train: 2 end cars + 5 middle cars
6. Vehicle combinations: High and low floor (Flexible seating for high floor)
7. Walking space provided from front to rear end of each train
C. Vehicle Dimensions:
1. Overall width : 2.35m (7.5ft)
2. Single vehicle lengths
Type a (PRT type) 3.65m
(12ft)
Type
b: 5.5m (18ft)
Type
c: 7.3m (24ft)
Type d (Standard type) 9.0m
(30ft)
Middle cars for trains: 5.7m
(22ft)
3. Overall height:
a) PRT Type:
2.0m (6.6ft)
b) Low floor vehicle: 2.8m
(9.3ft)
c) High floor vehicle: 3.0m
(10.0ft)
4. Floor to ceiling height: 2.05m (6.7ft)
5. Doorway opening outside sliders: 2.0m (6.6ft) height x 1.25m (4.1ft) width;
6.
Number of doors for end car: 2
Number of doors for middle car: 2 or 4
D. Vehicle Weights (Empty)
1. Single Vehicle: Varies with length
2. Train of vehicles:
a. End cars: 3,500kg
(7,700 lbs)
b.
Middle cars: 3,200kg (7,000lbs)
E. Vehicle Components:
1. Car body: Composite, stainless steel and/or Aircraft aluminum
2. Bogie: Aluminum, composite material, or stainless steel
3. Windows: Fixed, tinted safety glass
4. Doors: Laterally moveable, tinted safety glass
5. Tires & Wheels: (Standard) 2 traction tires + 4 guide tires on aluminum wheels for each bogie, special high load capability, easily replaceable, with run flat safety tire inserts. Optional: Bogie with steel wheels.
F. Vehicle Mechanical,
Electrical and Control
1. Primary power: 750 AC, substation line voltage mounted to inside of guideway applying insulated power rails
2. Propulsion: Alt I: Powerful magnet motor, in-wheel direct drive propulsion
Alt II: Maglev linear induction motor (MLIM)
3. Service braking: Dynamic regenerative
4. Emergency braking: Drum or electric brake
5. Suspension: Pneumatic and springs
6. Air Conditioning: Redundant, high capacity
7. Fire Safety: Design and materials to meet ASTM E-119 and NFPA compliant
G. Vehicle Emergency Evacuation: Special provision for evacuating passenger for elevated guideways
H. Automatic Vehicle Control:
Consists of 3 vital safety sub-systems:
a) Automatic Vehicle Propulsion
b) Automatic Vehicle Operation
c) Automatic Vehicle Supervision
The equipment is distributed along the inside of the guide way and at the central control station.
I. Passenger Service and Communication
Automatic ticketing, Audio-Visual Communication on vehicle and at stations.
J. Substations Power Supply: Located along guideway approx. every 2.0 km (1.25 miles)
Power required at each substation: Standard 15 km
K. Guideway – Elevated Beam way, Concrete Slab for Tunnel and Surface
Special elevated structures and stations designed off-street, that do not interfere with street traffic.
1. Foundation: a) Standard spread concrete type
b) Standard Pile Foundation
2. Width at surface: 1.2m (4.0ft) wide slab (with center rail)
3. Width of elevated prefabricated concrete beam way or hybrid structure with concrete running slab: 1.0m (40 in)
4. Height of elevated beam way (normal): 1.0m (40in) + guide rail = 0.5m (20in)
5. Length of spans: 30m (100ft) to 45m (150ft) depending on system
6. Minimum clearance height under beam and cantilevers: 4.5m (15ft)
7. Gradient (slope): 12%
8. Min. horizontal curve: 38m (125ft)
9. Min. vertical curve: 300m (1000ft)
L. Guideway Switches (3 types – depending on application):
Type a: Multiple High Speed Guideway Switch – Flexing of Guide rail
Type b: Non-flexible swivel (for 2 guide ways crossing at same level)
Type c: On-board magnetic switch (for off-line stations and maintenance yard)
M. Vehicle Performance Characteristics
Max. Speed (Standard): a. 100 km/hr (60mph) for stations less than 1.6 km (1.0 miles) apart
b. For stations further apart, the max. speed can be increased
Max. Acceleration 1.2 m/sec2 (3.9ft/sec2)
Max Deceleration: (Normal) 1.2 m/sec2 (3.9ft/sec2)
Min. vehicle operational turning radius: 38m (125ft) (Smaller turning ability at L-c above)
Min. Interval between trains: Standard 1˝ minutes (90 secs.)
N. Vehicle and Train Passenger Capacity:
Single PRT Vehicle Type a: 6 Seated + Wheel Chair
Single Vehicle Type b: 10 Seated + 25 Standees + 1 wheel chair
Single Vehicle Type c: 18 Seated + 25 Standees + 2 wheel chairs
3-Car train, nominal loading: 58 Seated + 72 Standees
Max. Capacity, Large Train:
25,000 pph or more on single guide way
50,000 pph
or more on dual guide way
