The Urbanaut® Monorail
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Introduction Basic Principle Vehicles & Capacities Guideways Stations Switching Technology Center
Bogies & Propulsion Adaptability Comparisons Technical Specifications Cost Data Projects & Feasibility Studies Corporate Information References

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URBANAUT ®
VEHICLES AND GUIDEWAY TECHNICAL DATA
 FOR AN INTERMEDIATE SIZE SYSTEM

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).
 Walk-through from end-to-end of train

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)               3.0m   (10ft)
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 in single vehicle:    2.8m   (9.3ft)
c)         High floor in trains:                   3.2m (10.5ft)

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 guide rail or inside of guideway

2.        Propulsion:                    Alt I:  Powerful electromagnetic motor, in-wheel direct
                                         drive  propulsion, with gear

 Alt II:  Maglev linear induction motor (MLIM)

3.        Service braking:           Dynamic regenerative

4.        Emergency braking:    Drum or electric disk 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 approximately 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

   c)    Special foundations with multiple pilings

2.     Width at surface:      1.2m (4.0ft) wide concrete slab (with center rail)

3.     Width of elevated prefabricated concrete beam way or hybrid composite structure with concrete running slab:         1.1m (43 in)

4.     Height of elevated beam way (normal):  1.0m (40in) + guide rail = 0.4m (15in)

5.     Length of spans:     30m (100ft) to 45m (150ft) depending on local
        applications.

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 (4 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 switch (for off-line stations and maintenance yard)

   Type d:   Passive switch for low speed vehicles and service.

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&d 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

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