GB2360989A - Moveable road surface - Google Patents

Abstract

The surface comprises a plurality of parallel powered rotatable rollers 1. Preferably, the powered rollers 1 comprise inverted induction motors each having a rotor disposed about a fixed stator. Interspersed between the rollers 1 are freely rotatable rollers 6. Multiple lanes are formed of parallel series of rollers. Roadways according to the invention will provide a transport system that is more efficient, generates less pollution causes fewer road accidents and uses less fuel.

Description

1 Roads 235)989

The invention relates to the field of moving roadways.

The proliferation of road traffic is an ever-increasing global problem. more and more vehicles are being introduced, leading to traffic jams, road accidents, pollution problems and over-reliance on fossil fuels.

is one reason for this problem is the antiquated design of roadways. Roads have remained substantially the same since Roman times, although some improvements have been made to the road surface. However, the roadways themselves are stationary, requiring any vehicles travelling thereon to use propulsion means of some sort. The commonest means of propulsion on current roads is the petrol-driven internal combustion engine, which is one of the greatest sources of Carbon Monoxide in the atmosphere and consumes large quantities of non-renewable fossil fuels.

There is therefore a requirement for an improved device avoiding the above disadvantages. In particular, there is a requirement for a transport system that is more efficient, generates less pollution (in particular, Carbon Monoxide), causes fewer road accidents and uses less fuel.

2 It is an object of the present invention to fulfil the above requirements.

According to the above object, the invention provides a roadway which comprises a series of powered rotating rollers, the rollers being disposed substantially parallel to each other. Advantageously, the speed of rotation of each roller in the said series is substantially equal.

Preferably, free-running rollers are provided between the powered rollers, the free-running rollers being disposed substantially parallel to the powered rollers, the uppermost points on the surfaces of the free-running rollers and the powered rollers being substantially coplanar.

is Advantageously, the said powered rotating rollers are electrically powered. Preferably, each said powered rotating roller comprises an inverted induction motor. Particularly preferably, each said powered rotating roller comprises a generally cylindrical rotor surrounding a fixed stator disposed along its longitudinal axis, a rotating magnetic field being generated in the stator, the said rotating magnetic field inducing rotation of the rotor.

Preferably, at least two said series of rollers are disposed side by side to form plural lanes.

3 For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which show schematically various embodiments of the present invention. The figures are not to scale.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a partial cross section of the roadway according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a cross-section through plane AA' in Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a possible road layout incorporating the invention.

In Figure 1, a number of powered rollers (1) are shown disposed side by side. Each roller (1) rotates around a central shaft (2) and is supported by a robust metal support plate (3). The support plates (3) are securely fixed to railway sleepers (4) which are buried in a suitable support material (5). The rollers rotate on bearings (not shown) in the direction shown by the arrows. Free-running rollers (6) are provided to level up the notional road surface, which is shown as a dotted line (7).

Each powered roller (1) is preferably constructed in the form of an induction motor and has an outer covering (8) comprising a suitable hardwearing material such as rubber. Details of construction of the induction motor are not shown as suitable configurations are wellknown to those skilled in the art. Such a motor may typically comprise a rotating outer rotor disposed around an axial stator. Each 4 roller (1) may typically be 0.3 metres in diameter and 3.6 metres long. Electrical connections (not shown) are provided to the various motor components. Each roller may therefore consist of an inverted induction motor, which may typically require a 3-phase 440 volt 50Hz supply. Each said powered roller may therefore comprise a generally cylindrical rotor surrounding a fixed stator disposed along its longitudinal axis, a rotating magnetic field being generated in the stator, the said rotating magnetic field inducing rotation of the rotor. Pole pieces are provided, their number being dependent on the 10 required speed.

Figure 2 is a partial cross-section along plane AA, of Figure 1. Corresponding parts bear the same figure numbers.

is Switching means and control means (not shown) are provided in order to start up the system of rollers. Speed control means may also be provided. It is envisaged that once up and running, the system will remain in operation 24 hours a day.

Figure 3 shows a typical motorway using the invention. The road layout comprises a number of lanes (12 - 19) separated by a central reservation (20). Slip roads (21,22) allow traffic on and off the motorway respectively, and arrows (23, 24) show the general direction of traffic on each part of the motorway. The outermost lanes (12, 19) are hard shoulders, which are not normally used for traffic. Emergency lanes (13, 18) are provided. These are not roadways according to the invention, but are conventional road surfaces which may be used by e.g. emergency vehicles. The innermost lanes (14, 15, 16, 17) are constructed according to the invention, being constructed of powered rollers (1) and free-running rollers (not shown); two (14, 15) moving traffic in the direction of arrow 23 and two (16, 17) in the opposite direction (24).

It is envisaged that a motorised vehicle e.g. a car will drive on to the roadway using e.g. a slip road (21). The vehicle will drive on to a powered lane (e.g. 14) negotiating any traffic already there. The vehicle can then switch off power and be carried along by the roadway, which may be travelling at e.g. 60 mph. Should the driver wish to switch lanes, the engine may be switched on and the car moved as desired. When the driver wishes to leave the motorway, the engine is again switched on and the driver steers the car onto an exit road (e.g. 22). A mechanism such as an intermediate-speed powered lane (not shown) may be required to provide a gradual increase in speed of the road surface prior to entry on the main roadway. Alternatively, sufficient room may be provided so that cars can attain the required speed for safe entry on to the roadway. It is preferred that a minimum distance (e.g. two cars' lengths) is kept between vehicles so as to allow room for cars to manoeuvre in this way.

Roadways such as those proposed may be used as alternatives to current roadways, particularly motorways. Alternatively, roadways such as those of the invention may be used in addition to current 6 roadways. For example, it may be possible to provide raised moving roadways over the current, stationary roadways, so that traffic travelling into a town or city may choose either to drive on the stationary or moving roadway. Alternatively, the roadway may be raised so as to provide parking space underneath. A system of toll booths may be provided at the entrances / exits of the moving roadway network.

A moving road surface is therefore proposed which comprises a plurality of rotating rollers. Preferably, the powered rotating rollers comprise inverted induction motors having a rotor disposed about a fixed stator. Roadways according to the invention will provide a transport system that is more efficient, generates less pollution (in particular, Carbon Monoxide), causes fewer road accidents and uses less fuel.

7

Claims (1)

1. A roadway comprising a series of powered rotating rollers (1), the rollers being disposed substantially parallel to each other.

is 2. A roadway according to claim 1 wherein the speed of rotation of each roller in the said series is substantially equal.

A roadway according to any previous claim in which freerunning rollers (6) are provided between the powered rollers (1), the free-running rollers being disposed substantially parallel to the powered rollers, the uppermost points on the surfaces of the free-running rollers and the powered rollers being substantially coplanar.

4.

A roadway according to any previous claim wherein the said powered rotating rollers are electrically powered.

A roadway according to claim 4 wherein each said powered rotating roller comprises an inverted induction motor.

A roadway according to claim 5 wherein each said powered rotating roller comprises a generally cylindrical rotor surrounding a fixed stator disposed along its longitudinal axis, a rotating magnetic field being generated in the stator, 8 the said rotating magnetic field inducing rotation of the rotor.

7. A roadway according to any previous claim wherein at least two said series of rollers are disposed side by side to form plural lanes.

8. A roadway substantially as herein described andAllustrated in the accompanying drawings.