GO93004-SkyTrain-Interactive-app2.doc
Executive Summary
Inventions and
Innovations
Sol# DE-PS35p03GO93004
Interactive Monorail Energy Research Display
H. Eric Sonnichsen Karl
W. Guenther Wilfred
Sergeant PE
Chairman CEO VP
Operations
Test Devices, Inc. Sky
Train Corp Sky Train Corp
Hudson, MA 01749 Palm Harbor, FL 34684 Largo
Fl, 33770
978-562-6017 x232 727-939-2177 727-584-8122
Cell: 978-273-5998 727-409-2213 727-692-9595
Fax: 978-562-7939 727-939-1271 727-582-9286
esonic@testdevices.com info@skytraincorp.com wilfstco@gte.net
www.testdevices.com www.skytraincorp.com/us.htm www.skytraincorp.com
District 5 District 9 District
10
Steven E Polzin PhD
PE Dale Burch Bruce
Russell
Deputy Director President Director
of Design
USF/CUTR Elevator Design Baxter Healthcare
813-974-9849 301-472-4610 727-442-0493
813-974-5186 301-472-4620 727-544-5050-2059
District 11 District 5 District 9
Forming a
joint venture involving Sky Train Corporation, the Museum of Science &
Industry the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the
· Nonproprietary summary of proposed project, including project benefits and all project participants, suitable for public release.
Funding is requested for a grant
to create an “interactive display” in a science forum for educational purposes
to demonstrate combinations of solar arrays, short-term flywheel energy
storage, and long-term battery storage powering a steel wheel monorail in
public service.
The objective creates a display
room that will catalog visibly the controlled environment measuring various
combinations for power regeneration with demonstration with meters and energy
flow indicators, measure and achieve the most cost effective circuit maximizing
efficiency and life cycle cost of the components.
This system will be a public
display of worldwide firsts:
Timing of this request is the proposed integration of this system with the new $16 million dollar “Interactive Children’s Museum” now in its design phases.
Why the proposed project is
appropriate for the domestic industry
This energy saving method would
combine the latest technology of light rail with the latest in energy saving
technology. It would allow steel wheel monorails using overall 60 to 80% less
energy and further reduce it through regeneration. Monorails have always been
the darlings of the public. Current designs with pneumatic tires and preloaded
steering components require low speed, high maintenance and much higher power
consumption than do the competing steel wheel/rail vehicles. We cite
Due to changes in the public
process that allows more public input it has become a mandate that monorails
are demanded by the public.
Monorails offered today are
predominantly rubber tired, bottom supported as the Alweg design now being
built at the cited locations. Also they come as a suspended design also on
rubber tires. There is an exception operating on a single steel rail since 1901
in
Sky Train is close to completing
the first duorail system in 1/8 scale with the 501-C3
group Largo Central Railroad club. This is funded in part by a TRDA,
Identify the total project costs and the
total amount of federal and non-federal cost share proposed for each project
partner (itemize the financial commitment of each participant).
The required funds to do the pricing and catalog the rearranged design in detail drawings prior to formal bid will for four Sky Train personnel. Input from other members and travel is included. $145,000
Expected
costs to other parties like the Center for Urban Transportation Research /
USF 75,000
Grand total: $215,000.00
Justification for DOE funding.
To advance the development of a monorail system that reduces power consumption 50 to 80% below rubber tire systems and adds the possibility for a monorail to carry freight at faster speeds with greater comfort and safety without requiring new technological research but just to re-engineer modern LRT technology.
Upon collaboration with
manufacturers and test facilities data it was found that under harsh discharge
and recharge conditions lead acid batteries have a life cycle of 1000 cycles.
Flywheel systems for energy storage have a life of 10,000,000 cycles. Each has
a different capacity for energy absorption upon regeneration. Most documented
flywheels are hardwired with control circuits into the system. This does not
produce maximum energy savings. We have envisioned with the supplier a circuit
where the sources can be manipulated to allow charge/discharge rates to be
moderated extending life cycles of equipment and increasing energy savings.
1.1 Describe how your invention is
directly related to EERE’s Offices and Programs.
Ultimately the invention brings direct
benefits in six different ways -
1.2 Describe the product, process, system, or
material comprising the invention.
The test environment will connect
the South’s largest
The product is a modified mode of
light rail transit, identified as the Overhead-Suspended Light Rail (OSLR)
system. The simplified description is:
Discuss the invention’s
technical advantages over the current technologies and identify the features
that are innovative.
1.3 Technical advantages
The technical advantages derive
from the particular combination of well-established individual mechanical
features combined in a new way to achieve a new mode of transportation. The
innovative features are:
The advantages derive from two different
aspects of the invention at patent pending status.
One aspect is in comparison with
modern Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems where the tracks are laid at grade,
either in streets or in separate rights of way. The invention uses the same
technology, but incorporating new features to put it into the form of an
Overhead-Suspended Light Rail (OSLR) system.
The other aspect is in the freedom
for the suspended bodies to swing outwards on curves. The amount of swing can
exceed 100, but the ultimate limit could be much higher and has been
defined. This compares with bottom -supported systems, where the limit of
superelevation in the track normally does not exceed 60. The special
advantages of freedom to swing out are:
Identify the scientific
and engineering basis for the invention’s operation to show that the invention
is well developed
1.4 Scientific basis
The invention is based upon
engineering analysis in the following way:
The angle of superelevation that
steel wheels can tolerate without slipping sideways has been tested experimentally
using 1/8th scale models on a tilt table. A full laboratory report is available
in a book of six pages, available on our web site with photos.
We are currently constructing a
1/8th scale model of the OSLR vehicle and duct that will allow performance
testing and photography for promotional and additional testing purposes. We are
assured of participation by the MEMS staff and laboratory equipment with
instrumentation to demonstrate and measure the accelerations involved. The same
participation will extend to full-scale operations when this stage is reached.
See our submission–accelerometer-app1
1.5 Identify technical hurdles,
and discuss how they will be overcome.
Since the intent is to use
standard and proven LRT components, we have not found engineering hurdles that
could not be designed out. There are three other technical hurdles:
Large scale progress will be
possible when a client completes a business relationship with financing to
progress in stages from site selection, preliminary design and costing, final
design and manufacture, installation on site and testing, finally opening to
public service.
Discuss prior work to
date that supports the current stage of development
Presently
our staff has participation from 3 Professional Engineers and one PhD holding
stock options with letters of support from various manufacturers who understand
our product features and are prepared to quote, see below list. We have
qualified our concept since 1995 when we also incorporated wind tunnel tests at
Illinois Institute of Technology. We have reviewed on a continuing basis with
universities and the Center for Urban Transportation Research applying for
mutual grants. We have acceptance of the concept with the TRDA for limited
funding to permit protection of intellectual properties (Patenting). We have
patents pending. We have performed and produced comparative reports for Senator
Sebesta our Florida Transportation Committee Chairman. We have done numerous
calculations, collaborations and electronic wind tunnel comparisons shown in
our PowerPoint presentations that are also available by request.
After
the pricing study we will prove that we have an extremely competitive monorail.
Our 1/8 scale model will validate this concept within the next 4 – 6 months.
And the stage after this will be a build initiative.
Briefly identify in lay terms the
specific product or process expected to be sold
The ultimate product will be an
Overhead-Suspended Light Rail (OSLR) system using modern Light Rail Transit
(LRT) technology offering low energy consumption, energy regeneration, smooth
ride and higher speeds on curves than currently possible on modern
bottom-supported monorails on pneumatic tires or LRT on steel wheels.
For category 2 applications, go on
to describe the product or process and its commercial uniqueness and benefits.
The immediate product is an
interactive display in a control room and out on board the vehicles in an OSLR
installation serving a useful purpose of short-haul transportation in the
context of a science museum.
Once displayed this will be the
selected technology. It will be commercially unique by reason of applying
modern LRT technology in an overhead-suspended system, thereby incorporating
all the benefits of LRT plus the benefits derived from overhead-suspension.
Is the commercialization of your
invention dependent on the development of other technologies?
No. All that is required
technically is to re-engineer modern LRT technology into an overhead-suspended
mode. Adding energy saving devices will serve the new thrust and use of this
rearranged technology. The use of flywheel technology is a recent development
now in use on some transit lines., and in this case it will be the design
criteria and focus. Any item in the circuit can also be modified as new
alternatives are suggested. The input of Test Devices Inc., dealing with the
Center for Transportation and the Environment (was SCAT) in this area can also
bring additional funds and information.
Describe who will buy your product
and estimate the total
The
The world market in vehicles is
$22 billions annually, of which the
State what commercialization
strategy the applicant intends to use.
We are working with MOSI to
develop an installation in the museum for short-haul transportation that will
serve the purposes of the museum while creating a demonstration site for
promotion of the technique worldwide. Thereafter this corporation will
re-organize into a supply facility with capacity to contract and manage
projects for clients wherever offering.
In addition to the above, category 2 applications
shall address the following:
Describe what evidence there is
that industry is interested specifically in the proposed product/process.
In September 2000 Sky Train has been short listed in
the second national Futurist Workshop sponsored by the President's National
Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Transportation R&D whose
purpose was to define the transportation Systems of the 21st
century. In 2001 a joint venture SkyRail UK Ltd. was formed developing the
European market. An interesting
application in the
Our main marketing tool has been our web site linked to the
Identify anticipated barriers to
implementing the proposed commercialization strategy, and explain how these
barriers will be overcome.
Barriers to Sky Train are the lack
of funding for for-profit Corporations.
Our first Grant came from the
Technology Research and Development Authority, which is matching present
patenting and the 1/8 scale regenerative model now past the half way mark. A
drawing and Architects rendering is shown on our non-public web site at www.skytraincorp.com/us.htm
formed for administrators and purchasers of systems.
We have created close interest
with investment groups both in the
Present the estimated total cost
to bring the technology to market.
Explain how the product or process will be sold and delivered to the end
users, and indicate whether distribution channels are currently available.
Expected cost past this expected
technology and costing phase of $215,000.00 will be in the order of $3 to $5
millions to build a ˝ mile system for a museum exhibit used for transportation.
Letters from manufacturers ready to build are also available. They include
Discuss the invention’s energy
savings and compare the savings to existing and commercially available
technologies.
3.1 Energy savings derive from two
different current transportation systems: the automobile on the highway; and
the modern monorail systems market on the "Alweg" system, where the
vehicles run on pneumatic tires.
Gasoline consumption for
automobiles is of the order of 25 to 30 miles per gallon. Allowing 1.4
passengers in the car yields the figure of 38 passenger miles per gallon. Fuel
consumption on city buses is of the order of 4 to 5 miles per gallon for a
30-seat bus, yielding 139 passenger miles per gallon. The rolling resistance of
pneumatic tires under a bus is 40lbs per ton, while steel wheels offer a
resistance of 4lbs per ton, rising to 8 lbs per ton at speed, a five times
reduction. But light rail vehicles carry up to from 4 to 6 passengers per ton
of car weight we used an average figure of 4.2, so the equivalent fuel
consumption for the OSLR will be the bus figure multiplied by 5 then by 4.2
yielding our final figure of 796 passenger miles per gallon.
The automobile on the highway
consumes in equivalent passenger-capacity miles per gallon: bus 139, automobile
38, Alweg monorail on rubber tires 167, OSLR 796. Thus OSLR offers a
proportional reduction from the automobile of 21 times, equal to a 5%
consumption rate, and a reduction from the Alweg monorail of 4.7 times equal to
a 21% consumption rate.
Transit systems on pneumatic
rarely consider regeneration systems because the losses in the rubber tires
make the effort hardly worthwhile. Steel wheels have much lower losses to
rolling resistance, so that regeneration is attractive where suitable energy
storage systems are available. This proposal covers experimentation in a
science museum context to demonstrate and measure the proportion of kinetic
energy that can be recovered from the OSLR vehicles through regeneration during
braking. This will further reduce the energy consumption of steel wheel
vehicles.
Criterion 4.0: Economic and
Environmental Benefits
Discuss the economic and
environmental benefits of the proposed technology.
4.1 The proposed technology offers
a massive reduction (As much as 90%) in energy consumption and of gasoline in
automobiles by transferring transportation from automobile onto steel-rail
monorail services, first in cities then by extensions into intercity services.
This greatly reduces CO2 emissions, consumption of energy and
materials at source and improves the quality of life across the nation.
Productivity improves because travelers are released from the tedium of sitting
at the wheel driving, and time in transit is reduced because journeys are no
longer obstructed in congested streets and highways.
The commercially available
technology being affected is the automobile and the highway first in cities
then later nation-wide. Modern development in cities has grown around the
highways because the economy of public transit prevented provision of
alternative transport systems. Developers were forced to depend upon the
available infrastructure, the automobile and the highway. Congestion has
reached limits where the cost of expanding highway is beyond the financial
capacity of the developed communities to support it.
The other commercially available
technology being affected is in the modern demand for monorail systems in many
The capital and maintenance costs
of light rail systems are the lowest of all modes of transit. The proposal
installs the same technology in an overhead-suspended form, enhancing the
attraction for commuters, travelers and other transit users to move onto the
new services. Economically OSLR reduces the obligation on the citizens to
provide themselves with all the financial resources of transit vehicle miles,
gas consumption, parking, and driving time in transit. Statistically from 10%
to 20% of citizens cannot afford or do not have access to their own cars.
Environmentally OSLR removes from the streets and highways a good proportion of
miles run by automobiles, with improvements in congestion, air pollution,
groundwater pollution from exhaust carbon and worn rubber tires, accident
risks, conflict with pedestrians and simpler movement of emergency vehicles,
fire trucks and ambulance services.
4.2 Quantitatively
discuss the invention’s economic and environmental benefits over
competing/existing and commercially available technologies.
A short time ago we prepared a
quantitative analysis in the form of a 30-page document. This can be made
available at your request.
In summary, the findings were:
OSLR offers new industry for County, State, and Nation. Bringing to the level of a full industry requires a development program leading to constructing a first installation. The program by steps would comprise: site location; preliminary design and costing; funding for demonstration project; construct and test; extensions in public service; world marketing. The authority rests with local governments to apply for State and Federal funding programs for OSLR technology development.
5.1
State the project objective in a narrative form, and
clearly indicate what the applicant will achieve with the project funds
(include federal and cost share funds, if any).
The funds will be used to work
with MOSI to define the materials and the locations used, with the circuit
design and costing of the system.
5.2
Include a task/milestone table that includes an organized
list of tasks, with estimated timeframes,
Task 1) 2 months: KWG and WS work
with MOSI to define the location and service expected of the installation. We
will work with the staff of MOSI to prepare schematic diagrams of the proposed
layout, both for the physical layouts and the control systems.
Task 2) 4 months: WS and BR
research metering systems and display materials to display energy flow and
energy stored as a percentage of available storage capacity. The design is to
install control panels, meters and displays both at the control room and on the
vehicles that will be visible to technicians and visitors. The information
collected will enable defining the ultimate combination to be included.
Task 3) 4 months: WS, BR and VS
develop control circuitry and switching systems, with control panels accessible
to administrators and public visitors. The work will arrive at a final design
specifying the materials to be installed in the control room and the vehicles
connected into the power control and energy storage circuits.
Task 4) 6 months: KWG, BR and VS
Call bids, develop costs with suppliers, create final cost estimates, find
adequate funding to cover the installation, let contracts for supply and
installation. Although this work defines the control systems envisioned, this
does not ensure that the proposed short-haul transit system shall be installed.
Other financing must be sort to meet the expenses of installing the complete
system.
Task 5) 6 months: KWG and WS
supervise manufacture and installation, BR and VS execute testing, final
acceptance and settlement of accounts. Once financing for the complete system
is assured, work will proceed on placing orders for manufacture and
installation of the system. Testing comprises proving that the materials as supplied
meet the details of the purchase specification, and that the operation of the
control system adequately serves the purpose of local transportation, and of
scientific and technical education.
5.3 Include a detailed description
and expected results in narrative form for each task
Task 1) will provide diagrams and
listings of materials and their functions as required to proceed to the next
task.
Task 2) will receive from
instrument makers and suppliers performance specifications and market prices
for materials available of their manufacture.
Task 3) will provide drawings and
purchase specifications for the purpose of advancing to ordering, manufacture
and installation of the short-haul transit system. Other financing must be
assured to fund this construction project.
Task 4) will have staff members
contacting potential suppliers and construction companies to obtain final cost
estimates and define the processes for purchase and installation. This
responsibility also involves continuing to make presentations to potential
sources of funds to enable the project to advance to the stage of construction.
Task 5) will proceed after funding
is assured to cover the costs of construction and operation. Orders will be
placed for manufacture and installation of the whole project. The work is
completed when the transit system is tested and authorized for full operation
including the transportation of passengers over the short distance involved.
5.4 Discuss roles and
responsibilities of each team member.
Karl W. Guenther is the Chief
Executive Officer who will be responsible for the business aspects of the
project. He will apply his business knowledge and credentials to those aspects
of the project.
Wilfred Sergeant is a professional
Engineer with career experience in most technical aspects of rail
transportation systems. He will be responsible for the technical aspects of
transposing the technicallities of LRT systems into an overhead-suspended form.
Bruce Russell is a design engineer
with previous experience in designs for monorail systems, although not the
overhead-suspended version. He will define and supervise the work of detail
designs, construction of the components and assembly.
Victor Sergeant is a professional
engineer with career experience in marketing rail vehicles, sales contracting,
design, delivery and putting into service of high-power rail machines. He will
carry special responsibilities for design of circuitry and metering of energy
flows associated with the performance characteristics of the vehicles and power
supply systems.
6.1
Describe the technical/commercialization experience
of key personnel, including those of team members or partners. Include resumes with additional information.
Karl W. Guenther,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Also President of SkyRail UK Limited, the joint venture in the
Mr.
Guenther is listed in the, "Who’s Who" national directory of
executives and professionals. Mr. Guenther began pursuing Physics at
Wilfred Sergeant PE,
Vice President, Planning and Operations. Mr. Sergeant is a member of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers, and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the
Victor Sergeant PE,
Vice President, Overseas Markets. Mr. Sergeant is a member of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers, and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in