FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
& The Patent Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
1.TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
UNDERGROUND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS
IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT
2. APPLICANT:
Name: VINCI CONSTRUCTION
Nationality: France
Address: 5, cours Ferdinand de Lesseps, 92500 RUEIL-MALMAISON, France.
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:
The present invention relates to the distribution of goods in an urban environment.
Carrying goods right into the heart of a city is currently performed chiefly
using vehicles such as trucks, and this poses multiple problems.
First of all, because the vast majority of these vehicles are combustion engine
vehicles, their circulation contributes to the atmospheric pollution of the 5 cities. Next, the
goods distribution time is lengthened because of congestion on the main traffic routes.
There is therefore a need to facilitate and speed-up the distribution of goods in
an urban environment.
A system for the automated conveying of goods has been proposed in
10 application CN 105046474, comprising a pipeline in a loop with a certain number of
branches off it. The pipeline is fitted with rails which serve to electrically power the
vehicles circulating in it.
Patent application US 2002/0062759 discloses an automated transport system
of the point-to-point type comprising multiple autonomous containers moving on rails in
15 galleries running for example under dwellings at a small depth or on the surface. Each
container may be moved by an electric motor. Such a system is not designed to transport a
high volume of goods and is not suitable for serving an entire conglomeration, with a daily
goods tonnage typically of several hundred if not thousand tons. In addition, the
installation of the pathways along which the containers circulate needs to be performed in
20 concert with the planning of the dwellings through which the pathway passes, because the
pathways are, at least some of them, arranged at the same depth as the basements of these
dwellings.
The invention seeks to further improve the goods distribution systems in order
to provide an answer to the problem of distributing goods to the heart of cities.
25 One subject of the invention is thus, according to a first aspect of the invention,
an underground distribution system for the distribution of goods in an urban environment,
comprising:
- at least one micro-tunnel forming at least one loop extending under the
foundations of preexisting surface buildings and/or infrastructures, underground or
30 otherwise, in which goods, particularly packaged in loading units, notably containers or
goods on pallets, the transportation of which is automated, circulate,
3
- a plurality of exchange stations exchanging with the surface, each
comprising a shaft allowing goods, notably loading units, to be lowered down to the
micro-tunnel and raised back up after they have been transported within the micro-tunnel.
The invention provides an answer to the problem of the logistics of the
penultimate kilometer in a dense urban environment by allowing the transport 5 loop to be
buried to a relatively great depth. Such a depth avoids, or even minimizes, interference
with existing buildings. The invention also makes it possible to reduce urban pollution.
The choice of a micro-tunnel from which to create the transport loop allows the
use of proven techniques, and allows the underground system to be created at a cost that is
10 compatible with the economic interests involved.
In addition, the transport system comprises at least one ordering station for
ordering the goods to be injected into the loop and to be distributed by means of the
exchange stations situated on the loop. This ordering station is preferably connected by at
least one two-directional transport line to the loop, notably to at least one exchange station
15 of the loop.
The ordering station allows the goods rounds to be prepared notably so that the
goods grouped together within one and the same loading unit corresponds to a delivery
arriving at one and the same exchange station, at which the loading unit will be taken out
of the loop formed by the micro-tunnel and raised back up to the surface, to be taken in
20 hand by a fleet of electric vehicles, for example, which will carry these goods to their final
destination.
The presence of one or more ordering stations on the periphery of the system
and of the city served by the loop makes it possible to manage a high throughput of goods
and to inject a high quantity of goods into the loop more easily than could be done by
25 exchange stations situated on the loop itself and which communicate with shafts liable to
be relatively narrow.
In addition, the line may slope and the ordering station may be buried, in so far
as its underground installations are concerned, at a lesser depth than the depth to which the
micro-tunnel sections that form the loop are buried.
30 The transport system may comprise leaving shuttles loaded with loading units
the ordering station and returning thereto empty after having unloaded their contents at an
4
exchange station situated on the loop and chosen for its proximity to the end-destination of
the goods.
The transport system may thus comprise at least one line, referred to as a
“feeder” line, that supplies the loop with goods. This line may or may not be
unidirectional. It may concentrate the logistic facilities for packaging 5 the goods and
loading the shuttles when the goods circulate on shuttles. This line may handle most, if not
all, of the loading of the shuttles, the exchange stations within the loop preferably having
the main role of distributing the goods rather than of loading them.
The exchange stations may be configured to transport a plurality of loading
10 units, notably of containers, simultaneously to the surface or the micro-tunnel. In
particular, the exchange stations may comprise means of transporting the loading units,
notably the containers, in a loop between the micro-tunnel and the surface.
An exchange station may be connected to just one upstream loop section and
one downstream loop section, outside the station. A bend may occur within the station,
15 without the need to reverse the direction in which the goods progress, from the upstream
section to the downstream section.
At least one exchange station may be designed to store loading units, notably
containers, notably while they are awaiting a surface pickup of the goods they will
transport, storage being, for example, within the corresponding shaft or alternatively at the
20 surface. Storing at least some of the loading units, notably containers, in the shafts of the
exchange stations makes it possible to minimize the surface footprint of the system.
For preference, the system comprises shuttles for transporting the loading
units, notably containers, circulating in the micro-tunnel, for example self-propelled
shuttles and preferably cable-hauled shuttles. The use of cables makes it possible to reduce
25 the cost of the shuttles while at the same time having available a transport system that is
quick and reliable.
As an alternative or in addition, the loading units are containers that are
self-propelled so that they can move autonomously in the micro-tunnel.
In particular, the shuttles or containers may advantageously be fitted with
30 batteries so that they can be powered autonomously. That may make it possible to avoid
the need to create electrical power supply rails within the micro-tunnel, and that greatly
reduces the cost of the system.
5
The goods may be packaged in various ways.
They may be contained within loading units each formed of a pallet on which
the goods are placed, these goods being held in position using a film, notably a stretch
film.
They may also be housed in a crate or any other type of 5 container of the
shipping container type, which may or may not be made of metal, may or may not be
compartmentalized, and may be of any shape suited to circulation in the micro-tunnel,
being arranged if necessary on a transport shuttle.
Notably in the case of goods loading units comprising pallets, the height of
10 each loading unit may be comprised between 1.5 and 2.3 m, preferably being of the order
of 2 m. The width may be of the order of 1 m, the pallets for example being of the type
standard in Europe.
In alternative forms of embodiment, the goods circulate within the
micro-tunnel in shuttles hauled in the micro-tunnel using at least one cable. This cable may
15 run between two ends of a section of the loop formed by the micro-tunnel, these ends
preferably being situated at exchange stations exchanging with the surface. The shuttles
may thus, during their journey within the loop formed by the micro-tunnel, pass from a
first section of loop in which they are moved by a first cable, to a second section of loop in
which they are moved by a second cable different than the first, the transfer from the first
20 section to the second taking place within an exchange station.
When propelled autonomously by an electric motor, each shuttle or container
may be electrically recharged in various ways. Advantageously, the shuttles or containers
are recharged during their journey within the micro-tunnel, notably by discrete or linear
recharging terminals.
25 In the absence of guide rails in particular, the shuttles or containers may have
wheels rotating about axes of rotation that are not mutually parallel, preferably wheels
resting directly on the wall of the micro-tunnel. The shuttles or containers may have an
automatic centering system for moving the axes of the wheels, notably allowing the shuttle
or the container to be centered in the lower part of the micro-tunnel. US 2003/0075366
30 discloses a transport vehicle in a micro-tunnel designed to run directly along the wall of the
micro-tunnel, which may be adapted to the transporting of containers.
6
In an alternative form, the micro-tunnel is equipped with rails on which the
containers or shuttles travel. The use of rails is preferable when the containers or shuttles
are hauled by a cable.
The cable laid in a section may be over 1 km long, for example at least 4 km,
better 6 km, for example 8 km or more long, thus making it possible to achieve 5 a section of
4 km or more given that the cable runs in one direction to haul the shuttles and in the other
direction when unladen. The cable may be mounted on pulleys and tensioning rollers, in a
similar way to the systems used in ski lifts or chair lifts.
The cable may run between the rails, parallel to these, allowing a gain in terms
10 of compactness, and allowing the cable guide structure, where relevant, to be mounted on a
support that is common to the rails.
The shuttles may have, in cross section, an overall shape that at least partially
mirrors that of the micro-tunnel, and notably may comprise a cradle to accept at least one
container or other loading unit, of arched shape concentric with the wall of the
15 micro-tunnel. That may make it possible to optimize the use of the system by reducing the
amount of micro-tunnel cross section not used for transporting goods.
In addition, that makes it possible, for the same volume of goods transported,
to minimize the external cross section of the micro-tunnel and thus make it easier to
produce. Given the length of the micro-tunnel, which may measure several kilometers or
20 tens of kilometers, any reduction, even modest, in the external cross section has a
significant knock-on effect on the cost of the works.
The shuttles may have a space to accept one or more loading units such as
palletized goods, preferably two or four loading units placed side by side.
Each shuttle may have a roof which extends over the loading units, and front
25 and rear walls on which the roof rests.
The containers may have a cross section of circular overall shape. Other shapes
of cross section are possible, notably circular with flat, or polygonal, notably square.
For preference, the micro-tunnel has a cross section of circular overall shape.
The micro-tunnel may be produced in various ways and, for example, comprise
30 sections assembled one after the other, notably of lengths comprised between 2.5 and
3.5 m, and with wall thicknesses of between 150 and 500 mm, these sections preferably
being designed to withstand a boring thrust of at least 500 metric tons.
7
As an alternative, the micro-tunnel comprises assembled arch segments.
For preference, the sections or arch segments are at least partially made of
reinforced concrete, notably with a double layer of reinforcements.
The micro-tunnel may have a lining, notably made of metal.
In one exemplary embodiment a largest interior dimension of 5 the micro-tunnel,
in cross section, notably the interior diameter thereof, is comprised between 1.5 m and 4 m,
notably between 1.5 and 2.5 m or between 2.5 m and 4 m, for example between 1.5 and
2.2 m or between 3 and 4 m.
The micro-tunnel is advantageously buried to a depth greater than or equal to
10 5 m. The use of a micro-tunnel in the invention makes it possible to envision a greater
depth of burying, for example greater than 20 m or 30 m, or even greater than or equal to
35 m, 40 m or 50 m or more, so as to pass under the existing foundations and
infrastructures and not interfere with these. The feeder may be buried to a depth that varies
and is not that of the loop.
15 It may be advantageous for at least one of the containers to have independent
compartments that may be opened and closed independently of one another.
That may notably prove attractive from a logistical standpoint as it allows
access to just part of the container in order to collect the corresponding goods, while the
goods present in the other compartments remain inaccessible. That may be beneficial when
20 the consignees of the goods are varied and the goods are picked up at different times by
different participants.
Each container may be designed to accept one or more pallets, as appropriate.
For preference, the containers or shuttles circulate unidirectionally along the
loop. Each section between two exchange stations of the loop is thus traveled by goods
25 circulating in the same direction as the direction of this section. Thus, the shuttles or
containers do not pass one another within the micro-tunnel, thereby making it possible to
tailor the cross section of the micro-tunnel closely to the cross section of a container or of a
shuttle and to reduce the amount of micro-tunnel cross section not of use in the
transportation of goods.
30 However, as indicated above, the invention does not exclude the goods being
brought into the loop using at least one feeder where the goods, notably carried onboard
8
shuttles or in containers, will circulate two-directionally. This line may be a two-track line
within a tunnel or having two parallel tunnels.
The system may comprise, at the exchange stations, a system for unloading
and/or loading the shuttles or containers. In particular, the system may comprise surface
transport vehicles suited to transporting the containers or other loading units, 5 or the goods
carried therein. In particular, the delivery of the goods in the final kilometer may be
performed by a fleet of electric vehicles.
The transport vehicles may have a cylindrical cradle to accept the containers
when the containers are cylindrical in shape.
10 For preference, the shaft of at least one of the exchange stations is sufficiently
dimensioned as to act as a working shaft when boring the micro-tunnel using a
micro-tunneling technique. That means that the excavation work done during the boring of
the micro-tunnel can then be used thereafter to create one or more exchange stations and
these can be used for storing goods or equipment.
15 Where appropriate, the underground goods distribution system according to the
invention is equipped with a system for regulating the transport of the shuttles or
containers without overall flow management intelligence, each container and/or transport
shuttle being fitted with one or more sensors that allow a previous container and/or shuttle
and the exchange stations to be located, allowing the containers to regulate their speed
20 according to the weight of traffic, to stop at the exchange stations, and potentially to push a
broken-down vehicle in order to bring it out of the micro-tunnel loop.
The micro-tunnel may be under a reduced oxygen pressure. That makes it
possible to limit the risk of fire. In particular, the oxygen level may be 15%, better still
20% or 50% or even more, lower than the nominal level in the open air.
25 Each exchange station may comprise a device, for example using rollers, to
progressively slow the shuttles as they arrive at the exchange station, and a launch system
to allow them to latch on to the moving cable without too much of a jolt.
The exchange station may comprise a mechanism for picking up the goods
carried by a shuttle while at the same time allowing the shuttle to then continue on its
30 journey in the transport loop.
The unloading of a shuttle may be performed by switching the shuttle to a
different track or by extracting its contents without a change in track.
9
The exchange station for example comprises a mechanism for transporting a
portion of track bearing a shuttle, between a first position for receiving a new shuttle
coming from the transport loop, in which position the portion of track runs in the
continuation of the track extending in the micro-tunnel, and a second position of switching
to a loading/unloading track, which allows one or more loading units 5 transported by the
shuttle to be unloaded to a lift such as a goods lift or allows the shuttle to receive one or
more new loading units to transport.
As an alternative, only the shuttle is moved from the arrival track to the
loading/unloading track without the rails on which its wheels are engaged accompanying
10 this movement.
As a further alternative, only the goods are unloaded from the shuttle without
the shuttle being switched to a specific loading/unloading track.
The shuttles may be driven by any means when they are not coupled to the
hauling cables, for example by rollers or by any other auxiliary drive mechanism.
15 The loading units may be transported by conveying rollers and/or by a transfer
system.
The loop may comprise bends situated at the exchange stations. That may
make it possible to keep to straight sections within the loop, making the micro-tunnel
easier to construct and the shuttles easier to drive. In order to cause the shuttles to go round
20 bends, they may be kept on rails and a turntable may be provided, that comprises a mobile
track rail that allows them to be oriented toward the departure track. It is also possible not
to keep them on rails, driving them using an auxiliary drive system in which they are
carried for example by rollers or by a roller conveyor or transported by any other
conveying system that allows the shuttles to be made to turn tight bends.
25 In one exemplary embodiment, when the exchange station connects two
sections of micro-tunnel forming the loop which are oriented in different directions making
a nonzero angle between them, the exchange station comprises a turntable bearing a mobile
portion of track on which at least one shuttle may position itself.
This turntable is able to adopt a position in which the mobile track aligns with
30 a track for bringing in shuttles, and a position in which said mobile track aligns with the
track of the next section of micro-tunnel that is to be navigated.
10
The loop formed by the micro-tunnel may comprise a succession of sections,
the length of which is, for example, greater than 1 km, connected by exchange stations
which provide the connection between the sections with different orientations. The sections
may be straight if desired, as mentioned above, making the micro-tunnel easier to bore and
5 to construct.
A further subject of the invention, according to another of the aspects thereof,
is a method for distributing goods in an urban environment using a system according to the
invention as defined hereinabove, comprising the steps consisting in:
a) bringing goods to an exchange station by a surface means of transport, these
10 goods being contained in at least one loading unit, notably a container, or being on pallets,
b) lowering this loading unit, notably the container, down to the micro-tunnel,
c) circulating the loading unit, notably the container, in the micro-tunnel as far
as another exchange station exchanging with the surface,
d) raising the loading unit, notably the container, back up to the surface.
15 The method may also comprise the following additional steps:
e) picking up the loading unit, notably the container, or all or some of the
goods it contains,
f) delivering the loading unit, notably the container, either complete or in
sub-sets of elements preestablished at the time of packing of the loading unit, notably the
20 container, to a consignee.
For preference, most of the goods transported within the loop come from at
least one exchange station designed to ensure high logistic flows, and connected to
the loop by a dedicated line, namely the feeder mentioned hereinabove.
The method may count on transporting over 1000 t/d, or even over 10000 t/d.
25 The loading unit, notably the container, may remain contained within the
exchange station without being raised back up to the surface, notably being stored within
the shaft of the exchange station, awaiting a request to pick up the loading unit, notably the
container, or goods contained therein.
The method may comprise the step of transporting the loading units on shuttles
30 hauled by cables. The cable may run at a speed greater than or equal to 5 m/s, better still,
greater than or equal to 7 m/s, for example of the order of 8 m/s or more. Each shuttle may
be accelerated as it leaves an exchange station to reach the speed of the hauling cable and
11
progressively slowed as it arrives at the next exchange station. Each shuttle may comprise
a releasable clamp which engages with the cable.
The weight of each loading unit is preferably comprised between 100 and
500 kg or even more, for example 1000 kg or above.
A further subject of the invention, according to another of 5 the aspects of the
invention, is a container for transporting goods in a system as defined hereinabove, having
a cylindrical overall shape of circular cross section with an outside diameter of between 1
and 2.5 m and means of quick coupling to a transport shuttle circulating in the
micro-tunnel, notably a shuttle having a cradle of arched shape to accept the container. For
10 preference, such a container is axially compartmentalized, it being possible for the
compartments to be opened and closed independently.
A further subject of the invention is a shuttle for transporting at least one
loading unit, preferably goods that are palletized, containerized or otherwise, comprising a
mechanism for coupling to a hauling cable, wheels, and a space to accept the loading unit
15 or units, preferably four loading units arranged in two rows of two. The shuttle may be
opened on the sides, and have a roof connecting the front and rear walls.
Yet another subject of the invention is an assembly made up of a container and
of a shuttle for transporting the container within a micro-tunnel, the shuttle comprising a
cradle for accepting the container on which cradle this container may be received
20 removably, the container having the overall shape of a cylinder of revolution and the cradle
an arched shape which is concentric about the longitudinal axis of the container.
In particular, the shuttle may comprise wheels with non-parallel axes of
rotation, designed to run directly along the wall of the micro-tunnel. The shuttle may
comprise a centering system for centering it in the lower part of the micro-tunnel.
25 Yet another subject of the invention is an exchange station comprising a buried
part connecting two sections of micro-tunnel, comprising means of unloading shuttles
circulating in the micro-tunnel.
The exchange station comprises for example a first track able to move between
a position for receiving a shuttle coming from one of the sections, and a position of
30 conveying the shuttle on a loading/unloading track, in which the shuttle runs past a system
for conveying loading units to and from a lift rising to the surface, and a second track able
12
to move between a position for receiving the shuttle circulating on the loading/unloading
track and a position of conveyings toward the other section.
The exchange station may be designed to cause the goods circulating in the
loop to take a bend.
The exchange station may comprise, in one example, a mobile 5 track mounted
on a turntable; when the two sections of micro-tunnel arranged upstream and downstream
of the station make an angle between them. As an alternative, the exchange station
comprises rail-free shuttle conveying means, for example on casters or rollers, allowing the
desired bend to be negotiated. The use of shuttle conveying means that have no rails or
10 mobile tracks makes the shuttles easier to move and avoids the use of switchgear. That
allows the use of shuttles that are not self-propelled. That also allows a saving in terms of
compactness, and therefore makes it possible to limit the volume of soil to be excavated in
order to construct the exchange station. The use of a turntable means that two sections of
micro-tunnel subtending a large angle between them can be connected very easily and the
15 sections oriented in such a way as to optimize their length. That also makes it possible to
use straight sections, compatible with the use of a cable hauling system for hauling the
shuttles, and allowing the shuttles to move at a very high speed.
The invention may be better understood from reading the detailed description
which follows, of one nonlimiting exemplary embodiment thereof, and from studying the
20 attached drawing, in which:
- figure 1 very schematically shows a view from above of the path followed
by the transport loop in one exemplary embodiment of the invention,
- figure 2 is a vertical section through the system according to the invention,
in the heart of the city,
25 - figure 3 schematically and partially depicts one example of an exchange
station exchanging with the surface,
- figure 4 schematically and partially depicts an example of a container,
- figure 5 schematically and partially depicts, in cross section, an example of
an assembly of shuttle and container, traveling in the micro-tunnel,
30 - figure 6 depicts schematically and into perspective one example of an
exchange station connecting two sections of the transport loop,
- figure 7 depicts an alternative form of exchange station, and
13
- figure 8 depicts, schematically, an alternative form of transport loop.
The system 1 according to the invention, depicted in the figures, comprises a
micro-tunnel 2 which forms a transport loop 7 extending at least partially under a dense
urban environment M constituting the heart of a city and comprising, as can be seen in
figure 2 surface buildings B and buried infrastructures I under which 5 the micro-tunnel 2
extends. The latter is designed to allow the automated transport of goods present in loading
units such as containers 3.
The system 1 comprises exchange stations 4 allowing goods to be lowered
from and raised back up to the surface, these exchange stations 4 being arranged along the
10 transport loop 7 so as to allow goods to be routed to various zones Z of the city for local
distribution.
The system 1 also comprises exchange stations 6 at which the ordering of the
goods may take place, which ordering activities are scheduled to be performed away from
the urban environment M, on the outskirts of the city, so as to make the goods easier to
15 bring in and carry away by surface transport means 8 such as trucks. These exchange
stations 6 are also referred to as ordering stations.
Each exchange station 4 or 6 comprises a shaft 10 within which there extends a
system 11 for transporting the loading units, notably containers 3, between the surface and
the micro-tunnel 2.
20 This system 11 comprises for example a mechanism that allows the loading
units 3 to circulate in a loop, these units being, for example, coupled or otherwise fixed to
gondolas 12 while they are being transported in the shaft 10.
An automated system 14 may be provided at the bottom of the shaft to extract
the loading units 3 from the micro-tunnel 2 and load onto the transport system 11, coming
25 and placing the loading units 3 in the gondolas 12. Likewise, a robotic system 15 is
provided at the surface in order to extract the loading units 3 or the goods contained therein
and allow them to be picked up at the surface.
The loading units 3 may be self-propelled containers or, as an alternative, may
be carried by transport shuttles 17 which circulate unidirectionally in the micro-tunnel 2.
30 For preference, as illustrated in figure 5, these transport shuttles 17 have a
cross-sectional shape which generally mirrors that of the micro-tunnel 2 so as to optimize
occupancy of the cross section of the micro-tunnel. Thus, the shuttles 17 may, as
14
illustrated, have a cradle 19 which accepts at least one container 3. The latter preferably
then, as illustrated, has a circular cross section concentric with the micro-tunnel 2.
The shuttle 17 preferably comprises a mechanism that allows it to center itself
in the bottom part of the micro-tunnel, for example by altering the angle between the axes
of rotation of the wheels 18 of the shuttle which rest against the wall of 5 the micro-tunnel.
The system 1 may be used as follows, in one exemplary embodiment of the
invention.
The containers 3 loaded with the goods are carried by surface transport means
8 to at least one of the exchange stations 6 situated on the outskirts of or outside the city.
10 The containers are then lowered to the micro-tunnel 2. Each container 3 is then transported
as far as the exchange station at which at least some of the goods transported need to be
delivered, then raised back up to the surface. After these goods have been picked up, the
container 3 is lowered back down as far as the micro-tunnel 2 to continue on its round. If
necessary, the container 3 is stored at the exchange station awaiting, for example, a surface
15 pickup request.
When one or more containers are stored in the exchange station, the raising or
lowering of a container from the micro-tunnel 2 to and from the surface may be
accompanied by a movement of all the other containers.
Of course, the invention is not restricted to this example.
20 In particular, the shape of the containers may be modified, and notably they
may be given any shape suited to being transported by surface vehicles and within the
micro-tunnel. The goods may also be transported without being containerized.
The means used to allow the loading units to be moved between the
micro-tunnel and the surface may be modified and it is notably possible to envisage one or
25 more lifts that raise or lower one or more loading unit(s).
The storage of the loading units, notably of the containers, may be performed
elsewhere than in the shafts of the exchange stations, for example in one or more depots on
the surface or buried to a shallow depth, present for example at the exchange stations 6 in
the outskirts.
30 Other examples of exchange stations 4 and of the transport system according to
the invention will now be described with reference to figures 6 to 8.
15
The exchange station 4 in the example of figure 6 connects a first section 107a
of the transport loop 7 to a second section 107b which is aligned with the first in this
example.
The goods in this example are packaged on pallets within loading units 3.
The loading units 3 are transported by shuttles 17 which run 5 on rails 40 within
the micro-tunnel sections of the transport loop.
Cable haulage mechanisms 42 are provided for moving the shuttles 17 along
the various sections 107 of the transport loop.
The shuttles 17 comprise a disengageable clamp device which engages with the
10 hauling cable, in a similar way to the mechanisms present on disengageable ski lifts and
chair lifts.
Devices 70 and 80 are provided to respectively perform progressive slowing on
arrival at the station 4 and progressive acceleration on leaving the station, using an
auxiliary drive system.
15 In the example of figure 6, the slowing device 70 comprises for example rollers
which apply increasing friction to the shuttles 17 as they near the station 4 so as to slow
them down as far as the zone at which cable haulage ceases. Each shuttle is then taken over
by a conveyor, for example by rollers, which drive it past a system 50 that loads/unloads
the loading units 3.
20 This system 50 may comprise a roller conveyor 51 for transporting the loading
units 3 past the entrance to a lift 60 which allows the loading units 3 to be carried to the
surface. The lift may be a two-compartment goods lift, one compartment for example
being used to collect the loading units 3 unloaded by the shuttles 17 and the other to
receive loading units 3 sent down from the surface and load them onto the shuttles 17, as
25 illustrated.
Next, the shuttles 17 leave the station 4 being progressively accelerated by the
device 80 which allows the shuttles 17 to reach the speed of the haulage cable so as to be
driven thereby.
In the alternative form of figure 7, the micro-tunnel sections 107a and 107b
30 make an angle between them and the exchange station 4 comprises a loading/unloading
system. The shuttles that arrive at the exchange station 4 are successively positioned on a
section of track 90 that is able to move sideways between a first position in which it is a
16
continuation of the rails 40 of the upstream section 7a, to receive the shuttle 17, and second
a position as illustrated in figure 7, for unloading the shuttle 17, in which this mobile
section of track 90 aligns with a loading/unloading track 91. This track 91 moves past an
opening for transferring the loading units 3 to a lift 60 so that these can be raised/lowered.
Once the loading units 3 have been loaded or unloaded 5 onto or from the
shuttles 17 that file past the lift 60 using any suitable transfer mechanism, the shuttles are
positioned on a second mobile section of track 92, which can be moved sideways between
a position allowing the loading of the shuttles 17 traveling along the track 91 and a position
in which this mobile section is aligned with a third section of track 95 situated on a
10 turntable 96. This turntable 96 allows the shuttle 17 previously positioned on the second
mobile section of track 92 to be picked up and its rails can be aligned with the track 40 of
the downstream second section 107b so that the shuttle 17 can depart onto this section.
Such a system for loading/unloading the shuttles 17 allows rapid and
automated handling of the loading units 3, compatible with cable haulage 42, and the
15 presence of the mobile platform table 96 makes the loop easier to build by allowing the use
of loop sections 107 that are straight or substantially straight.
In some alternative forms that have not been illustrated, the shuttles 17 can be
made to pivot without a turntable by making them run on castors or rollers in place of rails
between the sections 107a and 107b and by using guide means which, if appropriate, allow
20 them to negotiate a relatively tight bend.
It is also possible, in alternative forms that have not been illustrated, to bring
the shuttles to an unloading/loading track without simultaneously transporting them with
the rails on which they are engaged, by moving them using a conveyor.
It is even possible in another alternative form to unload or load the shuttles
25 while they are on a track lying as a continuation of the tracks running in the sections 107 of
the micro-tunnel.
For preference, the micro-tunnel and the exchange stations are placed under a
reduced atmosphere of oxygen or under an inert atmosphere so as to reduce the risks of
fire. That makes it possible to limit the cost of the infrastructure by rendering unnecessary
30 certain safety devices which would otherwise be required for compliance with the
standards.
In the example of figures 6 and 7, the loading units 3 are goods on pallets.
17
Figure 8 depicts an alternative form of embodiment of the transport loop 7,
comprising straight or substantially straight micro-tunnel sections 107 connected by the
exchange stations 4 which are, for example, as illustrated in figures 6 and 7.
The main flow of goods injected into the loop 7 may run on a line 110 referred
to as a feeder, connected to a peripheral ordering station 6 in the 5 outskirts, which
constitutes a rear base, and where the goods that are to be transported are packaged and
ordered according to their destination. Thus, goods intended to pass through one and the
same exchange station 4 of the loop 7 in order to reach their final destination are packaged
within the one same loading unit, and this packaging may advantageously take place at the
10 ordering station. The order in which the shuttles are loaded at the ordering station 6 may
also be performed according to the destination of the goods loaded onto each of these
shuttles. The station 6 may thus manage a significant proportion of the flow of goods
injected into the loop, and make it possible to limit the flow of goods loaded onto the
shuttles from the exchange stations 4 situated on the loop.
15 The line 110 may be two-directional and produced in the form of a two-track
tunnel or of two micro-tunnels which may or may not be parallel.
Of course, the invention is not restricted to one particular type of loading unit 3
and any type of container may be used.
At the surface, the exchange stations may comprise a storage zone for storing
20 the loading units 3 while they are waiting to be sent to a loading or unloading bay where
they may be installed on electric vehicles for example.
18
We Claim:
1. An underground distribution system (1) for the distribution of goods in an urban
environment, 5 comprising:
- at least one micro-tunnel (2) forming at least one loop (7), extending under
the foundations of preexisting surface buildings (B) and/or infrastructures (I) at a depth of
at least 20 m, in which goods, the transportation of which is automated, circulate
unidirectionally,
10 - a plurality of exchange stations (4) exchanging with the surface, situated on
the loop, each comprising a shaft (10) allowing goods to be lowered down to the
micro-tunnel (2) and raised back up after they have been transported within the
micro-tunnel,
- at least one ordering station (6) for ordering the goods to be injected into the
15 loop and to be distributed by means of the exchange stations (4) situated on the loop (7),
which station is connected by at least one two-directional transport line to the loop, notably
to at least one exchange station of the loop.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, the goods being contained in loading units (3),
notably containers or goods on pallets.
20 3. The system as claimed in claim 2, the exchange stations being configured to
transport a plurality of loading units (3), notably of containers (3) simultaneously to
the surface or the micro-tunnel.
4. The system as claimed in one of claims 2 and 3, the exchange stations comprising
means (11) of transporting the loading units (3), notably the containers (3), in a
25 loop between the micro-tunnel and the surface.
5. The system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, at least one exchange station (4;
6) being designed to store loading units, notably containers (3), notably while they
are awaiting a surface pick-up of the goods they will transport, storage preferably
being within the corresponding shaft (10) or at the surface.
30 6. The system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, comprising shuttles (17) for
transporting the loading units (3), notably containers, circulating in the
micro-tunnel, preferably self-propelled shuttles.
19
7. The system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, the containers (3) being self
propelled so that they can move autonomously in the micro-tunnel.
8. The system as claimed in claim 6 or 7, the shuttles or containers being fitted with
batteries so that they can be powered autonomously.
9. The system as claimed in claim 8, the shuttles or containers being 5 recharged during
their journey, notably in the micro-tunnel, by discrete or linear recharging
terminals.
10. The system as claimed in one of claims 6 to 9, the shuttles or containers comprising
wheels (18) rotating about axes of rotation that are not mutually parallel, preferably
10 wheels resting directly on the wall of the micro-tunnel, the shuttles or containers
preferably having an automatic system for centering the shuttle or the container in
the lower part of the micro-tunnel.
11. The system as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10, the shuttles (7) having, in cross
section, an overall shape that at least partially mirrors that of the micro-tunnel, and
15 notably comprising a cradle (19), to accept at least one container, preferably of
arched shape, concentric with the wall of the micro-tunnel.
12. The system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 11, the containers (3) having a
cross section of circular overall shape.
13. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the micro-tunnel (2)
20 having a cross section of circular overall shape.
14. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the micro-tunnel (2)
comprising sections assembled one after the other, notably of a length of between
2.5 and 3.5 m, and with a wall thickness of between 150 and 500 mm, preferably
designed to withstand a boring thrust of at least 500 metric tons.
25 15. The system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, the micro-tunnel comprising
assembled arch segments.
16. The system as claimed in claim 14 or 15, the sections or arch segments being at
least partially made of reinforced concrete, notably with a double layer of
reinforcements.
30 17. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, a largest interior
dimension of the micro-tunnel, in cross section, notably the interior diameter
thereof, being comprised between 1.5 m and 4 m, preferably between 2.5 and 4 m.
20
18. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the micro-tunnel being
buried to a depth greater than or equal to 30 m, or better still, greater than or equal
to 40 m.
19. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including claim 2, at
least one of the containers (3) having independent compartments 5 that can be opened
and closed independently of one another.
20. The system as claimed in claim 6, comprising, at the exchange stations (4; 6) a
system for unloading and/or loading the shuttles (17).
21. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the shaft of at least one
10 of the exchange stations (4; 6) being sufficiently dimensioned to act as a working
shaft when boring the micro-tunnel (2) using a micro-tunneling technique.
22. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including claim 2,
equipped with a system for regulating the transport of the shuttles or containers
without overall flow management intelligence, each container and/or its transport
15 shuttle being fitted with at least one sensor that allows a previous container and/or a
shuttle and the exchange stations to be located, allowing the containers to regulate
their speed according to the weight of traffic, to stop at the exchange stations, and
potentially to push a broken-down vehicle in order to bring it out of the
micro-tunnel loop.
20 23. The system as claimed in claim 6, the shuttles (17) being hauled by at least one
cable (42) within the micro-tunnel.
24. The system as claimed in claim 23, the cable running between two ends of a section
of the loop formed by the micro-tunnel, these ends preferably being situated at
exchange stations (4) exchanging with the surface.
25 25. The system as claimed in claim 23 or 24, the shuttles (17) being configured to pass,
during their journey within the loop formed by the micro-tunnel, from a first
section (107a) of loop in which they are moved by a first cable to a second section
(107b) of loop where they are moved by a second cable different than the first, the
transfer from the first section to the second taking place within an exchange station
30 (6).
26. The system as claimed in one of claims 23 to 25, each exchange station being
configured to unload a shuttle arriving at the exchange station of at least some of its
21
content which has reached its destination, and to raise this content back up to the
surface.
27. The system as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 26, the goods to be transported
being packaged on pallets or in containers.
28. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including 5 claim 6, the
exchange station comprising a mechanism for transporting a portion of track (90)
bearing a shuttle (17) between a position for receiving a new shuttle coming from
the transport loop, in which position the portion of track (90) runs in the
continuation of the track extending in the micro-tunnel, and a position of switching
10 to a loading/unloading track (91), which allows one or more loading units (3)
transported by the shuttle to be unloaded to a lift (60) or allows the shuttle (17) to
receive one or more new loading units (3) to transport.
29. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including claim 6, the
exchange station connecting two sections (107a, 107b) of the micro-tunnel forming
15 the loop which are oriented in different directions that make a non-zero angle
between them.
30. The system as claimed in claim 29, said sections (107a, 107b) being straight.
31. The system as claimed in claim 29 or 30, the exchange station comprising a
turntable (96) bearing a mobile portion of track (95) on which at least one shuttle
20 may position itself, the turntable being able to adopt a position in which the mobile
track aligns with a track for bringing in shuttles, and a position in which said
mobile track aligns with the track of the next section of micro-tunnel that is to be
navigated.
32. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the transport line
25 comprising a tunnel in which containers or shuttles circulate two-directionally, or
two micro-tunnels in which the containers or shuttles circulate in opposite
directions A method for distributing goods in an urban environment using a system
(1) as defined in any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps consisting
in:
30 a) bringing goods to an exchange station (6) by a surface means of transport
(8),
b) lowering the goods down to the micro-tunnel (2),
22
c) circulating the goods in the micro-tunnel (2) as far as another exchange
station (4) exchanging with the surface,
d) raising the goods back up to the surface.
33. The method as claimed in claim 33, further comprising the steps consisting
5 in:
- picking up the goods, possibly the container which contains them, or all or
some of the goods present in the container,
- delivering the goods or the complete container or sub-sets of elements
preestablished when packing the container, to a consignee.
10 34. The method as claimed in claim 33 or 34, the container (3) remaining
contained at the exchange station (4) without being raised back up to the surface, notably
being stored in the shaft (10) of the exchange station, particularly while it awaits a request
to pick up the container or goods contained therein.
35. The method as claimed in one of claims 33 to 35, in which the goods
15 circulate unidirectionally in the micro-tunnel.
36. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the goods being
injected into the transport loop predominantly via said transport line.