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NEUTRAX
by Bálint Szent-Miklósy
An Invention of Bálint Szent-Miklósy
Looking at the world as seen from space, I noticed that
trains run on the tracks in the northern hemisphere, but if they
continue on to the southern hemisphere the tracks will, in fact, be
above the train with gravity pushing the train up against the tracks.
While it is true that in space up and down have no relevance, the
invention was launched.
Neutrax uses the same principle, with the exception that
instead of gravity holding the train up against the rail, helium is used
to lift the vehicle against a supporting structure while the rails are
actually part of the roof of the vehicles themselves. The supporting
structure is light and unobtrusive (each standing completely alone and
not connected by tracks) since the street-lamp-like structure does not
have to lift Neutrax, just hold it from floating away.
Designed to be inconspicuous when not in use, the
supporting structures are few and far between. Since they do not have to
carry the weight of guide rails, tracks or vehicles, they can easily be
attached to sides of buildings or run through existing structures with
minimum of structural alterations. Neutrax can be guided by a minimum of
three supporting arms at any one time. Widely separated, using right of
ways above railways, highways, or streets, the upward rising structure
with a semicircle upper end (consecutive structures bend left to right
or right to left depending on artistic and aesthetic considerations)
serving as street lamps at night. The very light (plastic) rail is built
into the roof of the vehicles barely touching the supporting structures
(which house electromagnets) which are active only when a Neutrax passes
under them.
Neutrax is a name derived from the fact that the system
is new (Neu = new in French) has neutral weight (again Neu) and is
always loaded to maintain a slight upward lift to hold the vehicle
against the guide structures. This is accomplished since each passenger
or freight container is attached to as many lifting units as needed to
neutralize the weight. These are all the same shape and attach
consecutively as needed with simple Velcro-like attachments.
The system is infinitely expandable with uniform
sections added as needed and can operate automatically as easily as the
pneumatic tube systems used to deliver letters and/or small packages
within buildings. Supporting structure can be assembled off site and
simply bolted into position. Unused lifting units can be deflated
(helium recaptured and the vehicle compressed) and stored in small
spaces. They can also be transported to stations where large number of
travelers (and/or freight) are expected. Loading of passenger containers
does not hold up the system. When one is loaded, the required
weight-neutralizing units are added and the passenger is ready to "fly".
The Neutrax can be used for passenger as well as freight transport.
The upright supports are used to hold a semicircular arm
above the traffic or rail lines. These arms are alternatively placed to
face left and right creating a virtual tunnel for Neutrax to travel in.
All control is built into these arms. The vehicles are completely
passive and require no driver. The number of units connected depends
entirely on the number of passengers and/or freight carrying capacity
needed. Though a communal service system, it can be used for
transporting one person or thousands along the same right of way. The
recommended redundancy is that three (3) supporting structures hold
Neutrax at any one time, with two being sufficient for safety. Should
one supporting structure fail, i.e.. be destroyed, it could still operate
safely. Should two of three supports fail, the vehicle would float free,
slowly ascending until emergency valves, opened by passengers would
release sufficient helium to allow the craft to gently ease itself to
the ground. Remotely controlled release valves could also be used as a
safety backup.
Two rigid, but light weight, plastic tracks would be
built into the roof of the tubular vehicle (one at the 10 o’clock and
the other at the 2 o’clock position) of the otherwise inflatable (rigid
dirigible filled with helium) structure of Neutrax. The Neutrax vehicles
would be as passive as possible. All propulsion related equipment is
kept off of Neutrax to keep it light and fast. Neutrax interacts with
the electromagnetic propulsion built into the support arms that direct
the Neutrax forward or backward. To help propel it along, air
compressors within the support structures could blast air against
Neutrax as it passes each support arm (air shuts off when no vehicle is
present). Hinged baffles in the support arm can be switched for forward
or backward propulsion.
The speed of Neutrax can be set to match those of
airplanes, and connect downtown to downtown. Propelled by magnetic
energy they would be quiet) and since there would be no intersection
with land based systems, travel time would be drastically reduced and
safety considerations would be minimal.
Another Important Aspect
Whenever we ship something nowadays, we also pay freight
charges for the required shipping materials. This added weight should be
eliminated from all freight and neutral weight packing materials should
be used in the future. Instead of air being used in bubble wrap, we
should use helium. Helium should fill all the voids in cardboard boxes
and the "peanuts" used to fill empty space around fragile items should
be filled with helium. Since neutral weight is a major aspect of the
Neutrax system, the rights to all neutral weight packaging for the
shipping of freight should therefore be protected. Using neutral weight
packaging would reduce freight charges and make handling of packages
easier for all who labor in the shipping industry.
About the Author:
Bálint Szent-Miklósy is inventor/city
planner with a Masters Degree from Columbia University School of
Architecture.
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