h a l f b a k e r yFewer ducks than estimates indicate.
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First, see the linked picture, and then imagine it upside-down,
with the vehicle floating ABOVE the electric-supply wire.
We need two such wires for this Idea (because ordinary electric
surface trolleys can use the rail as one wire). The mobile
attachment point, at the wires, should probably
resemble the
kind
of wheel-attachments that roller coasters have, to stay on the
tracks.
I've mentioned elsewhere (link) that a pretty effective hot-air
TYPE of balloon could use steam as the working gas (water
molecules are lighter than ordinary air molecules). With an
electric power supply, it would be easy to constantly power a
microwave source, to keep the water in the gas bag vaporized.
So, string a pair of wires from Point A to Point B; use the power
to inflate a blimp, and for electric motors/propellers to move
the blimp. Use the blimp to carry passengers and/or other
stuff. The blimp's attachment to the wires (there can be a lot
more than two!) is tough enough to
resist modest winds.
Note that it is fairly easy to build different-height towers for
the
wire-supports, thus allowing the blimps to cross each other's
pathways at different heights above the ground.
Trolley
http://world.nycsub...org/perl/show?13412
As mentioned in the main text. [Vernon, May 21 2015]
Balloon Notions
Balloon_20Notions
As mentioned in the main text. [Vernon, May 21 2015]
Inspiration for this Idea
Tethered_20Aircraft_20PRT
Giving some credit where it is due. [Vernon, May 21 2015]
gondola lift?
http://www.doppelma...2-Doppelmayr_01.jpg
[xandram, May 21 2015]
[link]
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Why does it need to float above the wire? So the wire can be smaller in diameter? |
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[RayfordSteele], the infrastructure would likely cost less
if the wires were under the blimps. Note the Idea
describes two "levels" for the blimps (call them the
North/South level and the East/West level). We want
both levels to be above ground-level traffic. |
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So, if the lower-level blimps are above ground-level,
but below the wires, then the whole network of wires
and support towers has to be higher, than if the blimp
was above the wire. |
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On the other hand, if one level of blimp traffic was
below the wire, and the other was above the wire, then
that might save some infrastructure cost, as all the
WIRES can be at very nearly the same level, and only
one support-tower height is needed. |
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