A flexible tube is laid along the ground. It is designed to lay flat, with the top part of the tube laying on the bottom part of the tube.
Now water or air is pumped through the tube, causing the top and bottom to separate a little.
When a bicycle is ridden on the tube, it pinches the top to the bottom and the pressure builds up so that the tube increases in height behind the wheel.

Thus the wheel rolls downhill and forwards.

A bit like a peristaltic pump in reverse?
-- Ling, Mar 02 2005

I think your city council has nearly uncovered a diabolical plan of some sort, likely involving flooding something. But if it's too expensive to investigate, they should just forget about it.

What does that have to do with tube conveyors?

Good idea, [Ling]. Only issue I see is the material wearing out.
-- Worldgineer, Mar 02 2005


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-- contracts, Mar 02 2005


contracts:
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-- Ling, Mar 03 2005


so basically the bike acts as a constriction in the line which is pushed forward by the water pressure. the problem is that it would take a heavy weight to keep the constriction water tight. any real pressure would lift the wheel and water would leak through.
-- RBStimers, Mar 04 2005


I didn't mean it to be water tight. A slight constriction should do the job. As you say, "any real pressure would lift the wheel". That's what I want, and it has the advantage that many riders can use the conveyor together, since water can leak through to the next wheel position.
-- Ling, Mar 05 2005


I like.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Mar 06 2005


that's a long way to go for a little bit of transport
-- M Carter, Jan 01 2008



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