초록 ▼

A pod assembly is disposed inside and thrusted along a slotted tube having a longitudinal slot. The pod assembly comprises a first pod, a second pod coupled with the first pod, and a strut disposed between and coupled with the first pod and the second pod. The strut extends through the longitudinal

A pod assembly is disposed inside and thrusted along a slotted tube having a longitudinal slot. The pod assembly comprises a first pod, a second pod coupled with the first pod, and a strut disposed between and coupled with the first pod and the second pod. The strut extends through the longitudinal slot of the slotted tube to the support a transportation module outside the slotted tube. In one embodiment, the first pod is a thrust pod and the second pod is a passive pod. The thrust pod includes a thrust pod tire to make contact with the interior of the slotted tube and at least one bladder which is inflatable and deflatable to modulate gas flow through the thrust pod to adjust speed of movement of the thrust pod in the slotted tube. The passive pod includes a passive pod tire to make contact with the interior of the slotted tube and includes no thrust control feature. In another embodiment, the first and second pods include pod tires for making contact with the interior of the slotted tube. An adjustable mechanical valve such as a split butterfly valve is provided for modulating gas flow through the pod assembly to adjust the speed of movement of the pod assembly inside the slotted tube.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [29.]29. A pod assembly configured to be disposed inside and thrusted along a slotted tube having a longitudinal slot, the pod assembly comprising a first pod; a second pod coupled with the first pod; and a strut disposed between the first pod and the second pod and coupled wi

[ What is claimed is:] [29.]29. A pod assembly configured to be disposed inside and thrusted along a slotted tube having a longitudinal slot, the pod assembly comprising a first pod; a second pod coupled with the first pod; and a strut disposed between the first pod and the second pod and coupled with the first pod and the second pod, the strut being configured to extend through the longitudinal slot of the slotted tube to the exterior of the slotted tube, wherein the first pod is a thrust pod comprising:a thrust pod body including a generally cylindrical wall having a front end and a rear end, the thrust pod body being smaller in cross-section than the slotted tube, a portion of the front end being open and a portion of the rear end being open to allow gas flow through the thrust pod body between the front end and the rear end;a thrust pod tire coupled with the generally cylindrical wall of the thrust pod body to define an outer annular enclosure between the thrust pod tire and the wall of the thrust pod body, the thrust pod tire being inflatable to make contact with the interior of the slotted tube and deflatable to open gas flow between the thrust pod body and the slotted tube; andat least one bladder disposed inside the thrust pod body, the bladder being inflatable and deflatable to modulate gas flow through the thrust pod body to adjust speed of movement of the thrust pod body inside the slotted tube.