IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0166557
(2002-06-10)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
5 |
초록
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An electrically powered vehicle transportation system utilizes a guideway with parallel enclosed rails. Each enclosed rail has an electrical bus bar for supplying power to vehicles on the guideway. The guideway will accommodate dual-mode vehicles that are capable of usage on conventional streets as
An electrically powered vehicle transportation system utilizes a guideway with parallel enclosed rails. Each enclosed rail has an electrical bus bar for supplying power to vehicles on the guideway. The guideway will accommodate dual-mode vehicles that are capable of usage on conventional streets as well as on the guideway. The guideway also accommodates conventional vehicles and ferries that operate only on the guideway. The dual-mode vehicle has a body with axles that are extensible. The axles move from a retracted position, with the wheels recessed within the wheel wells, to an extended position. In the extended position, the wheels locate within the enclosed rails. Conventional vehicles and freight are carried on ferries that move along the guideways.
대표청구항
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1. A transportation guideway, comprising: a pair of parallel longitudinally extending rails, each of the rails being laterally spaced apart from the other for receiving wheels of a vehicle in rolling contact; a plurality of transverse cross members extending between and supporting the rails;
1. A transportation guideway, comprising: a pair of parallel longitudinally extending rails, each of the rails being laterally spaced apart from the other for receiving wheels of a vehicle in rolling contact; a plurality of transverse cross members extending between and supporting the rails; a plurality of posts adapted to be mounted in ground and connected to and supporting the cross members with the rails being elevated above the ground; the rails and the cross members having open spaces between them that extend longitudinally from one of the cross members to another of the cross members for a distance greater than a width between the rails so as to provide sunlight through the open spaces to the ground below the rails; each of the rails being at least partially enclosed for reducing entry of moisture into an interior portion of the rails due to weather; wherein the rails comprise rail sections joined together at ends of the rail sections, each of the ends of the rail sections being formed at a diagonal relative to a longitudinal axis of the rail sections, defining diagonal end surfaces that abut each other to form a rail joint, wherein a movable one of the ends of one of the rail sections at each rail joint is capable of movement relative to the other of the ends to accommodate thermal expansion; and wherein the guideway further comprises: a spring in engagement with one side of the movable one of the ends for urging the diagonal end surfaces together.2. A transportation guideway, comprising: a pair of parallel longitudinally extending rails, each of the rails being laterally spaced apart from the other and having an interior track for receiving lateral supports of a vehicle; a plurality of transverse cross members extending between and supporting the rails; a plurality of posts mounted in ground and connected to and supporting the cross members with the rails being elevated above the ground; the rails and the cross members having open spaces between them that extend longitudinally from one of the cross members to another of the cross members for a distance greater than a width between the rails and from the ground to the rails so as to provide sunlight through the open spaces to the ground below the rails; the track within each of the rails being at least partially enclosed for reducing entry of moisture into an interior portion of the rails due to weather, and wherein each of the rails comprises: a longitudinally extending channel beam, having an upper flange and a lower flange connected by a sidewall, and wherein the track is located between the upper and lower flanges;the track being elevated above the lower flange, defining a space between the lower flange and the track; andelectrical wiring located in the space directly below the track for electrically communicating with the vehicles on the guideway.3. A transportation guideway, comprising: a pair of parallel longitudinally extending rails, each of the rails being laterally spaced apart from the other and having an interior track for receiving lateral supports of a vehicle; a plurality of transverse cross members extending between and supporting the rails; a plurality of posts mounted in ground and connected to and supporting the cross members with the rails being elevated above the ground; the rails and the cross members having open spaces between them that extend longitudinally from one of the cross members to another of the cross members for a distance greater than a width between the rails and from the ground to the rails so as to provide sunlight through the open spaces to the ground below the rails; the track within each of the rails being at least partially enclosed for reducing entry of moisture into an interior portion of the rails due to weather; and wherein each of the rails comprises: a longitudinally extending channel beam, having an upper flange and a lower flange connected by an outer sidewall, and wherein the track is located between the upper and lower flanges;the track being elevated above the lower flange, defining a longitudinally extending space between the lower flange and the track, the space being offset from and parallel to a longitudinal axis located equidistant between the rails;an electrical bus bar extending along an interior of the sidewall for communicating with the vehicle on the guideway; andelectrical wiring located in the space below the track and connected to the bus bar.4. A transportation guideway, comprising: a pair of parallel longitudinally extending rails, each of the rails being laterally spaced apart from the other for receiving wheels of a vehicle in rolling contact; a plurality of transverse cross members extending between and supporting the rails; a plurality of posts adapted to be mounted in ground and connected to and supporting the cross members with the rails being elevated above the ground; the rails and the cross members having open spaces between them that extend longitudinally from one of the cross members to another of the cross members for a distance greater than a width between the rails so as to provide sunlight through the open spaces to the ground below the rails; each of the rails being at least partially enclosed for reducing entry of moisture into an interior portion of the rails due to weather; and wherein each of the rails comprises: a shroud having an upper wall, a lower wall, an outer sidewall, a downward extending inner sidewall and an upward extending inner sidewall, the downward extending inner sidewall being inclined relative to the upward extending inner side wall and overhanging an upper edge of the upward extending inner sidewall, defining a longitudinal slot between the downward extending inner side wall and upward extending inner sidewall, for receiving an end of an axle of the vehicle on the guideway.5. The transportation guideway according to claim 4, further comprising electrical wires extending within the shroud for communicating with the vehicle.6. The transportation guideway according to claim 4, further comprising: a bus bar located within the shroud for electrically communicating with the vehicle; and electrical wires extending within the shroud and in electrical contact with the bus bar for supplying power to the bus bar. 7. A transportation guideway, comprising: a pair of parallel longitudinally extending rails, each of the rails being laterally spaced apart from the other for receiving vehicle supports of a vehicle traveling on the guideway; a plurality of transverse cross members extending between and supporting the rails; a plurality of posts adapted to be mounted in around and connected to and supporting the cross members with the rails being elevated above the ground; the rails and the cross members having open spaces between them that extend longitudinally from one of the cross members to another of the cross members for a distance greater than a width between the rails so as to provide sunlight through the open spaces to the ground below the rails; each of the rails comprising a shroud for reducing entry of moisture, the shroud having a top wall, a bottom wall, an outer sidewall, an upward extending inner sidewall and a downward extending inner sidewall, the downward extending inner sidewall having a lower edge spaced from an upper edge of the upward extending inner sidewall, defining a longitudinal slot for portions of the vehicle supports to extending through; wherein each of the rails further comprises: a wheel support for the vehicle located within the shroud above the bottom wall, defining a space between the bottom wall and the wheel support; anda communications cable located within the space for communicating data with the vehicle.8. A transportation guideway, comprising: a pair of parallel longitudinally extending rails, each of the rails being laterally spaced apart from the other for receiving vehicle su pports of a vehicle traveling on the guideway; a plurality of transverse cross members extending between and supporting the rails; a plurality of posts adapted to be mounted in ground and connected to and supporting the cross members with the rails being elevated above the ground; the rails and the cross members having open spaces between them that extend longitudinally from one of the cross members to another of the cross members for a distance greater than a width between the rails so as to provide sunlight through the open spaces to the ground below the rails; each of the rails comprising a shroud for reducing entry of moisture, the shroud having a top wall, a bottom wall, an outer sidewall, an upward extending inner sidewall and a downward extending inner sidewall, the downward extending inner sidewall having a lower edge spaced from an upper edge of the upward extending inner sidewall, defining a longitudinal slot for portions of the vehicle supports to extending through; wherein the rails comprise rail sections joined together at ends of the rail sections, each of the ends of the rail sections being formed at a diagonal relative to a longitudinal axis of the rail sections, defining diagonal end surfaces that abut each other to form a rail joint, wherein a movable one of the ends of one of the rail sections at each rail joint is capable of movement relative to the other of the ends to accommodate thermal expansion; and wherein the guideway further comprises: a spring in engagement with one side of the movable one of the ends for urging the diagonal end surfaces together.9. A transportation guideway, comprising: a pair of parallel longitudinally extending rails, each of the rails being laterally spaced apart from the other for receiving vehicle supports of a vehicle traveling on the guideway; a plurality of transverse cross members extending between and supporting the rails; a plurality of posts adapted to be mounted in ground and connected to and supporting the cross members with the rails being elevated above the ground; the rails and the cross members having open spaces between them that extend longitudinally from one of the cross members to another of the cross members for a distance greater than a width between the rails so as to provide sunlight through the open spaces to the ground below the rails; wherein the rails comprise rail sections joined together at ends of the rail sections, each of the ends of the rail sections being formed at a diagonal relative to a longitudinal axis of the rail sections, defining diagonal end surfaces that abut each other to form a rail joint, wherein a movable one of the ends of one of the rail sections at each rail joint is capable of movement relative to the other of the ends to accommodate thermal expansion; and wherein the guideway further comprises: a spring in engagement with one side of the movable one of the ends for urging the diagonal end surfaces together.10. The transportation guideway according to claim 9, wherein each of the rails further comprises: a shroud having an upper wall, a lower wall, an outer sidewall, a downward extending inner sidewall and an upward extending inner sidewall, the downward extending inner sidewall being inclined relative to the upward extending inner sidewall and overhanging an upper edge of the upward extending inner sidewall, defining a longitudinal slot between the downward extending inner side wall and upward extending inner sidewall, for receiving an end of an axle of a vehicle on the guideway. 11. The transportation guideway according to claim 10, wherein the downward extending inner sidewall is inclined relative to and overhangs the upward extending inner sidewall.12. The transportation guideway according to claim 10, further comprising electrical wires extending within the shroud for communicating with the vehicle.13. The transportation guideway according to claim 10, further comprising: a bus bar locate d within the shroud for electrically communicating with the vehicle; and electrical wires extending within the shroud and in electrical contact with the bus bar for supplying power to and electrically signals to and from the bus bar. 14. The transportation guideway according to claim 10, wherein each of the rails further comprises: a wheel support for the vehicle located within the shroud above the bottom wall, defining a space between the bottom wall and the wheel support; a communications cable located within the space for communicating data with the vehicle.
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