URBAN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

• US 20030014302A1
• Filed: 07/02/1999
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Jablin
• Original Assignee: Richard Jablin
• Inventors: JABLIN, RICHARD
• Granted Patent: US 6,859,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/36 of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An urban transportation system which comprises a pool of rental urban vehicles all having the same size and physical configuration and having a range of driving which is limited as compared to the range of vehicles that are powered by internal combustion engines. The system includes a computer-controlled mechanized facility for delivering, receiving, processing, servicing and storing the vehicles. Vehicles are automatically recharged while in storage. The system includes areas for on-street parking of the vehicles. There are also several features to combat theft of the vehicles. A user may obtain the most readily available vehicle from any place in the system and return the vehicle to any other place within the system.

Claims

1. A transportation system for an urban area comprising;

(a) a pool of urban vehicles each of which has substantially the same size and physical configuration as the other vehicles in the pool;

(b) a number of storage and maintenance facilities located throughout the urban area so as to be convenient to the user of said vehicles;

(c) a number of designated on-street parking areas for said vehicles;

(d) a central computer for assisting in the control and the operation of said vehicles and said facilities;

(e) each said urban vehicle having an on-board computer which receives data from various sources in the vehicle and stores said data for downloading into said central computer; and

(f) a key-card reader connected to be in communication with said on-board computer.

2. The transportation system of claim 1, wherein said vehicles have batteries with only sufficient capacity for a range of driving that is substantially less than the range of other vehicles that are powered by internal combustion engines.

3. The transportation system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle has a set of extendable electric contacts which, when said vehicle is on a storage conveyor and said electric contacts are extended, are connected to electric power conductor bars that are positioned in parallel with the storage conveyor.

4. The transportation system of claim 1, further comprising a battery status charge meter, calibrated in miles remaining for driving, wherein said battery status charge meter is visible from the interior and the exterior of said vehicle.

5. In conjunction with a transportation system for an urban area, a vehicle storage and maintenance facility comprising:

(a) a first conveyor for incoming vehicles, said conveyor being operative through a plurality of stations for washing, cleaning and inspecting of said vehicles, and for downloading to a central computer data which are stored in an on-board computer in said vehicle, and recharging the batteries of said vehicles;

(b) an area for the service and repair of said vehicles;

(c) a number for floors for the automatic storage of said vehicles and charging of said batteries; and

(d) a second conveyor for presenting a first of said vehicles adjacent an exit door to users of the transportation system in a convenient manner.

6. The transportation system of claim 5, further comprising an elevator having one or more conveyor tracks assembled thereto and operative for transporting said vehicles to different floors of said storage and maintenance facility.

7. A method for protecting urban vehicles from theft comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying said vehicles such that any particular vehicle is distinguishable from other vehicles in a pool of said vehicles; and

(b) providing a warning alarm within each of said vehicles which may be activated by a central computer by radio when any of said vehicles has not returned to any of a plurality of storage facilities within a predetermined length of time.

8. A method for urban transportation, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of urban vehicles of substantially uniform size and configuration;

(b) providing a plurality of storage and maintenance facilities located at various places around the urban area, said facilities having an entrance door, an exit door and a conveyor therebetween;

(c) mounting a first of said plurality of vehicles that has passed through said entrance door on an entry section of said conveyor;

(d) transporting said first vehicle along said conveyor to a first storage position therealong;

(e) mounting a second of said plurality of vehicles that has passed through said entrance door on said entry section of said conveyor;

(f) transporting said second vehicle along said conveyor to a second storage position immediately adjacent said first storage position; and

(g) transporting said first vehicle along said conveyor to said exit door when a vehicle is requested by a user of said vehicles.

9. The method for urban transportation as described in claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

(a) providing to a user of said vehicles a key-card with encoded information identifying said user and authorizing said user to access one of said vehicles;

(b) providing a key-card reader in conjunction with said vehicle and capable of reading said encoded information from said key-card and enabling use of said vehicle if said encoded information is authorizing such use; and

(c) providing a stationary key-card reader in conjunction with said storage facility capable of reading said encoded information from said key-card and disabling said vehicle to return said vehicle to said storage facility.

10. The method for urban transportation as described in claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

(a) electrically connecting said vehicle to an electric power source when said vehicle is stored in one of said storage and maintenance facilities;

(b) keeping said vehicle in said storage facility for a time sufficient to fully charge a battery in said vehicle; and

(c) disconnecting said electric power source from said vehicle when said battery is charged.

11. The method for urban transportation as described in claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

(a) when said vehicle is returned to said storage facility, determining whether said vehicle requires repair or service;

(b) if said vehicle requires repair, diverting said vehicle from said conveyor to a repair and service floor;

(c) if said vehicle requires service, diverting said vehicle from said conveyor to said repair and service floor; and

(d) if said vehicle does not require repair or service, allowing said vehicle to continue on said conveyor to a storage position.