Transportation system with increased capacity
First Claim
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1. A method for driving a car along a stationary track in a mass-transit system comprising the steps of:
- propelling the car along a length of the track, the car propelled by driving wheels engaging with a surface of the track;
maintaining the car substantially centered on the track with a set of guide wheels that engage with guide walls positioned along the length of the track;
positioning switching wheels on the car perpendicular to the driving wheels; and
switching the car to another track or maintaining the car on the current track by variously engaging sets of switching wheels on the car with switching rails on the track.
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Abstract
A transport system for providing increased capacity to move individuals and freight while still accommodating the individual needs of passengers and freight movers to travel to unique destinations. The transit system including a car including a set of switching wheels that are designed to engage with a set of switching rails, the switching wheels being moveable to selectively engage with the switching rails to either maintain the car on the track or switch the car off of the track. The car having to capability to travel on the relatively high-speed track and on a conventional surface street.
44 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for driving a car along a stationary track in a mass-transit system comprising the steps of:
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propelling the car along a length of the track, the car propelled by driving wheels engaging with a surface of the track;
maintaining the car substantially centered on the track with a set of guide wheels that engage with guide walls positioned along the length of the track;
positioning switching wheels on the car perpendicular to the driving wheels; and
switching the car to another track or maintaining the car on the current track by variously engaging sets of switching wheels on the car with switching rails on the track. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A car for mass-transport system comprising:
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a elongated body section for holding persons and/or freight;
a set of ground engaging driving wheels, positioned at the corners of said elongated body section for supporting the weight of and providing a driving force to said body section;
a set of guide wheels, positioned essentially perpendicular to said set of driving wheels, said guide wheels provided to engage with guide walls of a track to maintain said elongated body section substantially centered in the track; and
a set of switching wheels, positioned on an underside of said elongated body section, said switching wheels provided to engage with a set of switching rails on the track. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A switching node for a track for a mass-transport system comprising:
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a driving surface, extending along a length of the track, for engaging with driving wheels of a car;
a set of guide walls, extending along the length of the track, for engaging with guide wheels of the car to maintain the car substantially centered within the track;
a set of switching rails, positioned at a node, for engaging with switching wheels of the car to either maintain the car on the track or allow the car to transfer off of the track, said set of switching rails including;
two substantially straight rails extending along a length of the track and staggered relative to each other, said two substantially straight rails designed to engage with a first set of switching wheels to maintain the car on the track when the first set of wheels is lowered to engage with said substantially straight rails;
two curved rails extending along a transition to another track, said two curved rails designed to engage with a second set of switching wheels to switch the car to another track when the second set of wheels is lowered to engage with said curved rails. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification