MASS TRANSIT VEHICLE SYSTEM

• US 20100043665A1
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georges Brigham
• Original Assignee: Georges Brigham
• Inventors: Brigham, Georges
• Granted Patent: US 7,966,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 104/88.10
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 15/00 Combinations of railway systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/265 especially adapted for guiding road vehicles carrying loads or passengers, e.g. in urban networks for public transportation
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 25/28 Rail tracks for guiding vehicles when running on road or similar surface wheel tracks on roads E01C9/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 30/00 Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance

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 to another track. The car has the capability to travel on the relatively high-speed track and on a conventional surface street.

Claims

1. A mass transport system comprising:

a track system having a first portion comprising;

a first track having a first driving surface, said first driving surface having a width of greater than a width of a tire;

a second track spaced a distance from said first track to define an air gap, said second track including a second driving surface having a width greater than the width of said tire; and

,

a car removably disposed on said track system, said car comprising;

a body;

a first plurality of tires having a first tread surface in contact with said first track;

a second plurality of tires having a second tread surface in contact with said second track;

a first pair of switching wheels operably coupled to said body and movable between an engaged position, and a disengaged position;

a second pair of switching wheels operably coupled to said body and movable between an engaged position, and a disengaged position;

a first guide wheel operably coupled to said body, said first guide wheel movable between an extended position adjacent said first guide wall and a retracted position; and

,

a second guide wheel operably coupled to said body, said second guide wheel movable between an extended position adjacent said second guide wall and a retracted position.

2. The mass transport system of claim 1 wherein:

said track system further includes a first guide wall adjacent and substantially perpendicular to said first track and, a second guide wall adjacent and substantially perpendicular to said second track;

said first plurality of tires and said second plurality of tires are steerable on said first track and said second track.

3. The mass transport system of claim 2 wherein said car has a first mode of operation wherein said first tread surface and said second surface engage said first track and said second track, and a second mode of operation wherein said first tread surface and said second tread surface engage a street surface independent of said first track and said second track.

4. The mass transport system of claim 3 wherein said first guide wheel is in said extended position and said second guide wheel is in said extended position when said car operates in said first mode, and said first guide wheel is in said retracted position and said second guide wheel is in said retracted position when said car operates in said second mode.

5. The mass transport system of claim 3 wherein said track includes a switching node operably coupled to said first portion, said switching node comprising:

a second track portion;

a third track portion extending from said second track portion;

a first guide rail having a first end and extending along a transition from said second track portion to said third track portion, said first guide rail arranged to engage said first pair of switching wheels; and

,

a second guide rail having a second end and disposed substantially in said third track portion, wherein said second end is arranged adjacent said first end.

6. The mass transport system of claim 5 wherein said track system includes a station operably coupled to said first portion, wherein said station defines a transition from said first mode of operation to said second mode of operation.

7. The mass transport system of claim 5 wherein said station includes a plurality of switching nodes.

8. A mass transport system comprising:

a track having a first portion, said first portion comprising;

a first pair of driving surfaces spaced apart by an air gap;

a pair of guide walls extending substantially perpendicular to said first pair of driving surfaces; and

,

a car removably coupled to said track, and operable in a first mode and a second mode, said car comprising;

a single body section;

a first pair of steerable wheels coupled to said body section, said first pair of steerable wheels having tires in contact with said first pair of driving surfaces in said first mode and a conventional road in said second mode;

a second pair of steerable wheels coupled to said body and arranged adjacent said first pair of steerable wheels, said second pair of steerable tires having tires arranged in contact with said first pair of driving surfaces in said first mode and said conventional road in said second mode;

a first pair of linked switching wheels movable between an engaged position, and a disengaged position;

a second pair of linked switching wheels movable between an engaged position, and a disengaged position; and

,

a pair of guide wheels each arranged on an opposing side of said single body section, said pair of guide wheels movable between an extended position when in said first mode and in a retracted position when in said second mode;

wherein said pair of driving surfaces each has a width that is greater than a width of said first pair of steerable tires and said second pair of steerable tires.

9. The mass transit system of claim 8 further comprising:

a first and second pair of rails extending substantially perpendicular to said first pair of driving surfaces and disposed in said air gap, each of said pair of rails having an operable side, said first and second pair of rails being arranged in a staggered relationship;

said first pair of rails and said second pair of rails are coupled to said first pair of driving surfaces.

10. The mass transit system of claim 8 further comprising a motor coupled to said first pair of linked switching wheels, said motor including means for rotating said first pair of linked switching wheels to substantially correspond to said car speed when said car transitions from said second mode to said first mode.

11. The mass transit system of claim 10 wherein said car further comprises means for reducing air pressure in said first pair of tires and said second pair of tires in said second mode.

12. The mass transit system of claim 11 wherein said track further includes a switching node, said switching node composing:

a second track portion having a second pair of driving surfaces, wherein said second pair of driving surfaces operably coupled said first pair of driving surfaces;

a third track portion extending from said second track portion and having a third pair of driving surfaces operably coupled to said second pair of driving surfaces;

a third rail having a first end and disposed between said second pair of driving surfaces, said third rail being arranged to engage one of said first pair of linked switching wheels, said third rail having a longitudinal shape substantially matching a longitudinal shape of said third track portion; and

,

a fourth rail having a second end adjacent said first end, said fourth rail being disposed between said pair of third driving surfaces and arranged to engage the other of said first pair of linked switching wheels;

wherein said first pair driving surface and said second pair of driving surface remain unobstructed by said third rail and fourth rail.

13. The mass transit system of claim 12 wherein said track further includes a service area, said service area having a transition point wherein said first pair of driving surfaces are coupled to said conventional road.

14. The mass transit system of claim 13 wherein said car further comprises:

a third pair of steerable tires coupled to said body section at an end opposite said first pair of steerable tires, said third pair of steerable tires in contact with said first pair of driving surfaces in said first mode and said conventional road in said second mode; and

,

a fourth pair of steerable tires coupled to said body section adjacent said third pair of steerable tires, said fourth pair of steerable tires in contact with said first pair of driving surfaces in said first mode and said conventional road in said second mode.

15. The mass transit system of claim 14 wherein said first pair of switching wheels is in said retracted position and said second pair of switching wheels are in said retracted position in said second mode.

16. A mass transit system comprising:

a car having means for bimodal operation, said car comprising;

an elongated body section having a first end and a second end;

a first set of wheels having pneumatic tires with a first tread surface, said first set of pressurized tires being coupled to said first end, said first set of tires including a first pair of tires and a second pair of tires on opposite sides of said first end;

a second set of wheels having pneumatic tires with a second tread surface, said second set of pressurized tires being coupled to said second end, said second set of tires including a third pair of tires and a fourth pair of tires on opposite sides of said second end;

a means for steering, wherein said first set of wheels and said second set of wheels swivel in response to said means for steering;

a set of switching wheels, said set of switching wheels including a first linked pair of switching wheels and a second linked pair of switching wheels, said set of switching wheels movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and

,

a track comprising a first pair of driving surfaces spaced apart by an air gap, said first pair of driving surfaces being sized to support said first tread surface and said second tread surface;

17. The mass transit system of claim 16 wherein:

said track section further includes;

a first pair of rails extending substantially perpendicular to said first pair of driving surfaces and disposed in said air gap within an under carriage of said elongated body section, each of said first pair of rails having an operable side, said operable side being sized to receive said first linked pair of switching wheels;

a second pair of rails extending substantially perpendicular to said first pair of driving surfaces and disposed in said air gap within said under carriage of said elongated body section, each of said second pair of rails having an operable side, said operable side being sized to receive said second linked pair of switching wheels;

wherein said car further comprises a set of guide wheels arranged between said first set of pressurized tires and said first end; and

,

wherein said track further comprises a pair of guide walls extending substantially perpendicular to said first pair of driving surfaces and sized to receive said set of guide wheels.

18. The mass transit system of claim 17 wherein said car is removably coupled to said track, and said bimodal operation includes in a first mode wherein said first tread surface and said second tread surface engage said first pair of driving surfaces and a second mode wherein said first tread surface and said second tread surface engage a conventional road.

19. The mass transit system of claim 18 wherein said track further includes a switching node, said switching node composing:

a first track portion having a second pair of driving surfaces, wherein said second pair of driving surfaces is operably coupled said first pair of driving surfaces;

a second track portion extending from said first track portion and having a third pair of driving surfaces is operably coupled to said second pair of driving surfaces;

a third pair of rails operably coupled to said first pair of rails, said third pair of rails including a first rail having a first end and disposed between said second pair of driving surfaces, said first rail being arranged to engage one of said first pair of linked switching wheels, said first rail having a shape substantially matching a shape of said second track portion and, a second rail having a second end arranged adjacent to an edge of one of said second pair of driving surfaces, said second rail being disposed between said pair of second driving surfaces and arranged to engage the other of said first pair of linked switching wheels.

20. The mass transit system of claim 19 wherein said track further includes:

a station having a plurality of switching nodes, each of said plurality of switching nodes being operably coupled to said first pair of driving surfaces; and

,

a service area, said service area defines a transition from said first mode wherein said tires engage said first pair of driving surfaces to said second mode of operation wherein said tires engage a street surface.