System for transporting vehicles using pallets and trains

• US 6,443,683 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avt-Train.Com., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Frank C. Randak
• Inventors: Randak, Frank C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Valenza, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US09/852,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20010042488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 198/370.06, 414/257, 414/339, 414/343, 414/351, 414/353, 414/398, 414/528
• US Class Current: 414/343
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 15/00 Combinations of railway systems
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 5/00 Elevated railway systems without suspended vehicles with monorail B61B13/04; tracks therefor E01B25/00
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 1/00 Transferring passengers, articles, or freight to and from moving trains; Slipping or coupling vehicles from or to moving trains

Abstract

An improved system for transporting vehicles and passengers from one destination to another using pallets, trains and guideways. The automobile uses ramp 1 to enter station 2 and park in port 3. The port then rotates 45 degrees 4 and parallel to a pallet guideway 5. The system then moves the pallet 6 along the pallet guideway next to a port 7 and parks. A mechanism on the pallet transfers the vehicle from the port 7 to the pallet 6. The pallet accelerates on a pallet guideway 8 and moves next to a train 9 that is traveling in the same direction on a train guideway 10. The pallet docks with an empty slot 11 on said train while both are moving. The pallet moves the automobile onto said train and undocks. The empty pallet continues along the pallet guideway 12 back to the station to pick up another vehicle. As said train approaches the next station, an empty pallet docks with the train at the said slot that contains the automobile. The pallet transfers the automobile from the train to the pallet. The mechanism on the pallet transfers the vehicle from the pallet to the empty port 13. The AVT-Port then rotates 45 degrees and the automobile exits by way of ramp 14.

Claims

1. An electrically powered transportation system, comprising:

a. A plurality of entry and exit ramps, each said ramp providing the means of ingress and egress of conventional automobiles into the system;

b. A plurality of entry and exit stations, each said station comprising said ramps, a plurality of ports, pallets and guideways;

c. A plurality of said ports within said stations, each said port having the capacity and ability to stabilize conventional automobiles and rotate said automobiles 45 degrees and parallel to said guideways;

d. A plurality of said pallets within said stations, each said pallet having the capacity and ability to stabilize conventional automobiles, a mechanism to retrieve said automobiles from said ports, a means of moving on said guideways parallel to guideways containing moving trains, and a mechanism to transfer the automobiles from said moving pallets to said moving trains;

e. A plurality of guideways within said stations on which said pallets would move;

f. A plurality of trains, each said train having the capacity to receive conventional automobiles from said pallets, to stabilize and carry said automobiles at high speeds, and to travel on elevated guideways;

g. A plurality of elevated guideways on which said trains would move.