US3586382A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transportation system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-10-09
•
Granted: 1971-06-22
•
Expires: 1989-10-09
Abstract
Abstract An improved transportation system is provided by which vehicles, or articles in general, may be propelled along a roadbed on a cushion of pressurized fluid. The roadbed is provided with a grating which defines a series of vents through which the pressurized fluid escapes. The inner surface of the grating is normally closed by a flexible belt which extends along the roadbed, and in which a traveling wave is introduced progressively to open the vents and permit the fluid to escape and thus support and propel the vehicle. The system and apparatus to be described includes such a belt disposed in a vertical plane for reasons to become apparent as the description proceeds.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan R Pitkanen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:48
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V3/00; B60V3/02; B60V3/04; B65; B65G; B65G51/00; B65G51/02; B65G51/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A transportation system comprising: a longitudinal roadbed having a longitudinal passage and provided with upper flanges extending inwardly to define a slot open to said passage and to the atmosphere and extending along the roadbed; a grating spanning across said slot and extending into said passage to define a series of transverse air-passing ducts along the roadbed having entrances disposed in vertical uniplanar relationship, and defining marginal edges above and below said entrances; a flexible air-impervious belt having a forward run disposed in a vertical plane and positioned adjacent said vertical entrances of said air-passing ducts, slack being provided in the longitudinal extent of the belt and forming an undulation therein; a slide member positioned above said grating; and means for creating air pressure in said passage which is effective to press said run of said belt against said vertical entrances with its marginal edges at both ends of the undulation in air-sealing contact with said marginal edges of said air-passing ducts; the slide member being in the path of escape of air from said passage, around the edges of the undulated portion of the belt, and through the grating to form an escaping air cushion for said slide member, said slide member being static due to symmetry of pressures on both sides of the undulation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
A transportation system comprising: a longitudinal roadbed having a longitudinal passage and provided with upper flanges extending inwardly to define a slot open to said passage and to the atmosphere and extending along the roadbed; a grating spanning across said slot and extending into said passage to define a series of transverse air-passing ducts along the roadbed having entrances disposed in vertical uniplanar relationship, and defining marginal edges above and below said entrances; a flexible air-impervious belt having a forward run disposed in a vertical plane and positioned adjacent said vertical entrances of said air-passing ducts, slack being provided in the longitudinal extent of the belt and forming an undulation therein; a slide member positioned above said grating; and means for creating air pressure in said passage which is effective to press said run of said belt against said vertical entrances with its marginal edges at both ends of the undulation in air-sealing contact with said marginal edges of said air-passing ducts; the slide member being in the path of escape of air from said passage, around the edges of the undulated portion of the belt, and through the grating to form an escaping air cushion for said slide member, said slide member being static due to symmetry of pressures on both sides of the undulation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
The transportation system defined in claim 1 and which includes means for propelling the slide member longitudinally, the undulation in said belt upon movement of the slide member out of symmetrical relationship with the undulation being subject to an imbalance between the air pressure on the forward and trailing ends of the undulation and the asymmetrical pressure on the undulation to cause the undulation to follow after the slide member seeking to restore balance of pressure on the undulation and, thereby, keeping the air cushion beneath the traveling slide member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The transportation system defined in claim 2 in which said slide member is provided with means subject to the pressure of the escaping air to propel the slide member along the roadbed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
136 words
A transportation system comprising: a flexible belt having a forward run portion disposed in a vertical plane and having slack therein which forms a wave form in a portion of the forward run of the belt; a grating adjacent said forward run of said belt; air pressure means biasing other portions of said forward run of said belt into air-intercepting engagement with the grating while pressure air is passing around the edges of the wave form in the belt and through the grating; and a slide member positioned above the grating and supported by said pressure air; the wave form of the belt following longitudinal displacement of the slide member, and the pressures on opposite faces of the wave form becoming unbalanced due to the sYmmetry of opposed pressures being disturbed by such slide member movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
136 words
A transportation system comprising: a flexible belt having a forward run portion disposed in a vertical plane and having slack therein which forms a wave form in a portion of the forward run of the belt; a grating adjacent said forward run of said belt; air pressure means biasing other portions of said forward run of said belt into air-intercepting engagement with the grating while pressure air is passing around the edges of the wave form in the belt and through the grating; and a slide member positioned above the grating and supported by said pressure air; the wave form of the belt following longitudinal displacement of the slide member, and the pressures on opposite faces of the wave form becoming unbalanced due to the sYmmetry of opposed pressures being disturbed by such slide member movement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The transportation system defined in claim 4 and which includes means for propelling the slide member longitudinally.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The transporting system defined in claim 5 in which said slide member is provided with means subject to the pressure of escaping air to propel the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a conveyor system having a slide member, means for supporting said slide member on a traveling air cushion, said means including: a flexible belt having a vertically disposed forward run and having slack therein; means for producing air pressure to form a portion of the forward run of the belt into a bulging wave between two other belt portions; and a grating having vertically disposed entrances and horizontally disposed exits and interposed between the forward run of said belt and the slide member, the air pressure pressing the other portions of said belt against the entrances of said grating and said grating passing pressure air which passes around the longitudinal edges of the bulging wave form of the belt to form said cushion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a conveyor system having a slide member, means for supporting said slide member on a traveling air cushion, said means including: a flexible belt having a vertically disposed forward run and having slack therein; means for producing air pressure to form a portion of the forward run of the belt into a bulging wave between two other belt portions; and a grating having vertically disposed entrances and horizontally disposed exits and interposed between the forward run of said belt and the slide member, the air pressure pressing the other portions of said belt against the entrances of said grating and said grating passing pressure air which passes around the longitudinal edges of the bulging wave form of the belt to form said cushion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
In the conveyor system according to claim 7 in which, upon longitudinal movement of the slide member, said wave form follows to maintain said air cushion beneath said slide member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |