US3680488A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transportation system having inertial switch system
Assignee: Transportation Tech Inc
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Filing: 1970-09-16
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Granted: 1972-08-01
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Expires: 1990-09-16
Abstract
Abstract A transportation system particularly suitable for vehicles having omnidirectional suspension system, such as air cushion devices, including a system of paths of travel for the vehicle having a plurality of diverging branch lines and a main line feeding toward the junction of the branch lines. A transition section connects the main line with the branch lines and is operable for directing the vehicle from the main line onto a selected one of the branch lines in accordance with the speed of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard H Donlon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:48
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V3/00; B60V3/02; B60V3/04; E; E01; E01B; E01B25/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
277 words
A transportation system comprising: a vehicle; a system of paths of travel for said vehicle comprising a plurality of diverging branch lines and a main line feeding toward the junction of said branch lines; and means for directing said vehicle from said main line onto a selected one of said branch lines in accordance with the speed of the vehicle; said means comprising a curved route transition section connecting said main line with said branch line; said plurality of branch lines includes an outer branch line extending from said transition section adjacent the outer peripheral edge of said transition section and an inner branch line extending from said transition section adjacent the inner peripheral edge of said transition section; the outer peripheral edge of said transition section being elevated with respect to the inner peripheral edge thereof; further including means for laterally restraining said vehicle against the action of centrifugal force when said vehicle travels at high speeds over said transition section and for laterally restraining said vehicle against the action of gravity when said vehicle travels at low speeds over said transition section; said last named means comprising a high speed guide rail concentric with the outer peripheral edge of said transition section and engageable by said vehicle at high speeds and a low speed guide rail concentric with the inner peripheral edge of said transition section and engageable by said vehicle at low speeds; said high speed guide rail comprising a side wall projecting upwardly from the outer peripheral edge of said transition section, and said low speed guide rail comprising a side wall projecting upwardly from the inner peripheral edge of said transition section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
277 words
A transportation system comprising: a vehicle; a system of paths of travel for said vehicle comprising a plurality of diverging branch lines and a main line feeding toward the junction of said branch lines; and means for directing said vehicle from said main line onto a selected one of said branch lines in accordance with the speed of the vehicle; said means comprising a curved route transition section connecting said main line with said branch line; said plurality of branch lines includes an outer branch line extending from said transition section adjacent the outer peripheral edge of said transition section and an inner branch line extending from said transition section adjacent the inner peripheral edge of said transition section; the outer peripheral edge of said transition section being elevated with respect to the inner peripheral edge thereof; further including means for laterally restraining said vehicle against the action of centrifugal force when said vehicle travels at high speeds over said transition section and for laterally restraining said vehicle against the action of gravity when said vehicle travels at low speeds over said transition section; said last named means comprising a high speed guide rail concentric with the outer peripheral edge of said transition section and engageable by said vehicle at high speeds and a low speed guide rail concentric with the inner peripheral edge of said transition section and engageable by said vehicle at low speeds; said high speed guide rail comprising a side wall projecting upwardly from the outer peripheral edge of said transition section, and said low speed guide rail comprising a side wall projecting upwardly from the inner peripheral edge of said transition section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A transportation system as claimed in claim 1 including air cushion suspension means for said vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A transportation system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said vehicle is propelled by a linear electric motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A transportation system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the primary of said linear motor is embedded in the surface of said system of paths and the secondary is carried by said vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
150 words
A transportation system comprising: a vehicle; omnidirectional suspension means for said vehicle; a system of paths of travel for said vehicle including inner and outer diverging branch lines, a main line feeding toward the junction of said branch line, and a curved transition section connecting said main line with said branch lines; the outer peripheral edge of said transition section being raised with respect to the inner peripheral edge; said inner branch line extending from said transition section adjacent said inner peripheral edge and said outer branch line extending from said transition section adjacent said outer peripheral edge; a high speed guide rail concentric with said outer peripheral edge and engageable by said vehicle traveling at high speeds to guide the vehicle onto said outer branch line; and a low speed guide rail engageable by said vehicle traveling at low speeds to guide the vehicle onto said inner branch line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
150 words
A transportation system comprising: a vehicle; omnidirectional suspension means for said vehicle; a system of paths of travel for said vehicle including inner and outer diverging branch lines, a main line feeding toward the junction of said branch line, and a curved transition section connecting said main line with said branch lines; the outer peripheral edge of said transition section being raised with respect to the inner peripheral edge; said inner branch line extending from said transition section adjacent said inner peripheral edge and said outer branch line extending from said transition section adjacent said outer peripheral edge; a high speed guide rail concentric with said outer peripheral edge and engageable by said vehicle traveling at high speeds to guide the vehicle onto said outer branch line; and a low speed guide rail engageable by said vehicle traveling at low speeds to guide the vehicle onto said inner branch line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A guideway system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said omnidirectional suspension means comprises at least one air operated levitation device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A guideway system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said vehicle is propelled by a linear electric motor, one element of which is embedded in said system of paths and the other element of which is carried by said vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
182 words
A transportation system comprising: a vehicle having omnidirectional suspension means; a guideway system for said vehicle including a main line having a vehicle supporting surface and a pair of spaced parallel side walls for laterally restraining the vehicle, a pair of diverging branch lines each having a vehicle supporting surface, a pair of spaced parallel side walls for laterally restraining the vehicle, and a curved transition section connecting said main line with said branch line; said transition section having a vehicle supporting surface and a pair of spaced side walls diverging from the side walls of said main line for laterally restraining the vehicle, the outer said wall of said transition section connecting with the outer side wall of one of said branch lines and the inner side wall of said transition section connecting with the outer side wall of the other branch line; the vehicle supporting surface of said transition section being inclined downwardly from its outer peripheral edge to its inner peripheral edge, and the inner side walls of said branch lines converging at the junction of said branch lines.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
182 words
A transportation system comprising: a vehicle having omnidirectional suspension means; a guideway system for said vehicle including a main line having a vehicle supporting surface and a pair of spaced parallel side walls for laterally restraining the vehicle, a pair of diverging branch lines each having a vehicle supporting surface, a pair of spaced parallel side walls for laterally restraining the vehicle, and a curved transition section connecting said main line with said branch line; said transition section having a vehicle supporting surface and a pair of spaced side walls diverging from the side walls of said main line for laterally restraining the vehicle, the outer said wall of said transition section connecting with the outer side wall of one of said branch lines and the inner side wall of said transition section connecting with the outer side wall of the other branch line; the vehicle supporting surface of said transition section being inclined downwardly from its outer peripheral edge to its inner peripheral edge, and the inner side walls of said branch lines converging at the junction of said branch lines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A guideway system as claimed in claim 8 including means defining a retaining groove on each of the side walls; and a pair of followers selectively and alternately engageable with a respective one of the grooves to restrain the vehicle against movement from the associated sidewall.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |