Integrated method and apparatus for continuous passenger or freight transport

Claim 2

Transport apparatus comprising in combination: a first vehicle for transporting cargo from a point to a first transfer point, said vehicle having means for automatically recording transport data and means for receiving and discharging cargo when said cargo has been delivered to said first transfer point; a second vehicle having a first operative mode at said first transfer point for receiving and discharging cargo to and from said first vehicle and a second operative mode for moving the cargo to a second transfer point remote from said first point, said second vehicle comprising means cooperable with said first vehicle receiving and discharging means for receiving and discharging cargo at said first transfer point and separate means for receiving and discharging cargo at said second transfer point; and a third vehicle continuously moving over a roadbed between two remote points at a relatively uniform rate of speed, for transporting cargo between two remote poiNts, said third vehicle having means for receiving and discharging cargo to and from said second vehicle at said second transfer point while said second and third vehicles move in side-by-side relation over the roadbed with zero relative speed between said second and third vehicles; and coupling means extending between said second and third vehicles at said second transfer point for locking said vehicles together during the transfer operation, said coupling means including a pair of swingable arms mounted on one vehicle and adopted to converge toward each other in an outwardly extended position to engage a coupling bracket mounted on another of said vehicles thereby connecting said vehicles together.

Claim 3

Transport apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for receiving and discharging cargo from said first vehicle at said first transfer point comprises door means formed in one side of said vehicle, extensible and retractable floor means adjacent said door means and extensible and retractable canopy means covering said door and floor means at said first transfer point.

Claim 4

Transport apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second vehicle means is cooperable with said first vehicle receiving and discharge means for receiving and discharging cargo comprises door means in one side of said vehicle and said separate means for receiving and discharging at said second moving transfer point comprises door means in said other side of said car, extensible and retractable floor means and extensible and retractable seal means.

Claim 5

Transport apparatus, as recited in claim 3, wherein said extensible and retractable seal means comprises an upper canopy and end seal and a lower canopy and end seal, said seal means and said floor means forming a passageway between said second and third vehicles at said second transfer point.

Claim 6

Transport apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said coupling means further includes power means on said one vehicle connected to said arms for swinging said arms between said extended position and a retracted position and said coupling bracket having sensing means associated therewith for sensing relative movement between said two vehicles, said bracket adopted to receive the outward end of said arms when said arms are in the extended position.

Claim 7

Transport apparatus, as recited in claim 5, wherein a pair of spaced apart springs are disposed on the outward end of said arms and a sleeve member is disposed on said arms between said springs, said sleeves being receivable in said coupling bracket.

Claim 8

Transport apparatus, comprising in combination: a first vehicle for transporting cargo from a point to a first transfer point, said vehicle having means for automatically recording transport data and means for receiving and discharging cargo when said cargo has been delivered to said first transfer point; a second vehicle having a first operative mode at said first transfer point for receiving and discharging cargo to and from said first vehicle and a second operative mode for moving the cargo to a second transfer point remote from said first transfer point, said second vehicle comprising means cooperable with said first vehicle receiving and discharging means for receiving and discharging cargo at said first transfer point and separate means for receiving and discharging cargo at said second transfer point; a third vehicle continuously moving over a roadbed between two remote points at a relatively uniform rate of speed, for transporting cargo between the two remote points, said third vehicle having means for receiving and discharging cargo to and from said second vehicle at said second transfer point while said second and third vehicles move in side-by-side relation over the roadbed; and coupling means extending between said vehicles at said second transfer point, said coupling means comprises a longitudinally movable rotatable coupling arm mounted on one of said vehicles, means for moving and rotating said arm beTween an outwardly extended position and a retracted position and a coupling bracket on the other of said vehicles for receiving and engaging said coupling arm when said arm is in said extended position locking said vehicles together until a complete cargo transfer is made.

Claim 9

Transport apparatus, comprising in combination: a first vehicle for transporting cargo from a point to a first transfer point, said vehicle having means for automatically recording transport data and means for receiving and discharging cargo when said cargo has been delivered to said first transfer point; a second vehicle having a first operative mode at said first transfer point for receiving and discharging cargo to and from said first vehicle and a second operative mode for moving the cargo to a second transfer point remote from said first transfer point, said second vehicle comprising means cooperable with said first vehicle receiving and discharging means for receiving and discharging cargo at said first transfer point and separate means for receiving and discharging cargo at said second transfer point; a third vehicle continuously moving over a roadbed between two remote points at a relatively uniform rate of speed, for transporting cargo between the two remote points, said third vehicle having means for receiving and discharging cargo to and from said second vehicle at said second transfer point while said second and third vehicles move in side-by-side relation over the roadbed; and coupling means extending between said vehicles at said second transfer point, said coupling means comprises a longitudinally movable rotatable coupling arm mounted on one of said vehicles, means for moving and rotating said arm beTween an outwardly extended position and a retracted position and a coupling bracket on the other of said vehicles for receiving and engaging said coupling arm when said arm is in said extended position locking said vehicles together until a complete cargo transfer is made.

Claim 10

Transport apparatus comprising, in combination: a first vehicle for transporting cargo from a remote point to a first transfer point, said vehicle having means for receiving and discharging cargo when said cargo has been delivered to said first transfer point; a second vehicle having a first operative mode at said first transfer point for receiving and discharging cargo to and from said first vehicle and a second operative mode for transporting cargo to a second moving transfer point remote from said first point, said second vehicle having means cooperable with said first vehicle receiving and discharge means for receiving and discharging cargo at said first transfer point and separate means for receiving and discharging cargo at said second transfer point; a third vehicle for transporting cargo between two remote points at a relatively uniform high rate of speed, said third vehicle having means for receiving and discharging cargo to and from said second vehicle at said second transfer point; coupling means extending between said second and third vehicles at said second transfer point for locking said vehicles together; and said means on said second vehicle for receiving and discharging cargo at said second transfer point comprises extensible and retractable seal means including an upper canopy pivotally mounted on said second vehicle and a lower seal pivotally mounted on said third vehicle, said canopy and lower seal cooperating to form end seals to completely enclose the area between the two vehicles during the transfer operation an extensible and retractable platform and door means.

Claim 11

Transport apparatus comprising, in combination: a first vehicle for transporting cargo from a remote point to a first transfer point, said vehicle having means for receiving and discharging cargo when said cargo has been delivered to said first transfer point; a second vehicle having a first operative mode at said first transfer point for receiving and discharging cargo to and from said first vehicle and a second operative mode for transporting cargo to a second moving transfer point remote from said first point, said second vehicle having means cooperable with said first vehicle receiving and discharge means for receiving and discharging cargo at said first transfer point and separate means for receiving and discharging cargo at said second transfer point; a third vehicle for transporting cargo between two remote points at a relatively uniform high rate of speed, said third vehicle having means for receiving and discharging cargo to and from said second vehicle at said second transfer point; coupling means extending between said second and third vehicles at said second transfer point for locking said vehicles together; and said means on said second vehicle for receiving and discharging cargo at said second transfer point comprises extensible and retractable seal means including an upper canopy pivotally mounted on said second vehicle and a lower seal pivotally mounted on said third vehicle, said canopy and lower seal cooperating to form end seals to completely enclose the area between the two vehicles during the transfer operation an extensible and retractable platform and door means.

Claim 12

Transport apparatus, as recited in claim 8, wherein said coupling means comprises arm means mounted on one of said coupled vehicles for rotatable movement between a retracted position and outwardly extended position and means at the outward end of said arm means receivable and engagable with bracket means on the other of said coupled vehicles when said arm means is in said extended position.

Claim 13

An integrated transportation system comprising in combination: a main vehicle continuously moving over a roadbed at a relatively uniform rate of speed between two remove points and having means for receiving and discharging cargo while in motion to a transfer vehicle coupled in side-by-side relation to said main vehicle and travelling over a parallel roadbed, said transfer vehicle coupling and uncoupling from said main vehicle from time to time for transporting cargo to a plurality of intermediate points between said two remote points and a pick up and discharge vehicle for receiving and discharging cargo from said transfer vehicle for subsequent transport from said transfer vehicle to an ultimate destination, said main vehicle and said transfer vehicle being coupled together by arm means comprised of a pair of outwardly converging arms mounted on one of said vehicles and rotatable from a retracted position to an outwardly extended position, each of said arms having bearing means at the outward end thereof receivable and engagable with bracket means disposed on the other of said vehicles when said arm means is in the outwardly extended position.

Claim 14

An integrated transportation system comprising in combination: a main vehicle continuously moving over a roadbed at a relatively uniform rate of speed between two remove points and having means for receiving and discharging cargo while in motion to a transfer vehicle coupled in side-by-side relation to said main vehicle and travelling over a parallel roadbed, said transfer vehicle coupling and uncoupling from said main vehicle from time to time for transporting cargo to a plurality of intermediate points between said two remote points and a pick up and discharge vehicle for receiving and discharging cargo from said transfer vehicle for subsequent transport from said transfer vehicle to an ultimate destination, said main vehicle and said transfer vehicle being coupled together by arm means comprised of a pair of outwardly converging arms mounted on one of said vehicles and rotatable from a retracted position to an outwardly extended position, each of said arms having bearing means at the outward end thereof receivable and engagable with bracket means disposed on the other of said vehicles when said arm means is in the outwardly extended position.

Claim 15

An integrated transportation system, as recited in claim 10, wherein canopy and platform means extend between said coupled vehicles to form a passageway for receipt and discharge of cargo between said vehicles.

Claim 16

An integrated transportation system comprising in combination: a main vehicle continuously moving over a roadbed at a relatively uniform rate of speed between two remote points and having means for receiving and discharging cargo while in motion to a transfer vehicle coupled in side-by-side relation to said main vehicle and travellIng over a parallel roadbed, said transfer vehicle coupling and uncoupling from said main vehicle from time to time for transporting cargo to a plurality of intermediate points between two remote points and a pick up and discharge vehicle for receiving and discharging cargo from said transfer vehicle for subsequent transport from said transfer vehicle to an ultimate destination, said main vehicle and said transfer vehicle being coupled together by arm means mounted on one of said vehicles, said arm means comprises a longitudinally movable rotatable coupling arm having a bearing means at the outward end thereof adapted for engagement with bracket means disposed on the other of said vehicles.

Claim 17

An integrated transportation system comprising in combination: a main vehicle continuously moving over a roadbed at a relatively uniform rate of speed between two remote points and having means for receiving and discharging cargo while in motion to a transfer vehicle coupled in side-by-side relation to said main vehicle and travellIng over a parallel roadbed, said transfer vehicle coupling and uncoupling from said main vehicle from time to time for transporting cargo to a plurality of intermediate points between two remote points and a pick up and discharge vehicle for receiving and discharging cargo from said transfer vehicle for subsequent transport from said transfer vehicle to an ultimate destination, said main vehicle and said transfer vehicle being coupled together by arm means mounted on one of said vehicles, said arm means comprises a longitudinally movable rotatable coupling arm having a bearing means at the outward end thereof adapted for engagement with bracket means disposed on the other of said vehicles.