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US 10,370,204 B2Granted
Transportation system
AssigneeHyperloop Technologies, Inc.
InventorsBrogan Bambrogan, Joshua Giegel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An off-shore port system includes a land-based port infrastructure area, an off-shore cargo ship docking area located in a body of water, and a transportation system having at least one tube connecting the land-based port infrastructure area and the off-shore cargo ship docking area.
Claims25
An off-shore port system, comprising:
- a land-based port infrastructure area comprising at least one first intermodal container crane operable to load and unload intermodal containers from a transportation vehicle;
- an off-shore cargo ship docking area located in a body of water and comprising at least one second intermodal container crane operable to load and unload intermodal containers from a ship;
- at least one capsule configured to accommodate one or more intermodal containers containing cargo;
- a first transportation system connecting the off-shore cargo ship docking area and the land-based port infrastructure area, wherein the first transportation system comprises:
- at least one non-evacuated transportation tube having an interior environment connecting the off-shore cargo ship docking area and the land-based port infrastructure area, wherein the interior environment is maintained during all phases of operation at approximately atmospheric pressure and includes at least one track;
- and
- a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the non-evacuated tube;
- and
- a second transportation system connecting the land-based port infrastructure area with at least one destination, wherein the second transportation system comprises:
- at least one partially-evacuated transportation tube having a low-pressure interior environment connecting the land-based port infrastructure area and the at least one destination, wherein the low-pressure interior environment includes at least one track;
- a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the partially-evacuated transportation tube;
- and
- a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the partially-evacuated transportation tube,
- wherein the at least one capsule is operable to transport the one or more intermodal containers in both the first transportation system and the second transportation system.
11 more elements
An off-shore port system, comprising:
- a land-based port infrastructure area comprising at least one first intermodal container crane operable to load and unload intermodal containers from a transportation vehicle;
- an off-shore cargo ship docking area located in a body of water at a distance of approximately 15 miles from the land-based port infrastructure area, and comprising:
- at least one second intermodal container crane operable to load and unload intermodal containers from a ship;
- an intermodal container loading platform located beneath a surface of the body of water;
- and
- at least one elevator arranged adjacent to the intermodal container loading platform and configured for at least one intermodal container, wherein the at least one elevator connects the intermodal container loading platform with the cargo ship docking area;
- and
- a transportation system having at least one tube connecting the off-shore cargo ship docking area and the land-based port infrastructure area, wherein the at least one tube is operable as a transportation path for at least one capsule configured to accommodate one or more intermodal containers containing cargo, the transportation system additionally having at least one partially-evacuated tube, having an interior maintained as a low-pressure environment, connecting the land-based port infrastructure area with a destination, wherein the at least one partially-evacuated tube is operable as a further transportation path for at least one capsule,
- wherein the land-based port infrastructure area is located remotely from a coastline at an inland location, such that the land-based port infrastructure does not occupy waterfront property.
6 more elements
A port system, comprising:
- a land-based port infrastructure area;
- a cargo ship docking area located in a body of water at a distance of approximately 15 miles from the land-based port infrastructure area;
- a cargo transport system connecting the land-based port infrastructure area and the cargo ship docking area;
- a loading platform located adjacent the cargo transport system;
- at least one elevator configured for at least one cargo container, which connects the loading platform with the cargo ship docking area;
- a transportation system connecting with the land-based port infrastructure area, the transportation system comprising at least one partially-evacuated tube having an interior maintained as a low-pressure environment, and a plurality of cargo holding containers, and
- the land-based port area further comprising a loader for placing the cargo holding containers into the at least one partially-evacuated tube.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.