Coupling between moving cars of a transportation system
AssigneeDirectrains Ltd.
InventorAlberto Rodrigo Mandler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupling assembly (100) in a first car (12) configured to move relative to a second car (18), the coupling assembly (100) includes an extender (88) and a connector (99). While the first and second cars (12, 18) are both in motion, the extender (88) is configured to extend away from the first car (12) for connecting with the second car (18). The connector (99) is coupled to the extender (88) and is configured to perform the following while the first and second cars (12, 18) are both in motion: (i) connect with a mating connector (98) of the second car (18) when connecting between the first and second cars (12, 18), and (ii) disconnect from the mating connector (98) when disconnecting the first car (12) from the second car (18).
Claims18
A coupling assembly in first and second cars configured to move relative to one another, the coupling assembly comprising:
- a first extender that, while at least one of the first and second cars is in motion, is configured to extend away from the first car for connecting with the second car;
- a second extender that, while at least one of the first and second cars is in motion, is configured to extend away from the second car for connecting with the first car;
- a first connector, which is coupled to the first extender, and is being moved relative to the first car in response to the first extender extending away from the first car telescopically;
- and
- a second connector, which is coupled to the second extender, and is being moved relative to the second car in response to the second extender extending away from the second car telescopically, wherein the first connector is configured to perform the following while at least one of the first and second cars is in motion:
- (i) dynamically connect with the second connector when connecting between the first and second cars, and
- (ii) dynamically disconnect from the second connector when disconnecting the first car from the second car.
A method for coupling between first and second cars moving relative to one another, the method comprising:
- while at least one of the first and second cars is in motion and the first and second cars are separated from one another by a given distance:
- extending away telescopically from the first car, a first extender coupled to a first connector, for moving the first connector relative to the first car, and for connecting with the second car;
- extending away telescopically from the second car, a second extender coupled to a second connector, for moving the second connector relative to the second car, and for connecting with the first car;
- and
- dynamically connecting between a first connector coupled to the first extender and a second connector coupled to the second extender.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.