# US 2008/0184908 A1 · Turbofan powered locomotive and monorail > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0184908 A1 - Document ID: US20080184908A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/726,530 - Filed: 2007-03-22 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2006-07-21 - Inventors: James V. Phelan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080184908A1 ## CPC - B61B 13/08: Sliding or levitation systems (vehicles with air cushions between rails and vehicles B60V3/04) - B61C 11/06: tractive effort applied or supplied by aerodynamic force or fluid reaction, e.g. air-screws and jet or rocket propulsion - E01B 5/02: Rails - E01B 25/10: Mono-rails; Auxiliary balancing rails; Supports or connections for rails - Y02T 30/00: Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance - B61B: RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (lifts or hoists, elevators, escalators, moving walkways B66B) - B61C: LOCOMOTIVES; MOTOR RAILCARS (vehicles in general B60; frames or bogies B61F; special railroad equipment for locomotives B61J, B61K) - E01B: PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS (derailing or rerailing blocks on track, track brakes or retarders B61K) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A track and linkage device for a locomotive designed to run on a track and powered by a turbofan engine comprises a track defining a channel having an open upper end and a plurality of ball bearings in the channel such that at least a portion of the ball bearings project through the open upper end of the channel. The ball bearings are at least partially coated with a material for reducing friction. A connector is associated with locomotive and has a slide surface thereon which slides on the ball bearings in the track. The slide surface includes a material on at least a portion of thereof for reducing friction when moving over the ball bearings. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A track and linkage device for a vehicle designed to run on a track and powered by a turbofan engine, the track and linkage device comprising: a track member defining a channel having an open upper end and a plurality of ball bearings in the channel such that at least a portion of the ball bearings project through the open upper end of the channel, the ball bearings being at least partially coated with a material for reducing friction; and a connector member associated with a vehicle, the connector member having a slide surface thereon which slides on the ball bearings in the track member, the slide surface including a material on at least a portion of thereof for reducing friction when moving over the ball bearings, the connector member comprising a connecter strip running along at least a portion of the length of the vehicle, the connector member having an upper surface connected to or part of the vehicle, and a lower surface which comprises the slide surface, the connector member having a pair of downwardly extending flanges from the lower surface of the connector member, the flanges being substantially adjacent an outer portion of the track member to stabilize the position of the vehicle on the track member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A track and linkage device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the track member comprises an elongate track having a base and a pair of lateral, upwardly extending side walls defining the channel, the side walls being inwardly inclined so as to retain the ball-bearings within the channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A track and linkage device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ball-bearings are substantially coated with a material for reducing friction. ### Claim 4 (canceled) ### Claim 5 (canceled) ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A track and linkage device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the slide surface is substantially coated with material for reducing friction. ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A track and linkage device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second track member substantially identical to the track member, the track member and second track member running substantially parallel to each other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A track and linkage device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connector member comprises a plurality of wheels, the wheels running on two or more track members. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A track and linkage device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a locomotive. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A track and linkage device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a railroad car. ### Claim 12 A locomotive and track system, the locomotive being powered by a turbofan engine, the system comprising: a track member defining a channel having an open upper end and a plurality of ball bearings in the channel such that at least a portion of the ball bearing project through the open upper end of the channel, the ball bearings being at least partially coated with a material for reducing friction; and a connector member on the locomotive, the connector member having a slide surface thereon which slides on the ball bearings in the track member, the slide surface including a material on at least a portion of thereof for reducing friction when moving over the ball bearings, the connector member comprising a connecter strip running along at least a portion of the length of the vehicle, the connector member having an upper surface connected to or part of the vehicle, and a lower surface which comprises the slide surface, the connector member having a pair of downwardly extending flanges from the lower surface of the connector member, the flanges being substantially adjacent an outer portion of the track member to stabilize the position of the vehicle on the track member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A track and linkage device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the track member comprises an elongate track having a base and a pair of lateral, upwardly extending side walls defining the channel, the side walls being inwardly inclined so as to retain the ball-bearings within the channel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A track and linkage device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the ball-bearings are substantially coated with a material for reducing friction. ### Claim 15 (canceled) ### Claim 16 (canceled) ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A track and linkage device as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a second track member substantially identical to the track member, the track member and second track member running substantially parallel to each other. ### Claim 18 A locomotive powered by a turbofan engine, the locomotive comprising at least two pairs of wheels, each pair of wheels designed to run on a track, the wheels including a slide surface having a material thereon to reduce friction, and a track comprising a channel to receive a pair of wheels, the track including a channel coated at least in part with a material for reducing friction. ### Claim 19 A track and linkage device for a vehicle designed to run on a track and powered by a turbofan engine, the track and linkage device comprising: a track member defining a channel having an open upper end and a plurality of ball bearings in the channel such that at least a portion of the ball bearings project through the open upper end of the channel, the ball bearings being at least partially coated with a material for reducing friction; and a connector member associated with a vehicle, the connector member having a slide surface thereon which slides on the ball bearings in the track member, the slide surface including a material on at least a portion of thereof for reducing friction when moving over the ball bearings, the connector member comprising a plurality of wheels, the wheels running on two or more track members.