# US 2013/0152813 A1 · Method and system for transportation using a rail structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152813 A1 - Document ID: US20130152813A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/329,128 - Filed: 2011-12-16 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: Sandor Wayne Shapery - Inventors: Sandor Shapery; Bradley Hunter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152813A1 ## CPC - B60L 13/04: Magnetic suspension or levitation for vehicles - B60L 13/003: {Crossings; Points} - B61B 13/08: Sliding or levitation systems (vehicles with air cushions between rails and vehicles B60V3/04) - E01B 25/30: Tracks for magnetic suspension or levitation vehicles - E01B 25/34: Switches; Frogs; Crossings - B60L 2200/26: Rail vehicles - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B61B: RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (lifts or hoists, elevators, escalators, moving walkways B66B) - E01B: PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS (derailing or rerailing blocks on track, track brakes or retarders B61K) ## Abstract Methods and systems for transportation using a rail structure are disclosed. In one aspect, a track for use with at least one of a magnetic levitation vehicle and a rolling vehicle having one or more wheels is disclosed. The track includes a first head having a maximum lateral dimension, a second head having a maximum lateral dimension, and a connection portion extending between the first head and the second head. The first connection portion may have a maximum lateral dimension that is less than the maximum lateral dimension of the first head. The track may also include a base and a support extending between the second head and the base. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A track for use with at least one of a magnetic levitation vehicle and a rolling vehicle having one or more wheels, the track comprising: a first head having a first lateral dimension; a second head having a first lateral dimension; a first connection portion extending between the first head and the second head and providing a path for a first source of magnetic flux through the first head and the second head, the first connection portion having a third lateral dimension that is less than the first lateral dimension of the first head; a first base; and a first support extending between the second head and the first base. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein the third lateral dimension of the connection portion is less than the second lateral dimension of the second head. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The track of claim 2, wherein the second lateral dimension of the second head is greater than the first lateral dimension of the first head. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein the first head, the connection portion, and the second head are integrally formed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The track of claim 4, wherein the first head, the connection portion, and the second head comprise a magnetizable material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The track of claim 5, wherein the magnetizable material comprises at least one of steel and iron. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The track of claim 5, wherein the first base and the first support comprise a non-mangnetizable material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The track of claim 4, wherein the first head, the connection portion, and the second head comprise a magnetic material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein the first head comprises an upper surface having a maximum lateral dimension sufficient to support a wheel of the rolling vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The track of claim 9, wherein the maximum lateral dimension of the upper surface is between 70 mm and 75 mm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the first head, the connection portion, and the second head is substantially polygonal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein the first connection portion is tapered between the first head and the second head. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, further comprising: a third head having a fourth lateral dimension; a fourth head having a fifth lateral dimension; a second connection portion extending between the third head and the fourth head and providing a path for a second source of magnetic flux through the third head and the fourth head, the second connection portion having a sixth lateral dimension that is less than the fourth lateral dimension of the third head; a second base, the second base being offset laterally from the first base; and a second support extending between the fourth head and the second base. ### Claim 14 A source of magnetic flux for use with a rail structure having a first head having a first lateral dimension, a second head having a second lateral dimension, and a connection portion extending between the first head and the second head, the connection portion having a third lateral dimension that is less than the first lateral dimension of the first head and the second lateral dimension of the second head, the source of magnetic flux comprising: a first upper portion having a first polarity and a second upper portion having the first polarity, the first upper portion and the second upper portion being spaced apart to receive at least a portion of the first head therebetween, wherein the first upper portion is magnetically attracted to the first head by a force that is greater than a magnetic attraction force between the first upper portion and the connection portion; and a first lower portion having a second polarity opposite of the first polarity, and a second lower portion having the second polarity, the first lower portion and the second lower portion being spaced apart to receive at least a portion of the second head therebetween, wherein the first lower portion is magnetically attracted to the second head by a force that is greater than a magnetic attraction force between the first lower portion and the connection portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The source of magnetic flux of claim 14, wherein the first upper portion comprises a surface oriented to face a first lateral facing surface of the first head, and wherein the second upper portion comprises a surface oriented to face a second lateral facing surface of the first head. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The source of magnetic flux of claim 14, wherein the first lower portion comprises a surface oriented to face a first lateral facing surface of the second head, and wherein the second lower portion comprises a surface oriented to face a second lateral facing surface of the second head. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The source of magnetic flux of claim 14, further comprising a controller configured to control a position of the source of magnetic flux relative to the rail structure. ### Claim 18 A track comprising: a first track segment including a switch portion; a first actuator coupled to the switch portion, the first actuator being configured to move the switch portion between at least a first position and a second position; and a second actuator coupled to the switch portion, the second actuator mechanism being configured to move the switch portion between at least the first position and the second position, wherein the first track segment and a second track segment form a first rail structure path when the switch portion is in the first position, and wherein the first track segment and a third track segment form a second rail structure path when the switch portion is in the second position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The track of claim 18, wherein the switch portion includes a first section and a second section, wherein the first actuator is coupled to the first section, and wherein the second actuator is coupled to the second section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The track of claim 18, wherein first track segment and the third track segment do not form a rail structure path when the first section is in the first position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The track of claim 18, wherein first track segment and the second track segment do not form a rail structure path when the second section is in the second position. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The track of claim 18, wherein the first track segment, the second track segment, and the third track segment each comprise a double-headed rail structure. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The track of claim 18, wherein the first actuator is configured to move the switch portion laterally between at least the first position and the second position. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The track of claim 23, wherein the second actuator is configured to lift the switch portion relative to the second track segment and the third track segment.