# US 2025/0154735 A1 · Method for erecting a transportation structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0154735 A1 - Document ID: US20250154735A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/840,137 - Filed: 2022-02-28 - Published: 2025-05-15 - Earliest claimed: 2022-02-28 - Applicants: ArcelorMittal - Inventors: Giuseppe SELLITTO; Michaël GREMLING; Elena DI SILVESTRO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250154735A1 ## CPC - E01D 18/00: Bridges specially adapted for particular applications or functions not provided for elsewhere, e.g. aqueducts, bridges for supporting pipe-lines - B61B 13/08: Sliding or levitation systems (vehicles with air cushions between rails and vehicles B60V3/04) - B61B 13/10: Tunnel systems (pneumatic tubes conveyors B65G {; B61C15/045 takes precedence}) - E01B 25/30: Tracks for magnetic suspension or levitation vehicles - E01B 25/305: {Rails or supporting constructions} - E01D 2/00: Bridges characterised by the cross-section of their bearing spanning structure - E01D 19/02: Piers {(E01D19/005 takes precedence; towers for suspension bridges E01D19/14)}; Abutments (foundations E02D ){; Protecting same against drifting ice (against colliding vehicles E01F15/00)} - E01D 21/00: Methods or apparatus specially adapted for erecting or assembling bridges - E01D 21/06: by translational movement of the bridge or bridge sections {(E01D15/127, E01D15/133 and E01D21/10 take precedence)} - E01D: CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES, {ELEVATED ROADWAYS} OR VIADUCTS; ASSEMBLY OF BRIDGES (bridges extending between terminal buildings and aircraft for embarking or disembarking passengers B64F1/305; {tracks for special kinds of railways E01B25/00; culverts E01F5/005}) - 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 A method for erecting a portion of a transportation structure including a plurality of piers, a first plurality of girders forming a first assembly of tube segments and a first rooftop transportation pathway, a second plurality of girders forming a second assembly of tube segments and a second rooftop transportation pathway, both assemblies being capable of being placed under low air pressure and through which pods may travel substantially free of air friction, the method including conveying with vehicle(s) the girders along one single rooftop transportation pathway, positioning them and having the vehicle(s) return along the other rooftop transportation pathway. A portion of a transportation structure is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-15. (canceled) ### Claim 16 A method for erecting a portion of a transportation structure including: a plurality of piers substantially regularly spaced along a longitudinal axis of the portion of transportation structure, a first plurality of girders positioned on at least some of the piers and forming: a first assembly of tube segments, the first assembly being capable of being placed under low air pressure and capable of allowing the circulation of pods travelling substantially free of air friction in the tube segments, a first rooftop transportation pathway running from the first extremity of the portion of the transportation structure to the second extremity, each girder of the first plurality of girders including a tube segment of the first assembly of tube segments, a metallic structure embedding the tube segment of the first assembly of tube segments, the upper surface of the metallic structure being a portion of the first rooftop transportation pathway, a second plurality of girders positioned on at least some of the piers and forming: a second assembly of tube segments, the second assembly being capable of being placed under low air pressure and capable of allowing the circulation of pods travelling substantially free of air friction in the tube segments, a second rooftop transportation pathway running from the first extremity of the portion of the transportation structure to the second extremity, alongside the first rooftop transportation pathway, each girder of the second plurality of girders comprising: a tube segment of the second assembly of tube segments, a metallic structure embedding the tube segment of the second assembly of tube segments, the upper surface of the metallic structure being a portion of the second rooftop transportation pathway, the method comprising: conveying with at least one vehicle girders of the first and second pluralities along the first rooftop transportation pathway formed by the girders of the first plurality of girders previously positioned, positioning the girders at use positions alternately at the second extremity at the first rooftop transportation pathway and at the second extremity at the second rooftop transportation pathway and having the at least one vehicle return to the first extremity of the portion of the transportation structure along the second rooftop transportation pathway formed by the girders of the second plurality of girders previously positioned. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the portion of transportation structure does not comprise any platform forming a service pathway. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16 further comprising a first step of erecting the piers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16 further comprising an additional step wherein a first section of the portion of the transportation structure comprising at least one pier, one girder from the first plurality of girders and one girder from the second plurality of girders is erected at a stocking site. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the at least one vehicle includes vehicles set up with the girders at the first extremity of the portion of the transportation structure. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the girders are positioned with a girder launcher crane supported by the structure itself. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the girders are manufactured at a stocking site. ### Claim 23 A portion of a transportation structure for pods traveling substantially free of air friction in an assembly of tube segments placed under low air pressure, the portion of the transportation infrastructure comprising: a plurality of piers substantially regularly spaced along a longitudinal axis of the portion of transportation structure; a first plurality of girders positioned on at least some of the piers and forming: a first assembly of tube segments, the first assembly being capable of being placed under low air pressure and capable of allowing the circulation of pods travelling substantially free of air friction in the tube segments, and a first rooftop transportation pathway running from the first extremity of the portion of the transportation structure to the second one, each girder of the first plurality of girders including: a tube segment of the first assembly of tube segments, a metallic structure embedding the tube segment of the first assembly of tube segments, the upper surface of the metallic structure being a portion of the first rooftop transportation pathway, a second plurality of girders positioned on at least some of the piers and forming: a second assembly of tube segments, the second assembly being capable of being placed under low air pressure and capable of allowing the circulation of pods travelling substantially free of air friction in the tube segments, a second rooftop transportation pathway running from the first extremity of the portion of the transportation structure to the second one, alongside the first rooftop transportation pathway, each girder of the second plurality of girders comprising: a tube segment of the second assembly of tube segments, a metallic structure embedding the tube segment of the second assembly of tube segments, the upper surface of the metallic structure being a portion of the second rooftop transportation pathway. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The portion of the transportation structure as recited in claim 23 wherein the portion of transportation structure does not comprise any platform forming a service pathway. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The portion of the transportation structure as recited in claim 23 wherein all the girders of the first plurality of girders are positioned successively and continuously one after the other along the longitudinal axis of the portion of the transportation structure and all the girders of the second plurality of girders are positioned successively and continuously one after the other along the longitudinal axis of the portion of the transportation structure. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The portion of the transportation structure as recited in claim 23 wherein the metallic structure includes a lower deck, an upper deck and transverse reinforcements connecting the lower deck to the upper deck. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The portion of the transportation structure as recited in claim 26 wherein each transverse reinforcement extends substantially in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the portion of transportation structure. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The portion of the transportation structure as recited in claim 26 wherein each transverse reinforcement extends horizontally so as to match the contour of the cross-section of the tube segment. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The portion of the transportation structure as recited in claim 26 wherein the upper deck is a substantially flat surface suitable for vehicle traffic. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The portion of the transportation structure as recited in claim 23 further comprising a third plurality of girders positioned on the first plurality of girders or a fourth plurality of girders positioned on the second plurality of girders.