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US 9,604,798 B2Granted
Transportation system
AssigneeHyperloop Technologies, Inc.
InventorsBrogan Bambrogan, Joshua Giegel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A high-speed transportation system includes at least one transportation structure having at least one track, at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one structure between a plurality of stations, a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the structure, and a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the structure. At least one track is positioned to provide balancing force vectors to achieve stability for the capsule.
Claims29
A high-speed transportation system, the system comprising:
- at least one enclosed transportation structure having at least one track;
- at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one structure between a plurality of stations;
- a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the structure;
- and
- a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the structure,
- wherein the at least one track is positioned to provide balancing force vectors to achieve stability for the capsule, and
- wherein the enclosed transportation structure comprises a tube maintained as a low-pressure environment.
4 more elements
A high-speed transportation system, the system comprising:
- at least one transportation structure having at least one track;
- at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one structure between a plurality of stations;
- a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the structure;
- and
- a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the structure,
- wherein the at least one track is positioned to provide balancing force vectors to achieve stability for the capsule,
- wherein the levitation system comprises at least one fluid bearing arranged on the capsule and interacting with the at least one track arranged in the structure, and
- wherein each fluid bearing comprises a liquid bearing.
5 more elements
A high-speed transportation system, the system comprising:
- at least one transportation structure having at least one track;
- at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one structure between a plurality of stations;
- a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the structure;
- and
- a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the structure,
- wherein the at least one track is positioned to provide balancing force vectors to achieve stability for the capsule,
- the transportation system further comprising at least one switching station arranged in a transportation path along the at least one structure, the transportation path having one upstream transportation path and one downstream transportation path, and at least one additional upstream or downstream transportation path,
- wherein the at least one switching station comprises a moveable door operable to selectively rotate to connect an upstream track portion with a selected downstream track portions.
5 more elements
A high-speed transportation system, the system comprising:
- at least one transportation structure having at least one track;
- at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one structure between a plurality of stations;
- a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the structure;
- and
- a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the structure,
- wherein the at least one track is positioned to provide balancing force vectors to achieve stability for the capsule,
- the transportation system further comprising at least one switching station arranged in a transportation path along the at least one structure, the transportation path having one upstream transportation path and one downstream transportation path, and at least one additional upstream or downstream transportation path,
- wherein the at least one switching station comprises actuatable side tracks which are adapted to be selectively removed from a path of an oncoming capsule, such that as the capsule approaches the switching station, only one of the actuatable side tracks engages a corresponding side air bearing of the capsule, in order to direct the capsule from an upstream track portion to one downstream track portion.
5 more elements
A high-speed transportation system, the system comprising:
- at least one transportation structure having at least one track;
- at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one structure between a plurality of stations;
- a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the structure;
- and
- a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the structure,
- wherein the at least one track is positioned to provide balancing force vectors to achieve stability for the capsule
- wherein the capsule comprises a plurality of support bearings along an exterior surface of the capsule, and
- wherein at least some of the plurality of support bearings comprise an independent suspension configured to adjust relative height of respective support bearings above the track to compensate for any protuberances on the track.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.