Railways – Fluid supported car or simulated aerial vehicle – Car supported by fluid current pushing against surface
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-04
2001-04-17
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Railways
Fluid supported car or simulated aerial vehicle
Car supported by fluid current pushing against surface
C180S116000, C180S118000, C180S119000, C180S127000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216599
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to transport systems. More particularly, this invention is to a system using air cushion vehicles in channels.
Transportation of heavy and bulky loads such as materials, commodities, supplies, machinery, equipments, ordnance, etc. has been and still is a formidable task. Ships, barges, boats, and other water-borne vessels have successfully delivered these loads across open water, and canals and locks were developed to extend this capability and to circumvent land obstacles. However, an overland transport system that is high-speed, costs less, and better than trains is still needed.
To a degree, trains currently carry substantial loads, but many trains are slow. Train systems also require expensive nonrecurring capital investments and expensive recurring maintenance costs. In many existing networks of rail roadways, large real estate investments have been made, but maintenance costs are high to meet safety standards.
Monorail transportation systems could be created in the networks of roadways, but the costs of laying concrete and building supporting rail structures are significant. Magnetic-levitation of heavy loads also has been investigated, but this appears to be prohibitive since, like the monorails, large up-front capital investments and large recurring, maintenance costs are needed. Consequently, almost any known advanced technology heavy-lift transportation system requires a large investment and high maintenance costs.
Thus, in accordance with this inventive concept, a need has been recognized in the state of the art for systems capable of transporting heavy loads overland at high transit speeds and at reduced capital investment and maintenance costs for the roadway.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a transportation system that has an air cushion vehicle in a trench-like channel in the ground. The channel provides support and directional stability for the vehicle during transit.
An object of the invention is to provide a cost-effective transportation system.
Another object of the invention is to provide a rapid transportation system to reduce the cost of distribution of goods and equipments that lowers the life cycle cost of nearly all equipment.
Another object of the invention is to provide a less expensive overland transportation system utilizing existing right-of-ways.
Another object of the invention is to provide a high-speed heavy-lift system needing minimal preparation and maintenance for the roadway.
Another object of the invention is to provide a high-speed, heavy-lift vehicle which can utilize the right-of-ways currently owned by railroads at lower roadway installation and maintenance costs.
Another object of the invention is to provide standardized roadway shapes accommodating one or more ground effect vehicles to haul different loads of cargo.
Another object of the invention is to provide a heavy lift transportation system that can be constructed and operated without imposing a major environmental impact.
Another object of the invention is to provide systems utilizing U-shaped channels to guide and stabilize air cushion vehicles therein.
Another object of the invention is to provide systems utilizing W-shaped channels to guide and stabilize air cushion vehicles therein.
These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the ensuing specification when taken in conjunction with the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3675582 (1972-07-01), Girard et al.
patent: 3777667 (1973-12-01), Perrott
patent: 3845716 (1974-11-01), Bertelsen
patent: 3917022 (1975-11-01), Brooks, Jr.
patent: 4063611 (1977-12-01), Anderson
patent: 4175636 (1979-11-01), Broughton
patent: 4397366 (1983-08-01), Eldridge et al.
patent: 4516651 (1985-05-01), Duchateau
patent: 4813508 (1989-03-01), Hansen
patent: 4821647 (1989-04-01), Powell et al.
Gilbert Harvey A.
Morano S. Joseph
Olson Lars A.
Peck Donald G.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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