Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A transportation system comprising: an elongate passageway means, at least a portion of which underlies and is substantially parallel to a roadway, said passageway means defining running surfaces, said running surfaces having reaction surface means therein for providing vertical and overturning moment reaction components, said passageway means communicating with ground level through a single elongate slot; running gear means positioned for movement within said passageway means upon said running surfaces; strut means having a bottom portion connected to and supported by said running gear means and having a top portion extending upwardly through said slot, said strut means including lift means thereon for supportively engaging a load carrying compartment means, said lift means for raising and lowering said compartment means relative to said strut means between ground level and the top portion of said strut means, the top portion of said strut means having an upwardly extending height sufficient to position said compartment means a distance above ground level whereby pedestrian and vehicular traffic traversing said roadway at ground level and parallel to said passageway means can pass underneath said compartment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A transportation system comprising: an elongate passageway means, at least a portion of which underlies and is substantially parallel to a roadway, said passageway means defining running surfaces, said running surfaces having reaction surface means therein for providing vertical and overturning moment reaction components, said passageway means communicating with ground level through a single elongate slot; running gear means positioned for movement within said passageway means upon said running surfaces; strut means having a bottom portion connected to and supported by said running gear means and having a top portion extending upwardly through said slot, said strut means including lift means thereon for supportively engaging a load carrying compartment means, said lift means for raising and lowering said compartment means relative to said strut means between ground level and the top portion of said strut means, the top portion of said strut means having an upwardly extending height sufficient to position said compartment means a distance above ground level whereby pedestrian and vehicular traffic traversing said roadway at ground level and parallel to said passageway means can pass underneath said compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The transportation system of claim 1 wherein said lift means comprises a fleXible cable, engagement means connected to one end of said cable for interconnecting with mating engagement means on said compartment means, and means positioned on the top portion of said strut means for taking up and paying out said cable to raise and lower said compartment means relative to said strut means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The transportation system of claim 1 wherein said lift means comprises support means for engaging a first compartment means on a first side of said top portion of said strut means and a second compartment means on a second side of said top portion of said strut means, and means for lowering and raising said first and second compartment means relative to said strut means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The transportation system of claim 1 wherein the top portion of said strut means comprises a plurality of telescoping sections, means on at least one of said sections for supportively engaging a compartment means, and means for upwardly extending said telescoping sections so that the height of said upper portion is sufficient to position said compartment means said distance above ground level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The transportation system of claim 4 wherein said top portion has first means on a first side thereof for supportively engaging a first compartment means and a second means on a second side thereof for supportively engaging a second compartment means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The transportation system of claim 1 further comprising a cabin means for holding an operator for said running gear means, said cabin means being affixed to the top portion of said strut means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The transportation system of claim 6 wherein said cabin is cantilevered from said top portion of said strut means and is positioned forwardly of said compartment means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The transportation system of claim 1 wherein said strut means comprises at least two upwardly extending strut members, said strut members being spaced from each other along said elongate slot, said compartment means being supportively engaged by said lift means on said strut members and being positioned between said strut members.