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Patent US3859925A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
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US3859925A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Transportation system

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-10-15
•
Granted: 1975-01-14
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Expires: 1993-10-15
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Abstract

Abstract A mass transit system compatible with existing right-of-way usages is described. A self-propelled carriage mechanism supports a passenger or cargo-carrying compartment in both the vertical and the horizontal planes by means of a vertical strut. The compartment is positioned substantially above the running gear on a strut supported by the running gear. The running gear travels within an entrenched passageway having a narrow slit at the top for passage of the strut connecting the compartment and the running gear. The top surface of this passageway is suitable for use by surface traffic right-of-way. A flexible closure member may be utilized to close the slit prior to and subsequent to passage of the mass transit vehicle. The compartment is positioned far enough above the running gear so as to clear surface traffic and to avoid collision between the compartment and other vehicles occupying the right-of-way. The entrenched passageway in which the running gear operates may be positioned in the center of a roadway between the lanes of traffic, at the edge thereof or in other right-of-way locations, as desired. Switching mechanisms are provided so that the system may be used in feeder and trunk line-type applications as well as loop-type and car reversal methods of use. The transit system is especially adapted to carry detachable containers between service locations. The containers are removably connected to lift mechanisms on one or more struts which can raise the containers from ground level to a given distance above the ground for transporting to another service location.

Inventors

  • 👤 Billy J Hartz

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 15:12
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61B; B61B5/00; B61B5/02; B61B5/025; B61B13/00; B61B13/04

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.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3381627A Cited
US3483829A Cited
US3373697A Cited
US3368496A Cited
US3526193A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-01-13 1978-07-15 1979-01-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-01-13 1982-07-15 1983-01-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-01-13 1986-07-15 1987-01-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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