An improved magnetic transportation system comprised of Halbach array systems and London Assemblage systems having a plurality of magnets that are magnetically and structurally arranged to form a magnetic field of flux that attracts and repels the connections to enable loads on the xz-axis to levitate at rest, during object acceleration or deceleration, and at high-speeds, as well as on the yz-axis enable initial propulsion and for lateral stabilization on the xz/yz-axis.

Systems, methods, and non-transitory, machine-readable media for railway fastener removal are disclosed. A railway fastener extractor may be aligned with a railway fastener installed in a railway tie. The railway fastener extractor may be coupled with a frame assembly and a cylinder and slide assembly of a railway workhead so that the railway fastener extractor is suspended from the cylinder and slide assembly. The railway fastener extractor may be operated to extend opposing claws of the railway fastener extractor toward a railway fastener, and may be operated to selectively apply force to a linkage system to grip the railway fastener, the force being directed along a longitudinal axis. The force may be bifurcated and corresponding forces may be applied to move linkages and move the opposing claws to grip the railway fastener, and the railway fastener extractor may be operated to extract the railway fastener.

A bi-directional railroad-track to maglev-guideway transition system includes a portion of a railroad track having two parallel rails defining a first axis of travel, and a portion of a maglev guideway defining a second axis of travel. In the transition system, the portion of the maglev guideway is adjacent to the two parallel rails of the portion of the railroad track with a non-zero elevation grade being defined between the first axis of travel and the second axis of travel.

A bi-directional railroad-track to maglev-guideway transition system includes a portion of a railroad track having two parallel rails defining a first axis of travel, and a portion of a maglev guideway defining a second axis of travel. In the transition system, the portion of the maglev guideway is adjacent to the two parallel rails of the portion of the railroad track with a non-zero elevation grade being defined between the first axis of travel and the second axis of travel.

According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises an interior wall and guard strips magnetically coupled to the interior wall. Each of the guard strips comprises a cushioning material for absorbing impact. The guard strips are configured to prevent an object loaded in the railcar from contacting the interior wall. The railcar further comprises protected magnetic fastening systems coupling each of the guard strips to the interior wall. Each of the protected magnetic fastening systems comprises a magnet and a rod comprising a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled to the magnet, and the second end extends through the guard strip. The protected magnetic fastening system may further comprise a cup washer coupled to the second end of the rod and secured with a fastener. The cup washer partially surrounds the fastener to restrict objects larger than the cup washer from contacting the fastener.

Various propulsion motor topologies are provided. In particular, a propulsion motor is provided which includes: at least one ferromagnetic core having opposite ends joined by a body forming a magnetic flux pathway between the opposite ends; a magnetic flux inducing device to induce a first magnetic flux in the at least one ferromagnetic core along the magnetic flux pathway; and armature coils to induce a varying second magnetic flux in the at least one ferromagnetic core perpendicular to the magnetic flux pathway, to assist inducing a propulsion force perpendicular to the magnetic flux pathway. The at least one ferromagnetic core is shaped to form one or more total forces perpendicular to the propulsion force due to the first magnetic flux.

Various topologies to reduce force ripple for propulsion motors are provided. A propulsion motor comprises: ferro-magnetic cores arranged along a movement axis, the ferromagnetic cores including one or more end ferromagnetic cores located at an end of the movement axis, the one or more end ferromagnetic cores shaped to provide one or more of increasing magnetic permeance or decreasing magnetic reluctance from the end of the movement axis towards a center of the movement axis; armature coils located around the ferromagnetic cores; and at least one field coil around one or more of the armature coils and the ferromagnetic cores.

A switch for vehicles is provided. In particular, a switch for a levitation rail for a vehicle is provided. The switch comprises: a straight rail; a curved rail, curving away from the straight rail, the straight rail and the curved rail comprising magnetic material to magnetically interact with a motor of the vehicle; and a magnetic gap between the straight rail and the curved rail, the magnetic gap comprising a region, at which the straight rail and the curved rail meet, of lower magnetic permeability relative to the straight rail and the curved rail.

A rail connecting structure is provided which can absorb misalignment occurring on rail mounting members side and reduce a level difference generated at a connecting portion of rails. A rail connecting structure that connects rails (6, 7) to be mounted on rail mounting members (4, 5) includes a base block (22) that is placed at a connecting portion (14) of one rail (6) and the other rail (7) and is separate from the rail mounting members (4, 5), in which the base block (22) is fastened to the one rail (6) and the other rail (7) with fastening members that are passed through mounting holes (6a, 7a) of the one rail (6) and the other rail (7), and the base block (22) is not fixed to the rail mounting members (4, 5), and is movable relative to the rail mounting members (4, 5).

A portion of transportation structure including: 1) a substructure including a plurality of piers, a first plurality of girders positioned on at least some of the piers and forming a first transportation pathway, 2) a first assembly of tube segments, capable of being placed under low air pressure and through which pods may travel substantially free of air friction, the first assembly of tube segments been positioned on the first transportation pathway and each tube segment comprising: a) a main tube with legs distributed along the length of the main tube and suitable for the main tube to rest on the substructure on its legs, b) shims positioned in-between the substructure and at least part of the legs, the thickness of each shim been adapted so that the deflection of the substructure between piers is offset.