A transportation system is disclosed. The transportation system has a vehicle that is self-powered and configured to generate an air cushion on a trackless lane having a substantially flat surface. The vehicle is configured to move over the substantially flat surface on the air cushion. The transportation system also has a guidance system configured to guide the vehicle between peripheries of the trackless lane.

The present invention refers to an improvement developed on a pneumatic transport system for loads and/or passengers whose vehicles are not provided with on-board drive means, being guided on two exclusive tracks arranged in parallel, each track being dedicated to one travel direction, resulting in high transport capacity. The vehicles (1) travel over railway tracks (5) laid over an elevated track (6) supported by pillars (7). The center of the top of the superstructure of the elevated track (6) has a longitudinal slot (9) with seal (8) by means of which the mast (3) of the propulsion plate (4) is allowed to move freely along the path of the vehicle (1). The crossbeam is comprised by four beams which constitute the superstructure of the elevated track, being two turnout beams (6′) and two straight beams (6), whereby the four beams are permanently connected to each other and to the pillars (7) in the region of the heads to form a monolithic hyperstatic structure. In the superstructure of the turnout beams (6′) there are mounted the mobile rails (16, 18 and 21) with their respective drive mechanisms (17, 19 and 20) and locking (15). A section isolation valve is positioned inside the propulsion duct (12) of the turnout beams (6′) and is comprised of a shutter (40) and a linear actuator (41) which activates a set of two articulated rods (42) to the position of the limit stop (43).

A vehicle guidance system and method of forming the same. The vehicle guidance system includes a transport guideway having an at least partial tube structure; vehicle tracks; a vehicle, having a fuselage with an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, that travels over the vehicle tracks; and at least one track channel assembly arranged on an inside of the at least partial tube structure. The at least one track channel assembly is arranged so that, as the vehicle travels over the vehicle track, the at least one track channel assembly is located between the uppermost surface and the lowermost surface of the fuselage.

A vehicle guidance system and method of forming the same. The vehicle guidance system includes a transport guideway having an at least partial tube structure; vehicle tracks; a vehicle, having a fuselage with an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, that travels over the vehicle tracks; and at least one track channel assembly arranged on an inside of the at least partial tube structure. The at least one track channel assembly is arranged so that, as the vehicle travels over the vehicle track, the at least one track channel assembly is located between the uppermost surface and the lowermost surface of the fuselage.

A high-speed transportation device with a tube as a rail, including a tube structure, a carrier structure, a control system, a braking system, and a drive system. The tube structure is an extension structure surrounded by a tube wall. The tube wall is provided with a plurality of unidirectional airflow windows configured to control a flowing direction of airflow. The carrier structure operates in the tube structure. The carrier structure is a carriage-type structure. The unidirectional airflow window installed on the tube structure of the invention can significantly reduce the air resistance of the operational system. Compared with the current rapid transportation device, this invention has the advantages of high efficiency, low cost, fast speed and high safety, and can be used for the development of new rapid transportation system.

A high-speed transportation system comprises an evacuated travel conduit divided into a plurality of segments by closable gates, and associated with corresponding segment pumps that maintain operating vacuums within the segments when vehicles are present. When a segment is unoccupied, energy is saved by closing the adjoining gates and deactivating the associated segment pump, thereby deactivating the segment and allowing the segment's internal pressure to rise due to leakage. As a vehicle approaches, the segment pump is reactivated, lowering the internal pressure to the operating vacuum, and the gates are opened. Embodiments include a boom-tank system that can accelerate re-evacuation of a segment having an increased internal pressure by establishing fluid communication with at least one recently deactivated segment having a lower internal pressure. As a vehicle transits the conduit, a rolling, contiguous group of activated segments surrounding and in advance of the vehicle can be maintained.

A linear transport apparatus includes a transport cart, a first roller that rotates about a first rotation shaft extending from the transport cart along a first direction, a second roller that rotates about a second rotation shaft extending from the transport cart and forming an acute angle with the first rotation shaft, and a rail sandwiched between the first and second rollers to extend along a track on which the transport cart moves. The rail includes a first contact portion coming contact with the first roller and restricting movement of the transport cart in a second direction perpendicular to a direction in which the rail extends and the first direction, and a second contact portion that comes into contact with the second roller and is parallel to the second rotation shaft, and the rail includes a portion in which curvature of the track moves is different from another portion.

A linear transport apparatus includes a transport cart, a first roller that rotates about a first rotation shaft extending from the transport cart along a first direction, a second roller that rotates about a second rotation shaft extending from the transport cart and forming an acute angle with the first rotation shaft, and a rail sandwiched between the first and second rollers to extend along a track on which the transport cart moves. The rail includes a first contact portion coming contact with the first roller and restricting movement of the transport cart in a second direction perpendicular to a direction in which the rail extends and the first direction, and a second contact portion that comes into contact with the second roller and is parallel to the second rotation shaft, and the rail includes a portion in which curvature of the track moves is different from another portion.

Segment isolating valves assembled on the lower back of the elevated guideway (1), the plug base (2) being hinged on a housing (3) fixed to the elevated guideway (1) by a flange (4) for fast connection and disconnection. The housing (3) is equipped with a rainwater runoff tank (5). The segment isolating valve comprises a plug (2) mounted in a housing (3) affixed to the elevated guideway by means of a flange (4) for fast connection and disconnection. The plug (2) is moved by means of a linear actuator (6), whose rod exerts force on an articulation (7), which is pivoted above on the plug (2) and below on a frame (8) affixed to the housing base (3). The assembly is mechanically locked through a closed position locking cam (9), displaced automatically by springs (10). A safety locking pin (11) is actuated by a release solenoid (12).

A rail transport system having no internal drive is used for conveying bulk materials and includes an over-under bypass arrangement. The bypass arrangement includes drives, ramps and switches that allow trains to travel in both directions on two sets of tracks positioned above the same track footprint. Rail bypass arrangements for use with rail transport systems for conveying bulk materials and allowing bypass of a first train and a second train are also disclosed herein.