A system for repositioning at least one battery of an electric-powered vehicle relative to a drive axle of the vehicle to increase the weight carried by the axle as the vehicle attains a predetermined speed.

A system for repositioning at least one battery of an electric-powered vehicle relative to a drive axle of the vehicle to increase the weight carried by the axle as the vehicle attains a predetermined speed.

A system and method are disclosed enabling the use of electromagnetic engines to traverse a wheeled bogie assembly across a plurality of rails. The electromagnetic engines may be used within a rail assembly comprising four rails and a frog assembly. Further, the electromagnetic engines may be used to traverse between a straight path and a turnout path at a non-moving rail switch having a frog assembly. In one aspect, an algorithm for powering various coils is disclosed wherein the algorithm controls the power level to switch tracks connected to the frog assembly.

A method is described for maintaining a gaseous composition within a tube (that is part of tubular transportation system for transporting passengers or cargos via a capsule), where the tube is arranged along a predetermined route. The method comprises: (a) pumping the tube to a pressure that is below atmospheric pressure until the tube is substantially evacuated; (b) identifying a predetermined power value; (c) identifying a first percentage, x, of hydrogen based on the predetermined power value identified in (b) and a leak rate associated with the tube; (d) maintaining within each tube in the plurality of substantially evacuated tubes, a gaseous composition comprising a mixture of a first percentage, x, of hydrogen and a second percentage, (100-x), of air.

A high-speed transportation with a transporter enveloped by low pressure in running tube includes a running tube, a running rail, a carrier structure, a control system, a braking system and a driving system. The running tube is an extended tube structure enveloped by a tube wall. A plurality of one-way airflow windows are provided on the tube wall, and the direction of airflow passing through the plurality of one-way airflow windows are controllable. The driving system includes a blocking-type running drive structure, a running blocking structure and a blocking-type running pressure-reducing structure which are provided in the running tube and run along the running tube. The carrier structure is a compartment structure. A connecting structure includes a flexible telescopic connecting structure and a rigid non-telescopic connecting structure.

Disclosed is a combined pumping/gas source unit configured for use in a tubular transportation system for transporting one or more passengers or one or more cargos via a capsule along a predetermined route, where the tubular transportation system comprises a plurality of substantially evacuated tubes arranged along the predetermined route, each tube in the plurality of substantially evacuated tubes maintained at a pressure that is below atmospheric pressure.

Disclosed within is an injection system for injecting and maintaining a gaseous composition (helium and air) within a tube (e.g., a tubular transportation system for transporting one or more passengers or one or more cargos via a capsule), where the tube is pumped to a pressure that is below atmospheric pressure until the tube is substantially evacuated and where the capsule has an outside skin layer having injection nozzles. A source of helium gas located on board the capsule releases the helium outside of the capsule via the nozzles to relieve pressure buildup in a stagnation point at the front of the capsule or to reduce effects of a choking flow around the capsule or to relieve the effects of a shockwave at the rear of the capsule.

Implementations are described for maintaining helium/air mixture within a tube in an evacuated tube transportation system. A first implementation includes a set of helium tanks uniformly fitted along the tube length, where helium is injected with controlled valves that open or close to maintain the desired level of helium. An operations control center (OCC) receives helium concentration levels in the tube and instructs a controller in the tube to release helium into the tube when detected levels of helium is lower than the desired level of helium. Another implementation is described where a capsule traversing the tube may have a source of helium gas that can be released into the tube. A hybrid approach is also described where helium can be released from a source within the tube and from another source within the capsule.

An apparatus for applying a force to a vehicle (2) on a track (4), the apparatus comprising one or more magnets (6), the one or more magnets being rotatably mountable with respect to at least part of the vehicle. The track comprises one or more electrically conductive portions and the magnets are configured such that their rotation relative to the track induces one or more electrical currents in the track, such that a force is applied to the vehicle.

An apparatus for applying a force to a vehicle (2) on a track (4), the apparatus comprising one or more magnets (6), the one or more magnets being rotatably mountable with respect to at least part of the vehicle. The track comprises one or more electrically conductive portions and the magnets are configured such that their rotation relative to the track induces one or more electrical currents in the track, such that a force is applied to the vehicle.