Patent ID: 9701319
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: B60V,B61B,Y02T

Claim:
1. A transportation system for moving a vehicle, which is able to carry a cargo, along a route that is generally defined by a plurality of support members, in a ground, and which employs each of a power source and an air supply for a supplying of an air, including: (i) a cross-sectionally curved rail, having a cross-sectional shape that includes at least a curved portion, that is supported off the ground by the plurality of support members; (ii) a motor that is powered by the power source, wherein the vehicle is movable along the cross-sectionally curved rail by the motor; (iii) an assembly, wherein the assembly: (a) at least partially surrounds the cross-sectionally curved rail, (b) is connectable to the vehicle such that when the assembly and vehicle are connected the assembly at least assists in enabling the vehicle to essentially hang from the cross-sectionally curved rail towards the ground, (c) is movable along the cross-sectionally curved rail by the motor, and (d) is rotatable at least partially around the cross-sectionally curved rail; (iv) an air bearing, wherein: (1) the air bearing is positioned between the assembly and the cross-sectionally curved rail such that (A) the air bearing is moved along the cross-sectionally curved rail when the assembly is moved along the cross-sectionally curved rail and (B) the air bearing rotates at least partially around the cross-sectionally curved rail when the assembly rotates at least partially around the cross-sectionally curved rail; (2) the air bearing is made of a compliant material; (3) the air bearing is inflated by the supplying of the air, from the air supply, to a cavity—wherein the cavity (A) is at least partially defined by an inner surface of the air bearing, (B) is positioned between the assembly and the cross-sectionally curved rail, and (C) has a cavity air pressure of a cavity air pressure magnitude; (4) the inflated air bearing has a first shape; and (5) the inflated air bearing is compliant such that the first shape of the inflated air bearing is able to, responsively to force, become temporarily deformed; (v) a control system, which includes at least one computer, that controls the supplying of the air to the cavity by the air supply; (vi) a passageway by which at least some of the air supplied to the cavity is able to exit the cavity; (vii) a plenum that is able to receive the air that has exited the cavity, wherein the plenum is at least partially defined by (1) a first outer surface portion of the inflated air bearing and (2) a first surface portion of the cross-sectionally curved rail such that a specific location of the first surface portion of the cross-sectionally curved rail varies as the inflated air bearing one or more of (a) moves along the cross-sectionally curved rail and (b) rotates at least partially around the cross-sectionally curved rail and, thus, the air received by the plenum remains essentially sandwiched between the first outer surface portion of the inflated air bearing and the first surface portion of the cross-sectionally curved as the inflated air bearing one or more of (a) moves along the cross-sectionally curved rail and (b) rotates at least partially around the cross-sectionally curved rail; (viii) a lubrication zone of air, having a lubrication zone height magnitude, wherein the lubrication zone of air: (a) results when an air pressure in the plenum achieves a sufficient magnitude of air pressure, (b) enables at least some of the air that has entered the plenum to exit the plenum such that the air exiting the plenum becomes the lubrication zone of air, (c) flows directly between a second outer surface portion of the inflated air bearing and a second surface portion of the cross-sectionally curved rail such that a particular location of the second surface portion of the cross-sectionally curved rail varies as the inflated air bearing one or more of (1) moves along the cross-sectionally curved rail and (2) rotates at least partially around the cross-sectionally curved rail and, thus, the lubrication zone of air remains essentially sandwiched between the second outer surface portion of the inflated air bearing and the second surface portion of the cross-sectionally curved rail as the inflated air bearing one or more of (1) moves along the cross-sectionally curved rail and (2) rotates at least partially around the cross-sectionally curved rail, (d) at least assists in enabling the inflated air bearing to not contact the cross-sectionally curved rail when the inflated air bearing is moved along the cross-sectionally curved rail, and (e) at least assists in enabling the inflated air bearing to not contact the cross-sectionally curved rail when the inflated air bearing is rotating at least partially around the cross-sectionally curved rail; (ix) wherein the motor is a linear induction motor (‘LIM’); (x) wherein a distance, of less than 7 mm, is immediately between at least a portion of the LIM and the cross-sectionally curved rail—which is achieved by one or more bearings; (xi) wherein a primary of the LIM is attached to the assembly such that (1) the LIM moves along the cross-sectionally curved rail when the assembly moves along the cross-sectionally curved rail, which acts as a secondary of the LIM, and such that (2) the primary of the LIM rotates at least partially around the cross-sectionally curved rail when the assembly rotates at least partially around the cross-sectionally curved rail; (xii) wherein: (xiii) wherein in order for the sufficient magnitude of air pressure in the plenum to be achieved the cavity air pressure magnitude achieves a sufficient cavity air pressure magnitude; (xiv) wherein: (xv) wherein the achieving of the adjusted sufficient magnitude of air pressure in the plenum, also, ensures that the lubrication zone height magnitude, of the lubrication zone of air, is not relatively increased, at least significantly so; (xvi) wherein: (xvii) wherein: at least part of the first portion of the assembly and at least part of the second portion of the assembly are on respectively opposite sides of the cross-sectionally curved rail (1) such that the air bearing and the primary of the LIM are on respectively opposite sides of the cross-sectionally curved rail and (2) such that the air bearing and the primary of the LIM remain on respectively opposite sides of the cross-sectionally curved rail when the assembly rotates at least partially around the cross-sectionally curved rail.