Patent ID: 6279485
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: B60V,B61B,B61C,B65G

Abstract:
A pod assembly configured to be disposed inside and thrusted along a thrust tube, the pod assembly comprising a thrust pod which comprises:a thrust pod body including a generally cylindrical wall having a front end and a rear end, the thrust pod body being smaller in cross-section than the thrust tube, a portion of the front end being open and a portion of the rear end being open to allow gas flow through the thrust pod body between the front end and the rear end;a thrust pod tire coupled with the generally cylindrical wall of the thrust pod body to define an outer annular enclosure between the thrust pod tire and the wall of the thrust pod body, the thrust pod tire being inflatable to make contact with the interior of the thrust tube and deflatable to open gas flow between the thrust pod body and the thrust tube; andat least one bladder disposed inside the thrust pod body, the bladder being inflatable and deflatable to modulate gas flow through the thrust pod body to adjust speed of movement of the thrust pod body inside the thrust tube.