Patent ID: 6324994
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: B60F,B61B,B62M,Y02T

Abstract:
A hybrid transit system comprising:a transit corridor including,a railway section comprising an upwardly facing traction surface and a pair of spaced rails,a roadway section comprising a paved roadway, anda junction between said railway section and said roadway sections; anda hybrid vehicle for movement within said transit corridor, including:a plurality of dual-mode wheels mounted to said hybrid vehicle for rotation about a first axis, each said dual-mode wheel having a flanged section for cooperation with a said rail and a tire section for cooperation with said paved roadway, at least two of said dual-mode wheels also mounted for simultaneous pivoting about a second axis and said first axis, andpropulsion means for propelling said hybrid vehicle; wherein said hybrid vehicle is supported and guided within said railway section substantially by the cooperation of said plurality of flanged sections and said rails, and said hybrid vehicle is supported and guided within said roadway section substantially by the cooperation of said tire section and said roadway and said hybrid vehicle is supported and guided within said junction substantially by the cooperation of at least one of said flanged section with said rail or said tire section with said roadway.