Patent ID: 6039135
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: B60P,B61B

Abstract:
An electrically powered vehicle transportation system, comprising:a guideway with parallel enclosed rails which extend longitudinally, each of the enclosed rails having a shroud for reducing entry of moisture into an interior portion of the enclosed rails due to weather, the shroud having an upright outer side wall, an upright inner side wall with a wheel engaging surface therebetween, and a top extending between the side walls over the wheel engaging surface;a downward facing slot extending longitudinally through each of the inner side walls;an electrical bus bar extending along one of the side walls of at least one of the enclosed rails;a plurality of electrically powered vehicles, each having a pair of axles with a pair of wheels mounted to each end of each of the axles, wherein each of the ends of each of the axles is offset from an axis of rotation of a central portion of each of the axles, extends through one of the slots, and the wheels are located within the shrouds in engagement with the wheel engaging surface; andan electrical contact on the vehicle which electrically engages the electrical bus bar for delivering power to the vehicle.