Interstate highway train system

Abstract

This is an elevated pile supported pre-stressed concrete beam electric high-speed remote-controlled modular train system, including compact high-rise terminals installed within the interstate highway rights-of-ways, a train module astride elevated support beams at standard gage rail widths to fully integrate train modules into existing rail, and since it's within existing interstate highways, fully integrates the new train system with other transportation infrastructures.

1 . A straddling beam rail vehicle comprising: 
 a base;    a yoke attached to said base, said yoke having a first end situated adjacent a first side of said base and a second end situated adjacent a second side of said base;    a first wheel unit connected to said first end of said yoke; and    a second wheel unit connected to said second end of said yoke, wherein said first and second wheel units are spaced apart to define an open space therebetween so as to be able to straddle a beam.    
   
   
       2 . The straddling beam rail vehicle of  claim 1  wherein said first wheel unit comprises: 
 a first outer wheel frame attached to said first end of said yoke;    a first inner wheel frame attached to said first end of said yoke at a distance from said first outer wheel frame;    a first axle extending between said first outer wheel frame and said first inner wheel frame; and    a first vertically-oriented wheel mounted on said first axle, and wherein said second wheel unit comprises:    a second outer wheel frame attached to said second end of said yoke;    a second inner wheel frame attached to said second end of said yoke at a distance from said second outer wheel frame;    a second axle extending between said second outer wheel frame and said second inner wheel frame; and    a second vertically oriented wheel mounted on said second axle.    
   
   
       3 . The straddling beam rail vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising a first horizontal wheel assembly mounted to said first inner wheel frame and a second horizontal wheel assembly mounted to said second inner wheel frame.  
   
   
       4 . The straddling beam rail vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising a first lower horizontal wheel assembly mounted to said first inner wheel frame and a first upper horizontal wheel assembly mounted to said first inner wheel frame above said first lower horizontal wheel assembly, and a second lower horizontal wheel assembly mounted to said second inner wheel frame and a second upper horizontal wheel assembly mounted to said second inner wheel frame above said second lower horizontal wheel assembly.  
   
   
       5 . The straddling beam rail vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising a first motor mounted to said base and drivingly connected to said first axle and a second motor mounted to said base and drivingly connected to said second axle.  
   
   
       6 . The straddling beam rail vehicle of  claim 1  wherein said yoke is attached to said base via a first air ride and a first active shock absorber connected between said first end of said yoke and said base and via a second air ride and a second active shock absorber connected between said second end of said yoke and said base.  
   
   
       7 . The straddling beam rail vehicle of  claim 6  further comprising an anti-sway bar mounted between said yoke and said base.  
   
   
       8 . A train and rail system comprising: 
 a beam having first and second opposing sides, a first shoulder protruding from said first side, and a second shoulder protruding from said second side;    a first rail mounted to said first shoulder;    a second rail mounted to said second shoulder; and    a rail vehicle for riding on said first and second rails, said rail vehicle comprising: 
 a base  
 a yoke attached to said base, said yoke having a first end situated adjacent a first side of said base and a second end situated adjacent a second side of said base;  
 a first wheel unit connected to said first end of said yoke; and  
 a second wheel unit connected to said second end of said yoke, wherein said first and second wheel units are spaced apart to define an open space therebetween so as to be able to straddle said beam.  
   
   
   
       9 . The train and rail system of  claim 8  wherein said beam is elevated.  
   
   
       10 . The train and rail system of  claim 8  wherein said first wheel unit comprises: 
 a first outer wheel frame attached to said first end of said yoke;    a first inner wheel frame attached to said first end of said yoke at a distance from said first outer wheel frame;    a first axle extending between said first outer wheel frame and said first inner wheel frame; and    a first vertically-oriented wheel mounted on said first axle, and wherein said second wheel unit comprises:    a second outer wheel frame attached to said second end of said yoke;    a second inner wheel frame attached to said second end of said yoke at a distance from said second outer wheel frame;    a second axle extending between said second outer wheel frame and said second inner wheel frame; and    a second vertically oriented wheel mounted on said second axle.    
   
   
       11 . The train and rail system of  claim 8  further comprising a first horizontal wheel assembly mounted to said first inner wheel frame and a second horizontal wheel assembly mounted to said second inner wheel frame.  
   
   
       12 . The straddling beam rail vehicle of  claim 8  further comprising a first lower horizontal wheel assembly mounted to said first inner wheel frame and a first upper horizontal wheel assembly mounted to said first inner wheel frame above said first lower horizontal wheel assembly, and a second lower horizontal wheel assembly mounted to said second inner wheel frame and a second upper horizontal wheel assembly mounted to said second inner wheel frame above said second lower horizontal wheel assembly.  
   
   
       13 . The train and rail system of  claim 8  further comprising a first motor mounted to said base and drivingly connected to said first axle and a second motor mounted to said base and drivingly connected to said second axle.  
   
   
       14 . The train and rail system of  claim 8  wherein said yoke is attached to said base via a first air ride and a first active shock absorber connected between said first end of said yoke and said base and via a second air ride and a second active shock absorber connected between said second end of said yoke and said base.  
   
   
       15 . The train and rail system of  claim 14  further comprising an anti-sway bar mounted between said yoke and said base.