Rail transportation system and method of designing same

Abstract

A transportation system and a method of designing same, according to which a car travels along a track and is located relative to the track so that the composite center of gravity of the car is offset from the track in a lateral and longitudinal direction.

1 . A method of designing a transportation system including a car that travels along at least one track; the method comprising; 
 determining the composite center of gravity for the car; and    locating the car relative to the track so that the composite center of gravity is offset from the track in a lateral and longitudinal direction.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining the composite center of gravity comprises: 
 determining the approximate desired dimensions of the car;    determining the approximate weight of the car;    determining the approximate weights of all components and subsystems associated with the car;    establishing individual centers of gravity of the car and components based on their approximate dimensions and weight;    establishing the composite center of gravity for the car, including the components and the subsystems based on their individual centers of gravity.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lateral offsets of the composite center of gravity from the track establishes downwardly-directed forces that are equal to the weight at the center of gravity times the distance of the above lateral offset and the distance of the above longitudinal offset.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the components are a housing for receiving at least one wheel that engages the track and an arm for receiving at least one wheel that engages the track.  
   
   
       5 . The method  claim 1  wherein the track is mounted on a surface on the guide way, and the at least one wheel is mounted on the car and engages the track, and further comprising establishing an angle that the surface makes with a horizontal plane.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of establishing the angle comprises: 
 establishing a position point that is laterally offset from the wheel and within the boundaries of the car; and    connecting a line from the position point to the wheel or proximate to the wheel, wherein the angle of the surface is perpendicular to the wheel and located proximate to the wheel.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing another surface on the guide way for receiving another wheel and further comprising establishing an angle that the surface makes with a horizontal plane.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of establishing the angle comprises: 
 establishing a position point that is laterally offset from the other wheel within the boundaries of the car; and    connecting a line from the position point to the other wheel or proximate to the wheel, wherein the angle of the other surface is perpendicular to the other wheel and located proximate to the other wheel.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the other wheel acts as a counterbalance to the first-mentioned wheel.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein there are two spaced tracks and two spaced wheels that engage the respective tracks, and wherein the lateral offset of the composite center of gravity is offset from both wheels and both tracks in the same direction.  
   
   
       11 . A transportation system comprising: 
 a guide way defining at least one surface;    at least one track mounted on the surface;    a car comprising a cabin for receiving passengers and adapted to engage the track and travel over the track;    the vertical axis of the car being laterally offset from the guide way; and    the center of gravity of the car being laterally and longitudinally offset from the track.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a at least one wheel rotatably mounted on the car and adapted to engage the track.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein there are two spaced tracks mounted on the surface and two spaced wheels rotatably mounted to the cabin and engaging the corresponding tracks.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the lateral offset of the composite center of gravity is offset from both wheels and both tracks in the same direction.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the lateral offsets of the center of gravity from the wheel establishes downwardly-directed forces that are equal to the weight of the car at the center of gravity times the distance of the above lateral offset and the distance of the above longitudinal offset.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the surface extends at an angle to the horizontal.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the guide way defines another surface extending at an angle to the horizontal, and wherein the car further comprises an arm, and at least one wheel mounted on the arm and engaging the other surface.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the at least one other wheel acts as a counterbalance to the first-mentioned wheel.