Production vehicle for tritrack transportation system

Abstract

A vehicle for roadway travel includes a carriage body, a drive wheel, two non-drive wheels, a removable power module, and a control unit. The carriage body may include a passenger compartment. The drive wheel may be configured to propel the vehicle. The two non-drive wheels may be operable to steer the vehicle. The removable power module may be configured to provide power to the drive wheel. The control unit configured to deliver power from the power module to the drive wheel for roadway travel.

1 . A vehicle for roadway travel comprising: 
 a carriage body including a passenger compartment;    a drive wheel configured to propel the vehicle;    two non-drive wheels operable to steer the vehicle;    a removable power module configured to provide power to the drive wheel; and    a control unit configured to deliver power from the power module to the drive wheel for roadway travel.    
   
   
       2 . A vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive wheel is located to the rear of the passenger compartment.  
   
   
       3 . A vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the carriage body includes a monocoque form.  
   
   
       4 . A vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the carriage body includes a housing having a generally circular cross-section.  
   
   
       5 . A vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the carriage body includes a housing having the profile of a C-class type airship hull.  
   
   
       6 . A vehicle according to  claim 1 , further comprising a front axle configured to mount the two non-drive wheels to the carriage body.  
   
   
       7 . A vehicle according to  claim 1 , further comprising a front axle configured to mount the two non-drive wheels to the carriage body wherein the front axle comprises Navy #2 strut.  
   
   
       8 . A vehicle according to  claim 1 , further comprising a front axle configured to mount the two non-drive wheels to the carriage body, wherein the front axle includes a hollow portion configured to house a steering cable connecting the non-drive wheels to a steering control mounted in the passenger compartment.  
   
   
       9 . A dual-use vehicle for guideway travel and roadway travel, the vehicle comprising: 
 a carriage body including a passenger compartment;    a track engagement slot configured to engage a triangular rail;    a drive system including a motor component operable to cooperate with the triangular rail to form a motor operable to selectively transport the vehicle along the triangular rail;    two non-drive wheels operable to steer the vehicle during roadway travel;    a removable power module including a drive wheel configured to propel the vehicle for roadway travel; and    wherein the removable power module is configured to selectively engage the track engagement slot and to provide power to the drive wheel for roadway travel.    
   
   
       10 . A vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein the drive wheel is located to the rear of the passenger compartment.  
   
   
       11 . A vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein the carriage body includes a monocoque form.  
   
   
       12 . A vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein the carriage body includes a housing having a generally circular cross-section.  
   
   
       13 . A vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein the carriage body includes a housing having the profile of a C-class type airship hull.  
   
   
       14 . A vehicle according to  claim 9 , further comprising a front axle configured to mount the two non-drive wheels to the carriage body wherein the front axle comprises Navy #2 strut.  
   
   
       15 . A vehicle according to  claim 9 , further comprising a front axle configured to mount the two non-drive wheels to the carriage body, wherein the front axle includes a hollow portion configured to house a steering cable connecting the non-drive wheels to a steering control mounted in the passenger compartment.  
   
   
       16 . A vehicle according to  claim 9 , further comprising a processor operable to communicate with a wireless local area network (LAN), the LAN configured to monitor and manage vehicles engaged with the triangular rail.  
   
   
       17 . A rail system for transporting vehicles comprising: 
 a network of rails, each rail comprising an extruded triangular shell filled with support material;    a plurality of supports configured to support the rails at a pre-selected trajectory of the rail;    each rail configured to support a vehicle, the vehicle comprising: 
 a carriage body including a passenger compartment;  
 a track engagement slot configured to engage the triangular rails; and  
 a drive system including a motor component operable to cooperate with the triangular rail to form a motor operable to selectively transport the vehicle along the triangular rail; and  
   a local area network (LAN) configured to monitor any vehicles engaged with the network of rails.    
   
   
       18 . A system according to  claim 17 , wherein the LAN is configured to communicate with a processor associated with a vehicle.  
   
   
       19 . A system according to  claim 17 , further comprising a linear motor associated with each rail, the linear motor configured to assist with initial acceleration of the vehicle on the rail.  
   
   
       20 . A system according to  claim 17 , wherein the LAN is configured to manage the travel of any vehicles engaged with the network of rails.