Freight Transportation System and Method

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, a freight transportation system includes a track comprising a pair of rails and a linear motor reaction plate disposed between the rails and a transport vehicle having a universal intermodal container bay configured to accommodate a plurality of containers. The transport vehicle includes one or more suspension systems each having a plurality of steel wheels engaged with the rails. The freight transportation system further includes a linear induction propulsion system coupled to the transport vehicle and operable to work in conjunction with the linear motor reaction plate to move the transport vehicle, and a control system coupled to the linear induction propulsion system and operable to control the movement of the transport vehicle.

1 . A freight transportation system, comprising:
 a track comprising a pair of rails and a linear motor reaction plate disposed between the rails;   a transport vehicle having a universal intermodal container bay configured to accommodate a plurality of containers, the transport vehicle comprising one or more suspension systems each having a plurality of steel wheels engaged with the rails;   a linear induction propulsion system coupled to the transport vehicle and operable to work in conjunction with the linear motor reaction plate to move the transport vehicle; and   a control system coupled to the linear induction propulsion system and operable to control the movement of the transport vehicle.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein lengths of the containers range from approximately forty to approximately fifty-four feet. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transport vehicle further comprises aerodynamically-shaped coverings at each of a leading end and a trailing end. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the linear motor reaction plate is vertical, and wherein the linear induction propulsion system comprises a plurality of pairs of opposed linear induction motors disposed on either side of the linear motor reaction plate. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a spacing of at least one-half inches exists between each of the linear induction motors and the linear motor reaction plate. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the linear motor reaction plate comprises a plurality of inner aluminum plates and a plurality of outer cast iron plates. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the steel wheels and the rails have flat surfaces. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the steel wheels are operable to turn independently of each other. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the linear motor reaction plate is horizontal, and wherein the linear induction propulsion system comprises a plurality of horizontal linear induction motors coupled to an underside of the transport vehicle. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the steel wheels have flanges associated therewith. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is further operable to control speed, acceleration, and deceleration of the transport vehicle. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the control system is further coupled to a regenerative braking system that produces power that feeds back into the control system. 
   
   
       13 . A track for a freight transportation system, comprising:
 a substrate;   a pair of rails coupled to the substrate; and   a linear motor reaction plate vertically disposed between the rails and approximately equidistant from each rail.   
   
   
       14 . The track of  claim 13 , wherein the substrate is formed from reinforced concrete. 
   
   
       15 . The track of  claim 13 , wherein the rails are partially embedded within the substrate. 
   
   
       16 . The track of  claim 13 , wherein the rails include flat running surfaces configured to engage one or more flat wheels of a transport vehicle. 
   
   
       17 . The track of  claim 13 , wherein each rail includes tapered sides extending from the flat running surface to the substrate. 
   
   
       18 . The track of  claim 13 , wherein a height of the linear motor reaction plate is at least eighteen inches. 
   
   
       19 . The track of  claim 13 , wherein the linear motor reaction plate is formed from cast iron. 
   
   
       20 . The track of  claim 13 , wherein the linear motor reaction plate comprises a plurality of inner aluminum plates and a plurality of outer cast iron plates. 
   
   
       21 . A rail system for a freight transportation system, comprising:
 a concrete substrate;   a plurality of flat rail sections coupled to the concrete substrate and arranged in an end-to-end manner;   wherein the junction of adjacent rail sections comprise at least one protrusion coupled to a first end of one of the rail sections and at least one recess formed in a second end of the other rail section; and   wherein the protrusion is disposed within the recess in such a manner that a spacing exists between a free end of the protrusion and a bottom of the recess to allow the rail sections to expand and contract as the temperature of the rail sections change.   
   
   
       22 . The rail system of  claim 21 , wherein the rail sections are embedded within the concrete substrate. 
   
   
       23 . The rail system of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second ends of the rail sections are tapered. 
   
   
       24 . The rail system of  claim 21 , wherein the spacing is approximately one-quarter inches.