Universal Multimodal Transportation System and Associated Infrastructure

Abstract

Disclosed is a transportation system with integrated infrastructure. In one embodiment, this infrastructure takes the form of a hollow elevated load bearing guideway structure designed to support the weight of traveling vehicles. The structure supports a backbone beam, or rail, that has multiple functions. These functions may include vehicle control, security, and energy delivery. The structure is bimodal meaning vehicles can have wheels like cars or steel rimmed wheels like a train or any combination thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A universal surface transportation system comprising:
 a hollow guideway having a triangular cross section, the guideway being defined by two upper corners and a lower corner;   a central column interconnected to the hollow guideway for elevating the hollow guideway;   utilities infrastructure located within the hollow guideway and the column, the utilities infrastructure including power cables and communications lines;   a pair of rails at the two upper corners of the guideway, a contact surface ( 66 ) adjacent each of the rails, the rails and contact surfaces adapted to be engaged by bimodal wheels where the rails are distally located on said upper corners such that they are equidistant from the central column;   an access ramp which provides access to the universal surface transportation system by funneling a vehicle such that said vehicle is guided onto said guideway and engages with said rails and allows for the ingress and egress of the vehicle to the universal surface transportation system;   whereby loads from the bimodal wheels are transferred to the lower corner of the hollow guideway.   
     
     
         2 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 1  wherein the guideway has a horizontally oriented cross beam with a control beam centrally located thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 2  wherein the control beam is used as a steering reference for the vehicle located thereon. 
     
     
         4 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 2  wherein the control beam provides a switching reference for the vehicle located thereon for controlling switching from guideway to guideway or switching from guideway to or from the on and off access ramps. 
     
     
         5 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 2  wherein the control beam is used to further guide the vehicle into the system while being funneled into the system on the access ramp. 
     
     
         6 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 2  wherein the control beam is a conduit for the utilities infrastructure located in the central column such that the vehicle located in the system can access the utilities infrastructure. 
     
     
         7 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 2  wherein the control beam is used to secure the vehicle to the guideway so vehicles remain on the guideway at all times. 
     
     
         8 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 2  wherein the control beam is used as an anchoring lock up device to bring said vehicle to a sudden, abrupt stop in an extreme emergency. 
     
     
         9 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 2  wherein the control beam is used as a reference device by vehicle sensors for monitoring vehicle position on guideway. 
     
     
         10 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 2  wherein the control beam provides secure communications contact interface and traction control with vehicle systems. 
     
     
         11 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 2  wherein the control beam conducts and distributes electric power continually, intermittently, or instantaneously from contact conducting surfaces on the beam to suitable receiving contact surfaces on some or all of the vehicles. 
     
     
         12 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 2  wherein the control beam provides vehicle stability when road conditions are hazardous. 
     
     
         13 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 2  wherein the control beam prevents hijacking of vehicles. 
     
     
         14 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 9  wherein the control beam provides emergency steering control in event of catastrophic systems failures. 
     
     
         15 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 9  wherein the control beam enables precise, predictable vehicle tracking and operation in all weather conditions. 
     
     
         16 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 4  wherein the control beam is used as an anchoring lock up device to bring said vehicle to a sudden, abrupt stop in an extreme emergency. 
     
     
         17 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 4  wherein the control beam is used as a reference device by vehicle sensors for monitoring vehicle position on guideway. 
     
     
         18 . The universal surface transportation system of  claim 4  wherein the control beam conducts and distributes electric power continually, intermittently, or instantaneously from contact conducting surfaces on the beam to suitable receiving contact surfaces on some or all of the vehicles. 
     
     
         19 . A universal surface transportation system comprising:
 a hollow guideway having a triangular cross section, the guideway being defined by two upper corners and a lower corner;   a central column interconnected to the hollow guideway for elevating the hollow guideway;   a pair of rails at the two upper corners of the guideway, a contact surface adjacent each of the rails, the rails and contact surfaces adapted to be engaged by bimodal wheels where the rails are distally located on said upper corners such that they are equidistant from the central column;   whereby loads from the bimodal wheels are transferred to the lower corner of the hollow guideway.