Vehicle guidance system

Abstract

A vehicle guidance system and method of forming the same. The vehicle guidance system includes a transport guideway having an at least partial tube structure; vehicle tracks; a vehicle, having a fuselage with an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, that travels over the vehicle tracks; and at least one track channel assembly arranged on an inside of the at least partial tube structure. The at least one track channel assembly is arranged so that, as the vehicle travels over the vehicle track, the at least one track channel assembly is located between the uppermost surface and the lowermost surface of the fuselage.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A vehicle guidance system, comprising:
 a transport guideway having an at least partial tube structure;   vehicle tracks;   a vehicle, having a fuselage with an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, that travels over the vehicle tracks; and   at least one track channel assembly arranged on an inside of the at least partial tube structure,   wherein the at least one track channel assembly is arranged so that, as the vehicle travels over the vehicle track, the at least one track channel assembly is located between the uppermost surface and the lowermost surface of the fuselage.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle guidance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one track channel assembly comprises a U-shaped channel arranged to receive at least a part of at least one guidance assembly of the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle guidance system according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one guidance assembly comprises a connecting arm coupled between at least one assembly and the vehicle and the connecting arm is structured to insert the at least one assembly into the at least one track channel assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle guidance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one track channel assembly comprises at least one first U-shaped channel arranged on a first inside surface of the at least partial tube structure and at least one second U-shaped channel arranged on a second inside surface of the at least partial tube structure opposite the first inside surface. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle guidance system according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one guidance assembly comprises a first connecting arm coupled between at least one first assembly and the vehicle and a second connecting arm coupled between at least one second assembly and the vehicle,
 wherein the at least one first assembly and the at least a second assembly are arranged on opposite sides of the fuselage, and   wherein the first connecting arm is arranged to insert the at least one first assembly into the at least one first U-shaped channel assembly and the second connecting arm is arranged to insert the at least one second assembly into the at least second U-shaped channel.   
     
     
         6 . The vehicle guidance system according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one first assembly and the at least one second assembly comprise at least one contactless load transfer mechanism comprising at least one of active electromagnets, passive permanent magnets, and air bearings. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle guidance system according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one first assembly and the at least one second assembly comprise at least one contacting load transfer mechanism comprising wheels. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle guidance system according to  claim 4 , wherein the first U-shaped channel and the second U-shaped channel include surface linings. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle guidance system according to  claim 8 , wherein the surface linings comprise at least one of: metal, polymer and composite materials. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle guidance system according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one first assembly and the at least one second assembly are operable independently of each other. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle guidance system according to  claim 5 , wherein the first connecting arm pivotably extends from an upper portion of the fuselage to selectively move the at least one first assembly between a first position, in which the at least one first assembly is located outside of the at least one first U-shaped channel, and a second position, in which the at least one first assembly is inserted in the at least one first U-shaped channel; and
 wherein the second connecting arm pivotably extends from an upper portion of the fuselage to selectively move the at least one second assembly between a third position, in which the at least one second assembly is located outside of the at least one second U-shaped channel, and a fourth position, in which the at least one second assembly is inserted in the at least one second U-shaped channel.   
     
     
         12 . A process of forming a vehicle guidance system comprising:
 placing a vehicle track to define a guide path along a transport guideway having an at least partial tube structure, wherein the transport guideway is configured to accommodate a vehicle, having a fuselage with an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, for travel over the vehicle track; and   positioning at least one track channel assembly on an inside of the at least partial tube structure so that, as the vehicle travels over the vehicle track, the at least one track channel assembly is located between the uppermost surface and the lowermost surface of the fuselage.   
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one track channel assembly comprises a U-shaped channel arranged to receive at least a part of a guidance assembly of the vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the guidance assembly comprises a connecting arm coupled between at least one assembly and the vehicle and the connecting arm is structured to insert the at least one assembly into the at least one track channel assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one track channel assembly comprises at least one first U-shaped channel arranged on a first inside surface of the at least partial tube structure and at least one second U-shaped channel arranged on a second inside surface of the at least partial tube structure opposite the first inside surface. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one guidance assembly comprises a first connecting arm coupled between at least one first assembly and the vehicle and a second connecting arm coupled between at least one second assembly and the vehicle, and the at least one first assembly and the at least a second assembly are arranged on opposite sides of the fuselage, and the process further comprises one of:
 inserting the at least one first assembly into the at least one first U-shaped channel assembly; or   inserting the at least one second assembly into the at least second U-shaped channel.   
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the first assembly and the second assembly comprise at least one contactless load transfer mechanism comprising at least one of active electromagnets, passive permanent magnets, and air bearings. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the first assembly and the second assembly comprise at least one contacting load transfer mechanism comprising wheels. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the first connecting arm pivotably extends from an upper portion of the fuselage and the second connecting arm pivotably extends from the upper portion of the fuselage, and the process further comprises:
 selectively moving the at least one first assembly between a first position, in which the at least one first assembly is located outside of the at least one first U-shaped channel, and a second position, in which the at least one first assembly is inserted in the at least one first U-shaped channel; and   selectively moving the at least one second assembly between a third position, in which the at least one second assembly is located outside of the at least one second U-shaped channel, and a fourth position, in which the at least one second assembly is inserted in the at least one second U-shaped channel.   
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one first assembly and the at least one second assembly operate independently of each other.