Abstract: A portable roller skid for moving bulky or heavy loads in which the skid has a body with a set of load supporting rollers, and means to fix the skid under a load. The skid is constructed to provide one direction of load movement and when coupled in pairs the skids provide two directions of movement for a load.

Abstract: An endless water way is supported by a superstructure and includes a bottom wall and side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall to form a trough. A pump system effects continuous forward flow of water through the trough of the waterway. A guide track is supported on the waterway above the trough. A plurality of vehicles for transporting passengers from station to station are buoyantly supported by the guide track in the waterway. The guide track maintains the vehicles at a selected depth in the waterway. Each vehicle is provided with braking apparatus for frictionally engaging the guide track of the waterway to slow and stop the vehicles. The continuous forward movement of water in the waterway forwardly propels the vehicles from station to station. A plurality of endless waterways form continuous loops that radiates outwardly from the main terminal to provide transportation around the loops to and from the main terminal.

Abstract: A land transportation system for a vehicle that is supported and guided by air bearings. The vehicle requires no driver or motorman because a guideway determines the direction of travel, except at switch-points in the network. The vehicle is propelled by a linear synchronous motor when on the guideway. The linear synchronous motor primary is embedded in the guideway. A linear inductor alternator provides on-board electric power. A pair of linear induction motors are used to accelerate the vehicle from a station stop up to guideway synchronous speed, to provide a magnetically attractive element to permit switching in guideway tracks, and to provide dynamic braking when stopping at the destination station.

Abstract: In order to transfer long vehicles upon a ground surface and more particularly railway carriages or wagons, use is made of platforms which glide over the ground by means of fluid cushions and which carry track sections for receiving vehicle wheels. Two or more such platforms which are movable independently of each other, are mutually positioned so that the respective track sections are in extension of each other and are assigned to the vehicle front wheel system and to the vehicle rear wheel system respectively, each platform being independently lockable with the vehicle.

Abstract: A transport track and a sliding carriage for transporting heavy loads in substantially horizontal direction. The track comprising a bottom plate intended to be positioned loosely on a support capable to bear heavy loads. The upper surface of the plate and the lower surface of the sliding carriage being designed so as to provide minimum resistance to the movement of the sliding carriage over the surface. At least one rod is attached to the bottom plate which rod is adapted for cooperation with a climbing jack intended for moving the carriage and with a guide groove in the carriage for guiding the carriage during the movement. Structure is also arranged for transferring axial forces arising in the rod to the bottom plate.

Abstract: The invention provides a tracked air cushion vehicle comprising a vehicle body, a lift platform from which the vehicle body is suspended, end bogies provided at each end of the lift platform, the lift platform and the end bogies being adapted to run within an inverted channel section track so as to define a chamber which can be maintained at subatmospheric pressure, apparatus connected to the chamber for providing the sub-atmospheric pressure, and biasing apparatus coupled between the vehicle body and the end bogies for biasing the end bogies towards the roof of the track, the biasing apparatus exerting a force equal to at least a substantial portion of the weight of the end bogies.

Abstract: A braking device for sleds, according to which rollers are used as braking elements which by means of an actuating element are moved from a non-braking position into a braking position while being pressed against the surface of the sliding path for the sled. According to a preferred design of the invention, pairs of rollers are employed with the rollers of each pair having different diameters.

Abstract: A tracked air cushioned vehicle system comprising an inverted channel section track and a vehicle body suspended from a lift platform guided by end bogies. The platform and bogies define a chamber with the track, which chamber is maintained at subatmospheric pressure. The chamber is divided longitudinally into two separate subchambers, the dividing member including sealing members cooperating with the track and a gravitationally displaceable member is provided which is responsive to any lateral force exerted on the body except those due to centrifugal action, to cause a differential pressure between the subchambers for causing a rolling moment to be applied to the platform to counteract the lateral force. The dividing member may include a longitudinal flange depending from the roof of the track or a beam extending between the bogies and a flexible member extending longitudinally of the platform between the beam and the platform.

Abstract: A plurality of longitudinally extending straight and curved, slide segments, the upper ends of consecutive ones of which are overlapped by the lower ends of the preceding segment to define a continuous, sledding run having a predetermined configuration, including straight and curved portions. Each segment is of generally trough-like configuration and has a cross-sectional configuration comprising a shallow, concave central sled-supporting portion terminating in convex side rail portions. The convex side rail portions have a generally inverted U-shape cross section with depending flanges extending integrally and downwardly from the outer portion thereof. Butt straps removably fastened to the depending flanges interconnect each slide segment to an underlying support. The underlying supports consist of universally mounted and adjustable struts each having a tube-shaped rail insertable in the inverted U-shape of the slide rail portions.

Abstract: A fluidic valve allowing to propel and sustain a moving device on an air-cushion, by means of a fluid under pressure issued from caissons serving as guide-rails, through the opening, when the moving device travels, of valves forming air-locks and drawers, said valves comprising a sleeve perforated so as to provide the valves with fluid towards the outlet, in a laminar discharge, with venturi and vortex effects intended to suck up the movable obturator towards the outlet, a duct or a fluid container. An over-pressure caused by a movable object passing at the outlet of the sleeve drives the movable obturator downwards, disclosing the lights of the sleeve. The fluid leaves the container. If the object is removed, the fluid flows more quickly and, thanks to venturi and vortex effects, a depression occurs, which drives the movable obturator upwards, thus stopping the outflow of the fluid.

Abstract: A transportation system in which a vehicle is adapted for guided longitudinal movement along a prepared track having a transversely curved support surface. In addition to a body and propulsion means the vehicle has at least two support members flexibly connected thereto for limited articulation relative thereto, each support member having an outer surface curved to be complementary with the curved track surface. One of the curved surfaces will be generally concave in cross-section, the other generally convex. The concave surface has a plurality of nozzles therein for projecting pressurized fluid at an angle thereto to form a wedge of pressurized fluid between the mating convex and concave surfaces. The wedge diminishes in thickness in the direction of projection and supports the support members above the track. The wedge forces are balanced and the vehicle does not require additional guiding means. Also the wedge is dynamic and does not require a skirt for containment in its zone of influence.

Abstract: An overhead transportation system comprising for a depending and longitudinally traversible vehicle an overhead trackway as a pair of longitudinally slottedly vented tubular conduits maintained above the earth's surface with a series of pillars and having an overlying protective shield. The vehicle powering means comprises a pair of co-traversible jet engines situated within respective conduits and connected to the underlying vehicle with a dual-arms hangar means along which arms the engines' fuel-line extends. The trackway is lubricated from a longitudinally extending lubeline with syncronizeably operated nozzles spaced therealong and communicating with the conduit innerwall, and a longitudinally extending troughline collects the liquid lubricant, there being provision for re-cycling the lubricant for high-pressure re-injection into the conduits through said lubeline nozzles.

Abstract: A method of high speed mass transportation. A vehicle with a substantially flat bottom traverses a substantially flat track which is covered with a layer of liquid, whereupon the vehicle "hydroplanes" over the track.