Abstract: The invention relates to a rail vehicle for driving operation on track systems with ballast permanent way. The invention is to effectively avoid or at least significantly reduce an agglomeration of snow and ice in cavities of the vehicle underfloor. For this purpose it is provided that the rail vehicle in the region of its underfloor comprises at least one flexible membrane which spans hollow spaces which are positioned open towards the track systems or support frame structures of the underfloor of the rail vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for reducing the aerodynamic drag of a cavity in a flow, said device comprising a blade disposed upstream from the cavity so that it overlaps at least one edge of the cavity and the corresponding wall of the corresponding vehicle, and so that it is in the vicinity of said wall. The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, provided with such a device.

Abstract: A duplex complementary carrier includes a flight vehicle floating above the ground, a control system moving on the ground for controlling movement of the flight vehicle, and a connecting system connecting between the control system and the flight vehicle. When the control system is moving on the ground, the flight vehicle above the ground is able to follow movement of the control system due to the connection provided by the connecting system such that the pressure of the control system on the ground and the frictional force of the ground on the control system are reduced by the buoyancy of the flight vehicle. The flight vehicle is able to move above the ground stably by the directing and guiding effects of the control system.

Abstract: The invention is a novel transit system in which vehicles are piggybacked onto electrically operated upper sled modules for longer distances or between critical high volume areas such as city centers and airports. The front wheels of the Electric vehicles (EVs) in this system are carried on an upper sled module which is connected by a strut or fin to a lower airfoil wing travelling in a generally below grade duct or conduit. The EV uses its own power to move the articulated unit from co-axial AC and DC motors supplemented by a parallel power supply and signals system. Vehicles mounted on the sled units are automatically spaced in response to central computerized timing and speed controls so as to ensure proper separation of vehicles using the guideway. Piggy backed vehicles can quit the guideway at predetermined nodal points to revert to conventional vehicular travel on the public highway system.

Abstract: An aerodynamic-gap sealing structure for a tractor-trailer combination includes rigid multipiece articulating shields at rear corners of the tractor and extending rearwardly to engage a side of a front face of the trailer. Similarly, a cab of the tractor is provided with a roof extension pivotally mounted on a top corner of a roof, or roof fairing, of the cab and extends rearwardly and upwardly to a roof of the trailer disposed thereabove. The side shields include a plurality of panels, preferably three, between the cab and the trailer which are pivotally connected to each other by centering springs to allow for varying distances between the cab and the trailer corners as a turn is negotiated while normally maintaining the panels as a straight extension from the cab to the trailer.

Abstract: A vehicle (10) mounted on a T-shaped rail (100) and having wings (11) providing lift is described. The vehicle uses magnets (18) on the vehicle and materials (101) attracted by the magnet on the rail to provide magnetic levitation. Propulsion is provided by a motor (15). The vehicle is adapted for high speed travel slightly above the ground.

Abstract: A construction of side corner portions of a motor vehicle, wherein air blow-out openings are respectively formed on right and left side corner portions at least either on a front portion or on a rear quarter portion of the motor vehicle, and, when crosswind is received during running of the motor vehicle, air is blown out through the air blow-out opening of the side corner on the leeward side, whereby air stream generated along the side corner on the leeward side is separated from the surface of a vehicle body, so that negative pressure is not generated on the side corner on the leeward side, thus decreasing the yawing moment applied to the motor vehicle.

Abstract: An improved multi-unit railway car adapted to carry several intermodal cargo containers stacked in two tiers, with each of the several car units having substantially smooth side surfaces and including aerodynamic drag-reducing devices located at respective positions between adjacent car units and at each end of the multi-unit car. Between units are pairs of slender posts and, optionally, a slender crossbar, located so as to interrupt the gap between containers carried on adjacent units. At each end of the car, where there is a lengthier space, because of a four-wheeled truck and a coupler, is a pair of vertical panels with a small frontal area and an optional horizontal top member. For use on a car unit intended to carry short containers, the aerodynamic devices may be without the crossbar and horizontal top panel to provide clearance for a loader to handle lower tier containers.