Abstract: A drive augmenter provide supplemental drive power to the wheel of a landing gear with a drive system. The landing gear has a wheel rotatably mounted to an axle, and the drive system selectively provides a driving force to rotate the wheel. The drive augmenter includes a piston slidably disposed with a cylinder, and selective pressurization of the cylinder drives reciprocating translation of the piston within the cylinder. A crank is coupled to the piston by a rod and is also coupled to a crankshaft. The crank is configured to convert translation of the piston into rotation of the crankshaft. The drive augmenter further includes a drive shaft coupled to the wheel and a clutch configured to selectively transfer rotation of the crankshaft to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle system for high-speed passenger transport between metropolitan centers comprises a guideway having a pair of parallel guideway tubes; a plurality of carriages levitated and propelled by pressurized air stored within one or both tubes; and a passenger car connected to ride atop the carriages and tilt relative thereto. The passenger car and carriages cooperate to define lateral air cushion zones under the floor of the passenger car for supporting and tilting the passenger car by air pressure. The carriages have pluralities of lift cells partially surrounding each guideway tube, with active peripheral skirts for minimizing air leakage. Pressurized air stored within the guideway is used to supply the lift cells and cushion zones, and also to propel and brake the carriages. Ram air is collected during vehicle motion to help supply the lift cells and cushion zones.

Abstract: To provide a railroad car design that allows the car to travel at high speeds over current roadbeds at very low fuel costs per mile a special rail is formed. This rail has the form of a wave shaped on its top with the troughs and crests of the wave repeating themselves every several feet apart continuously down both tracks for the whole distance of the railroad. When a wheel of this multi-wheeled car comes over the crest of a wave it has encountered as it moves down this wave formed track, the wheel immediately begins supporting its computer calculated portion of the weight of the car on a cushion of air pressure forced into its supporting air cylinder at that moment and rolls down the face of the wave in its desired direction of travel.

Abstract: A linearly movable tool or work piece handling unit capable of operation in an abrasive particle atmosphere includes a carriage supported on parallel ways by an air bearing structure.