Transportation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016229646-A1
Application number	US-201615007993-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 27, 2016
Priority date	Feb 8, 2015
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An off-shore port system includes a land-based port infrastructure area, an off-shore cargo ship docking area located in a body of water, and a transportation system having at least one tube connecting the land-based port infrastructure area and the off-shore cargo ship docking area.

First claim

1 . An off-shore port system, comprising:
a land-based port infrastructure area; an off-shore cargo ship docking area located in a body of water; and a transportation system having at least one tube connecting the land-based port infrastructure area and the off-shore cargo ship docking area.

2 . The off-shore port system of claim 1 , wherein the transportation system comprises a high-speed transportation system.

3 . The off-shore port system of claim 2 , wherein the high-speed transportation system comprises:
at least one transportation tube having at least one track; at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube between the land-based port infrastructure area and the off-shore cargo ship docking area; a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the tube; and a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the tube.

4 . (canceled)

5 . The off-shore port system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one transportation tube is submerged within the body of water.

6 . The off-shore port system of claim 5 , further comprising at least one elevator configured for at least one cargo container, which connects a platform located adjacent the at least one transportation tube with the off-shore cargo ship docking area.

7 . (canceled)

8 . The off-shore port system of claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises a capsule reorienting skid.

9 . The off-shore port system of claim 8 , wherein the capsule reorienting skid is configured to rotate a capsule received from a tube approximately 180° so as to reorient the capsule for placement into the tube for travel in an opposite direction.

10 .- 12 . (canceled)

13 . The off-shore port system of claim 1 , wherein an interior of the at least one transportation tube is maintained as a low-pressure environment.

14 . (canceled)

15 . The off-shore port system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one transportation tube is maintained at atmospheric pressure.

16 . The off-shore port system of claim 1 , wherein the off-shore cargo ship docking area is located in the body of water out of sight from a coastline.

17 . (canceled)

18 . The off-shore port system of claim 1 , wherein the off-shore cargo ship docking area comprises one or more floatation devices and/or stabilizers operable to maintain a position and/or orientation of the off-shore cargo ship docking area

19 . The off-shore port system of claim 1 , wherein the off-shore cargo ship docking area is attached to a sea floor to maintain a position and/or orientation of the off-shore cargo ship docking area.

20 . The off-shore port system of claim 1 , wherein the land-based port infrastructure area is located remotely from a coastline.

21 . A method of operating the off-shore port system of claim 1 , comprising:
receiving a cargo-containing ship at the off-shore cargo ship docking area; unloading cargo from the cargo-containing ship at the off-shore cargo ship docking area; loading the cargo into at least one capsule; and moving the capsule in the transportation system from the off-shore cargo ship docking area to the land-based port infrastructure area.

22 . The method of operating the off-shore port system according to claim 21 , further comprising unloading the cargo from the at least one capsule at the land-based port infrastructure area.

23 . The method of operating the off-shore port system according to claim 21 , further comprising moving the at least one capsule into a tube of a further transportation system.

24 . The method of operating the off-shore port system according to claim 23 , wherein the further transportation system comprises a high-speed transportation system.

25 . The method of operating the off-shore port system according to claim 21 , the method further comprising loading the cargo into an elevator at the off-shore cargo ship docking area and transporting the cargo in the elevator to an area for the loading the cargo into the at least one capsule.

26 . A method of operating the off-shore port system of claim 1 , comprising:
moving the capsule in the transportation system from the land-based port infrastructure area to the off-shore cargo ship docking area; unloading the cargo from the at least one capsule at the off-shore cargo ship docking area; and loading the cargo into at least one ship at the off-shore cargo ship docking area.

27 . The method of operating the off-shore port system according to claim 26 , the method further comprising loading cargo at the land-based port infrastructure area into at least one capsule.

28 . The method of operating the off-shore port system according to claim 26 , the method further comprising receiving the at least one capsule from a tube of an upstream transportation system.

29 . The method of operating the off-shore port system according to claim 28 , wherein the upstream transportation system comprises a high-speed transportation system.

30 . A method of relocating a port area infrastructure, the method comprising:
creating an off-shore cargo ship docking area located in a body of water; removing an existing port area from a coastline; creating a land-based port infrastructure area that is located remotely from the existing port area and remotely from the coastline; and connecting the off-shore cargo ship docking area with the land-based port infrastructure area with a transportation system comprising:
at least one transportation tube having at least one track;
at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube between the land-based port infrastructure area and the off-shore cargo ship docking area; and
a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the tube.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the transportation system additionally comprises a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the tube.

32 . A port system, comprising:
a land-based port infrastructure area; a cargo ship docking area located in a body of water; a cargo transport system connecting the land-based port infrastructure area and the cargo ship docking area; and a high-speed transportation system comprising at least one tube and a plurality of cargo holding containers, the land-based port area including loader for placing the cargo holding containers into the at least one tube.

33 . The port system of claim 32 , wherein the high-speed transportation system comprises:
at least one track in the at least one tube; at least one capsule configured for holding at least one of the plurality of cargo-holding containers and configured for travel through the at least one tube between the land-based port infrastructure area and a destination; a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the tube; a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the tube.

34 . The port system of claim 32 , further comprising at least one elevator configured for at least one cargo container, which connects a platform located adjacent the cargo transport system with the cargo ship docking area.

35 . A method of operating a port system, comprising:
receiving a cargo-containing ship at a cargo ship docking area; unloading cargo from the cargo-con

Assignees

• Hyperloop Tech Inc

Inventors

• BAMBROGAN Brogan
• Giegel Joshua

Classifications

• B63B35/00

  Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60L13/006

  Electric propulsion adapted for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways (B60L13/03 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B61B13/08

  Sliding or levitation systems (vehicles with air cushions between rails and vehicles B60V3/04) · CPC title

• E01B25/00

  Tracks for special kinds of railways (systems B61B; wheel tracks on roads E01C9/02) · CPC title

• B61C11/06

  tractive effort applied or supplied by aerodynamic force or fluid reaction, e.g. air-screws and jet or rocket propulsion · CPC title