US 11,753,049 B2
Loading/unloading system and vehicle interface for a transportation system and methods of use
Colin Holbrooke, Toluca Lake, CA (US); Jonathan Adam, Playa Del Rey, CA (US); Luke Pearse, Manhattan Beach, CA (US); Joshua Raycroft, Los Angeles, CA (US); and Doug Chey, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Assigned to Hyperloop Technologies, Inc., Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed by Hyperloop Technologies, Inc., Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/238,686.
Application 17/238,686 is a continuation of application No. 15/718,473, filed on Sep. 28, 2017, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/500,735, filed on May 3, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/471,773, filed on Mar. 15, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/400,913, filed on Sep. 28, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0237780 A1, Aug. 5, 2021
Int. Cl. B61B 13/08 (2006.01); B66B 9/00 (2006.01); B61B 15/00 (2006.01); B61B 1/00 (2006.01); B61D 1/00 (2006.01); B61D 3/18 (2006.01); B66B 9/16 (2006.01); G05D 1/02 (2020.01)
CPC B61B 13/08 (2013.01) [B61B 1/005 (2013.01); B61B 15/00 (2013.01); B61D 1/00 (2013.01); B61D 3/18 (2013.01); B66B 9/003 (2013.01); B66B 9/16 (2013.01); G05D 1/0293 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for asset management of a fleet of cars, the method comprising:
moving the fleet of cars from a first location to a departure high-speed transportation station;
operating a modular loading and unloading system, the method of operating the modular loading and unloading system comprising:
receiving a plurality of cars of the fleet of cars in an airlock loading zone adjacent to at least one airlock connecting the airlock loading zone to a transportation tube of a high-speed transportation system, wherein the at least one airlock is operable to both receive a high-speed transportation vehicle that is incoming from the transportation tube and release the high-speed transportation vehicle into the transportation tube;
arranging a plural selection of the plurality of cars into a grouping for insertion into the high-speed transportation vehicle in the at least one airlock using an automated guided vehicle system operable to move the selection of the plurality of the cars along a floor of the airlock loading zone into the grouping; and
inserting the grouping into the high-speed transportation vehicle, while the high-speed transportation vehicle is at least partially in the at least one airlock,
wherein the at least one airlock includes a sealer structured and is arranged to interact with an outer shell of the high-speed transportation vehicle when inside the at least one airlock, such that the sealer and the high-speed transportation vehicle together provide a first air pressure barrier between a relatively lower pressure in the tube and a relatively higher pressure of the airlock loading zone;
moving the fleet of cars from the departure high-speed transportation station to an arrival high-speed transportation station via the high-speed transportation system;
unloading the fleet of cars from the high-speed transportation vehicle; and
moving the fleet of cars from the arrival high-speed transportation station to a second location.