Claims
- 1. A guideway for a vehicle having magnets for providing magnetic levitation of the vehicle, the vehicle being adapted to travel in a longitudinal direction along said guideway, said guideway comprising:
- a beam support member for supporting the weight of said vehicle; and
- a breakaway energy absorption structure mounted to said beam support member for absorbing kinetic energy from said magnetic levitation vehicle in the event of loss of magnetic levitation.
- 2. The guideway of claim 1, wherein said energy absorption structure comprises a plurality of pockets filled with particulate matter that can be accelerated by the vehicle as it breaks away the energy absorption structure, absorbing kinetic energy of the vehicle.
- 3. The guideway of claim 1, wherein said energy absorption structure comprises a composite polymer matrix.
- 4. The guideway of claim 3, wherein said composite polymeric matrix includes reinforcing fibers.
- 5. The guideway of claim 3, wherein said composite polymeric matrix includes steel reinforcing fibers to provide magnetic shielding.
- 6. The guideway of claim 1, wherein said energy absorption structure comprises a closed cell foam polymer matrix.
- 7. The guideway of claim 6, wherein said closed cell foam polymer matrix includes reinforcing fibers.
- 8. The guideway of claim 1, further comprising a thin, flexible, top protective cover shaped to minimize adhesion and buildup of snow and ice on the top of said guideway.
- 9. The guideway of claim 8, wherein said top protective cover is grounded for protection of said guideway from lightning.
Parent Case Info
This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/598,791, filed Feb. 9, 1996 (now Pat. Ser. No. 5,649,489), which is a Continuation of Ser. No.08/232,940 filed Apr. 25, 1994 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,488).
US Referenced Citations (29)
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Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
598791 |
Feb 1996 |
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Parent |
232940 |
Apr 1994 |
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