| 摘要 |
A highway-vehicle system for high speed travel which comprises a below-ground structure defining a cavity and a narrow slot extending upwardly therefrom to the roadway surface. Each vehicle in the system is equipped with a projecting member which, in its folded configuration, can be lowered into the slot. The projecting member includes a pair of stabilization wheels and a pair of hydraulically or pneumatically-actuated brake shoes. Once the projecting member has been lowered into the cavity, the wheels automatically unfold, so that they assume horizontal positions and press against opposing sidewalls of the cavity. With the wheels so deployed, the vehicle can be safely driven during high speed cornering and under windy conditions. The wheels can also be used to automatically steer each vehicle. In addition, the wheels are used to conduct electricity in the cavity sidewalls as part of the power takeoff for an electric vehicle. Like the wheels, the brake shoes also unfold once the projecting member enters the cavity. When braking is needed, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders attached to each brake shoe press the shoes against the cavity sidewalls. Since the cavity is shielded from the weather, the brakes are kept dry for maximum braking efficiency. This system not only can be used in situations in which each vehicle is driven independently but also can be easily upgraded for computerized vehicle travel.
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