Cowling for a Guideway Vehicle

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a guideway vehicle has a first end, a second end, a support surface, and a cowling coupled to its first end or second end. The support surface is configured to support an intermodal container for transport along a guideway system. The cowling has an outer surface that slopes upwardly from the first end to a cowling edge such that the intermodal container may be placed proximate the cowling edge during transport of guideway vehicle on the guideway system.

1 . An aerodynamic transport system comprising:
 a guideway vehicle that is operable to transport an intermodal container over a guideway system comprising a guideway coupled to a running surface, the guideway vehicle having a first end, a second end, and an upper support surface for support of the intermodal container;   two cowlings coupled to each of the first end and the second end of the guideway vehicle, each of the two cowlings having an outer surface that slopes upwardly from the upper support surface to a cowling edge, the each cowling having a length and a width that are adjustable such that the cowling edge is operable to be disposed essentially adjacent the intermodal container; and   a computer controller coupled to the two cowlings, the computer controller operable to measure a wind direction, wind speed, or turbulence around the two cowlings, and adjust a height and a length of the cowling according to the measured wind direction, wind speed, or turbulence.   
   
   
       2 . An aerodynamic transport system comprising:
 a guideway vehicle that operable to transport an intermodal container over a guideway system, the guideway vehicle having a first end and an upper support surface for support of the intermodal container; and   a cowling coupled to the first end of the guideway vehicle, the cowling having an outer surface that slopes upwardly from the upper support surface to a cowling edge, the cowling edge configured to be placed proximate the intermodal container.   
   
   
       3 . The aerodynamic transport system of  claim 2 , further comprising a second cowling that is coupled to a second end of the guideway vehicle. 
   
   
       4 . The aerodynamic transport system of  claim 2 , wherein the cowling has a length that extends from the first end towards the second end, the length being adjustable such that the cowling edge may be disposed essentially adjacent the intermodal container. 
   
   
       5 . The aerodynamic transport system of  claim 4 , wherein the length of the cowling is manually adjusted. 
   
   
       6 . The aerodynamic transport system of  claim 4 , further comprising a computer controller coupled to the cowling, the computer controller operable to measure a wind direction, wind speed, or turbulence around the cowling, and adjust the cowling length according to the measured wind direction, wind speed, or turbulence. 
   
   
       7 . The aerodynamic transport system of  claim 2 , wherein the cowling has a height that extends upwardly from the support surface, the height being adjustable such that the cowling edge may be disposed essentially adjacent the intermodal container. 
   
   
       8 . The aerodynamic transport system of  claim 7 , wherein the height of the cowling is manually adjusted. 
   
   
       9 . The aerodynamic transport system of  claim 7 , further comprising a computer controller coupled to the cowling, the computer controller operable to measure a wind direction, wind speed, or turbulence around the cowling, and adjust the height according to the measured wind direction, wind speed, or turbulence. 
   
   
       10 . The aerodynamic transport system of  claim 2 , wherein the guideway system comprises a central guideway that is operable to direct the path traveled by the guideway vehicle. 
   
   
       11 . A transport method comprising:
 providing a guideway vehicle having a first end, a second end, and a support surface, the guideway vehicle comprising a cowling coupled to its first end and having an outer surface that slopes upwardly from the first end to a cowling edge; and   placing the intermodal container on the surface such that the cowling edge lies proximate the intermodal container.   
   
   
       12 . The aerodynamic transport method of  claim 11 , wherein providing a guideway vehicle comprises providing a guideway vehicle comprising a second cowling having a second cowling edge coupled to its second end, and wherein placing the intermodal container on the surface comprises placing the intermodal container of the surface such that the second cowling edge lies proximate the intermodal container. 
   
   
       13 . The aerodynamic transport method of  claim 11 , further comprising adjusting the length of the cowling to dispose the cowling edge essentially adjacent to the intermodal container. 
   
   
       14 . The aerodynamic transport system of  claim 13 , wherein adjusting the length of the cowling comprises manually adjusting the length of the cowling. 
   
   
       15 . The aerodynamic transport method of  claim 13 , wherein adjusting the length of the cowling comprises measuring a wind direction or a wind speed around the cowling, and automatically adjusting, using a computer controller, the length of the cowling according to the measured wind direction or the wind speed. 
   
   
       16 . The aerodynamic transport method of  claim 11 , further comprising adjusting a height of the cowling such that the cowling edge is essentially adjacent the intermodal container. 
   
   
       17 . The aerodynamic transport method of  claim 16 , wherein adjusting the height of the cowling comprises manually adjusting the height of the cowling. 
   
   
       18 . The aerodynamic transport method of  claim 16 , wherein adjusting the height of the cowling comprises measuring a wind direction or a wind speed around the cowling, and automatically adjusting, using a computer controller, the height of the cowling according to the measured wind direction or the wind speed. 
   
   
       19 . The aerodynamic transport method of  claim 11 , wherein transporting the intermodal container along the guideway system comprises transporting the intermodal container along a guideway system comprising a central guideway. 
   
   
       20 . The aerodynamic transport method of  claim 11 , further comprising transporting the intermodal container along the guideway system.