Power supply system and method for a movable vehicle within a structure

Abstract

System for transmitting energy to a moving vehicle. The system includes at least one moving vehicle; at least one energy source to supply energy toward the at least one moving vehicle; and a receiver that is movable relative to the at least one energy source, that receives the supplied energy from the at least one energy source and converts the received energy to at least one of charge a battery or to impart thrust to the at least one moving vehicle.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for transmitting energy to a moving vehicle, comprising:
 at least one moving vehicle;   at least one energy source to supply energy toward the at least one moving vehicle; and   a receiver that is movable relative to the at least one energy source, that receives the supplied energy from the at least one energy source and converts the received energy to at least one of charge a battery or to impart thrust to the at least one moving vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiver is located on or in the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one moving vehicle moves along a guideway and the at least one energy source is located at a fixed location along the guideway. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy source transmits microwave energy toward the at least one moving vehicle via a microwave waveguide. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one energy source comprises a plurality of energy sources positioned at spaced apart locations along a path of the at least one moving vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiver includes a compressor and turbine, the turbine being driven to at least one of generate electricity or thrust. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising lenses arranged to focus the energy from the at least one energy source into an internal waveguide in the at least one moving vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a ramjet engine coupled to the receiver, the ramjet engine having inlet and outlet nozzles configured as converging type, diverging type or any converging-diverging combination of nozzles. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one moving vehicle comprises a dielectric shell located on at least one end of the at least one moving vehicle, the dielectric shell being structured to be invisible to the energy transmitted from the energy source. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiver comprises rectennae configured to receive the energy transmitted from the at least one energy source. 
     
     
         11 . An energy transmission system comprising:
 at least one energy source; and   a receiver that is movable relative to the at least one energy source;   wherein the at least one energy source is arranged to supply energy toward the relatively moving receiver, and   wherein the energy supplied is prevented from being dispersed over a distance from the at least one energy source to the receiver.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one energy source transmits microwave energy. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the microwave energy is transmitted via a microwave waveguide. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the receiver is movable within the microwave waveguide. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a vehicle in which the receiver is located, and lenses arranged to focus the energy from the at least one energy source into an internal waveguide in the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a ramjet engine coupled to the receiver, the ramjet engine having inlet and outlet nozzles configured as converging type, diverging type or any converging-diverging combination of nozzles. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a vehicle in which the receiver is located, wherein the vehicle comprises a dielectric shell located on at least one end of the vehicle, the dielectric shell being invisible to the energy transmitted from the energy source. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the receiver comprises rectennae configured to receive the energy transmitted from the at least one energy source. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one receiver comprises a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises an absorber configured to absorb the received energy to generate heat. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the absorber comprises a plurality of air channels and the at least one receiver further comprises a compressor configured for supplying pressurized air into the air Channels and a turbine for receiving heated pressurized air from the absorber, which imparts rotational energy to the turbine.