CA1077613A - Static switching apparatus for passenger vehicle - Google Patents
Static switching apparatus for passenger vehicleInfo
- Publication number
- CA1077613A CA1077613A CA275,001A CA275001A CA1077613A CA 1077613 A CA1077613 A CA 1077613A CA 275001 A CA275001 A CA 275001A CA 1077613 A CA1077613 A CA 1077613A
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- rails
- rail
- track
- flanged
- flat
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A static switching apparatus for a track vehicle includes a main line track and a switch track which at a switching junction both include a con-ventional track rail and a specially constructed rail.
A switching cam including cam faces is positioned at the junction and includes straight and curved cam sur-faces which are selectively engaged by cam followers supported on the vehicle to provide for steering of the vehicle. The cam followers are lowered and raised vertically by fluid extensible devices which also move them in an orbital path into cam surface engagement.
A switching cam including cam faces is positioned at the junction and includes straight and curved cam sur-faces which are selectively engaged by cam followers supported on the vehicle to provide for steering of the vehicle. The cam followers are lowered and raised vertically by fluid extensible devices which also move them in an orbital path into cam surface engagement.
Description
~0'776~3 STATIC SWITCHING APPARATUS FOR PASSEN~ER VEHICLE
Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to railway vehicles and in particular to their supporting track structures and apparatus for switching the vehicle between different track sections.
Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to railway vehicles and in particular to their supporting track structures and apparatus for switching the vehicle between different track sections.
2 Description of the Prior Art .
; A prior art disclosure is contained in U.S. Patent
; A prior art disclosure is contained in U.S. Patent
3,774,543, Welsh, patented November 27, 1973. The present invent-ion is an improvement in that the switching arrangement includes at the switching junction conventional type track rails and specially built trac~ rails. Raised flanges of the truck wheels - on the vehlcle are adapted to ride on the specially built track rails and the vehicle has in combination therewith an improved camming arrangement for steering the vehicle relative to the switching junction.
Summary of the Invention The present switching device is for a vehicle of the type having wheel and axle assemblies with each assembly having a pair of wheels and an axle and the wheels having treads and flanges ex-tending radially outwardly therefrom. The vehicle rides on main-line rails having surfaces upon which the wheels are adapted to ride upon their treads and having side edges engageable by the flanges for guiding the vehicle, and switching rails converge with the mainline rails. A means shifts the vehicle laterally onto the switching rails to cause the vehicle to ride with one wheel of each assembl.v upon its tread and with the other wheel upon its flange during switching, and a means guidably embraces the flange of the wheel riding on its tread during passage thereof through the junct-ion.
`~ A further switching apparatus for a transportation vehicle ~ A i~,v~
107~i13 includes vehicle supporting track means for providing guided move-ment to the vehicle including a main line track portion and a switch track portion mèrging with the main line portion at a switching junction. The main line track portion at the switching junction includes a first continuous straight flanged track rail, and a continuous substantially parallel flat track rail extends through the switching junction. The switch track portion at the ~switchin~
junction also includes a continuous curved second flanged track rail merging with the flat track rail and a second curved flat track : .
rail merging with the first flanged track rail, with the curved flat tracl rail extending through the switching junction. Laterally spaced flanged wheels including flat rims and radially raised flang-es support the vehicle, a cam means is located between the flanged rails and a vehicle mounted cam follower means, with the cam means including cam surfaces, the first of which extends parallel to the first continuous flanged track rail and the second of which extends :- -concentric with the curved flanged rail. First and second guide rails are located inwardly of and adjacent to the first straight flanged track rail and the curved flanged track rail, and the first cam surface and first guide rail are disposed in overlapping relat-ion and the cam surface and the guide rail are disposed in over-lapping relation for guiding the vehicle through the switching junction, with each of the flat rails having a flat horizontal tread portion of greater width than the radially raised flanges. ..
A still further embodi.ment of the invention provides a switching apparatus for a transportation vehicle which includes , . a gap-free continuous rail system comprising vehicle supporting track means for providing guided movement to the vehicle and in- -cluding a main line track portion and a switch track portion merging with.the main line portion at a switching junction. The - .
main line track portion at the switching junction includes a first -~ B
-` 1077613 continuous straight flanged track rail, and a continuous substantially parallel flat track rail extending through the switching junction, with the switch track portion at the switch-ing junctlon also including a continuous curved second flanged track rail merging with the flat track rail and a second curved flat track rail merging with the first flanged track rail. .The curved flat track rail extends through the switchinq junction, and a wheel and axle assembly including a pair of laterally spaced flanged wheels on the vehicle include flat rims and Fadially raised flanges, with the flanges beina normally adapted for guiding the wheels along the flanged rails and for supporting the wheels on the flat rails for carrying the vehicle.
The flat rails and .flanged rails are coextensive for sub~
stantial lengths in the junction, and both of the wheels of the assembly simultaneously ride on their flanges and on their rims on the respective rails within the switching junction. A
cam means is located between the flanged rails and extends in ~ advance of the junction, together with vehicle mounted cam follower means, and the cam means includes cam surfaces the first of which extends parallel to the first continuous flanged track rail and the second of which extends concentric with ~
the curved flanged rail. First and second guide rails are located -inwardly of and adjacent to the first straight flanged track rail and to the curved flanged track rail, with the first cam surface and first guide rail being disposed in overlapping . . .
~ relation and said second cam surface and second guide rail being .
disposed in overlapping relation for guiding the vehicle through the switching junction. Each of the flat rails has a flat horizontal tread portion of greater width than the radially raised .
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10~7613 flanges and the flat rails have leading and trailing end portions of extensive length butted against the respective flanged rails and providing bump-free transition areas for rolling contact by ..
the rims of the wheels, and the flat track rails provide uninterr-upted continuous tread surfaces throughout the entire junction, with the cam surfaces on the cam means extending above the level of the flanged and flat rails.
: I .
Brief Description of the Drawings ' FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a passenger vehicle supported on a track sunporting structure;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the stationary track structure -, involved with the present invention;
, , FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional vlew taken substantially i along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sec'tional view taken substantially along .: .
, the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and FIG~ 5 is a schematic view in plan of a portion of a vehicle s,howing the orbital movement of cam followers supported thereon. :
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Description of the Preferred Embodiment A passenger vehicle of the tracked type is designated at 10 and includes a body 11. Suitable side windows 12 are provided in the body 11 and end windows 13 are provided at the opposite ends of the car. One of these side windows 12 is provided in a central door 14 providing for access to the interior of the vehicle 10.
The body 11 is supported on wheel trucks 15 each of which includes a pair of conventional flanged wheels 16 having treads or rims 17 and a rai~;ed flange 18. The wheels are interconnected by axles 19 10 which project through a supPorting and housing structure 20. The - housing structure 20 supports the axle 19 and in turn is connected to a supporting structure 21 which suitably connects the structure : :
20 to the body 11. The vehicle 10 is shown supported on a track : ~:
supporting structure 22 having a track bed 23 supporting longit~
udinally spaced track ties 24 which may be of conventional design. ~: -A rail track arrangement is designated at 25 and includes a switching junction generally designated at 26. The rail track further includes a main line track portion 27 and a switching portion 28 having switching rails connected at the switching ~-20 .junction 26. The main line track portion 27 includes a first cont-inuous flanged track rail 29 of conventional design and at the :
switching junction it also includes a substantially continuous flat track rail or fourth rail of special design designated at 30.
Leading into the switching junction is a straight portion of flanged track rail 31 of convention design. Similarly, a second straight portion of flanged track rail 32 is parallel to the straight-rail 29 as it leaves the ~ -:
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switching junction 26. The first straight por~ion of flanged track 31 also is integral with and meets a contin-uous curved flange track rail 33 forming part of the switch-ing portion 28. A.curved flat track rail or fourth rail of special design 34 meets at one end with-a portion of the flat rail 29 and is then parallel in.curving relatlon with respect to the third rail 33. The specially built flat track rails 30 and 34 as best shown in FIG. 3 are con-structed of a.box-like section having secured thereon 1~ at the upper surace a flat hardened layer of tread which as best shown in FIG. 3 during switching is adapted to ~ -.
provide support for the ra;sed 1ange 18 of one of the ~ --- flanged wheels 16. A conventional rail track portion 36 is connected to the second curved flat track rail 34 which ..
includes a juncture 37 at the meeting point of the rails 30, 32, 34 and 36. The.main line track rail has positioned - adjacent and parallel ~ith respect thereto a straight guide rail 38 and similarly the curved track rail 33 is provided . .
with a curved guide rail 39 adjacent and parallel with respect thereto.
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' As best sho~n in FIGS. 2 and 3, a cam 40 is : positioned substantially centrally with respect to the . ~.
rails 29 and 31, and includes a curved cam face 44 extend-ing substantially parallel to portionF of the rail 33 and . 25 a second cam surface 45 extending parallel to the rail 2g.
. As best shown in FIG. 3, the cam surfaces 44 and 45 are _ 5 _ ' ' ~
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, - ~ -provided on the outer portions of vertical walls 41 and 42 of the cam 40. The walls 41 and 42 are connected by means of a top wall 43.
Referring now particularly to FIG. 4 a bracket structure 46 includes a vertical flange 47 w~ich is rigidly connected to the housing 20 and a horizontal flange 48 which supports a pair of hydraulic extensible units generally designated at 49. The extensible units may be of con- -ventional type adapted to be actuated by any type of fluid and each includes a cylinder 50 having a piston rod 51 ; - connected to a piston 52 which moves vertically within the . , .
interior of the cylinder 50. As best shown in FIG. 3, suitable fluid line connections 62 are connected to a pump ' designated P which in turn may be connected to a suitable lS reservoir for directing fluid under pressure to opposite ends of the cylinder 50 in conventional fashion. A cylindri-cal housing 53 is provided with an inner cylindrical wall 54 and has at its lower end a cylindrical bearing 55. A cam 1 ' cylinder 56 is connected at its upper end to a cylindrical bearing portion 56' which is guided within the inner cylin-drical wall 54 for vertical movement. The cam cylinder 56 is provided with a spiral groove 57 which is engaged in mating relation with a guide pin 58 supported on the .., ~ . ~
cylindrical housing 53 and extending inwardly with respect 25~ thereto. The guide pin 58 thus projects into the spiral groove 57 ànd is secured by means of a jam nut 59. Each : !: ~ : ' ;:
1077~13 of the cam cylinders 56 is provi~ed at its lowcr cnd with a follower wheel 60 suitably supported and connected to the cam cylinder 56 by means of bearing and retainer pins 61 so that the follower wheels 60 may freely rotate about a vertical axis with respect to each of the cam cylinders 56.
` ,... .
The Operation :
Assuming now that the passenger vehicle 10 is to -:
- be steered so that it passes through the switching junction -and remains on the main track portion 27, the right hand fluid extensible unit 49 in FIG. 3 is actuated by proper selector l~echanism (not disclosed) whereby the pump directs :;
fluid into the right hand cylinder 50 forcing the piston 52 ,........................................................................ .
downwardly whereupon the cam cylinder 5~ is lowered to the ~3 . position sh~wn in FIG. 4. The action of the guide pin 58, I' , . ... .
with respect to the spiral groove 57, provides for orbital : :
rotation of the follower wheel 60 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5 where it then engages the cam surface 45 of the cam 40. The right hand flanged wheels, in FIG. 3 jl: ~: ~: are now maintained and supported on the main line straight track 29 and as they enter the switching junction the left .
hand flanged wheels 16 are moving on top of the specially ~ : f~lat straight track rail 30 with the flanges 18 riding : ~ upon the flat treadways or tread layers 35. Thus the vehicle 10 is steered through the switching junction on . ,~
~ 25 the~main track Iine.
Assuming now that the passenger vehicle 10 is to be switched or steered through the switching junction onto the switch track portion 28, the right hand cylinder 50 in FIG. 3 remains in a non-actuating position with the follower -S ~heel raised. The selector mechanism is now actuated toprovide for lowering of the left hand cam cylinder 56 to its lowered position whereby the cam follower 60 is moved in the orbital path shown in FIG. S and downwardly into engagement with the curved cam surface 44. This causes the vehicle to be steered onto the switching portion 28 wherein as shown in FIG. 3 the left hand wheels 16 ride on the conventional curved track rail 33 and the right hand wheels 16 are supported and the flanges 18 ride on the special flat track rail 32 which is curved and parallel to the rail 33 so that the vehicle is now moving through the switching junction and continues on the switching portion of the arrangement. The guide rails 38 and 39, of course in both instances during steering, assist in ., .
~ ~ ~ maintaining the vehicle along the direction of steering I~ i ..
which has been selected. Thus, it is believed that an improved track arrangement and steering guide means therefor~has been disclosed.
The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make , ~ .
" 107'7613 modifica~ions and variations therein without depar~ing :~
from the scope of the invention.
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Summary of the Invention The present switching device is for a vehicle of the type having wheel and axle assemblies with each assembly having a pair of wheels and an axle and the wheels having treads and flanges ex-tending radially outwardly therefrom. The vehicle rides on main-line rails having surfaces upon which the wheels are adapted to ride upon their treads and having side edges engageable by the flanges for guiding the vehicle, and switching rails converge with the mainline rails. A means shifts the vehicle laterally onto the switching rails to cause the vehicle to ride with one wheel of each assembl.v upon its tread and with the other wheel upon its flange during switching, and a means guidably embraces the flange of the wheel riding on its tread during passage thereof through the junct-ion.
`~ A further switching apparatus for a transportation vehicle ~ A i~,v~
107~i13 includes vehicle supporting track means for providing guided move-ment to the vehicle including a main line track portion and a switch track portion mèrging with the main line portion at a switching junction. The main line track portion at the switching junction includes a first continuous straight flanged track rail, and a continuous substantially parallel flat track rail extends through the switching junction. The switch track portion at the ~switchin~
junction also includes a continuous curved second flanged track rail merging with the flat track rail and a second curved flat track : .
rail merging with the first flanged track rail, with the curved flat tracl rail extending through the switching junction. Laterally spaced flanged wheels including flat rims and radially raised flang-es support the vehicle, a cam means is located between the flanged rails and a vehicle mounted cam follower means, with the cam means including cam surfaces, the first of which extends parallel to the first continuous flanged track rail and the second of which extends :- -concentric with the curved flanged rail. First and second guide rails are located inwardly of and adjacent to the first straight flanged track rail and the curved flanged track rail, and the first cam surface and first guide rail are disposed in overlapping relat-ion and the cam surface and the guide rail are disposed in over-lapping relation for guiding the vehicle through the switching junction, with each of the flat rails having a flat horizontal tread portion of greater width than the radially raised flanges. ..
A still further embodi.ment of the invention provides a switching apparatus for a transportation vehicle which includes , . a gap-free continuous rail system comprising vehicle supporting track means for providing guided movement to the vehicle and in- -cluding a main line track portion and a switch track portion merging with.the main line portion at a switching junction. The - .
main line track portion at the switching junction includes a first -~ B
-` 1077613 continuous straight flanged track rail, and a continuous substantially parallel flat track rail extending through the switching junction, with the switch track portion at the switch-ing junctlon also including a continuous curved second flanged track rail merging with the flat track rail and a second curved flat track rail merging with the first flanged track rail. .The curved flat track rail extends through the switchinq junction, and a wheel and axle assembly including a pair of laterally spaced flanged wheels on the vehicle include flat rims and Fadially raised flanges, with the flanges beina normally adapted for guiding the wheels along the flanged rails and for supporting the wheels on the flat rails for carrying the vehicle.
The flat rails and .flanged rails are coextensive for sub~
stantial lengths in the junction, and both of the wheels of the assembly simultaneously ride on their flanges and on their rims on the respective rails within the switching junction. A
cam means is located between the flanged rails and extends in ~ advance of the junction, together with vehicle mounted cam follower means, and the cam means includes cam surfaces the first of which extends parallel to the first continuous flanged track rail and the second of which extends concentric with ~
the curved flanged rail. First and second guide rails are located -inwardly of and adjacent to the first straight flanged track rail and to the curved flanged track rail, with the first cam surface and first guide rail being disposed in overlapping . . .
~ relation and said second cam surface and second guide rail being .
disposed in overlapping relation for guiding the vehicle through the switching junction. Each of the flat rails has a flat horizontal tread portion of greater width than the radially raised .
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10~7613 flanges and the flat rails have leading and trailing end portions of extensive length butted against the respective flanged rails and providing bump-free transition areas for rolling contact by ..
the rims of the wheels, and the flat track rails provide uninterr-upted continuous tread surfaces throughout the entire junction, with the cam surfaces on the cam means extending above the level of the flanged and flat rails.
: I .
Brief Description of the Drawings ' FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a passenger vehicle supported on a track sunporting structure;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the stationary track structure -, involved with the present invention;
, , FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional vlew taken substantially i along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sec'tional view taken substantially along .: .
, the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and FIG~ 5 is a schematic view in plan of a portion of a vehicle s,howing the orbital movement of cam followers supported thereon. :
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Description of the Preferred Embodiment A passenger vehicle of the tracked type is designated at 10 and includes a body 11. Suitable side windows 12 are provided in the body 11 and end windows 13 are provided at the opposite ends of the car. One of these side windows 12 is provided in a central door 14 providing for access to the interior of the vehicle 10.
The body 11 is supported on wheel trucks 15 each of which includes a pair of conventional flanged wheels 16 having treads or rims 17 and a rai~;ed flange 18. The wheels are interconnected by axles 19 10 which project through a supPorting and housing structure 20. The - housing structure 20 supports the axle 19 and in turn is connected to a supporting structure 21 which suitably connects the structure : :
20 to the body 11. The vehicle 10 is shown supported on a track : ~:
supporting structure 22 having a track bed 23 supporting longit~
udinally spaced track ties 24 which may be of conventional design. ~: -A rail track arrangement is designated at 25 and includes a switching junction generally designated at 26. The rail track further includes a main line track portion 27 and a switching portion 28 having switching rails connected at the switching ~-20 .junction 26. The main line track portion 27 includes a first cont-inuous flanged track rail 29 of conventional design and at the :
switching junction it also includes a substantially continuous flat track rail or fourth rail of special design designated at 30.
Leading into the switching junction is a straight portion of flanged track rail 31 of convention design. Similarly, a second straight portion of flanged track rail 32 is parallel to the straight-rail 29 as it leaves the ~ -:
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switching junction 26. The first straight por~ion of flanged track 31 also is integral with and meets a contin-uous curved flange track rail 33 forming part of the switch-ing portion 28. A.curved flat track rail or fourth rail of special design 34 meets at one end with-a portion of the flat rail 29 and is then parallel in.curving relatlon with respect to the third rail 33. The specially built flat track rails 30 and 34 as best shown in FIG. 3 are con-structed of a.box-like section having secured thereon 1~ at the upper surace a flat hardened layer of tread which as best shown in FIG. 3 during switching is adapted to ~ -.
provide support for the ra;sed 1ange 18 of one of the ~ --- flanged wheels 16. A conventional rail track portion 36 is connected to the second curved flat track rail 34 which ..
includes a juncture 37 at the meeting point of the rails 30, 32, 34 and 36. The.main line track rail has positioned - adjacent and parallel ~ith respect thereto a straight guide rail 38 and similarly the curved track rail 33 is provided . .
with a curved guide rail 39 adjacent and parallel with respect thereto.
' ~
' As best sho~n in FIGS. 2 and 3, a cam 40 is : positioned substantially centrally with respect to the . ~.
rails 29 and 31, and includes a curved cam face 44 extend-ing substantially parallel to portionF of the rail 33 and . 25 a second cam surface 45 extending parallel to the rail 2g.
. As best shown in FIG. 3, the cam surfaces 44 and 45 are _ 5 _ ' ' ~
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, - ~ -provided on the outer portions of vertical walls 41 and 42 of the cam 40. The walls 41 and 42 are connected by means of a top wall 43.
Referring now particularly to FIG. 4 a bracket structure 46 includes a vertical flange 47 w~ich is rigidly connected to the housing 20 and a horizontal flange 48 which supports a pair of hydraulic extensible units generally designated at 49. The extensible units may be of con- -ventional type adapted to be actuated by any type of fluid and each includes a cylinder 50 having a piston rod 51 ; - connected to a piston 52 which moves vertically within the . , .
interior of the cylinder 50. As best shown in FIG. 3, suitable fluid line connections 62 are connected to a pump ' designated P which in turn may be connected to a suitable lS reservoir for directing fluid under pressure to opposite ends of the cylinder 50 in conventional fashion. A cylindri-cal housing 53 is provided with an inner cylindrical wall 54 and has at its lower end a cylindrical bearing 55. A cam 1 ' cylinder 56 is connected at its upper end to a cylindrical bearing portion 56' which is guided within the inner cylin-drical wall 54 for vertical movement. The cam cylinder 56 is provided with a spiral groove 57 which is engaged in mating relation with a guide pin 58 supported on the .., ~ . ~
cylindrical housing 53 and extending inwardly with respect 25~ thereto. The guide pin 58 thus projects into the spiral groove 57 ànd is secured by means of a jam nut 59. Each : !: ~ : ' ;:
1077~13 of the cam cylinders 56 is provi~ed at its lowcr cnd with a follower wheel 60 suitably supported and connected to the cam cylinder 56 by means of bearing and retainer pins 61 so that the follower wheels 60 may freely rotate about a vertical axis with respect to each of the cam cylinders 56.
` ,... .
The Operation :
Assuming now that the passenger vehicle 10 is to -:
- be steered so that it passes through the switching junction -and remains on the main track portion 27, the right hand fluid extensible unit 49 in FIG. 3 is actuated by proper selector l~echanism (not disclosed) whereby the pump directs :;
fluid into the right hand cylinder 50 forcing the piston 52 ,........................................................................ .
downwardly whereupon the cam cylinder 5~ is lowered to the ~3 . position sh~wn in FIG. 4. The action of the guide pin 58, I' , . ... .
with respect to the spiral groove 57, provides for orbital : :
rotation of the follower wheel 60 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5 where it then engages the cam surface 45 of the cam 40. The right hand flanged wheels, in FIG. 3 jl: ~: ~: are now maintained and supported on the main line straight track 29 and as they enter the switching junction the left .
hand flanged wheels 16 are moving on top of the specially ~ : f~lat straight track rail 30 with the flanges 18 riding : ~ upon the flat treadways or tread layers 35. Thus the vehicle 10 is steered through the switching junction on . ,~
~ 25 the~main track Iine.
Assuming now that the passenger vehicle 10 is to be switched or steered through the switching junction onto the switch track portion 28, the right hand cylinder 50 in FIG. 3 remains in a non-actuating position with the follower -S ~heel raised. The selector mechanism is now actuated toprovide for lowering of the left hand cam cylinder 56 to its lowered position whereby the cam follower 60 is moved in the orbital path shown in FIG. S and downwardly into engagement with the curved cam surface 44. This causes the vehicle to be steered onto the switching portion 28 wherein as shown in FIG. 3 the left hand wheels 16 ride on the conventional curved track rail 33 and the right hand wheels 16 are supported and the flanges 18 ride on the special flat track rail 32 which is curved and parallel to the rail 33 so that the vehicle is now moving through the switching junction and continues on the switching portion of the arrangement. The guide rails 38 and 39, of course in both instances during steering, assist in ., .
~ ~ ~ maintaining the vehicle along the direction of steering I~ i ..
which has been selected. Thus, it is believed that an improved track arrangement and steering guide means therefor~has been disclosed.
The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make , ~ .
" 107'7613 modifica~ions and variations therein without depar~ing :~
from the scope of the invention.
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Claims (16)
1. A switching device for a vehicle of the type having wheel and axle assemblies each assembly having a pair of wheels and an axle and said wheels having treads and flanges extending radially outwardly therefrom, mainline rails having surfaces upon which the wheels are adapted to ride upon their treads and having side edges engageable by said flanges for guiding the vehicle, switching rails converging with the mainline rails, and means for shifting said vehicle laterally onto the switching rails to cause said vehicle to ride with one wheel of each assembly upon its tread and with the other wheel upon its flange during switching, and means for guidably embracing the flange of the wheel riding on its tread during passage thereof through the junction.
2. The invention according to Claim 1, and one of said main rails curving to form one of the switching rails, and the other of the switching rails converging with the other of the main rails.
3. The invention according to Claim 2, and said guidably embracing means comprising, a curved guide rail concentric with the curved section of the main line track defining a guiding groove for admitting the flange of the wheel riding on its tread on said curved section for preventing lateral shifting of the vehicle while its other wheels ride upon their flanges on the other curved track section through the junction.
4. A track arrangement for switching a vehicle having wheel and axle assemblies each including a pair of wheels and an axle each wheel comprising a tread and a flange extending radially outwardly therefrom, said track arrangement comprising first and second rails, a switching junction comprising third and fourth rails, said fourth rail having a straight portion and a curved portion, said first rail extending straight through said junction and said second rail curving in said junction away from said first rail and forming said third rail, said straight portion of said fourth rail paralleling said first rail through said junction and spaced less than the tread spacing between said wheels whereby one of the wheels of each assembly is caused to ride on its flange upon said straight portion of said fourth rail through said junction for a straight run, said curved portion of said fourth rail curving away from the first rail concentric with said third rail and spaced a distance such that when one of the wheels of each assembly rides on its tread upon the third rail, the other wheel of each assembly will ride upon its flange on the curved portion of said fourth rail, and means for embracing one of the flanges of the wheels at one side of the vehicle for guiding the vehicle through the junction.
5. The invention according to Claim 4, and means down-stream of said junction for guiding the vehicle selectively in a straight run or a switching run.
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6. A switching apparatus for a transportation vehicle and including:
vehicle supporting track means for providing guided movement to said vehicle and including a main line track portion and a switch track portion merging with said main line portion at a switching junction, said main line track portion at the switching junction including a first continuous straight flanged track rail, and a continuous substantially parallel flat track rail extending through the switching junction, said switch track portion at the switching junction also including a continuous curved second flanged track rail merging with said flat track rail and a second curved flat track rail merging with said first flanged track rail, said curved flat track rail extending through the switching junction, laterally spaced flanged wheels including flat rims and radially raised flanges supporting said vehicle, cam means located between the flanged rails, vehicle mounted cam follower means, said cam means including cam surfaces the first of which extends parallel to said first continuous flanged track rail and the second of which extends concentric with the curved flanged rail, first and second guide rails located inwardly of and adfacent to said first straight flanged track rail and said curved flanged track rail, said first cam surface and first guide rail being disposed in overlapping relation and said second cam surface and second guide rail being disposed in overlapping relation for guiding the vehicle through said switching junction, each of said flat rails having a flat horizontal tread portion of greater width than said radially raised flanges.
vehicle supporting track means for providing guided movement to said vehicle and including a main line track portion and a switch track portion merging with said main line portion at a switching junction, said main line track portion at the switching junction including a first continuous straight flanged track rail, and a continuous substantially parallel flat track rail extending through the switching junction, said switch track portion at the switching junction also including a continuous curved second flanged track rail merging with said flat track rail and a second curved flat track rail merging with said first flanged track rail, said curved flat track rail extending through the switching junction, laterally spaced flanged wheels including flat rims and radially raised flanges supporting said vehicle, cam means located between the flanged rails, vehicle mounted cam follower means, said cam means including cam surfaces the first of which extends parallel to said first continuous flanged track rail and the second of which extends concentric with the curved flanged rail, first and second guide rails located inwardly of and adfacent to said first straight flanged track rail and said curved flanged track rail, said first cam surface and first guide rail being disposed in overlapping relation and said second cam surface and second guide rail being disposed in overlapping relation for guiding the vehicle through said switching junction, each of said flat rails having a flat horizontal tread portion of greater width than said radially raised flanges.
7. The invention in accordance with Claim 6, each of said flat tread rails at opposite ends including segments merging with one of said flanged rails.
8. The invention in accordance with Claim 7, said merging of said rail segments being in overlapping relation.
9. The invention in accordance with Claim 6, said flat rails having the flat tread portion disposed at a height lower than the top of said flanged rails.
10. The invention in accordance with Claim 6 or Claim 7, said flat rails having leading and trailing end portions of extensive length butted against the respective flanged rails and providing bump-free transition areas for rolling contact by the rims of said wheels, and said flat track rails providing uninterrupted continuous tread surfaces throughout the entire junction.
11. The invention in accordance with Claim 8 or Claim 9, said flat rails having leading and trailing end portions of extensive length butted against the respective flanged rails and providing bump-free transition areas for rolling contact by the rims of said wheels, and said flat track rails providing uninterrupted continuous tread surfaces throughout the entire junction.
12. A switching apparatus for a transportation vehicle and including:
a gap-free continuous rail system comprising, vehicle supporting track means for providing guided movement to said vehicle and including a main line track portion and a switch track portion merging with said main line Claim 12 - cont'd ....
portion at a switching junction, said main line track portion at the switching junction including a first continuous straight flanged track rail, and a continuous substantially parallel flat track rail extending through the switching junction, said switch track portion at the switching junction also including a continuous curved second flanged track rail merging with said flat track rail and a second curved flat track rail merging with said first flanged track rail, said curved flat track rail extending through the switching junction, a wheel and axle assembly including a pair of laterally spaced flanged wheels on the vehicle including flat rims and radially raised flanges, said flanges being normally adapted for guiding said wheels along the flanged rails and for supporting the wheels on the flat rails for carrying said vehicle, said flat rails and flanged rails being coextensive for substantial lengths in said junction and both of the wheels of said assembly simultaneously riding on their flanges and on their rims on the respective rails within said switching junction, cam means located between the flanged rails and extending in advance of the junction, vehicle mounted cam follower means, said cam means including cam surfaces the first of which extends parallel to said first continuous flanged track rail and the second of which extends concentric with the curved flanged rail, first and second guide rails located inwardly of and adjacent to said first straight flanged track rail and said curved flanged track rail,
12. A switching apparatus for a transportation vehicle and including:
a gap-free continuous rail system comprising, vehicle supporting track means for providing guided movement to said vehicle and including a main line track portion and a switch track portion merging with said main line Claim 12 - cont'd ....
portion at a switching junction, said main line track portion at the switching junction including a first continuous straight flanged track rail, and a continuous substantially parallel flat track rail extending through the switching junction, said switch track portion at the switching junction also including a continuous curved second flanged track rail merging with said flat track rail and a second curved flat track rail merging with said first flanged track rail, said curved flat track rail extending through the switching junction, a wheel and axle assembly including a pair of laterally spaced flanged wheels on the vehicle including flat rims and radially raised flanges, said flanges being normally adapted for guiding said wheels along the flanged rails and for supporting the wheels on the flat rails for carrying said vehicle, said flat rails and flanged rails being coextensive for substantial lengths in said junction and both of the wheels of said assembly simultaneously riding on their flanges and on their rims on the respective rails within said switching junction, cam means located between the flanged rails and extending in advance of the junction, vehicle mounted cam follower means, said cam means including cam surfaces the first of which extends parallel to said first continuous flanged track rail and the second of which extends concentric with the curved flanged rail, first and second guide rails located inwardly of and adjacent to said first straight flanged track rail and said curved flanged track rail,
Claim 12 - cont'd ...
said first cam surface and first guide rail being disposed in overlapping relation and said second cam surface and second guide rail being disposed in overlapping relation for guiding the vehicle through said switching junction, and each of said flat rails having a flat horizontal tread portion of greater width than said radially raised flanges and said flat rails having leading and trailing end portions of extensive length butted against the respective flanged rails and providing bump-free transition areas for rolling contact by the rims of said wheels, and said flat track rails providing uninterrupted continuous tread surfaces throughout the entire junction, and cam surfaces on the cam means extending above the level of said flanged and flat rails.
said first cam surface and first guide rail being disposed in overlapping relation and said second cam surface and second guide rail being disposed in overlapping relation for guiding the vehicle through said switching junction, and each of said flat rails having a flat horizontal tread portion of greater width than said radially raised flanges and said flat rails having leading and trailing end portions of extensive length butted against the respective flanged rails and providing bump-free transition areas for rolling contact by the rims of said wheels, and said flat track rails providing uninterrupted continuous tread surfaces throughout the entire junction, and cam surfaces on the cam means extending above the level of said flanged and flat rails.
13. The invention in accordance with Claim 12 said flat rails having the flat tread portion disposed at a height lower than the top of said flanged rails.
14. The invention in accordance with Claim 12, said cam follower means including a pair of vertically movable first and second cam followers positioned on said vehicle in horizontally spaced relation adapted to be selectively moved into engagement with said first and second cam surfaces.
15. The invention in accordance with Claim 12, each of said cam followers being movable in an orbital path into and out of engagement with said cam surfaces.
16. The invention in accordance with Claim 12, said cam follower means including first and second fluid extensible devices supporting said first and second cam followers for moving the same vertically and in said orbital path.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US69928776A | 1976-06-24 | 1976-06-24 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1077613A true CA1077613A (en) | 1980-05-13 |
Family
ID=24808673
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA275,001A Expired CA1077613A (en) | 1976-06-24 | 1977-03-29 | Static switching apparatus for passenger vehicle |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1077613A (en) |
-
1977
- 1977-03-29 CA CA275,001A patent/CA1077613A/en not_active Expired
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |