CA2455238A1 - Overhead track train - Google Patents

Abstract

TWO MAIN AND PARALLEL OVERHEAD TRACKS, WITH SNOW
AND ICE-MELTING CAPABILITIES, SUPPLEMENTED BY TWO
AUXILIARY TRACKS, PROVIDE DRIVING SURFACES FOR
ELEVATED TRAINS WITH SEVERAL WAGONS OF WHICH
EACH IS SUSPENDED FROM TWO CHASIS, OR TRUCKS, ELECTRIC MOTORS AND SUPPLEMEMNTED BY STEERING, CENTERING A STABILIZING WHEELS ALL ATTACHED TO A
CENTRAL TURRET THAT SUPPORTS THE WAGON'S
SUSPENSION, LEVELING AND STABILIZATION EQUIPMENT
WHICH IS SUPPLEMENTED BY GYROSCOPES PLACED
EITHER IN THE SAID WAGON'S CEILING, OR UNDER ITS
FLOOR.

Description

~~~,7-'TAIN T'EC~HNOLO(i~' INC.
OTT
OVERHEAD TRACK TRAIN
INTRODUCTION
The 'Overhead Track Train' is a proposed public transportation system, in which trains, similar in size to a current subway train (Toronto) travel above the ground suspended from overhead tracks.- Just like in a subway, each train has several wagons that are interconnected. In the OTT, each wagon is suspended from two overhead 'trucks', or chassis. The bottoms of the wagons are about 25 to 30 feet above the ground, passing over all vehicular traffic, pedestrians, trains and so on - completely avoiding any gridlocks. The other major advantage of the Overhead Track Train lies in the fact that it offers significant cost advantages over any other urban transportation systems Another prominent, or unique, feature of the OTT is its ability to melt snow and ice from its track, making it eminently suitable for Canadian winter conditions.
(Please see the ' Eight Main Advantages Of The OTT' listed below.) The Chassis. Or The Truck In current practice the word 'chassis' usually means a box, truck, or a frame, to which an engine, the wheels with their suspensions are attached. The OTT uses the same concept but just like in most trains, the chassis or the truck, will have two axles with two to four electric motors, driving four large driving/braking wheels; 6, or 8, are auxiliary wheels center, steer, or stabilize the wagon on its track and steer it around its bends. Altogether then, each chassis, or truck will have a total of 8, or 10, or 12 wheels.
The OTT is moved by electric motors, 2 or 4 in each truck - or for a total of 4 to 8 for conveyance. Here, they also include a brake-electrical regenerative-system that supplies the on-board gyroscopes with power.
The Construction Of The Overhead Track The final disposition and construction details of the overhead track will be determined by engineers, specializing in this type of construction. It must be anticipated that the width of the overhead tracks will be subject to extensive analyses, which in turn will lead to two, if not three, different track widths. Accordingly, three types of chassis are submitted here, all working on exactly the same principles. - While the Overhead Track and its Train are quasi-separate assemblies, one cannot function without the other. It is for this reason that they submitted to CIPO as a single, functional entity.
EIGHT MAIN ADVANTAGES OF THE OTT
AS PROPOSED BYATTAIN TECHNOLOGYINC.
1. ECONOMY
The projected cost of the OTT is about 10% to 15% of the cost of a new subway, with about the same percentage of elapsed time needed to construct this system.
There is no digging, no under-ground work 2. EASY & CONVENIENT CONSTRUCTION
Prefabricated components are assembled on location - then erected to the built-up towers;
the above ground stations can also be assembled from pre-fabricated components.

3. OTT CAN GO ANYWHERE
Moving above the ground, the OTT can operate from medians of large highways, from the sides of large streets, it can cross superhighways, ravines and serve harbors.

4. OTT INTEGRATES WITH EASE

OTT integrates easily and seamlessly with all existing modes of transportation, such as:
buses, subways, streetcars and trains. It may also deliver & pick up passengers from airports and docks; of particular interest is the fact that it can stop at the same platforms used by a subway, since its wagons are suspended and do not interfere with the subways' tracks below.
S. OTT IS RELOCATABLE
If an established route meets low demand - or if it is no longer required -such as Olympic Games, International Events, jamborees, etc, - its entire structure can be simply disassembled and erected elsewhere, in a new venue, responding to a new demand. All that is "lost" would be the foundations of the towers. But even the above-the-ground stations can be disassembled. Therefore, it follows, that about 80% of the capital expenditures of the OTT can be recovered, resulting in a completely different financial planning for such large and normally very expensive events..
6. OTT IS "WINTER-PROOF"
In contrast to some other systems - the Overhead Train Track is completely "winter-proof' with snow and ice melting equipment installed over the tracks, so that it can function even in the most severe winter conditions.
7.OTT'S AUTOMATIC OPERATION
Once installed and properly functioning, the OTT system could operate without attendants, just as is the case in San Francisco's PART system. Supervisors monitor trains from stations, or from a central control room.
$. THE OTT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
Only electricity is used to drive the trains; furthermore during the construction of OTT
system, there is virtually no need to employ heavy equipment to dig tunnels and to remove the earth, etc. Hence, the heavy pollution of air normally generated by this type of activity is completely absent FIGURES FOR OVERHEAD TRACK TRAINS
General Comments Altogether 7 (seven) main chassis and overhead supporting structures of the Overhead Track Trains are submitted; they are supplemented by additional images of the track structures, its unique all weather provisions and the wagons/chassis stability provisions.
In order to avoid unnecessary multiplications of pictures, only 3 to 4 images are presented for each train-type. In some instances the images are subdivided into a left and right sections, since many o f the components 'hide' other components in certain views As mentioned above, the towers, the disposition of the tracks will, in many instances dictate the type of chassis, or frame, for the trains. Therefore, the 7 seven submitted models will employ 3 to 4 types of tracks: wide, medium and narrow width, etc.
They will be duly noted with each model.
FIGURE lA - Front View Train Type: Wide Track, 8 wheels 1. central beam - and arms supporting the two main tracks 2. two stabilizing wheels - ensuring the stability of the chassis 3. 4 (four) large driving wheels, with electric motors built into the wheels' rims along with braking mechanisms. The main wheels are independently sprung from the chassis by means of longitudinal torsion springs attached to "H"
cross-section members reaching the wheels. The torsion springs can be rotated, to offset uneven loads, or adverse weather conditions.; the suspension is partially shown on the left side, while -4. the right side shows one of the 'centering wheels', that keeps the main driving wheels and its chassis on the predetermined path 5. center of the frame, or chassis, with a large, outside cylinder that supports the inside, smaller one, which further extends downward to form a turret 6. the turret, which forms a structurally strong roof that bolts onto the roof of the wagon itself. The rotation of the wagon is assured by the two mating cylindrical components in the turret 7. the space between the underside of the turret and above the ceiling of the wagon is used for a gyroscopic stabilizer that is energized by the electric current of the vehicle. The gyroscope has a long shaft that reaches down from the ceiling down to the floor of the wagon 8. The main tracks of the OTT are "L"-shaped in profile and are provided with small holes, or slots, that allow melted snow, or ice, to be drained from the track 9. immediately above the main wheels - and on the track itself, if so needed, are heat lamps, or heat elements delivering a winter-proof travel of the OTT.
These snowlice melting features are present on all submitted models - but may not be shown in all images.
FIGURE 1B - Front View of the Wagon The wagons cross-section shows the following features:
1. the ceiling mounted gyroscope with its long vertical shaft 2. the shaft runs all-the-way down to under the wagon's floor and is enclosed in a post, or large tube, that is a structural components of the wagon's construction 3. the bottom of the wagon shows a 'center-wheel' that may be used to stabilize the wagon when it passes through a station.
FIGURE IC - Top View Of The Wide Track Chassis 1. the main, center - supporting beam 2. two steering wheels 3. two centering wheels 4. independent suspension, showing the chassis' torsion bars, "H" - type suspension components and automatic height/ sway regulators 5. four main driving/braking wheels - with motors built into the rim of the wheel 6. the central turret - with the concentric columns that allow the rotation of the wagon m curves 7. the two main overhead tracks 8. heat lamps above the main driving wheels, ditto over right-hand track, not shown 9. the two stabilizing wheels riding the central beam are not shown in this image FIGURE 1D Side View Of The Wide Track Chassis I. two stabilizing wheels and their support 2. two steering wheels mounted on forward arms and attached to the chassis 3. 4 main wheels and their suspensions attached to the main chassis 4. turret, with its bell-shaped extension housing the gyroscope 5. two centering wheels.
FIGURE 2 - Front View Figure No. 2 shows a wide-track, 8 wheels chassis, that is different from the first model only in two areas: its wheels are mounted on solid axles attached to the chassis, or main frame - and the wagon's suspension is provided by an outside column placed around an inside tube of smaller diameter; hence the turret is allowed to turn and to move and down.
1. upper stabilizing wheels 2. right-hand side shows one of the centering wheels 3. steering wheels are not shown - they are identical to Model 1 4. central turret provides coil (plus pneumatic suspension underneath its outside collar 5. a large, outside column travels up and down, providing the wagon' suspension 6. wagon's stabilization is by a gyroscope that can be located either in the wagon's ceiling, our under its floor.. Please refer to previous images of wagons..

FIGURE 3 A - Front View This model is also a wide-track tme, with 10 wheels, mounted on two solid axles with a suspension provided by the telescoping turret - as shown in Figure 2. The supporting structure for this model offers a pair of secondary tracks positioned above the main ones and are supported by the side arms of the main rail structure.
1. a pair of large stabilizer wheels ride on a solid axle supported by two cam-like devices that are capable to press the wheels up against a pair of secondary, horizontal rails. The shafts of the stabilizer wheels are horizontal 2. the right hand side of the main axle assembly shows one of the centering wheels 3. the central turret provides the wagons suspension 4. the extended turret offers space for a wagon's gyroscope FIGURE 3B - Front View Of the Wagon 1. the ceiling shows a wide - or narrow- neck ceiling, through which the wagon can be attached to the chassis' turret, depending on the location of the gyroscope; in the image shown, the gyroscope is located under the wagon's floor 2. central column of the wagon: a pillar that serves a structural support -and also houses the long shaft of the gyroscope 3. wagons' "landing wheel.
FIGURE 3C - Side View Of The Chassis 1. Stabilizing wheels and their adjusting mechanisms, which lifts, or lowers them , exerting pressure against the secondary rails 2. main driving/braking wheels, mounted in solid, tubular axles and fastened to the main chassis 3, centering wheel 4. steering wheels- with long arms reaching to the chassis 5. turret's extension FIGURE 3D - Top View Of The Chassis 1. steering wheels 2. right side - shows one of the stabilizing wheel, being pressed again the horizontal secondary track 3. left side shows one of the centering wheels 4. center turret with telescoping column 5. main tracks with vertical support arms 6. outline of the main chassis FIGURE 4A - Front View Of A Narrow Track- Model This figure shows a narrow-track - model; its chassis has 10 wheels; the four main wheels use a narrow width track, while the two stabilizer wheels roll on vertical axes and press against two, horizontal, secondary tracks.
1, main beam with two wings, that spread out and support the left-and right vertical walls, with their main tracks and a pair of secondary but wider tracks used for the stabilizers 2, central turret with a telescopic suspension 3. four main wheels attached to solid axles and the main chassis 4. two stabilizers mounted on u-shaped a~'ms in rotating pedestals. The motion to turn the u-arms can come either from torsion springs attached to them, or be supplemented by an hydraulic pressure. The stabilizers neutralize the wagon's uneven loads, or prevent its shifting to one side in inclement weather FIGURE 4B - Top View The Above Chassis 1. 2 steering wheels attached by arms to the chassis 2. 4 main wheels attached to the narrow chassis with a central turret 3. 2 stabilizers mounted on u-shaped arms, actuated by torsion springs 4. 2 centering wheels S. outside, secondary tracks for stabilizers with their extra width 6. main, overhead support beam FIGURE 4C - Side View Of Above Chassis 1. main, overhead beam 2. chassis, 4 wheels mounted on solid axles 3. steering wheels on long arms attached to the chassis 4. wagon's body and its curved "lip" on the roof pulling down stabilizers' levers 5. arms lifting the stabilizer wheels 6. stabilizer wheels pressing against the secondary treks 7. main turret FIGURE 4D - Stabilizer Mechanism I . body of the wagon 2. various angles of the wagon while going through the curves 3. circular "lips" on the wagon's roof, pulling the adjc~sters' lever down when the wagon is lowered 4. levers raising stabilizer arms 5. main turret 6. pivots of stabilizer arms 7. stakrilizer wheels 8. auxiliary tracks FIGURE SA - Medium-Width Track Chassis This model uses a medium width track, using 12 wheels, with a telescoping turret, and a gyroscope in the ceiling of the wagon. The new feature are four stabilizing wheels which rotate on vertical shafts below the main tracks.
1. telescoping turret 2. 4 main wheels attached to the chassis 3. two - of the four - stabilizer wheels, whose arms are attached to the chassis by arms and pressed against secondary rails below the main track. Pressure is either by springs - or springs plus hydraulics 4. gyroscope with long shaft aiming downward 5. one of the two centering wheels FIGURE 5B - Side View Of Above Chassis 1. telescoping turret with suspension in the 'outside ring' 2. main chassis with 4 wheels, mounted on large, solid axles 3. two front and two rear stabilizers with wheels pressing against the secondary rail below the main tracks 4. large reinforcing 'ribs' that stabilize the turret 5. ceiling mounted gyroscope 6. steering wheels with arms, attached to the front of the chassis FIGURE SC - Top View Of Above Chassis 1. one of 4 stabilizer-wheels 2. steering wheels 3. centering wheels 4. central, telescoping turret 5. one of 4 main driving wheels 6. main track - with secondary track underneath the first one 4. main wheels with their axles and front & back supports 5. centering wheels 6. coil towers of the chassis's suspension 7. circular guides in the roof of the wagon (stabilizer wheels and supports not shown in this image FIGURE 7 A - Narrow Track - Delta Chassis - Front View This model shows a narrow track design, which may also be called "Delta Chassis" -due to its profile, when viewed from the side. Its design uses 10 wheels per chassis, the wagon's suspension is in its ceiling and the stabilizing gyroscope is placed under its floor. - There are two main overhead tracks for the main driving wheels and two secondary tracks used by the two stabilizer wheels, which are pressed against them. One of the main advantages of this design is the narrow and compact supporting structure that uses a single, main supporting beam in the ceiling.
1. main supporting beam 2. heat lamps 3. right side shows one (of the two) centering wheels 4. main driving wheels - riding on the main overhead tracks 5. secondary tracks - used by the two stabilizing wheels - mounted on the turret 6. turret - with the wagon's suspension, leveling devices and centering pin 7. wagon's roof with a center post, also housing the long shaft of the gyroscope 8. wagon's gyroscope - under the floor - with its long shaft FIGURE 7B - Side View Of the Delta Chassis I . main supporting beam 2. "delta" chassis with the two axles, showing two extensions that merge with a round turret housing the wagon' suspension - allows the wagon to turn 3. main driving/braking wheels 4. centering wheels 5. steering wheels 6. stabilizer wheel riding at approx. 60° angle - the secondary track 7. body of the wagon FIGURE 7C - Top View Of The Delta Chassis 1. steering wheels 2. 4 main wheels 3. outline of the turret 4. centering wheels 5, main track 6. secondary track (on bth sides}- stabilizing wheels are not shown /

Claims

4.

4. The OTT integrates easily and seamlessly with all existing modes of transportation, such as buses, subways, streetcars, or trains, often from the same platforms and it capable to service airports.
5. If an established OTT doesn't meet the revenue projections, it could dismantled -and erected elsewhere, recovering more than 80% of its capital expenditures, allowing a completely new and flexible transportation strategy 6. The OTT is completely winter proof with snow and ice-melting equipment installed either over its dual tracks, or imbedded in the tracks themselves, making the winter operation trouble - and maintenance free 7. The OTT is completely environment-friendly not only during its construction which eliminates the use of heavy tunneling and boring equipment - but also during its operation, as the trains are driven by pollution-free electric motors 8. OTT trains ride on rubber tires, over smooth but non-skid surfaces driven by electric motors, assuring smooth and silent operation for passengers and its environment 9. Once installed, the OTT will be able to operate without on-board personnel -being monitored only by supervisors located in ground stations.
10. Although the OTT uses two tracks with smooth but all-weather capable surfaces - which are inherently stable, this quality is further enhanced by additional, gyroscopic stability monitors.
11. The construction of an OTT system completely eliminates the ground-level traffic chaos that lasts about two years, when a subway is being built - which further adds to its economic and environmental qualities 12. The OTT system doesn't need the expensive land acquisition, or expropriation which can now be replaced by a simple Right-Of-Way demand