GB1311230A - Inertia switching - Google Patents

Abstract

1311230 Rail vehicle systems; track apparatus DOCUTEL CORP 19 April 1971 [2 Feb 1970] 20882/71 Headings B7L and B7N A rail vehicle 10 is guided along main track 78 or diverging track 80 by divert wheels 34 each mounted in a corner of plate 28 which pivots about the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle to bring a pair of wheels into guiding contact with divert plates 84 and 74 extending parallel to the main or diverging track respectively. Each vehicle includes castor wheels 18 for supporting the vehicle on rails 12R and 12L and capture wheels 20 which engage inclined plates on the rails to retain the vehicles. The vehicles are also provided with a slider plate 22 which forms part of a linear motor propulsion system. The pivoting plate 27 is mounted on support brackets 30, 32 and is provided in each corner with an over centre spring assembly 38a-38d which urges the plate into one or other of its two stable positions. The plate is rocked to one or other positions by pneumatically operated ramps 52 disposed in advance of diverging points for co-operation with cam wheels 46 mounted on each outer edge of plate 28. Movement of the plate initially by a ramp and then by the over centre spring is damped by members 44. In the event of power failure when all the pneumatically operated ramps return to their horizontal de-energized positions, the vehicles are retained on the main line as they coast to a halt by fixed ramps, Fig. 13 (not shown), in advance of the diverging points.