GB317634A - Improvements in and relating to suspension rail track systems - Google Patents

Abstract

317,634. M³l1er, A. H. Aug. 14, 1928. Elevated railways and tramways.-In a suspension rail track system the trucks are moved along by traction motors and are flexibly connected a predetermined distance apart, the spacing of the trucks being ensured by braking devices which come into action automatically when the tractive effort in the flexible connecting means decreases below a predetermined limit. The truck b, Fig. 4, is suspended from a rail a by a system of bell-crank levers g pivoted at n to the wheel-carrying members h. A draw-bar l connects the bell-crank levers and forms the connecting means, through a flexible member c, to the preceding truck. The truck b is suspended on one side of the pivot n by a hook G and a brake rod B with brake e is connected to the other so that when the truck is at rest the weight applies the brake e to the underside of the rail and when the flexible member c is in tension the brake is released. The brake pressure may be applied by springs which are compressed to release the brakes when tractive effort is applied to the member c. A train of carriages may have an intermediate traction motor d, Fig. 1, which is controlled by the movement of a lever h, Fig. 5. The lever is normally drawn by the spring i into the position 1 and when the lever is drawn into the position 3 by the pull of the member c the traction motor d is set in motion. The front part of the train may have two traction motors. and, if not controlled by a driver, are provided with buffers m which operate to stop the motors upon meeting an obstruction and to start them again when the obstruction is removed. The track, Fig. 6, is a closed circuit and comprises main lines I, II and a waiting line III. Branch lines 1 - - 21, Fig. 6, are provided for loading and unloading goods, the trucks afterwards being shunted on to the main track to form a train with the other trucks from the branch lines, or they mav be shunted onto the waiting track III. The track II may be led entirely through the installation and serves as a main track when one of the others has to be repaired.