US3604362A - Monorail installation - Google Patents

Monorail installation Download PDF

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Publication number
US3604362A
US3604362A US2487A US3604362DA US3604362A US 3604362 A US3604362 A US 3604362A US 2487 A US2487 A US 2487A US 3604362D A US3604362D A US 3604362DA US 3604362 A US3604362 A US 3604362A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
rail
roller
travel
vehicle
truck
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US2487A
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English (en)
Inventor
Pierre Goirand
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cegelec SA
Original Assignee
Cegelec SA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cegelec SA filed Critical Cegelec SA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3604362A publication Critical patent/US3604362A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61B—RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B61B13/00—Other railway systems
    • B61B13/04—Monorail systems

Definitions

  • Baxley ABSTRACT In the monorail installation disclosed herein the vehicle suspended from the rail is driven by a swivel roller provided on an overhead truck and means comprising a controlled surface moving in a closed path and affording a lower generatrix parallel to the direction of the travel of the vehicle on the rail and against which bears the upper generatrix of the swivel roller.
  • the controlled surface has imparted to it a continuous movement in a direction transverse with respect to the direction of the rail, and the center of gravity of the vehicle and the swivel roller are located laterally on opposite sides of the rail so that the swivel roller will automatically bear against the controlled surface with a given pressure.
  • the present invention has as its object the provision of an improved installation for suspended vehicles of the monorail type.
  • the suspended vehicle is driven by a swivel roller which rests via its upper generatrix on a lower generatrix of a controlled elongated drive surface that extends as a whole parallel to the direction of the travel rail of the vehicle and is imparted a continuous movement through a closed path in a direction transverse with respect to the direction of the rail.
  • the controlled surface may be formed of the surface of a cylinder, or of the surface of an endless belt, or of the surface or surface portions of any other suitable means known to the art.
  • the driven swivel roller is caused to exert automatically a certain bearing pressure on the controlled driving surface by shifting the driven roller and the center of gravity of the vehicle laterally to opposite sides of the travel rail.
  • This pressure of the driven roller on the controlled driving surface may be increased by causing the roller to exert thereon a self-clamping force produced by imparting to such controlled surface a direction of displacement such that the speed at the point of contact with the roller is directed in the direction of the travel rail of the vehicle.
  • This selfclamping force will be greater the more the plane of the driven roller is inclined with respect to a plane normal to the travel rail, which increased inclinations correspond to the highest speeds of the vehicle.
  • This bearing pressure of the driven roller on the controlled surface may be increased further by utilization of the bearing reaction of an elastic or nonelastic part of the truck of the vehicle on a fixed ramp.
  • FIG. 1 is a partial schematic view in vertical cross section of a transportation installation of the monorail type constructed in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing how the invention may be embodied in a switching arrangement in a monorail system.
  • FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of another switching arrangement, the vehicle being shown in normal travel on the main circuit;
  • FIG. 4 is a similar view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 3, but showing the vehicle in switching position.
  • the reference numeral 1 indicates generally the vehicle which is suspended from a truck 2 provided with a roller 3 which rolls on a rail 4 forming the main circuit of travel of the vehicle.
  • the vehicle is impelled along the rail 4 by a driven swivel roller 6 carried by the truck 2 and the upper generatrix of which engages the lower generatrix of a controlled driving surface 5.
  • the controlled surface is formed by the surface of a cylinder generally designated 7.
  • the cylinder 7 is rotatably mounted on a beam 8 extending parallelly to the rail 4 and supported by the framework generally designated 9 that supports the rail 4.
  • the cylinder 7 which may be of any given length and which may constitute one of a series of such cylinders, is driven continuously at a given controlled speed such as to provide the surface 5 thereof with a controlled certain continuous movement or peripheral speed in a direction transverse with respect to the direction of the rail 4.
  • This rotational movement of the cylinder 7 may be accomplished in any suitable manner, as by a motor 10 mounted on the framework 9 and connected by suitable gearing 11 and 12 to a gear 13 secured to one end of the cylinder 7, as is shown in FIG. I of the drawings.
  • the speed of advance of the vehicle 1 is regulated by changing the orientation of the driven roller 6 with relation to the surface 5.
  • the orientation of the roller 6 is effected by an auxiliary roller 17 mounted on an arm 18 provided on the bearing support 16 for the roller 6 so that such arm is in effect rigidly connected with the driven roller 6.
  • the bearing support 16 is rotatably mounted on the truck 2 by means of a vertical pivot pin or shaft 15 rotatably carried by a bearing support 14 provided on the truck 2.
  • the roller 17 engages a stationary ramp 19 provided on the framework 9 and having a profile designed to impose on the drive roller 6 the orientation which produces the desired speed of the vehicle.
  • the place of attachment of the vehicle 1 to the truck 2 is suitably determined so that the center of gravity of the assembly, as indicated by the arrow designated 20 in FIG. I of the drawings, is to the right of rail 4.
  • This arrangement produces a tilting torque of the vehicle around the rail 4 which has the effect of maintaining a certain bearing pressure of the driven roller 6 on the driving surface 5.
  • the bearing reaction of the roller 22 will have the effect of increasing the adherence of the driven roller 6 to the cylinder 7.
  • the ramp 21 which may be carried by the framework 9, this additional increase of pressure of the roller 6 on the cylinder may be controlled and of any given amount.
  • the endless belt 7' providing the controlled driven surface 5 moving transversely with respect to the rail 4 for retaining control of the movement of the vehicle in the switching zone may be of any suitable construction and driven continuously at a given speed in any suitable manner.
  • the endless belt 7 may be borne by rollers 26 and driven by a drive cylinder 27 suitably connected by gearing to an electric motor mounted on the framework 9 in the manner of the motor 10 in FIG. 1.
  • a roller 28 provided on the truck 2 comes into contact with the switch rail 25 which at first has an ascending profile so as to raise the vehicle to free the roller 3 from the main rail 4.
  • the bearing support 16 for the driven roller 6 is provided with a pivot pin 15 that can move vertically in the bearing support 14' and it is urged upwardly by a spring 30 as the vehicle is so raised, to assure that the roller 6 will maintain its bearing pressure on the belt 7'.
  • an additional bearing ramp 31 which is engaged by an auxiliary roller 32 provided on the truck 2.
  • the profile in plan view of the ramp 31 follows that of the switch rail 25 and by having the roller 32 rest laterally thereagainst the vertical position of the truck 2 is maintained as it travels through the switching zone on the switch rail 25.
  • This bearing of the roller 32 on the ramp 31 further assures a suitable bearing pressure of the drive roller 6 on the belt 7.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 show another switching arrangement.
  • the place of attachment 36 of the suspended vehicle 1' to the truck 2 is shifted horizontally with respect to the travel rail 4 so that the center of gravity of the vehicle is shifted to the right with respect to the rail 4.
  • This arrangement automatically produces a tilting moment of the vehicle 1' about the rail 4 which has the effect of maintaining a certain bearing pressure of the drive roller 6 on the controlled surface.
  • the controlled surface in the switching zone is the surface 5' provided by a belt 7'.
  • an increase in the adherence of the drive roller 6 to the controlled surface is assured by means of a roller 37 resting on a ramp 38 provided on the framework 9.
  • the roller 37 elastically transmits an ascending thrust to the truck 2 through a lever 39 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its length on a pin 40 fixedly secured to the truck 2.
  • the other end of lever 39 is provided with a horizontally disposed arm 41 which presses against the lower end of a vertically disposed spring 42.
  • the upper end of spring 42 is rigidly connected to the truck 2'.
  • lever 39 is additionally provided with a vertically disposed arm 43 which at its upper end has an inclined cam edge on which rests the lower cam-shaped end of a lever 44.
  • the upper end of lever 44 carries a roller 45 which rides on the main rail 4 in the normal travel of the vehicle 1' to maintain the roller 3 which has only a single flange 35, laterally on such rail.
  • the roller 45 is raised from the rail 4 as is shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, to permit the roller 3' to free itself laterally from the rail 4. This is accomplished by a roller 46 mounted on the truck 2' coming into contact with a ramp 47 in FIG.
  • the roller 46 is rotatably mounted on a depending vertical axis carried by a lever 48 pivotally connected at one end to a bracket extending from the lower end of the truck 2' and pivotally connected at its other end to the lower end of a vertical link 49 which is connected at its upper end to the arm 41 of lever 39.
  • lever 48 pivotally connected at one end to a bracket extending from the lower end of the truck 2' and pivotally connected at its other end to the lower end of a vertical link 49 which is connected at its upper end to the arm 41 of lever 39.
  • the ramp 47 in plan view has a profile which follows that of the rail 25 and is designed to coact with the roller 46 to maintain the truck 2' in vertical position so as to produce a suitable bearing pressure by the driving roller on the belt 7'.
  • the roller 28 which rolls on the switch rail 25 and which supports the vehicle 1 when the latter is freed from the main line rail 4 is placed in the direction of the bearing reaction of the vehicle.
  • a monorail installation comprising a travel rail, a suspended vehicle having an overhead truck provided with a first travel roller movable upon said rail and supporting said vehicle and truck thereon, means for impelling said vehicle along said rail including a second roller mounted on said truck, means supporting said second roller for rotational movement about a substantially horizontal axis and for swiveling movement about a vertical axis, means comprising a controlled surface affording a lower generatrix parallel to the direction of the travel of the vehicle on said rail and against which bears the upper generatrix of said second swivel roller,

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Carriers, Traveling Bodies, And Overhead Traveling Cranes (AREA)
US2487A 1969-10-14 1970-01-13 Monorail installation Expired - Lifetime US3604362A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR6935946A FR2063517A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-10-14 1969-10-14

Publications (1)

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US3604362A true US3604362A (en) 1971-09-14

Family

ID=9041789

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US2487A Expired - Lifetime US3604362A (en) 1969-10-14 1970-01-13 Monorail installation

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Country Link
US (1) US3604362A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2001138A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2063517A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3818837A (en) * 1972-10-06 1974-06-25 Si Handling Systems Vehicle and track system
US3854410A (en) * 1972-04-05 1974-12-17 W Crowder Pneumatic-electric transit systems
US4047624A (en) * 1975-10-21 1977-09-13 Airco, Inc. Workpiece handling system for vacuum processing
US4097029A (en) * 1975-12-31 1978-06-27 Pennsylvania Engineering Corporation Enclosure for steel converting apparatus
US5443012A (en) * 1994-03-11 1995-08-22 Bigtoys, Inc. Playground carriage

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3118393A (en) * 1960-12-27 1964-01-21 Xhiving means in a track system
US3164104A (en) * 1961-07-04 1965-01-05 Joseph Cook Sons & Company 193 Transporter means
US3356040A (en) * 1964-05-11 1967-12-05 Borgs Fabriks Ab Device for conveyor systems

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3118393A (en) * 1960-12-27 1964-01-21 Xhiving means in a track system
US3164104A (en) * 1961-07-04 1965-01-05 Joseph Cook Sons & Company 193 Transporter means
US3356040A (en) * 1964-05-11 1967-12-05 Borgs Fabriks Ab Device for conveyor systems

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3854410A (en) * 1972-04-05 1974-12-17 W Crowder Pneumatic-electric transit systems
US3818837A (en) * 1972-10-06 1974-06-25 Si Handling Systems Vehicle and track system
US4047624A (en) * 1975-10-21 1977-09-13 Airco, Inc. Workpiece handling system for vacuum processing
US4097029A (en) * 1975-12-31 1978-06-27 Pennsylvania Engineering Corporation Enclosure for steel converting apparatus
US5443012A (en) * 1994-03-11 1995-08-22 Bigtoys, Inc. Playground carriage
US5816167A (en) * 1994-03-11 1998-10-06 Kompan, Inc. Playground carriage
US6044766A (en) * 1994-03-11 2000-04-04 Kompan, Inc. Playground carriage

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2063517A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-07-09
DE2001138A1 (de) 1971-04-22

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