US3906863A - City and/or district transport line - Google Patents

City and/or district transport line Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3906863A
US3906863A US334608A US33460873A US3906863A US 3906863 A US3906863 A US 3906863A US 334608 A US334608 A US 334608A US 33460873 A US33460873 A US 33460873A US 3906863 A US3906863 A US 3906863A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
track
car
halt
travel
wheels
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
US334608A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Riccardo Baldelli
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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 Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3906863A publication Critical patent/US3906863A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
    • E01B25/00—Tracks for special kinds of railways
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61C—LOCOMOTIVES; MOTOR RAILCARS
    • B61C11/00—Locomotives or motor railcars characterised by the type of means applying the tractive effort; Arrangement or disposition of running gear other than normal driving wheel

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an improved city and- /or district transport line, particularly for passengers, comprising a continuous travel track running without interruptions between two terminal stations of the line, at least one halt track section associated with an intermediate station of the line, a plurality of selfpropelled cars movable along said travel track and said halt track sections, and transferring means allowing to transfer the cars from the travel track to the halt tracks or vice versa, said transferring means com prising at least two sections of shunting tracks, said shunting track sections connecting the ends of each halt track section to the travel track, each car being provided with first rolling means for its advancement along the travel track and along the halt track, and with second rolling means for advancement along the shunting tracks.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of FIG. 5.
  • the present invention relates to a city and/or district transport line in which use is preferably made of small self-propelled cars or units, arranged to carry a limited number of passengers.
  • a transport line of this type has already been'described in the Italian Pat. No. 829,688 dated Apr. 2, 1968, in the name of the same applicant.
  • This transport line is based on the main concept of using a continuous track i.e., without interruptions and without switches running between the two terminal stations of the line, a series of halt tracks associated with the intermediate stations, and cars provided with two distinct sets of drive means, of which a first set permits advancement along the continuous travel track and the second set is operated in the proximity of the halt tracks leading to the intermediate stations, to permit the car to pass from the travel track to the halt track and to advance along this latter.
  • the object of the present invention is consequently an improved transport line structure, the basic concept of which consists essentially of the fact that it comprises a continuous travel track running between two terminal stations of the line, at least one halt track section associated with an intermediate station of the line, at least two sections of shunting tracks which enable the ends of the halt track to be connected to the travel track, and at least one car provided withfirst rolling means for its advancement along the travel track and halt track, and second rolling means which permit movement along said shunting tracks.
  • control and operating means must be associated with each car for moving it along the travel track, together with further control and operating means for moving the car along the halt track.
  • control and operating means only one set of control and operating means is instead required for moving the car along the travel track and along the halt track, while the rolling means for movement along the shunting tracks may, because of the short length of the latter, be simple constant speed drive means.
  • FIG. I is a diagrammatic perspective view of a short section of travel or halt track
  • FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-section of a car according to the invention.
  • FIG 3 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section ofa car, with parts visible;
  • FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic control assembly fo'r the upper bogie of the car;
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 are two different shunting track arrangements
  • FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the connection zone between the shunting track and travel track
  • FIG. 8 is a further arrangement of the shunting track
  • FIGS. 9 and 10 show a particular switching device.
  • both the travel and halt tracks comprise a pair of base rails 1 and 2 shaped substantially in the form of an L; in practice, according to one characteristic of the present invention and taking into consideration the use of cars with pneumatic-tired wheels, the base rails must comprise an upper horizontal surface A for supporting the driving wheels, and a vertical surface B against which the guiding wheels rest.
  • the most simple structure for the rails 1 and 2 is hence an L-section, but it is obvious that other sections may be used, for example C or H or the like, according to the structural requirements of the line.
  • the track further comprises a pair of guide rails 3 and 4 disposed above the rails l and 2 and at a level higher than the centre of gravity of the cars.
  • the rails 3 and 4 must also be of L-section or the like, for the purpose described hereinafter.
  • the rails l and 3, as well as the rails 2 and 4 may be joined one to the other by stiffening trellises 5, or be rendered mutually integral by any other suitable means.
  • the short section of track shown, in FIG. 1 is mounted on columns 6, the tops of which are shaped as a fork.
  • the track may also befixed directly to the ground with modifications within the capability of any expert of the art.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 An example of a car which may be used in the present invention is shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 2 and 3. It comprises a body with a limited number of seats 7 for example eight seats arranged in pairs and a motor compartment 8 to the rear. The seats however may be of any number, starting from a single seat.
  • the car is mounted on four main wheels 9 and 10, of which at least the rear wheels 10 are driven by an electric motor M.
  • the car further comprises a set of lateral wheels, mounted on vertical pivots, which guide and retain the car laterally along thetrack, and particularly around bends. These comprise wheels 11 and 12, close to the base and arranged to rest against the sides of the rails l and 2, and wheels 13 and 14, preferably close to the top of the car and arranged to rest against the side of the guide rails 3 and 4.
  • the main purpose of the upper wheels 13 and 14 is to retain the car around bends. As they rest in a position at a level above the centre of gravity of the car, their operation is perfectly safe.
  • the car is also provided with four support wheels 15 and 16 mounted on horizontal pivots and arranged close to the top of the car. These are apt to rest on the upper surface of the rails 3 and 4, under the con ditions which will be described hereinafter by way of example.
  • the wheels 15, 16 are mounted on pivots 15a, 16a respectively, which form part of a hydraulic jack assembly better shown in FIG. 4.
  • This assembly consists of a pair of coaxial opposing cylinders l7, 18, joined together at the centre of the car by way of a chamber 19 of fluid under pressure.
  • I8 is provided a guide rod 210 along which pistons 21 and 22 slide by virtue of the pressure of the fluid contained in the chamber 19 and in the cylinders l7, 18.
  • These pistons 21, 22, in turn carry the pivots 15a and 16a (not shown in FIG. 4) of the wheels 15 and 16.
  • the travel track has a structure which is substantially identical to the halt track.
  • Shunting tracks are provided for passage from one track to the other. These shunting tracks consist essentially of sections 3 and 4 of the only guide rails 3 and 4, and the switching zone better shown in FIG. 7 has no moving parts, but is simply the very section of rail 4 (or 3) which connects smoothly and stably to the rail 4.
  • the lateral wall of the rail 2 is connected in a continuous way to the lateral' wall of the rail 4, through the plate 2a, so as to allow the wheels 11-12 to follow a continuous path up to the point S, without having to go through a trellis zone; starting from the point S also the wheels 1112 move away from the travel track.
  • the shunting track 34 has a length-which is just sufficient to enable the car travelling along it to be raised and separated completely from the travel track C and to reach the halt track F.
  • This latter may be disposed above the travel track and suitably spaced from it, as shown in FIG. 5, or it may be on the same level, but deviated angularly from the travel track, as shown in FIG. 6. In this latter case the shunting track must follow an initial upward path in order to raise the car from the travel track, and then a downward path to bring the car towards the halt track.
  • the structure of the halt track comprises pairs of guide rails 12 and 3-4, similarly to the travel track, for at least the first part of its length, i.e., in practice, from the initial position where it joins the shunting track to its entry into the station.
  • the speed of the cars is so low that the safety provided by the upper rails 3 and 4 is no longer necessary.
  • the track consists preferably of only thelower rails 1 and 2.
  • switching devices must be provided for mutually connecting these tracks.
  • the switching device is constructed in the manner shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.
  • the vertical flange B of the rail 1 has a continuous straight shape and connects the track BR to the track BS.
  • the vertical flange B of the rail 2 however has a continuous curved shape and connectes the track BR to the track HQ.
  • the rail 1 of the track B0 and the rail 2 of the track BS' are finally joined with a sharp corner at V.
  • the switching zone also comprises two horizontal rolling surfaces 20 and 21 respectively, which form an extension of the horizontal flange of the rails 1 and 2, on the curved section Y. V and the straight section XV respectively. Together with these rolling surfaces 20 and 21 are also provided two lateral guides 22 and 23 respectively, which form 'an' extension of the vertical flanges of the rails 1 and 2, along the same sections YV- and X'V respectively.
  • the rolling surfaces 20 and 21 are fixed, whereas the vertical lateral guides 22 and 23 may be moved vertically by the jack system shown diagrammatically in FIG.' 10. As shown, each lateral guide can move betweena first extracted working posi tion, shown by full lines in FIG.
  • first rolling means for the advancement of the car along the travel and halt tracks, said first rolling means being comprised of a first set of driven wheels rotatable about horizontal axes to support and advance the car; and laterally projectable second rolling means for advancing the car along the shunting track to transfer the car between the travel track and-the halt track, said second rolling means being comprised ofa second set of wheels including a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels each rotatable about a horizontal axis and laterally movable between a retracted, rest position not projecting substantially beyond the lateral profile of the car and an ex tended, working position in engagement with the shunting track.
  • a city and or district transport line particularly for passengers comprising:
  • At least one shunting track connecting the halt track to the travel track
  • power driven rolling means carried by the car at a first vertical level thereof, for moving the car along the travel and halt tracks and for controlling the rate of movement of the car therealong;
  • second rolling means carried by the car at a second vertical level thereof for engaging the shunting track to advance the car therealong and transfer the car from the travel track to the halt track of the intermediate station, the second rolling means being movable from a retracted, rest position out of engagement with the shunting track to an extended, working position in engagement with the shunting track;
  • said travel track and halt track each comprising a pair of main rails, each rail having an L-shaped sec tion, the horizontal flange thereof projecting from a lower portion of the vertical flange thereof toward the inside of the track to engage the first rolling means and support the car, and the vertical flange of the L-section serving to guide the car.
  • a transport line as defined in claim 2 wherein the travel track further comprises:
  • each secondary rail having at least a vertical guiding flange, aligned in the same plane as the vertical flange of one of said main rails, and a horizontal support flange projecting from said vertical flange toward the outside of the track.
  • said pair of secondary rails is positioned at a level higher than the level of the centre of gravity of a car traveling along the line.
  • each shunting track comprises:
  • said halt track is comprised. of at least one switch for switching a car from the halt track to one of at least two like service tracks, said switch including substantially continuous, fixed, horizontal support and rolling flanges, and at least two vertical, alternately operable guiding flanges, said support and rolling flanges forming a continuous connection between the horizontal flanges of the main rails of the halt and service tracks, and said two vertical flanges forming continuous connections alternately with one or the other of the connected service tracks.
  • said vertical guiding flanges are movable vertically between an extracted working position wherein a connection is formed between the vertical flanges of the main rails, and a retracted, rest position, beneath the horizontal plane of the support and rolling flanges.
  • a city and/or district transport line particularly for passengers comprising:
  • At least one shunting track connecting the halt track to the travel track
  • first rolling means carried by the car at a first vertical level thereof, for moving the car along the travel and halt tracks and for controlling the rate of movement of the car therealong, said first rolling means comprising:
  • first set of wheels rotatable on horizontal axes, said first set of wheels supporting the car on the travel and halt tracks and having driving means for advancing the car therealong, and
  • second rolling means carried by the car at a second vertical level thereof for engaging the shunting track to advance the car therealong and transfer the car from the travel track to the halt track of the intermediate station, the second rolling means being movable from a retracted, rest position out of engagement with the shunting track to an extended, working position in engagement with the shunting track; said second rolling means comprising a third set of wheels rotatable about horizontal axes, said third set of wheels being engageable with a shunting track to advance the car between the travel and halt tracks.
  • each car further comprises:
  • a fourth set of wheels rotatable about vertical axes, said fourth set of Wheels forming guiding means for guiding the car along the travel, halt, and shunting tracks.
  • At least one shunting track connecting the halt track to the travel track
  • At least one self-propelled car movable along the travel track and the halt track;
  • controllable motor means on said car for driving the wheels of said first set to move the car along the travel and halt tracks and to control the rate of movement of the car therealong;
  • a second set of wheels carried by the car at a second vertical level thereof for engaging the shunting track to rollingly support the car thereon and transfer the car from the travel track to the halt track of the intermediate station, the last mentioned wheels being movable from a retracted, rest position out of engagement with the shunting track to an extended, working position in engagement with the shunting track.
  • said shunting track slopes in a generally downward manner from connection with said travel track to connection with said halt track.
  • a transport line as defined in claim 10 further comprising:
  • a continuous travel track running without interruption between two terminal stations of the line; at least one halt track associated with an intermediate station of the line; at least one section of shunting track connecting each halt track to the travel track; at least one car movable along the travel, halt, and
  • first rolling means for the advancement of the car along the travel and halt tracks, said first rolling means being comprised of a first set of driven wheels rotatable about horizontal axes to support and advance the car, and a second set of wheels rotatable about vertical axes to guide the car, and second rolling means for advancing the car along the shunting track to transfer the car between the travel track and the halt track, said second rolling means being comprised of a third set of wheels including a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels each rotatable about a horizontal axis and movable between a retracted, rest position not projecting beyond the lateral profile of the car and an extended, working position in engagement with the shunting track. 14.
  • the wheels of said third set idle about their respective axes, each car advancing by inertia along said shunting track.
  • each shunting track is arranged in a slightly descending path, the section of travel track lying beneath said shunting track being in turn arranged in a descending path of greater slope.
  • the wheels of said third set of wheels are driven through a transmission system operably associated with the first rolling means.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Platform Screen Doors And Railroad Systems (AREA)
  • Escalators And Moving Walkways (AREA)
  • Types And Forms Of Lifts (AREA)
US334608A 1972-02-23 1973-02-22 City and/or district transport line Expired - Lifetime US3906863A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT20918/72A IT954893B (it) 1972-02-23 1972-02-23 Linea di trasporto urbana e o inte rurbana a struttura perfezionata

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3906863A true US3906863A (en) 1975-09-23

Family

ID=11174052

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US334608A Expired - Lifetime US3906863A (en) 1972-02-23 1973-02-22 City and/or district transport line

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3906863A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2309088A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2173266B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1417605A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IT (1) IT954893B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4030422A (en) * 1975-12-08 1977-06-21 Pasquan Raymond F Switching system for guided vehicles
WO1986007317A1 (en) * 1985-06-07 1986-12-18 Regents Of The University Of Minnesota Guideway construction and method of installation
US4665829A (en) * 1983-02-04 1987-05-19 Regents Of The University Of Minnesota Guideway construction and method of installation
US20240208726A1 (en) * 2013-08-09 2024-06-27 Ocado Innovation Limited Apparatus for retrieving units from a storage system

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU547033B2 (en) * 1983-02-03 1985-10-03 Genie Home Products Inc. Door operator
RU2394958C2 (ru) * 2008-07-03 2010-07-20 Александр Владиславович Абрамовский Транспортная система

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3590743A (en) * 1969-03-26 1971-07-06 Roy J Larson Mass transit system
US3595173A (en) * 1968-06-28 1971-07-27 Aerotrain Track shunting system for movable parts following a guiding track
US3626857A (en) * 1968-08-30 1971-12-14 Trenes Verte Brados Sa Articulated train

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2132795A1 (de) * 1971-07-01 1973-01-18 Strobel Christian Schienenbahn-system, mit spezialfahrwerken auf starren weichen

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3595173A (en) * 1968-06-28 1971-07-27 Aerotrain Track shunting system for movable parts following a guiding track
US3626857A (en) * 1968-08-30 1971-12-14 Trenes Verte Brados Sa Articulated train
US3590743A (en) * 1969-03-26 1971-07-06 Roy J Larson Mass transit system

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4030422A (en) * 1975-12-08 1977-06-21 Pasquan Raymond F Switching system for guided vehicles
US4665830A (en) * 1983-02-04 1987-05-19 Regents Of The University Of Minnesota Guide construction and method of installation
US4665829A (en) * 1983-02-04 1987-05-19 Regents Of The University Of Minnesota Guideway construction and method of installation
WO1986007317A1 (en) * 1985-06-07 1986-12-18 Regents Of The University Of Minnesota Guideway construction and method of installation
JP2536857B2 (ja) 1985-06-07 1996-09-25 リ−ジエンツ オブ ザ ユニバ−シテイ オブ ミネソタ 案内路構造及び設置方法
US20240208726A1 (en) * 2013-08-09 2024-06-27 Ocado Innovation Limited Apparatus for retrieving units from a storage system
US12172832B2 (en) * 2013-08-09 2024-12-24 Ocado Innovation Limited Apparatus for retrieving units from a storage system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1417605A (en) 1975-12-10
FR2173266B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1977-04-22
IT954893B (it) 1973-09-15
FR2173266A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-10-05
DE2309088A1 (de) 1973-08-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
AU583356B2 (en) A traversing elevator
GB1393669A (en) Transport systems
US3918367A (en) Transport system
US3906863A (en) City and/or district transport line
US3780666A (en) Transportation
GB1487818A (en) Overhead transportation system
US1352969A (en) Carrier
WO2008126102A1 (en) A track switching system for an elevated suspended coach transportation system
US3927619A (en) Double tiered conveyor track and safety switch
WO2008126101A1 (en) A track switching system for an elevated suspended coach transportation system
US4152992A (en) Track switching arrangement
CN210000320U (zh) 自动拨轨装置及钢轨运输车组
US1124268A (en) System for transferring freight and baggage.
EP0284316A2 (en) Track transportation systems
US2977892A (en) Transportation systems
US3626859A (en) Idle car storage and dispensing system
US3530802A (en) Propulsion system for vehicles
US1541589A (en) Monorail system
CN111304970A (zh) 一种双轨胶轮车辆轨道交通升降型平交道岔
CN223226415U (zh) 四通接轨装置
RU2797604C1 (ru) Подвесная монорельсовая транспортная система
US3315612A (en) Transportation system
CN213504498U (zh) 一种应用于有轨小车的扳道装置
US1807597A (en) Traveling tuentable equipment eor garages
US3817184A (en) Transportation system