U.S. patent application number 10/842735 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-20 for automated people mover (apm) monorail system.
Invention is credited to Skoblenick, Harry R., Timan, Peter E..
Application Number | 20050011399 10/842735 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34061898 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050011399 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Skoblenick, Harry R. ; et
al. |
January 20, 2005 |
Automated people mover (APM) monorail system
Abstract
A bogie assembly for supporting and guiding a vehicle car body
on a monorail track, the monorail track having a guideway portion
and a narrower guideway beam extending upwardly from the guideway
portion. The guideway portion includes a pair of rails, while the
guideway beam defines a top surface and a pair of side surfaces.
The bogie assembly includes a frame operative to support the
vehicle car body above the guideway beam, where this frame includes
an upper surface adapted to be pivotably mounted to the underside
of the vehicle car body and a pair of side members extending
downwardly from the upper surface. Each side member of the frame
has an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of
each side member adapted to be positioned adjacent a respective one
of the side surfaces of the guideway beam. The bogie assembly also
includes a pair of load wheels, each load wheel being mounted to a
respective one of the side members of the frame and being operative
to engage a respective one of the rails of the guideway portion.
Each load wheel is characterized by a flange portion capable to
engage the respective rail for assisting in the guidance of the
vehicle car body as it travels along the monorail track.
Inventors: |
Skoblenick, Harry R.;
(Kingston, CA) ; Timan, Peter E.; (Sydenham,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FETHERSTONHAUGH - SMART & BIGGAR
1000 DE LA GAUCHETIERE WEST
SUITE 3300
MONTREAL
QC
H3B 4W5
CA
|
Family ID: |
34061898 |
Appl. No.: |
10/842735 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60469420 |
May 12, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
105/144 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01B 25/10 20130101;
B61B 13/12 20130101; B61B 13/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
105/144 |
International
Class: |
B61C 013/00 |
Claims
1. A bogie assembly for supporting and guiding a vehicle car body
on a monorail track, the monorail track having a guideway portion
and a narrower guideway beam extending upwardly from the guideway
portion, the guideway portion including a pair of rails, the
guideway beam defining a top surface and a pair of side surfaces,
said bogie assembly comprising: a frame operative to support the
vehicle car body above the guideway beam, said frame including: a)
an upper surface adapted to be pivotably mounted to the underside
of the vehicle car body; b) a pair of side members extending
downwardly from said upper surface, each side member having an
inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of each side
member adapted to be positioned adjacent a respective one of the
side surfaces of the guideway beam; a pair of load wheels, each
load wheel being mounted to a respective one of said side members
of said frame and being operative to engage a respective one of the
pair of rails of the monorail track, each load wheel having a
flange portion capable to engage the respective rail for assisting
in the guidance of the vehicle car body along the monorail
track.
2. A bogie assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said bogie
assembly further comprises a Linear Induction Motor propulsion
system for driving the vehicle car body.
3. A bogie assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising a
pair of guide wheels, each guide wheel adapted to be mounted to the
inner surface of a respective one of said side members of said
frame for engaging the respective side surface of the guideway
beam, when the vehicle car body is in motion said guide wheels
guiding the motion of the vehicle car body along the monorail
track.
4. A bogie assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said load wheels
are made of steel.
5. A bogie assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said flange
portion of each load wheel is operative to guide the motion of the
vehicle car body as the vehicle car body travels through a guideway
switch of the monorail track.
6. A bogie assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame
extends along at least a portion of the length of the vehicle car
body.
7. A vehicle for travelling on a monorail track, the monorail track
having a guideway portion and a narrower guideway beam extending
upwardly from the guideway portion, the guideway portion including
a pair of rails, the guideway beam defining a top surface and a
pair of side surfaces, said vehicle having at least one pair of
load wheels, each load wheel being operative to engage a respective
one of the pair of rails of the monorail track, each load wheel
being characterized by a flange portion capable to engage the
respective rail for assisting in the guidance of the vehicle along
the monorail track
8. A vehicle as defined in claim 7, said vehicle further
comprising: a bogie assembly having a frame for supporting the
vehicle car body above the guideway beam, said frame including: a)
an upper surface adapted to be pivotably mounted to the underside
of the vehicle car body; b) a pair of side members extending
downwardly from said upper surface, each side member having an
inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of each side
member adapted to be positioned adjacent a respective one of the
side surfaces of the guideway beam.
9. A vehicle as defined in claim 8, wherein each said load wheel is
mounted to a respective one of said side members of said frame.
10. A vehicle as defined in claim 9, wherein said vehicle further
includes a Linear Induction Motor propulsion system for driving the
vehicle.
11. A vehicle as defined in claim 10, wherein said Linear Induction
Motor is mounted on said bogie.
12. A vehicle as defined in claim 10, wherein said Linear Induction
Motor is mounted to the underside of the vehicle car body.
13. A vehicle as defined in claim 9, further comprising a pair of
guide wheels, each guide wheel adapted to be mounted to the inner
surface of a respective one of said side members of said frame for
engaging the respective side surface of the guideway beam, when the
vehicle is in motion said guide wheels guiding the motion of the
vehicle along the monorail track.
14. A vehicle as defined in claim 9, wherein said load wheels are
made of steel.
15. A vehicle as defined in claim 8, wherein said flange portion of
each load wheel is operative to guide the motion of said vehicle as
said vehicle travels through a guideway switch of the monorail
track.
16. A vehicle as defined in claim 8, wherein said frame extends
along at least a portion of the length of the vehicle car body.
17. A transportation system comprising: a monorail track having a
guideway portion and a narrower guideway beam extending upwardly
from the guideway portion, the guideway beam defining a top surface
and a pair of side surfaces; a pair of rails mounted on the
guideway portion; at least one vehicle adapted to travel on said
monorail track, said vehicle including: a) a car body; b) a pair of
load wheels, each load wheel being operative to engage a respective
one of said pair of rails, each load wheel being characterized by a
flange portion capable to engage said respective rail for assisting
in the guidance of said vehicle along said monorail track.
18. A transportation system as defined in claim 17, said vehicle
further comprising: a bogie assembly having a frame for supporting
said car body above the guideway beam, said frame including: (1) an
upper surface adapted to be pivotably mounted to the underside of
said car body; (2) a pair of side members extending downwardly from
said upper surface, each side member having an inner surface and an
outer surface, said inner surface of each side member adapted to be
positioned adjacent a respective one of the side surfaces of the
guideway beam.
19. A transportation system as defined in claim 18, wherein each
said load wheel is mounted to a respective one of said side members
of said frame.
20. A transportation system as defined in claim 19, wherein said
vehicle further includes a Linear Induction Motor propulsion system
for driving said vehicle.
21. A transportation system as defined in claim 20, wherein said
Linear Induction Motor is mounted on said bogie.
22. A transportation system as defined in claim 20, wherein said
Linear Induction Motor is mounted to the underside of the vehicle
car body.
23. A transportation system as defined in claim 19, further
comprising a pair of guide wheels, each guide wheel adapted to be
mounted to the inner surface of a respective one of said side
members of said frame for engaging the respective side surface of
the guideway beam, when the vehicle is in motion said guide wheels
guiding the motion of the vehicle along the monorail track.
24. A transportation system as defined in claim 19, wherein said
load wheels are made of steel.
25. A transportation system as defined in claim 18, wherein said
monorail track includes at least one guideway switch, said flange
portion of each load wheel being operative to engage said
respective rail for guiding the motion of said vehicle as said
vehicle travels through said guideway switch of said monorail
track.
26. A transportation system as defined in claim 18, wherein said
frame extends along at least a portion of the length of the vehicle
car body.
27. A transportation system as defined in claim 25, wherein said
narrower guideway beam is interrupted throughout said guideway
switch.
28. A transportation system as defined in claim 27, wherein said
guideway switch is a standard AREA track switch.
29. A transportation system as defined in claim 17, wherein said
pair of rails is a pair of standard track rails.
30. A transportation system as defined in claim 29, wherein said
pair of rails includes a gauge, said gauge being a standard 1453 mm
gauge.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/469,420, filed on May 12, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional Automated People Mover (APM), People Mover and
monorail system designs are known to have several drawbacks.
Firstly, these conventional designs typically require rubber tires
for the suspension, guidance and propulsion sub-systems, which
creates restrictions in both high-speed and extreme-temperature
applications where excessive tire rotational speeds and dynamic
vibrations would normally cause high tire wear and premature
suspension failure. Furthermore, the use of rubber tires creates
the need for guideway heating in cold weather (i.e. snow and ice
conditions), such that the conventional designs are often neither
suitable nor economical for all weather operations.
[0003] The conventional APM and monorail systems are typically
supported and guided by a guideway beam surface and, due to vehicle
weight and limited tire load ratings, often have restrictions for
passenger capacity and high speed applications. In addition, the
fact that mid-support/propulsion tires occupy the inner vehicle
floor space of most monorail vehicles results in limited passenger
space and prevents passenger movement (walk-through) between
coupled cars, which is necessary for emergency evacuation. In the
past, economical designs of monorail vehicles have not been classed
as APMs, since the cars have great difficulty in meeting certain
structural and operational safety-regulated specifications.
[0004] Several different designs of monorail vehicles have been
introduced in the market in the past few years; however, all of
these prior art designs are restricted in passenger carrying
capacity, safety limitations, operating speeds and all-weather
operating capabilities. Furthermore, inter-car walk-through
capabilities are typically neither present nor possible in the
existing designs. Those monorail designs that have the walk-through
capability require the floor of the vehicle to be located above the
tires. This creates a vehicle which sits higher above the beam,
decreasing stability to lateral loads and preventing the
achievement of the typical, attractive low-profile look of most
monorails, which is quite important to many monorail
purchasers.
[0005] A further drawback of the conventional APM and monorail
vehicles is their inherent requirement to use switches that move
the complete beam. This type of switch is necessary because it is
the beam that guides and, in some instances, even carries the load
of the vehicle. Obviously, these switches are not standard and are
more expensive and slower to operate than standard switches used
for conventional rail vehicles.
[0006] Thus, due to current propulsion and technology arrangements,
existing APM and monorail system designs are neither economical nor
suitable for high-speed, all-weather operations where improved ride
and noise comfort at reduced supply and operating costs are
necessary requirements.
[0007] In light of the foregoing, a need clearly exists in the
industry for an improved APM monorail system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In a first broad aspect, the present invention provides a
bogie assembly for supporting and guiding a vehicle car body on a
monorail track, the monorail track having a guideway portion and a
narrower guideway beam extending upwardly from the guideway
portion. The guideway portion includes a pair of rails, while the
guideway beam defines a top surface and a pair of side surfaces.
The bogie assembly includes a frame operative to support the
vehicle car body above the guideway beam, where this frame includes
an upper surface adapted to be pivotably mounted to the underside
of the vehicle car body and a pair of side members extending
downwardly from the upper surface. Each side member of the frame
has an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of
each side member adapted to be positioned adjacent a respective one
of the side surfaces of the guideway beam. The bogie assembly also
includes a pair of load wheels, each load wheel being mounted to a
respective one of the side members of the frame and being operative
to engage a respective one of the rails of the guideway portion.
Each load wheel is characterized by a flange portion capable to
engage the respective rail for assisting in the guidance of the
vehicle car body as it travels along the monorail track.
[0009] Advantageously, the use of flanged load wheels allows the
monorail vehicle to switch between different monorail tracks using
conventional switches and trackwork elements.
[0010] In a second broad aspect, the invention provides a vehicle
for travelling on a monorail track, the monorail track having a
guideway portion and a narrower guideway beam extending upwardly
from the guideway portion. The guideway portion includes a pair of
rails, while the guideway beam defines a top surface and a pair of
side surfaces. The vehicle has at least one pair of load wheels,
each load wheel being operative to engage a respective one of the
rails of the guideway portion. Each load wheel is characterized by
a flange portion capable to engage the respective rail for
assisting in the guidance of the vehicle car body along the
monorail track.
[0011] In a third broad aspect, the invention provides a
transportation system including a monorail track and at least one
vehicle adapted to travel on the monorail track. The monorail track
includes a guideway portion and a narrower guideway beam extending
upwardly from the guideway portion, the guideway beam defining a
top surface and a pair of side surfaces. The monorail track also
includes a pair of rails mounted on the guideway portion. The
vehicle includes a car body and a pair of load wheels, each load
wheel being operative to engage a respective one of the rails of
the monorail track. Each load wheel is characterized by a flange
portion capable to engage the respective rail for assisting in the
guidance of the vehicle car body along the monorail track.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] A detailed description of examples of implementation of the
present invention is provided hereinbelow with reference to the
following drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of an ATM monorail system, in
accordance with an example of implementation of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a front planar view of the monorail track shown in
FIG. 1, in accordance with an example of implementation of the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a front planar view of the suspension/guidance
sub-system of a car of the monorail vehicle shown in FIG. 1, in
accordance with an example of implementation of the present
invention; and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a top view of a monorail track switch, in
accordance with an example of implementation of the present
invention.
[0017] In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are
illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood
that the description and drawings are only for the purposes of
illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are not intended
to be a definition of the limits of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The Automated People Mover (APM) monorail system shown in
FIG. 1 is an integrated system approach to the vehicle/guideway
beam arrangement, in accordance with a non-limiting example of
implementation of the present invention.
[0019] The APM monorail vehicle 100 includes various operational
sub-systems (not shown), such as the propulsion sub-system, the
braking sub-system and the power sub-system, among many others.
These sub-systems all work together to drive and control the motion
of the vehicle 100 along the monorail track 110. Since the
functionality and various possible implementations of these
sub-systems are well known to those skilled in the art, and are not
critical to the present invention, they will not be described in
further detail.
[0020] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the APM monorail vehicle 100
is composed of three inter-connected cars 120, each of which is
provided with a suspension sub-system, as will be described in
further detail below. Note that the APM monorail vehicle 100 may
have more or less than three cars 110 without departing from the
scope of the present invention.
[0021] Although in FIG. 1, the monorail track 110 along which the
APM monorail vehicle 100 travels is elevated with respect to ground
level, it should be clear that different sites and installation
setups for the monorail track 110 are possible without departing
from the scope of the present invention. For example, the monorail
track 110 may be installed at ground level, similar to a train
track installation.
[0022] With reference to FIG. 2, the monorail track 110 includes a
guideway portion 200 and a narrower guideway beam 210 extending
upwardly from the guideway portion 200. The guideway beam 210
defines a top surface 212 and a pair of side surfaces 214, 216. The
guideway beam 210 is used by the vehicle guidance sub-system to aid
in preventing derailment, to improve steering capabilities within
curved track sections and to provide protection to the train from
leaving the guideway portion 200 in the event of a track
failure.
[0023] A pair of rails 218 are mounted on the guideway portion 200
of the monorail track 110. In a specific example, each of rails 218
is a conventional AREA (American Railway Engineering Association)
steel rail. However, various different types of rails 218 may be
used without departing from the scope of the present invention. The
trackwork system and fasteners are supported and fixed by
structural extensions, such as concrete re-enforced cord belts,
extending near the bottom surfaces of the guideway beam 210.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a front planar view of the suspension/guidance
sub-system of each car 120 of the monorail vehicle 100 shown in
FIG. 1, with the car body 300 itself being shown in dotted line, in
accordance with an example of implementation of the present
invention. The suspension/guidance sub-system includes a pivoting
bogie assembly 310, for supporting and guiding the vehicle car body
300 on the monorail track 110. The bogie assembly 310 is positioned
over the top surface 212 of the guideway beam 210, and includes a
frame 312 characterized by an inverted-U shape. Each side member
314, 316 of the frame 312 is positioned adjacent to a respective
side surface 214, 216 of the guideway beam 210, such that the frame
312 follows the outer perimeter of the guideway beam 210. The
pivoting bogie assembly 310 may be adapted for use with any
standard or non-standard track gauge (i.e. distance between rails
218), including for example a conventional track gauge of 1435
mm.
[0025] In a specific, non-limiting example, the APM monorail
vehicle 100 incorporates a low-profile Linear Induction Motor (LIM)
propulsion sub-system, instead of a conventional propulsion system
using electric motors driving rubber tires, the latter being
restricted by tire friction and environmental/surface conditions.
Accordingly, a LIM propulsion unit is installed at each end of the
vehicle 100 (not shown in FIG. 1). Assuming that the car 120 shown
in FIG. 3 is a cab of the vehicle 100, the bogie assembly 310 is
adapted to support a LIM propulsion unit 318 under its top surface.
Alternatively, the LIM propulsion unit 318 may be installed under
the car body 300. Note that, in this example of implementation, a
LIM rail 220 is mounted to the upper surface 212 of the guideway
beam 210 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). When driving the APM monorail
vehicle 100, the LIM propulsion units 318 travel along the LIM rail
220. Since LIM propulsion sub-systems have been well documented and
are well known to those skilled in the art, the structure and
operation of the LIM propulsion sub-system will not be described in
further detail.
[0026] With reference to FIG. 3, a pair of flanged wheels 320 (also
referred to as load wheels) are mounted to the outer surface 322 of
the bogie frame 312 at each end of the car 120, one wheel 320 per
side of the frame 312. In a variant, two or more load wheels 320
may be provided on each side of the frame 312, at each end of the
car 120. In a specific example, the wheels 320 are stub-axle steel
wheels. Each wheel 320 is characterized by a flange 328 that is
operative to assist with guidance of the vehicle 100 as it travels
along the monorail track 100, as will be discussed in further
detail below.
[0027] The wheels 320 engage and run along rails 218, for providing
at least in part the suspension interface between the car body 300
and the guideway beam 210. Thus, the wheels 320 in combination with
the rails 218 provide a suspension sub-system that is able to
support a greater load, being more load resistant. Furthermore, in
the case of steel wheels 320 on steel AREA rails 218, the
suspension sub-system is quieter in motion than the conventional
rubber wheels on concrete.
[0028] A pair of guide wheels 324 are mounted to the inner surface
326 of the bogie frame 312 at each end of the car 120, one guide
wheel 324 per side of the frame 312. Each guide wheel 324 runs
along a respective side surface 214, 216 of the guideway beam 210,
for stabilizing the car body 300. In a variant, two or more guide
wheels 324 may be provided on each side of the frame 312, at each
end of the car 120.
[0029] Advantageously, the use of bogie assemblies 310 for
supporting the car bodies 300 on the guideway beam 210 and for
interfacing between the car bodies 300 and the wheels 320 provides
a double suspension system. More specifically, a primary suspension
is provided between each bogie frame 312 and the respective wheels
320, while a secondary suspension is provided between each bogie
frame 312 and the respective car body 300 supported on the bogie
frame 312. According, fewer vibrations are transmitted to the car
body 300 than in existing designs, making for a smoother and
quieter ride for passengers. Furthermore, the APM monorail system
described herein is suitable for all-weather operation and meets
the requirements of existing APM design and safety regulated
specifications.
[0030] As seen in FIG. 3, the contact area between each wheel 320
and the respective rail 218 is just below the lower skirt envelope
of the car body 300, permitting conventional track switches and
elements to be installed as part of the trackwork system. The
relocation of all of the suspension wheels below the top surface
212 of the guideway beam 210 also permits a clear interior car
envelope, for increased passenger floor space and a walk-through
connection between married cars.
[0031] Advantageously, the flanges 328 of the steel wheels 320
allow the vehicle 100 to switch between monorail tracks 110 using
conventional switch elements. More specifically, and with reference
to FIG. 4, at a switch 400 the guideway beams 210 are interrupted
(i.e. discontinued) between different track 110 ends. However, the
steel rails 218 continue throughout the switch 400, the engagement
between the flanges 328 of the steel wheels 26 and the rails 218
being sufficient to guide the vehicle 100 through the switch 400.
Once through the switch 400, the guide wheels 324 located on the
inner surfaces 326 of the bogies 310 re-engage the guideway beam
210 of the new monorail track 110, and the vehicle 100 continues
its travel, supported on the new guideway beam 210 by the bogies
310.
[0032] Note that, in between switches 400, the guide wheels 324 are
used to center the ATM monorail vehicle 100 on the monorail track
110. As a result, the flanges 328 of the wheels 320 do not come
into contact with the rails 218, thereby decreasing the noise level
and helping in high-speed stability. The wheel flanges 328 only
provide guidance to the vehicle 100 when the vehicle 100 is
travelling through a switch 400.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment, both the flanged guide wheels 320
and the rails 218 are made of steel, forming a dual steel rail
interface just below the lower skirt edge of the car body 300. By
integrating this dual steel rail interface with a 1435 mm standard
track gauge, conventional and existing AREA switch and trackwork
elements can be used as part of the monorail track 110
installation. Furthermore, the design and location of such a steel
wheel interface permits ATM monorail vehicles to be manufactured,
tested, and maintained on existing AREA compliant transit trackwork
facilities and associated track infrastructures, presently in use
with conventional rail transit manufacturing companies.
[0034] Typically, the front and rear cars 130 of the ATM monorail
vehicle 100 are configured to guide and tunnel compressed moving
air along the guideway beam 210, in order to assist in cooling
undercar propulsion equipment and to increase the operating
efficiency thereof. In a variant example of implementation of the
present invention, the suspension/guidance sub-system of the ATM
monorail vehicle 100 may incorporate acoustic damping extension
skirts (not shown) mounted adjacent to the wheels 320. Such
acoustic damping extension skirts serve to reduce wheel/rail noise
emissions generated at the interface between the wheels 320 and the
rails 218, and also to assist in containing the tunnel air
effect.
[0035] Although various embodiments have been illustrated herein
above, this was for the purpose of describing, but not limiting,
the present invention. Various modifications will become apparent
to those skilled in the art and are within the scope of this
invention, which is defined more particularly by the attached
claims.
* * * * *