U.S. patent application number 16/095059 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-04 for a path following arrangement having a catenary structure and a method for operating such an arrangement.
The applicant listed for this patent is TAIT TOWERS MANUFACTURING, LLC. Invention is credited to Alec CIEMIEWICZ, Adam DAVIS, Leonard Ryan HEWLETT, Benjamin WHITE, Adam YEAGER.
Application Number | 20190100220 16/095059 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58633115 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-04 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190100220 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CIEMIEWICZ; Alec ; et
al. |
April 4, 2019 |
A PATH FOLLOWING ARRANGEMENT HAVING A CATENARY STRUCTURE AND A
METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT
Abstract
There is provided to a path following arrangement having a
catenary structure and a method for operating such an arrangement.
The path following arrangement permits a ride participant or a
passenger to traverse tracts of land having a relatively wide range
of scenic variety in that the path of travel can include linear
portions and non-linear (change of direction) portions.
Inventors: |
CIEMIEWICZ; Alec; (Sinking
Spring, PA) ; DAVIS; Adam; (Leola, PA) ;
HEWLETT; Leonard Ryan; (Lancaster, PA) ; WHITE;
Benjamin; (Lititz, PA) ; YEAGER; Adam;
(Lancaster, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TAIT TOWERS MANUFACTURING, LLC |
Lititz |
PA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
58633115 |
Appl. No.: |
16/095059 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
April 12, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2017/027226 |
371 Date: |
October 19, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62325150 |
Apr 20, 2016 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61B 12/026 20130101;
B61B 7/06 20130101; A63G 21/22 20130101; B61B 7/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B61B 12/02 20060101
B61B012/02; B61B 7/00 20060101 B61B007/00; A63G 21/22 20060101
A63G021/22 |
Claims
1. A path following arrangement comprising: a first carriage; and a
catenary structure having a travel path assembly delimiting a
course along which the first carriage can travel while supported at
a spacing from a reference surface and the travel path assembly
including a first change of direction run having an entry and an
exit, the first carriage having an engagement element operable to
engage the travel path assembly in a manner that permits the first
carriage to move relatively along the travel path assembly while
being guided thereby and the first carriage being movable
relatively along the travel path assembly in a travel direction
such that the first carriage initially enters the first change of
direction run via the entry thereof and thereafter exits the first
change of direction run via the exit thereof during each passage of
the first carriage along the first change of direction run, and the
catenary structure including an upstream anchor location, a
downstream anchor location, and an intermediate tie-in element, the
upstream anchor location engaging a portion of the travel path
assembly and the upstream anchor location and the intermediate
tie-in element cooperating with one another to maintain the travel
path assembly in a supported disposition such that the first
carriage can travel along the course upstream of the first change
of direction run, relative to the travel direction, while supported
at a spacing from the reference surface and the downstream anchor
location engaging a portion of the travel path assembly and the
intermediate tie-in element and the downstream anchor location
cooperating with one another to maintain the travel path assembly
in a supported disposition such that the first carriage can
continue to travel along the course while supported at a spacing
from the reference surface after the first carriage has exited the
first change of direction run, the entry and the exit of the first
change of direction run delimiting an arc of a reference circle,
the arc having a tangent, the travel path assembly and the
intermediate tie-in element being operatively interconnected such
that the first change of direction run of the travel path assembly
can be restorably displaced, in a displacement direction
perpendicular to the tangent of the arc delimited by first change
of direction run of the travel path assembly, from a home
disposition to a temporary displacement disposition in response to
the application of a force on the travel path assembly during the
travel of the first carriage along the first change of direction
run and can be restored to its home disposition from its temporary
displacement disposition.
2. The path following arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
travel path assembly that supports the first carriage and at least
a second carriage at a vertical spacing from a reference surface
and the first carriage and the second carriage are each configured
to carry one or more persons, a cargo load comprised of no persons,
or a combination of one or more persons and a cargo load.
3. The path following arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
first carriage and the second carriage each include a motive device
supported for travel with the carriage and operable to move the
carriage relative to a travel path assembly of a catenary
structure, independently or in coordination with the movement of
other carriages.
4. A path following arrangement comprising: a first carriage; and a
catenary structure, a catenary structure having a travel path
assembly delimiting a course along which the first carriage can
travel while supported at a spacing from a reference surface and
the travel path assembly including a first change of direction run
having an entry and an exit, the first carriage having an
engagement element operable to engage the travel path assembly in a
manner that permits the first carriage to move relatively along the
travel path assembly while being guided thereby and the first
carriage being movable relatively along the travel path assembly in
a travel direction such that the first carriage initially enters
the first change of direction run via the entry thereof and
thereafter exits the first change of direction run via the exit
thereof during each passage of the first carriage along the first
change of direction run, and the catenary structure including an
upstream anchor location, a downstream anchor location, and an
intermediate tie-in element, the upstream anchor location engaging
a portion of the travel path assembly and the upstream anchor
location and the intermediate tie-in element cooperating with one
another to maintain the travel path assembly in a supported
disposition such that the first carriage can travel along the
course upstream of the first change of direction run, relative to
the travel direction, while supported at a spacing from the
reference surface, and the downstream anchor location engaging a
portion of the travel path assembly and the intermediate tie-in
element and the downstream anchor location cooperating with one
another to maintain the travel path assembly in a supported
disposition such that the first carriage can continue to travel
along the course while supported at a spacing from the reference
surface after the first carriage has exited the first change of
direction run, the entry and the exit of the first change of
direction run delimiting an arc of a reference circle, the arc
having a tangent, the intermediate tie-in element having an
upstream end and a downstream end and the upstream end of the
intermediate tie-in element and the entry location of the first
change of direction run of the travel path assembly being at a
predetermined spacing from one another in a base disposition, and
the intermediate tie-in element and the travel path assembly being
movable relative to one another such that the travel path assembly
and the intermediate tie-in element can be restorably displaced
from the base disposition in which the upstream end of the
intermediate tie-in element and the entry location of the first
change of direction run of the travel path assembly are at a
predetermined spacing from one another to an offset disposition in
which the upstream end of the intermediate tie-in element and the
entry location of the first change of direction run of the travel
path assembly have moved relative to one another in response to the
application of a force on the travel path assembly, wherein the
upstream end of the intermediate tie-in element and the entry
location of the first change of direction run of the travel path
assembly are at an offset spacing from one another that is
different than the predetermined spacing from one another in the
base disposition, and the intermediate tie-in element and the
travel path assembly being operable to be returned to their base
disposition from their offset disposition.
5. A path following arrangement comprising: a first carriage; and a
catenary structure having a travel path assembly delimiting a
course along which the first carriage can travel while supported at
a spacing from a reference surface and the travel path assembly
including a first change of direction run having an entry and an
exit, the first carriage having an engagement element operable to
engage the travel path assembly in a manner that permits the first
carriage to move relatively along the travel path assembly while
being guided thereby and the first carriage being movable
relatively along the travel path assembly in a travel direction
such that the first carriage initially enters the first change of
direction run via the entry thereof and thereafter exits the first
change of direction run via the exit thereof during each passage of
the first carriage along the first change of direction run, and the
catenary structure including an upstream anchor location, a
downstream anchor location, and an intermediate tie-in element, the
upstream anchor location engaging a portion of the travel path
assembly and the upstream anchor location and the intermediate
tie-in element cooperating with one another to maintain the travel
path assembly in a supported disposition such that the first
carriage can travel along the course upstream of the first change
of direction run, relative to the travel direction, while supported
at a spacing from the reference surface, and the downstream anchor
location engaging a portion of the travel path assembly and the
intermediate tie-in element and the downstream anchor location
cooperating with one another to maintain the travel path assembly
in a supported disposition such that the first carriage can
continue to travel along the course while supported at a spacing
from the reference surface after the first carriage has exited the
first change of direction run, the entry and the exit of the first
change of direction run delimiting an arc of a reference circle,
the arc having a tangent, and the travel path assembly and the
intermediate tie-in element being operatively interconnected such
that the first change of direction run of the travel path assembly
can be restorably displaced, in a displacement direction
perpendicular to the tangent of the arc delimited by first change
of direction run of the travel path assembly, from a home
disposition to a temporary displacement disposition in response to
the application of a force on the travel path assembly during the
travel of the first carriage along the first change of direction
run and can be restored to its home disposition from its temporary
displacement disposition the intermediate tie-in element having an
upstream end and a downstream end and the upstream end of the
intermediate tie-in element and the entry location of the first
change of direction run of the travel path assembly being at a
predetermined spacing from one another in a base disposition, and
the intermediate tie-in element and the travel path assembly being
movable relative to one another such that the travel path assembly
and the intermediate tie-in element can be restorably displaced
from the base disposition in which the upstream end of the
intermediate tie-in element and the entry location of the first
change of direction run of the travel path assembly are at a
predetermined spacing from one another to an offset disposition in
which the upstream end of the intermediate tie-in element and the
entry location of the first change of direction run of the travel
path assembly have moved relative to one another in response to the
application of a force on the travel path assembly, wherein the
upstream end of the intermediate tie-in element and the entry
location of the first change of direction run of the travel path
assembly are at an offset spacing from one another that is
different than the predetermined spacing from one another in the
base disposition, and the intermediate tie-in element and the
travel path assembly being operable to be returned to their base
disposition from their offset disposition.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a path following
arrangement having a catenary structure and a method for operating
such an arrangement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2002/162,477 to
Palumbo notes that, since 1968, ziplines utilized in
challenge/ropes course facilities have typically consisted of a
steel cable, of at least three-eighths of an inch diameter, rigged
between two points of differing elevation with a single-wheel
pulley attached to the cable. Initially, for ascend and descend
movements, the participant was hung by a lanyard attached to the
pulley. Later, this method of attachment was replaced by the
participant being secured in some type of harness being suspended
from the pulley. In both cases, the participant climbed to a
disembarkation point, and, after "zipping" down the cable, was
manually removed at the terminus of the system.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,622,634 to Cylvick discloses that suspended
cable systems of various types are known in the prior art and notes
that U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,425 to Remington is directed to a cable
skydiving apparatus in which a rider on a pulley block car descends
a mountainside along a catenary cable and generally comes to a stop
as the result of frictional forces, before hitting the lower cable
support point.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 8,746,149 to Elhard discloses a zipline
arrangement via which a ride participant supported on a trolley can
traverse a path from a higher elevation to a lower elevation.
According to this document, the zipline arrangement makes it
possible for the ride participants to avoid a large tree that would
otherwise block the path.
[0005] While designs for catenary arrangements have been proposed
that permit avoiding obstacles that would otherwise block the path
of travel, there is still a need for a path following arrangement
that permits a ride participant or passenger to traverse tracts of
land having a relatively wide range of scenic variety, wherein the
path of travel includes linear portions and non-linear (change of
direction) portions, and wherein the travel of the ride participant
or passenger through the non-linear (change of direction) portions
is smooth and reliable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] One object of the present invention is to provide a path
following arrangement that permits a ride participant or passenger
to traverse tracts of land having a relatively wide range of scenic
variety, wherein the path of travel includes linear portions and
non-linear (change of direction) portions, and wherein the travel
of the ride participant or passenger through the non-linear (change
of direction) portions is smooth and reliable.
[0007] One aspect of the present invention relates to a path
following arrangement.
[0008] According to one feature of the one aspect of the present
invention, the path following arrangement permits a ride
participant or passenger to traverse tracts of land having a
relatively wide range of scenic variety in that the path of travel
can include linear portions and non-linear (change of direction)
portions.
[0009] An advantage of the one aspect of the present invention is
that the path following arrangement of the present disclosure
enables the ride participant to control and select the speed and
acceleration of the path following platform. Additionally, the ride
participant can comfortably enter into, and exit from, non-linear
(change of direction) portions of the path.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the one aspect of the present
invention, the path following arrangement includes a first carriage
and a catenary structure. The catenary structure has a travel path
assembly delimiting a course along which the first carriage can
travel while supported at a spacing from a reference surface and
the travel path assembly including a first change of direction run
having an entry and an exit. The first carriage has an engagement
element operable to engage the travel path assembly in a manner
that permits the first carriage to move relatively along the travel
path assembly while being guided thereby and the first carriage
being movable relatively along the travel path assembly in a travel
direction such that the first carriage initially enters the first
change of direction run via the entry thereof and thereafter exits
the first change of direction run via the exit thereof during each
passage of the first carriage along the first change of direction
run.
[0011] Additionally, the catenary structure includes an upstream
anchor location, a downstream anchor location, and an intermediate
tie-in element, the upstream anchor location engaging a portion of
the travel path assembly and the upstream anchor location and the
intermediate tie-in element cooperating with one another to
maintain the travel path assembly in a supported disposition such
that the first carriage can travel along the course upstream of the
first change of direction run, relative to the travel direction,
while supported at a spacing from the reference surface. Moreover,
the downstream anchor location engages a portion of the travel path
assembly and the intermediate tie-in element and the downstream
anchor location cooperate with one another to maintain the travel
path assembly in a supported disposition such that the first
carriage can continue to travel along the course while supported at
a spacing from the reference surface after the first carriage has
exited the first change of direction run.
[0012] According to further features of the one embodiment of the
one aspect of the present invention, the entry and the exit of the
first change of direction run delimit an arc of a reference circle,
the arc having a tangent. The travel path assembly and the
intermediate tie-in element are operatively interconnected such
that the first change of direction run of the travel path assembly
can be restorably displaced, in a displacement direction
perpendicular to the tangent of the arc delimited by first change
of direction run of the travel path assembly, from a home
disposition to a temporary displacement disposition in response to
the application of a force on the travel path assembly during the
travel of the first carriage along the first change of direction
run and can be restored to its home disposition from its temporary
displacement disposition. Additionally, according to further
additional features of the one embodiment of the one aspect of the
present invention, the intermediate tie-in element has an upstream
end and a downstream end and the upstream end of the intermediate
tie-in element and the entry location of the first change of
direction run of the travel path assembly are at a predetermined
spacing from one another in a base disposition. The intermediate
tie-in element and the travel path assembly are movable relative to
one another such that the travel path assembly and the intermediate
tie-in element can be restorably displaced from the base
disposition in which the upstream end of the intermediate tie-in
element and the entry location of the first change of direction run
of the travel path assembly are at a predetermined spacing from one
another to an offset disposition in which the upstream end of the
intermediate tie-in element and the entry location of the first
change of direction run of the travel path assembly have moved
relative to one another in response to the application of a force
on the travel path assembly, wherein the upstream end of the
intermediate tie-in element and the entry location of the first
change of direction run of the travel path assembly are at an
offset spacing from one another that is different than the
predetermined spacing from one another in the base disposition. The
intermediate tie-in element and the travel path assembly are
operable to be returned to their base disposition from their offset
disposition.
[0013] Further aspects of the present invention are disclosed
herein. The features as discussed above, as well as other features
and advantages of the present disclosure, will be appreciated and
understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed
description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic top perspective view of one embodiment
of the path following arrangement of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an enlarged top perspective view of a portion of
the path following arrangement shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 3 is an enlarged top perspective view of a portion of
the one embodiment of the path following arrangement of the present
invention shown in FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a top schematic plan view of an instantaneous
position of the first carriage along the first change of direction
run of the travel path assembly.
[0018] FIG. 5 is an enlarged top perspective view of a portion of
the first change of direction run of the travel path assembly and
the flexible cable.
[0019] FIG. 6 is an enlarged top perspective view of a portion of
the first change of direction run of the travel path assembly and
the flexible cable.
[0020] FIG. 7 is an enlarged top perspective view of a portion of
the textile sheet and the travel path assembly adjacent the entry
location of the first change of direction run of the travel path
assembly.
[0021] FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional top perspective view of a
portion of the textile sheet.
[0022] FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional top perspective view of a
portion of the textile sheet and the travel path assembly adjacent
the entry location of the first change of direction run of the
travel path assembly.
[0023] FIG. 10 is a schematic top perspective view of the textile
sheet and the travel path assembly.
[0024] FIG. 11 is an enlarged schematic view of an alternative
arrangement of a portion of the buffer element.
[0025] FIG. 12 is an enlarged schematic side view of a portion of
the first change of direction run of the travel path assembly of
the one embodiment of the path following arrangement of the present
invention showing the first carriage.
[0026] FIG. 13 is an enlarged top perspective view of a portion of
the first carriage and a portion of the first change of direction
run of the travel path assembly of the one embodiment of the path
following arrangement of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 14 is a front enlarged schematic view of a variation of
the intermediate tie-in element of the one embodiment of the path
following arrangement of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 15 is a top schematic perspective view of an additional
embodiment of the path following arrangement of the present
invention.
[0029] FIG. 16 is a top enlarged perspective view of a portion of
the one embodiment of the path following arrangement of the present
invention shown in FIG. 1.
[0030] FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of a portion of a further
variation of the one embodiment of the path following arrangement
of the present invention shown in FIG. 1.
[0031] Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used
throughout the drawings to represent the same parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] In the following description, numerous specific details are
set forth in order to provide a more thorough description of the
present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in
the art, that the present invention may be practiced without these
specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not
been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention.
[0033] The present invention provides, in one aspect thereof, a
path following arrangement having a catenary structure.
[0034] The present invention provides, in another aspect thereof, a
method for operating a path following arrangement having a catenary
structure.
[0035] As seen in FIG. 1, which is a schematic top perspective view
of one embodiment of the path following arrangement of the present
invention, a path following arrangement 110 includes a catenary
structure 120 having a travel path assembly 130 along which a first
carriage 140 can travel while supported at a spacing from a
reference surface 150 during such travel. For example, as seen in
more detail in FIG. 2, which is an enlarged top perspective view of
a portion of the path following arrangement 110 shown in FIG. 1, a
first carriage 140 is configured to travel in a complete loop
around a course delimited by the travel path assembly 130, which is
comprised of sections or portions having varying elevations and
curved or linear extents. The first carriage 140 is supported at a
spacing from the reference surface 150 during such travel, the
reference surface 150 being exemplarily shown as a ground or
terrain surface.
[0036] As used herein, the term "catenary structure" is intended to
refer to a structure that includes a travel path assembly along
which one or a plurality of carriages can travel while supported by
the travel path assembly and the travel path assembly supports the
one or more carriages at a spacing from a reference surface during
such travel. The term "catenary structure" thus comprises a
structure including a travel path assembly that supports one or
more carriages at a vertical spacing from a reference surface and a
structure including a travel path assembly that supports one or
more carriages at a horizontal spacing from a reference
surface.
[0037] As used herein, the term "carriage" is intended to refer to
an element that is capable of being moved relative to a travel path
assembly of a catenary structure. A carriage may be configured to
carry one or more persons, a cargo load comprised of no persons, or
a combination of one or more persons and a cargo load. A carriage
may comprise a motive device supported for travel with the carriage
and operable to move the carriage relative to a travel path
assembly of a catenary structure, independently or in coordination
with the movement of other carriages, and a carriage may
alternatively be driven via a motive device having a portion that
is not supported for travel with the carriage.
[0038] The travel path assembly 130 includes a first curve run 134
having an entry 136 and an exit 138. The first carriage 140 has an
engagement element 142 operable to engage the travel path assembly
130 in a manner that permits the first carriage 140 to move
relatively along the travel path assembly 130 while being guided
thereby and the first carriage 140 is movable relatively along the
travel path assembly 130 in a travel direction such that the first
carriage 140 initially enters the first curve run 134 via the entry
136 thereof and thereafter exits the first curve run 134 via the
exit 138 thereof during each passage of the first carriage 140
along the first curve run 134.
[0039] The catenary structure 110 includes an upstream anchor
location 112, a downstream anchor location 114, and an intermediate
tie-in element 180. With further reference to FIG. 2 and with
reference to FIG. 3, which is an enlarged top perspective view of a
portion of the one embodiment of the path following arrangement of
the present invention shown in FIG. 2, in connection with the one
embodiment of the path following arrangement of the present
invention, the catenary structure 120 includes a plurality of
vertical posts 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, and 278,
each of which is a columnar structure having a base fixedly secured
to the reference surface 150 and having an upper end operable to
engage a portion of the travel assembly 130. The vertical posts
262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, and 278 are arrayed in a
layout that enables each respective portion of the travel path
assembly 130 engaged by a respective pair of adjacent posts to be
adequately supported such that the first carriage 140, and other
carriages traveling on the travel path assembly 130, can travel in
a stable manner above the reference surface 150.
[0040] The travel path assembly 130 may be comprised of a single
length of a flexible cable, such as, for example, a braided metal
wire cable, on which the first carriage 140 can relatively move and
that forms a course in the configuration of a complete or closed
loop or may be comprised of a combination of discrete extents of
flexible cable, such as, for example, a braided metal wire cable,
on which the first carriage 140 can relatively move, and one or
more non-cable structures on which the first carriage 140 can
relatively move, that together form a course in the configuration
of a complete or closed loop. The travel path assembly 130 may
further be optionally comprised of a single length of a flexible
cable, or a flexible cable and non-cable structure combination,
with the selected hardware forming an open-end, non-closed loop
course that is not in the configuration of a complete or closed
loop, i.e., a linear course or a semi-annular course.
[0041] In connection with the one embodiment of the path following
arrangement of the present invention, the travel path assembly 130
is comprised of a single length of a flexible cable 190, such as,
for example, a braided metal wire cable, on which the first
carriage 140 can relatively move and that forms a course in the
configuration of a complete or closed loop. The intermediate tie-in
element 180 is a structure that is secured to the respective pair
of posts 264, 266, in a manner to be described in more detail
herein, and is configured to cooperate with a respective upstream
post (i.e., in an upstream direction as viewed relative to the
direction of travel of the first carriage 140 around the course
delimited by the travel path assembly 130)--namely, the post
262--and a respective downstream post--namely, the post 268--to
support an extent of the flexible cable 190 that is curved,
whereupon the first carriage 140 undergoes a change of direction as
it travels relatively along this curved extent of the flexible
cable. The travel of the first carriage 140 along this curved
extent of the flexible cable 190 is the first curve run 134 of the
travel path assembly 130. The travel path assembly 130 of the one
embodiment of the path following arrangement of the present
invention includes a second change of direction run 234 and a third
change of direction run 334 as well as linear runs that extend to
and between the first curve run 134, the second change of direction
run 234, and the third change of direction run 334.
[0042] The path following arrangement 110 also includes a passenger
loading station 502 and a passenger unloading station 504 that are
located adjacent a linear run of the flexible cable 190 that
extends between the third change of direction run 334 and the first
curve run 134. The passenger loading station 502 and the passenger
unloading station 504 each includes an elevating arrangement such
as a stairway or an elevator (not shown) for persons who transit
between the reference surface 150 and a platform at a height about
the reference surface 150. As carriages each carrying a single
individual passenger, such as the first carriage 140, arrive at the
passenger unloading station 504 at the conclusion of a circuit of
the travel path assembly 130, each passenger can exit the carriage
and transit to the reference surface 150. Since the passenger
unloading station 504 is located upstream of the passenger loading
station 502, the recently unloaded carriages can be advanced from
the passenger unloading station 504 to the passenger loading
station 502, whereupon fresh passengers can board the carriages and
undertake a circuit around the travel path assembly 130.
[0043] With further reference to FIG. 3, the securement location of
the flexible cable 190 of the travel path assembly 130 to the upper
end of the post 262 operates as the upstream anchor location 112.
This upstream anchor location 112 engages a portion of the travel
path assembly 130 and the upstream anchor location 112 and the
intermediate tie-in element 180 cooperate with one another to
maintain the travel path assembly 130 in a supported disposition
such that the first carriage 140 can travel along the course
upstream of the first curve run 134, relative to the travel
direction, while supported at a spacing from the reference surface
150. The securement location of the flexible cable of the travel
path assembly 130 to the upper end of post 268 operates as the
downstream anchor location 114. This downstream anchor location 114
engages a portion of the travel path assembly 130 and the
intermediate tie-in element 180 and the downstream anchor location
114 cooperate with one another to maintain the travel path assembly
130 in a supported disposition such that the first carriage 140 can
continue to travel along the course while supported at a spacing
from the reference surface 150 after the first carriage 140 has
exited the first curve run 134.
[0044] With reference now to FIG. 4, which is a top schematic plan
view of an instantaneous position of the first carriage 140 along
the first curve run 134 of the travel path assembly 130, certain
dynamics of the travel of the first carriage 140 in the first curve
run 134 of the travel path assembly 130 are schematically
illustrated. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the first carriage 140
enters the first curve run 134 of the travel path assembly 130. For
the purpose of analyzing certain dynamics of the travel of the
first carriage 140, it is stipulated that the first curve run 134
of the travel path assembly 130 delimits a portion or an arc of a
curve having a radius R and lying in a plane REF-PL. This arc is
denominated as the arc REF-ARC. The curve delimited by the first
curve run 134 of the travel path assembly 130 is preferably
configured as a clothoid or Euler spiral, which is a curve whose
curvature changes linearly with respect to its curve length (i.e.,
the curvature of the curve is equal to the reciprocal of its
radius). The Euler spiral approach to the configuration of a curve
is a well-known approach for designing transition curves for rail
or rail-guided transport systems and is of particular benefit for
monorail or overhead suspended conveyor systems such as that of the
present invention.
[0045] The first carriage 140 has an instantaneous trajectory D at
an instantaneous position E and is traveling at an instantaneous
velocity V. The instantaneous position E is delimited by a tangent
TL-T of the first curve run 134 of the travel path assembly 130
passing through the first carriage 140. The first carriage 140
applies a force to the travel path assembly 130 at an instantaneous
position E along the first curve run 134 of the travel path
assembly 130, and the force applied at the instantaneous position E
includes a resulting force H comprised of the components of the
force of gravity G acting on the first carriage 140 perpendicular
to the tangent TL-T and to the plane REF-PL and a centrifugal force
F acting on the first carriage 140 perpendicular to the tangent
TL-T and lying in the plane REF-PL. The centripetal forces are not
considered in this analysis. The resultant force H, which is
comprised of the components of the force of gravity G acting on the
first carriage 140 and a centrifugal force F acting on the first
carriage 140, is equal to the mass of the first carriage 140
multiplied times the value of the velocity V of the first carriage
squared (i.e., raised to the second power) divided by the radius of
curvature R of the first curve run 134 of the travel path assembly
130--namely, H=[(G)+(F)]=[(Mass)(V).sup.2]/[(Radius). As can be
understood, the resultant force H will vary in dependence upon the
average speed or velocity of the first carriage 140 entering the
first curve run 134 of the travel path assembly 130, such average
speed or velocity varying between, for example, 5 miles per hour up
to 30 miles per hour, thus producing a gravitational force (a
g-force) in the range, for example, of 0.5 to 2.5, wherein the term
"g" is the acceleration imparted by gravity at the earth's surface
with an acceleration of one (1) g having a value of thirty-two feet
per second squared.
[0046] It is therefore desirable that the structure of the first
curve run 134 of the travel path assembly 130 be configured to
resiliently handle the forces which may arise due to the travel of
the first carriage 140 through the first curve run 134 of the
travel path assembly 130. In this respect, the path following
arrangement 110 is specifically configured to resiliently tamp or
dampen the forces applied via the resultant force H. In connection
with the first law of motion in a Newtonian framework, the first
carriage 140 would theoretically continue to move in a linear or
straight path upon entering the first curve run 134 of the travel
path assembly 130, were it not for the operation of the path
following arrangement 110 to apply a centripetal force to the first
carriage 140. As will be described in more detail herein, the path
following arrangement 110 is configured to enhance the smooth
reliable travel of the first carriage 140 along the first curve run
134 of the travel path assembly 130 and may comprise dampening or
resiliently biased sub-structures specifically deployed for this
purpose.
[0047] With continuing reference to FIG. 4, the entry 136 and the
exit 138 of the first curve run 134 delimit the arc REF-ARC of a
reference circle and the arc REF-ARC has a tangent TL-T. The travel
path assembly 130 and the intermediate tie-in element 180 are
operatively interconnected such that the first curve run 134 of the
travel path assembly 130 can be restorably displaced, in a
displacement direction DIS-DR perpendicular to the tangent TL-T of
the arc REF-ARC delimited by the first curve run 134 of the travel
path assembly 130, from a home disposition to a temporary
displacement disposition in response to the application of a force
on the travel path assembly 130 during the travel of the first
carriage 140 along the first curve run 134 and can be restored to
its home disposition from its temporary displacement
disposition.
[0048] The one embodiment of the path following arrangement of the
present invention in the form of the path following arrangement 110
additionally provides the capability that the flexible cable 190
forming that the first curve run 134 of the travel path assembly
130 is supported such that the flexible cable can move relative to
the travel path assembly 130 in a direction generally aligned with
the arc REF-ARC. Reference is again had to FIG. 3, wherein it can
be seen that the intermediate tie-in element 180 has an upstream
end 182 and a downstream end 184. The upstream end 182 of the
intermediate tie-in element 180 and the entry location 136 of the
first curve run 134 of the travel path assembly 130 are at a
predetermined spacing from one another in a base disposition.
[0049] Reference is now had to FIG. 5, which is an enlarged top
perspective view of a portion of the first curve run 134 of the
travel path assembly 130 and the flexible cable 190, and to FIG. 6,
which is an enlarged top perspective view of a portion of the first
curve run 134 of the travel path assembly 130 and the flexible
cable 190. The intermediate tie-in element 180 and the travel path
assembly 130 are movable relative to one another such that the
travel path assembly 130 and the intermediate tie-in element 180
can be restorably displaced from the base disposition in which the
upstream end 182 of the intermediate tie-in element 180 and the
entry location 136 of the first curve run 134 of the travel path
assembly 130 are at a predetermined spacing from one another to an
offset disposition in which the upstream end 182 of the
intermediate tie-in element 180 and the entry location 136 of the
first curve run 134 of the travel path assembly 130 have moved
relative to one another in response to the application of a force
on the travel path assembly 130, wherein the upstream end 182 of
the intermediate tie-in element 180 and the entry location 136 of
the first curve run 134 of the travel path assembly 130 are at an
offset spacing OFF-DIFF from one another that is different than the
predetermined spacing from one another in the base disposition, and
the intermediate tie-in element and the travel path assembly being
operable to be returned to their base disposition from their offset
disposition.
[0050] As seen in FIG. 6, which is an enlarged top respective view
of a portion of the pylon 160 and the first curve run 134, the
entry location 136 of the first curve run 134 of the travel path
assembly 130 has been displaced to a new location in response to
the application of a force to the travel path assembly 130--namely,
a force applied in the travel direction via the first carriage 140
as it travels into, along, and exits from the first curve run
134--and, as a result, the entry location 136 of the first curve
run 134 is now at an offset spacing that is different than the base
spacing with this difference in the two spacings being indicated by
the space difference DIFF.
[0051] The intermediate tie-in element 180 is configured to stably
support the flexible cable 190 at a location at which the flexible
cable 190 can form the first curve run 134 of the travel path
assembly 130 and, further, to promote the smooth and reliable
travel of the first carriage 140 along the first curve run 134 of
the travel path assembly 130. In fulfillment of these objectives,
one configuration of the intermediate tie-in element 180 includes a
textile sheet 520. Reference is now had to FIG. 7, which is an
enlarged top perspective view of a portion of the textile sheet 520
and the travel path assembly 130 adjacent the entry location 136 of
the first curve run 134 of the travel path assembly 130, and to
FIG. 3, in connection with a description of further details of the
cooperative operation of the textile sheet 520 and the flexible
cable 190. The textile sheet 520 is formed of a synthetic or
non-synthetic material having a relatively significantly smaller
thickness than its width and length. An edge of the textile sheet
520 is secured to a batten 612 via a suitable connection, such as,
for example, via an overwrap of the selvedge of the textile sheet
520 around the batten 612 secured via stitching, fusing, or
riveting.
[0052] Reference is now had to FIG. 8, which is an enlarged
sectional top perspective view of a portion of the textile sheet
520, FIG. 9, which is an enlarged sectional top perspective view of
a portion of the textile sheet 520 and the travel path assembly 130
adjacent the entry location 136 of the first curve run 134 of the
travel path assembly 130, and FIG. 10, which is a schematic top
perspective view of the textile sheet 520 and the travel path
assembly 130. A remote portion 522 of the textile sheet 520 is
secured to the post 264 and an exemplary arrangement for effecting
this securement is shown in the form of a pivot ring assembly 550
having an annular base plate 552 fixedly secured to the upper end
portion of the post 264 and a rotating annular disc 554
co-extensive with the annular base plate 552 and rotatingly mounted
thereon via a ball bearing assembly (not shown) such that the
rotating annular disc 554 can rotate relative to the annular base
plate 552. The textile sheet 520 is secured to the rotating annular
disc 554, whereupon the rotation operation of the rotating annular
disc 554 permits the textile sheet 520 to pivot relative to the
post 264 through a predetermined range of pivoting motion.
[0053] The flexible cable 190 in the region of the first curve run
134 of the travel path assembly 130 is connected to a stand-off
element 620 that is configured with an elongate web 624 having a
distal longitudinal rounded edge 626 that has a radius on the order
of between two (2) to ten (10) times the thickness of the web 624
and, preferably, at least five (5) times the thickness of the web
624. A proximal longitudinal edge of the web 624 is fixedly secured
to the periphery of the flexible cable 190 via a suitable
attachment means, such as, for example, welding, brazing, adhesive,
or other attachment means. The web 624 extends radially from the
flexible cable 190 and the distal longitudinal rounded edge 626 of
the stand-off element 620 extends radially outwardly of the web
624.
[0054] One aspect of the path following arrangement 110 that
advantageously promotes smooth reliable travel of the first
carriage 140 along the first curve run 134 of the travel path
assembly 130 is the provision of an arrangement that accommodates
relative movement between the textile sheet 520 and the flexible
cable 190 in the region of the first curve run 134 of the travel
path assembly 130. One exemplary arrangement for accommodating this
relative movement between the textile sheet 520 and the flexible
cable 190 is illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 3 and includes a buffer
element 720 that is configured as an arcuate elongate member having
a curvature selected in correspondence with the curvature of the
first curve run 134 of the travel path assembly 130 (namely, the
arc REF-ARC). As seen in particular in FIG. 7, the buffer element
720 has an inboard surface extending longitudinally and the inboard
surface has a centrally located longitudinal opening 722 that forms
the entry of an inboard keyhole slot 724. The inboard keyhole slot
724 includes a longitudinally extending cylindrically shaped open
chamber 726 communicated with the centrally located longitudinal
opening 722 formed on the inboard surface of the buffer element
720. The buffer element 720 includes an outboard surface extending
longitudinally and the outboard surface has a centrally located
longitudinal opening 730 that forms the entry of an outboard
keyhole slot 732. The outboard keyhole slot 732 includes a
longitudinally extending cylindrically shaped open chamber 734
communicated with the centrally located longitudinal opening 730
formed on the outboard surface of the buffer element 720.
[0055] The buffer element 720 operates as a liaison structure
between the textile sheet 520 and the flexible cable 190 that
beneficially permits each of these two components to react to, and
handle, forces applied thereto that arise from the movement of
carriages along the travel path assembly 130 while the carriages
transport loads, such as persons or other cargo. The centrally
located longitudinal opening 730 formed in the outboard surface of
the buffer element 720 and the longitudinally extending
cylindrically shaped open chamber 734 of the outboard keyhole slot
732 are dimensioned in correspondence with the batten 612 to which
one edge of the textile sheet 520 is secured such that the batten
612 is movably accommodated within the open chamber 734 of the
outboard keyhole slot 732 while the textile sheet 520 extends from
the batten 612 through the centrally located longitudinal opening
730 formed in the outboard surface of the buffer element 720. The
batten 612 can shift longitudinally along the open chamber 734 of
the outboard keyhole slot 732. However, the batten 612 has an
overall greater thickness than the height of the centrally located
longitudinal opening 730 formed in the outboard surface of the
buffer element 720 and the batten 612 is accordingly prevented from
moving laterally outwardly of the outboard keyhole slot 724 (the
lateral axis extends horizontally perpendicular to the longitudinal
extent of the buffer element 720).
[0056] The centrally located longitudinal opening 722 formed in the
inboard surface of the buffer element 720 and the longitudinally
extending cylindrically shaped open chamber 726 of the inboard
keyhole slot 724 are dimensioned in correspondence with the distal
longitudinal rounded edge 626 of the web 624 of the stand-off
element 620 connected to the flexible cable 190 such that the
distal longitudinal rounded edge 626 of the web 624 of the
stand-off element 620 is movably accommodated within the open
chamber 726 of the inboard keyhole slot 724 while the web 624 of
the stand-off element 620 extends from the distal longitudinal
rounded edge 626 of the web 624 of the stand-off element 620
through the centrally located longitudinal opening 722 formed in
the inboard surface of the buffer element 720. The distal
longitudinal rounded edge 626 of the web 624 of the stand-off
element 620 can shift longitudinally along the open chamber 726 of
the inboard keyhole slot 724. However, the distal longitudinal
rounded edge 626 of the web 624 of the stand-off element 620 has an
overall greater thickness than the height of the centrally located
longitudinal opening 722 formed in the inboard surface of the
buffer element 720 and the distal longitudinal rounded edge 626 of
the web 624 of the stand-off element 620 is accordingly prevented
from moving laterally outwardly of the inboard keyhole slot
724.
[0057] It can thus be understood that the buffer element 720 is
accordingly supported in a suspended disposition via the textile
sheet 520 and the flexible cable 190. The buffer element 720
interconnects the textile sheet 520 and the flexible cable 190 so
that the flexible cable 190 is maintained in a suspended
disposition in the region of the first curve run 134 of the travel
path assembly 130 via the engagement of the flexible cable 190 at
the respective upstream post 262, the textile sheet 520, and the
respective downstream post 268. Moreover, the arrangement including
the buffer element 720 operatively maintains the flexible cable 190
in sufficient alignment with the arc REF-ARC so as to optimally
minimize deleterious deviations from the arc REF-ARC that may
detract from the smooth advancing movement of the first carriage
140 along the first curve run 134 of the travel path assembly
130.
[0058] It is believed that the travel of the first carriage 140
along the first curve run 134 of the travel path assembly 130 will
be optimized to the degree that the first carriage most closely
follows a path of travel along the arc REF-ARC. While there are
circumstances in which certain deviations of the path of travel of
the first carriage 140 from the arc REF-ARC will not substantially
negatively impact the smooth reliable travel of the first carriage
along the first curve run 134 of the travel path assembly 130, it
is believed that deviations of the path of travel in this manner
will, as a general principle, degrade the desired velocity of the
first carriage 140, contribute to inducing chattering, rocking, or
other undesired instability movements of the first carriage, and/or
degrade the feeling of comfort of a passenger transported by the
first carriage.
[0059] It can thus be understood that the one embodiment of the
path following arrangement of the present invention in the form of
the path following arrangement 110 provides an arrangement wherein
a carriage (i.e., the first carriage 140) is guided by a single
dedicated structure (i.e., the flexible cable 190) during the
entire circuit of the carriage completely around a closed loop
course.
[0060] In some circumstances, the ability of the arrangement
including the buffer element 720 to maintain the flexible cable 190
in sufficient alignment with the arc REF-ARC is enhanced by the
feature that the flexible cable 190 can shift relative to the
buffer element 720 along the direction of curvature of the flexible
cable 190--namely, this capability is the movement of the
intermediate tie-in element 180 and the travel path assembly 130
that have been described with respect to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. The
buffer element 720 can be configured to promote such movement via,
for example, configuring the inboard keyhole slot 724 and the
outboard keyhole slot 732 of the buffer element 720 with relatively
low-friction surfaces such as can be provided, for example, if the
buffer element 720 is molded of ABS plastic or a suitable polymeric
material. Alternatively, the inboard keyhole slot 724 and the
outboard keyhole slot 732 of the buffer element 720 can each be
configured with a suitable roller wheel arrangement, such as is
exemplarily shown in FIG. 11. As seen in FIG. 11, which is an
enlarged schematic view of an alternative arrangement of a portion
of the buffer element 720, the buffer element 720 can, in lieu of
being provided with relatively low friction surface, instead be
provided with a plurality of groups of four (4) individual roller
wheel assemblies 820 (only one group is illustrated) which are
mounted to the open chamber 726 of the inboard keyhole slot 724 at
regular intervals longitudinally along the inboard keyhole slot
724. The roller wheel of each roller wheel assembly 820 extends
inwardly into the open chamber 726 of the inboard keyhole slot 724
and is mounted on an axle for free rotation as the roller wheel is
engaged by the distal longitudinal rounded edge 626 of the web 624
of the stand-off element 620 attached to the flexible cable 190
during longitudinal shifting of the flexible cable 190.
[0061] As seen in FIG. 12, which is an enlarged schematic side view
of a portion of the first curve run 134 of the travel path assembly
130 of the one embodiment of the path following arrangement of the
present invention showing the first carriage 140, and FIG. 13,
which is an enlarged top perspective view of a portion of the first
carriage 140 and a portion of the first curve run 134 of the travel
path assembly 130 of the one embodiment of the path following
arrangement of the present invention, the first carriage 140
comprises a grooved wheel assembly 970 having a pair of top
traveler grooved wheels 972 each operable to rollingly travel along
an upper hemisphere portion of the flexible cable 190 and a lower
traveler grooved wheel 974 operable to rollingly travel along a
lower hemisphere portion of the flexible cable 190. At least one of
the top traveler grooved wheels 972 and the lower traveler grooved
wheels 974 is operatively connected (via, for example, a gear
transmission) to an independently powered motor assembly 978. The
motor assembly 978 may be configured, for example, as an electric
motor having onboard controls (for operational control by a
passenger supported on the first carriage 140 and redundantly
supported via a harness assembly 990) and/or remotely operable
controls (for operational control of the first carriage 140 from a
remote or central location).
[0062] The optional deployment of the pivot ring assembly 550 may
also enhance the ability of the arrangement including the buffer
element 720 to maintain the flexible cable 190 in sufficient
alignment with the arc REF-ARC. The pivot ring assembly 550 permits
limited rotation or pivoting of the textile sheet 190 relative to
the post 264 and this movement may enhance the ability of the
flexible cable 190 to shift in a manner that reduces or prevents
deviation of the flexible cable from an alignment with the arc
REF-ARC.
[0063] In some circumstances, the ability of the arrangement
including the buffer element 720 to maintain the flexible cable 190
in sufficient alignment with the arc REF-ARC is enhanced by the
feature that the flexible cable 190 can shift relative to the posts
264 and 266 to which the textile sheet 520 is secured--namely, this
capability is the capability that the first curve run 134 of the
travel path assembly 130 can be restorably displaced, in the
displacement direction DIS-DR perpendicular to the tangent TL-T of
the arc REF-ARC, from its home disposition to its temporary
displacement disposition in response to the application of a force
on the travel path assembly 130. This movement can be accommodated,
for example, via configuring the textile sheet 520 of a fabric
having a resilient expansion property that permits the textile
sheet 520 to resiliently expand in response to an expansion force
applied thereto and then return to its original shape.
Alternatively, the textile sheet 520 sheet can be connected with a
structure having spring properties that permit the structure to be
distorted from an original shape and that resiliently returns to
its original shape.
[0064] With reference now to FIG. 14, which is a front enlarged
schematic view of a variation of the intermediate tie-in element of
the one embodiment of the path following arrangement of the present
invention, an intermediate tie-in element 980 includes the textile
sheet 520 and, in lieu of the buffer element 720 shown and
described in connection with the one embodiment of the path
following arrangement of the present invention, the intermediate
tie-in element 980 includes a bridge-over retention assembly 982.
The bridge-over retention assembly 982 includes a plurality of
bridge flanges 984 (only one of which is shown) each having a pair
of clamping jaws 986 that compressively engage an edge portion of
the textile sheet 520 and the bridge flanges 984 are uniformly
longitudinally distributed along the first curve run 134 of the
travel path assembly 130, whereupon the pairs of clamping jaws 986
engage the textile sheet 520 at multiple locations. The clamping
jaws 986 of each bridge flange 984 are mounted to one end of a rod
segment having a plurality of bent sections that are collectively
configured to extend over the flexible cable 190. Each bridge
flange 984 has a remote end structure in the form of a truncated
version of the buffer element 720--namely, each remote end
structure is configured to include the inboard keyhole slot 724
configuration including the centrally located longitudinal opening
722 formed in the inboard surface of the buffer element 720 and the
longitudinally extending cylindrically shaped open chamber 726 and
these are dimensioned in correspondence with the distal
longitudinal rounded edge 626 of the web 624 of the stand-off
element 620 connected to the flexible cable 190 such that the
distal longitudinal rounded edge 626 of the web 624 of the
stand-off element 620 is movably accommodated within the open
chamber 726 of the inboard keyhole slot 724 while the web 624 of
the stand-off element 620 extends from the distal longitudinal
rounded edge 626 of the web 624 of the stand-off element 620
through the centrally located longitudinal opening 722 formed in
the inboard surface of the buffer element 720. The bridge-over
retention assembly 982 thus engages the flexible cable 190 to
secure the flexible cable relative to the textile sheet 520.
[0065] With reference now to FIG. 15, which is a top schematic
perspective view of an additional embodiment of the path following
arrangement of the present invention, the travel path assembly 130
is comprised of a single length of a flexible cable that forms the
entirety of the course that is traveled by the first carriage 140
and the course has a semi-annular configuration that is not a
complete loop. Specifically, the course has the geometry of a
single curve of uniform radius. One axial end of the flexible cable
of the travel path assembly 130 is secured to a post 362, which
forms the upstream anchor location that is upstream of the entry
136 of the first curve run 134 of the travel assembly 130 and the
opposite axial end of the flexible cable of the travel path
assembly 130 is secured to a post 368 that forms the downstream
anchor location that is downstream of the exit of the first curve
run 134 of the travel assembly 130. An intermediate tie-in element
380 includes a textile sheet 520 having a total of four (4)
connection vertices 382A-D each secured to the upper end of a
respective one of the posts 362, 364, 366, and 368 in a manner such
that the textile sheet 520 is held in a relatively taut, planar
horizontal orientation.
[0066] The intermediate tie-in element 380 includes a bridge-over
retention assembly, such as has been shown and described with
respect to FIG. 14, and this bridge-over retention assembly is
secured to the textile sheet 520. The bridge-over retention
assembly engages the flexible cable 190 to secure the flexible
cable relative to the textile sheet 520.
[0067] The entry 136 and the exit 138 of the first curve run 134 of
the travel path assembly 130 delimit an arc of a reference circle
and the reference circle delimits the single curve of uniform
radius that comprises the course of the travel path assembly 130 of
the additional one embodiment of the path following arrangement of
the present invention. The entry 136 of the first curve run 134 of
the travel path assembly 130 is downstream of the connection vertex
382A secured to the post 362 and the exit 138 of the first curve
run 134 of the travel path assembly 130 is upstream of the
connection vertex 382D secured to the post 368.
[0068] FIG. 16 is a top enlarged perspective view of a portion of
the one embodiment of the path following arrangement of the present
invention shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 16 shows details of the upper
portion of the first carriage 140 including a framework on which
roller wheels are rotatably mounted and which rollingly travel
along the flexible cable 190.
[0069] FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of a portion of a further
variation of the one embodiment of the path following arrangement
of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 17 shows an
arrangement for securing the flexible cable 190 to a post, such as
the post 264, wherein, in lieu of the textile sheet 520, a
plurality of post cables 530 are provided, each of which has one
axial end secured to a manifold panel 532 that itself is secured to
the post 264. The opposite axial end of each post cable 530 is
secured to the batten 612. A pair of guy wires 536 extend to and
between the post 264 and the reference surface 150 and contribute
to enhancing the stability of the post 264.
[0070] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
method for operating a path following arrangement having a catenary
structure is provided. In connection with an exemplary execution of
the method of the present invention, the method includes a step of
loading a first carriage with a load and a step of disposing the
first carriage for travel on a travel path assembly of a catenary
structure. The catenary structure is configured with a travel path
assembly delimiting a course along which the first carriage can
travel while supported at a spacing from a reference surface and
the travel path assembly including a first change of direction run
having an entry and an exit. The first carriage has an engagement
element operable to engage the travel path assembly in a manner
that permits the first carriage to move relatively along the travel
path assembly while being guided thereby and the first carriage
being movable relatively along the travel path assembly in a travel
direction such that the first carriage initially enters the first
change of direction run via the entry thereof and thereafter exits
the first change of direction run via the exit thereof during each
passage of the first carriage along the first change of direction
run.
[0071] Additionally, the catenary structure includes an upstream
anchor location, a downstream anchor location, and an intermediate
tie-in element, the upstream anchor location engaging a portion of
the travel path assembly and the upstream anchor location and the
intermediate tie-in element cooperating with one another to
maintain the travel path assembly in a supported disposition such
that the first carriage can travel along the course upstream of the
first change of direction run, relative to the travel direction,
while supported at a spacing from the reference surface. Moreover,
the downstream anchor location engages a portion of the travel path
assembly and the intermediate tie-in element and the downstream
anchor location cooperate with one another to maintain the travel
path assembly in a supported disposition such that the first
carriage can continue to travel along the course while supported at
a spacing from the reference surface after the first carriage has
exited the first change of direction run.
[0072] The entry and the exit of the first change of direction run
delimit an arc of a reference circle, the arc having a tangent. The
travel path assembly and the intermediate tie-in element are
operatively interconnected such that the first change of direction
run of the travel path assembly can be restorably displaced, in a
displacement direction perpendicular to the tangent of the arc
delimited by first change of direction run of the travel path
assembly, from a home disposition to a temporary displacement
disposition in response to the application of a force on the travel
path assembly during the travel of the first carriage along the
first change of direction run and can be restored to its home
disposition from its temporary displacement disposition.
Additionally, the intermediate tie-in element has an upstream end
and a downstream end and the upstream end of the intermediate
tie-in element and the entry location of the first change of
direction run of the travel path assembly are at a predetermined
spacing from one another in a base disposition. The intermediate
tie-in element and the travel path assembly are movable relative to
one another such that the travel path assembly and the intermediate
tie-in element can be restorably displaced from the base
disposition in which the upstream end of the intermediate tie-in
element and the entry location of the first change of direction run
of the travel path assembly are at a predetermined spacing from one
another to an offset disposition in which the upstream end of the
intermediate tie-in element and the entry location of the first
change of direction run of the travel path assembly have moved
relative to one another in response to the application of a force
on the travel path assembly, wherein the upstream end of the
intermediate tie-in element and the entry location of the first
change of direction run of the travel path assembly are at an
offset spacing from one another that is different than the
predetermined spacing from one another in the base disposition. The
intermediate tie-in element and the travel path assembly are
operable to be returned to their base disposition from their offset
disposition.
[0073] While the disclosure has been described with reference to an
embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for
elements thereof without departing from the scope of the
disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a
particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure
without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it
is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular
embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out
this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all
embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *