U.S. patent number 3,610,162 [Application Number 04/840,757] was granted by the patent office on 1971-10-05 for monorail system.
Invention is credited to Raymond J. Lawrence.
United States Patent |
3,610,162 |
Lawrence |
October 5, 1971 |
MONORAIL SYSTEM
Abstract
A monorail system is provided whereby the track is elevated, of
multipiece construction with a single metal supporting rail on top
of a central panel and with a lower metal rail having flanges on
each side of the panel. The car used in the system rides on flanged
wheels on top of the rail and has horizontal stabilizing wheels
engaging each side of the central panel, and a collector resting on
one flange of the metal contact rail at the bottom of the
panel.
Inventors: |
Lawrence; Raymond J.
(Langhorne, PA) |
Family
ID: |
25283141 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/840,757 |
Filed: |
July 10, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
104/118;
104/120 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61B
13/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B61B
13/04 (20060101); B61b 013/04 (); B61b 013/06 ();
E16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;104/118,120 ;191/29
;105/143 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: La Point; Arthur L.
Assistant Examiner: Keen; D. W.
Claims
I CLAIM
1. A monorail vehicular system having
a track rail assembly supported from below with
an upper conductive rail and
a lower conductive rail separated by a nonconductive panel with
which said rails are in continuous longitudinal engagement and
having opposite vertical parallel faces,
the improvement therein which comprises
a vehicle having a frame with an upper portion transversely
disposed above and along said upper rail,
a plurality of horizontally spaced double flanged wheels in
engagement with said upper rail and supporting said vehicle,
and
a plurality of horizontally spaced horizontally disposed
stabilizing wheels mounted on vertical shafts secured to said frame
and continuously engaging said opposite vertical side faces of said
panel in spaced relation above said lower rail.
2. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 1 in which
a motor is provided carried by said frame, and
one of said double flanged wheels is a driving wheel, and
operating connections are provided between said motor and said one
of said flanged wheels.
3. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 2 in which
said operating connections include a gear connected to said one of
said flanged wheels, and
a pinion engaged with said gear and driven by said motor.
4. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 3 in which
a holding member is provided engaged with said pinion and holding
said pinion engaged with said gear.
5. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 1 in which
a motor is provided carried by said frame, and
a collector member is provided extending from said motor and
engaging said lower conductive rail for energization of said
motor.
6. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 1 in which
said plurality of double flanged wheels includes a forwardly
disposed pair of wheels and a rearwardly disposed pair of
wheels.
7. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 6 in which
a motor is provided carried by said frame, and
said motor is disposed between said forwardly disposed and said
rearwardly disposed pairs of wheels.
8. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 1 in which
said frame has downwardly extending portions in which said double
flanged wheels are rotatably supported.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a monorail system which is of the
overhead or trolley track variety with a single rail having a
vehicle suspended and carried thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Much interest has been evidenced and a lot of money spent in
attempting to design monorail systems. Monorail systems are much
desired in that higher speeds can be attained in relative safety
and expensive land condemnation and construction costs can be
avoided.
Most of the present systems in use suspend the track or rail from
overhead poles which causes the weight and therefore the capacity
of the train to be at minimum in order to avoid destruction of the
track which supports the train. The present invention overcomes the
shortcomings of previous monorail systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A monorail system of the overhead type with single rail structure
is provided which comprises a metal top rail supported on a plastic
or the like electrical insulating and supporting panel with a
bottom rib having opposed flanges, the rail structure being
supported at intervals by metal clamps engaging bars carried on
vertical poles, the car used in the system having double flanged
supporting wheels riding on the top rail with horizontal
stabilizing wheels on each side of the central panel and a
collector extending down from the car and engaging one of the
flanges.
The principal object of the present invention is to provide a
monorail system whereby the cars ride on top of the track, have
greater stability and obtain higher speeds than was previously
possible.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a monorail
system that has a greater degree of safety than was previously
obtained.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a monorail
system which is simple and inexpensive to construct but sturdy and
reliable in operation.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a monorail
system which is easy to assemble and requires a minimum of support
elements.
Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be
apparent form the description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be
more readily understood from the following description taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately
on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial side view showing a portion of a preferred form
of the track assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a side view of the car used with the monorail system of
the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line
5--5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line
6--6 of FIG. 5; and
FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the
line 7--7 of FIG. 6.
It should, of course, be understood that the description and
drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various
modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed
without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now more particularly to the drawings and FIG. 1 thereof,
the monorail system includes a track assembly 10 which for purposes
of illustration is shown as composed of various straight and curved
track sections 11 and 12. The track assembly 10 is supported at
intervals by a series of vertical support assemblies 14 engaged
therewith. A car 40 is illustrated on the track assembly 10 ready
for use.
Referring now to the remainder of the drawings, the track sections
11 and 12 each has a top metal rail 15, preferably of rectangular
cross section with an upper contact portion 16, the rail 15 being
connected by a vertical web 17 to a flat lower strip 18. The strip
18 is bonded or otherwise secured to the top face 19 of panel 20.
The panel 20 is of rectangular configuration in cross section and
can be formed of any desired material such as synthetic plastic or
the like of low electrical conductivity. The panel 20 has a metal
contact rail 21 on the bottom 22 thereof which rail 21 preferably
has square flanges 23 on each side of panel 20, each of the flanges
23 being connected to a common flat bottom plate 24 by a vertical
member 25. The plate 24 is bonded and secured to the bottom 22 of
panel 20 in any desired manner.
As shown in FIG. 2, the upper contact portion 16 of top rail 15 is
hollow and can have a pin 28 in alternate rails 15 which internally
engages the rail 15 next following to provide structural rigidity
and electrical continuity. Each of the bottom flanges 23 for each
track section 11 or 12 at one end also have pins 28 therein to
provide for connecting track sections 11 and 12 together and to
provide electrical continuity, insulated from the rail 15, by the
panels 20.
The plate 24 has U-shaped spring clips 30 thereon at selected
intervals and preferably at the end of a track section 11 or 12 or
other locations as desired. The clips 30 are engaged with blocks 31
of vertical support assemblies 14 which includes poles 32 secured
to blocks 31 and to base plates 33. The base plates 33 can be
mounted above or below ground as desired.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 7, the impeller car 40 is therein more
fully illustrated and includes an inverted box frame 50 with top
wall 51, sidewalls 52, and end walls 53. The top wall 51 has a
front and rear pair of car guiding wheels 55 rotatably mounted
therebelow by shafts 56 secured to the top wall 51. The wheels 55
are in a horizontal plane and bear against either side of the panel
20 to restrain the car 40 from sidewise movement and stabilize it
from vertical rotational movements.
The car 40 as seen at the left in FIG. 6 is provided with a pair of
double flanged idler wheels 60 which ride on the top metal rail 15
and are carried on shafts 61 rotatably journaled in tabs 62 on each
side of wheels 60 which are struck out of top wall 51 to provide
support and an opening (not shown) for the wheels 60.
At the right end of car 40, a double flanged idler wheel 65 is
provided mounted on shaft 66 which is journaled in tabs 67 which
are struck down from top wall 51. Horizontally spaced from wheel
65, a double flanged driving wheel 69 is provided carried on a
shaft 70 which shaft 70 is journaled in tabs 67. The wheel 69 has a
worm gear 71 adjacent thereto also carried on shaft 70 and
connected to wheel 69 in driving relation. Above gear 71 a pinion
gear 72 is engaged with gear 71. The pinion gear 72 is secured to
shaft 73 of an electric motor 75. An additional worm gear 76 is
provided above gear 72 engaged therewith to maintain gear 72 in
contact with gear 71. The gear 76 is carried on shaft 77 which is
journaled in an L-shaped bracket 78 which is fastened to top wall
51.
The electric motor 75 is mounted on top wall 55 and is of
conventional type with a ground through shaft 77, wheels 69, to
metal rail 15 and with a collector 80 extending down the side of
panel 20 to contact the rail 21 where it engages one of the flanges
23 and completes the positive side of the electrical supply for the
car 40. A housing 81 is provided fastened to frame 51 in any
desired manner to provide protection to the motor 75 and other
components.
It will thus be seen that structure has been provided with which
the objects of the invention are attained.
* * * * *