U.S. patent number 3,669,026 [Application Number 05/037,978] was granted by the patent office on 1972-06-13 for transportation system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Geoscience Limited. Invention is credited to Gunnar Mouritzen.
United States Patent |
3,669,026 |
Mouritzen |
June 13, 1972 |
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
Abstract
A transportation system uses a curved trackway in the nature of
a trough and a special vehicle having wheels engaging the trough
such that in making turns the wheels may move such that the center
of gravity may be displaced to compensate for centrifugal forces.
Aerodynamic wings may be on the vehicle to develop lift forces and
take weight off the wheels and the vehicle may be contoured to the
shape of the trough to provide an air cushion between the vehicle
and track at high speeds. The wheels may be extended so that the
vehicle may also travel over level terrain.
Inventors: |
Mouritzen; Gunnar (San Diego,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Geoscience Limited
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
21897399 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/037,978 |
Filed: |
May 18, 1970 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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717610 |
Apr 1, 1968 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
104/118;
104/138.1; 105/141; 180/22; 104/89; 104/156; 105/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01B
25/00 (20130101); B61B 3/02 (20130101); B60V
3/04 (20130101); B61B 13/10 (20130101); B61B
13/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60V
3/04 (20060101); B61B 13/10 (20060101); B61B
13/08 (20060101); B60V 3/00 (20060101); E01B
25/00 (20060101); B61b 013/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;104/134,138,118-120,139,135,140-148,155,156,158 ;280/80,64 ;180/22
;105/141,148,153 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: La Point; Arthur L.
Assistant Examiner: Bertsch; Richard A.
Parent Case Text
The present application is a continuation in part of my pending U.
S. application, Ser. No. 717,610 filed Apr. 1, 1968, now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A transportation system including a concave trackway forming
generally a trough, a vehicle having wheels engaging said trough
and movable laterally of said trackway to permit said vehicle to
shift its center of gravity and compensate for centrifugal forces,
said trough having a width substantially equal to the largest
lateral dimension of the vehicle, said vehicle having said wheels
rotating in planes which intersect at a point which is the center
of curvature of the trackway within the vehicle, said trackway
being of substantially constant curvature along that portion of its
surface engaged by said wheels, said point of intersection being
above the center of gravity of the vehicle.
2. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which means are provided to
reorient said wheels such that the vehicle may also travel over
level terrain.
3. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which a third wheel is
disposed between said wheels and has its plane of rotation in a
substantially vertical plane.
4. A system as set forth in claim 1 including aerodynamic wings on
said vehicle.
5. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which said trough is above
the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
6. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which said wheels have their
planes of rotation extending through a central point of said
vehicle.
7. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which the trackway is a
tube.
Description
The present invention relates to improved transportation
systems.
An object of the present invention is to provide a rapid transit
system using to advantage a curved track.
A specific object of the present invention is that the rapid
transit system may use existing right of ways, and passenger
facilities of airports, railroads and bus lines as well as existing
roads.
Another specific object of the present invention is that the rapid
transit system may be used simultaneously with existing
railroads.
Another specific object of the present invention is to provide
improved means and techniques whereby an improved rapid transit
system results.
The features of the present invention which are believed to be
novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This
invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of
operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof,
may be best understood by reference to the following description
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a system embodying
features of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a section taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 but of a modified form of the
invention.
FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 2 but of another modified form of the
invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates still another form of the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates another form of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the streamlined generally tubular shaped vehicle 10 is
guided for movement on a curved track which bears the entire weight
of the vehicle and its cargo and/or passengers and may comprise a
single section or two sections 11A, 11B, as illustrated, separated
by a small trench 12 if desired.
These tracks 11A, 11B may be of concrete and may be secured in the
ground or form a part of a trestle supported by a series of posts
14. In some instances the track may be in the form of a tube
forming a tunnel or bridge through which the vehicle 10
travels.
The vehicle 10 is generally of conventional construction except
that the pairs of wheels comprising, for example, the wheels 20 and
21 have their planes of rotation intersecting at a central point 24
within the vehicle which is above the center of gravity point 26 of
the vehicle.
The curvature or surface of the track sections 11A, 11B is such
that it corresponds substantially to the arc of a circle drawn with
the point 24 as a center. The plane of rotation of such wheels 20,
21 remains substantially perpendicular to a tangent on such arc
drawn at the point of intersection of the wheel with the track and
thus when the vehicle travels around curved lengths of the track
the vehicle may ride up and down the track sections 11A, 11B as
indicated by the curved arrows 30, 31 to allow the center of
gravity point 26 to rotate about the center point 24 such that
equilibrium conditions may be automatically established with
respect to centrifugal forces developed on such vehicle in its
travel around such curved lengths of track. In other words, when
the vehicle is driving in a turn, it will automatically rise on the
curved track in such a way that the angle between the vehicle
center line and the vertical gravity vector or component results in
a force balance of the gravity and centrifugal forces on the
vehicle.
If desirable to operate at lower wheel loadings at high speeds, the
vehicle can be furnished with aerodynamic wings 40 as indicated in
FIG. 3 to create a lift preferably up to but not equal to or larger
than the vehicle weight.
Also, the upper portion of each track 11A, 11B may be formed with
an inwardly extending rail member 11D as a safety measure for
retention of the vehicle in its trough so formed under all
conditions.
An additional wheel 42, in addition to and intermediate each wheel
pair 20, 21 may be added and in such case the track 11 may be a
solid mass formed with spaced water drain channels 11E.
Advantages of the present invention also involve the considerations
that it can use existing passenger facilities of airports,
railroads and bus lines and indeed may be located around existing
railroad tracks 50, 51 as seen in FIG. 4 wherein the track sections
11A, 11B are anchored adjacent to ends of the conventional railroad
ties 52 upon which railroad tracks 50, 51 are laid. The railroads
can then be used simultaneously for both conventional trains and
the curved track vehicle 10.
Another form of the invention involves the hanging monorail
construction shown in FIG. 5 wherein the end of the supporting
structure 60 is formed with a curved track 60 A having an upper
concave surface 60 B and a lower concave surface 60 C engaged
respectively by individual ones of a plurality of wheel pairs 64,
65 rotatably supported on a corresponding framework 66 extending
upwardly from the cabin portion of vehicle 67. In this case, the
planes of rotation of wheels 64, 65 not only intersect but are
coextensive and correspond generally to the vertical axis of the
vehicle. The track 60A is curved as previously to allow automatic
positioning of the center of gravity in turns to compensate for
centrifugal forces.
The vehicle 67 of FIG. 5 may be provided with aerodynamic wings as
illustrated at 40 in FIG. 3 and excessive lift forces are then
controlled by the wheel 65 engaging surface 60 C. In some cases the
track 60 A need have only the curved surface 60 B and the wheel 65
may be eliminated. The track 60 B may be provided with side rails
60 F, 60 G to assure retention under all conditions. Another
feature of the invention is that the vehicles of FIGS. 1- 4 may be
used for transport on conventional flat road surfaces in which case
the axis of rotation of the wheel pairs 20, 21 are made
coextensive. For these purposes one end of each of the axles 20 A,
21 A of wheels 20, 21 are pivoted on a support 70 at 71 and 72
respectively, the other ends of such axles 20 A, 21 A being
connected respectively to the piston 75, 76 of hydraulic rams 77,
78.
Thus the position of these hydraulic pistons 75, 76 may be adjusted
to adapt the wheels 20, 21 for travel in the curved trackway as
described above or on level ground.
In FIG. 6 the track 100 on which the vehicle 102 travels in a tube
that completely surrounds the vehicle 102.
This tube has an inner wall of radius R measured, of course, from
the center point 104.
The vehicle 102 is uniquely related to the geometry of this tube
100 in that the planes of rotation of the vehicle wheels intersect
at a common point which is the center point 104 of the tube. This
is indicated by the dotted lines 107, 108, and 109 representative
of the planes of rotation of these wheels.
The wheels 102 A, 102 B, and 102 C are fixed for that purpose for
rotation on corresponding wheel axles 120, 121, 122 which are
rigidly supported on the vehicle chassis 125 by the series of
streets 130, 131, 132, and 133.
The vehicle in its movement in straight sections of the tube track
100 has the plane of rotation of the center wheel 102 B extending
vertically, and the vehicle floor is horizontal. In travel in
curved sections of the tube, there is a shifting of the vehicle in
response to centrifugal forces. The center of gravity 15-0 of the
vehicle is below the tube center 104. The shifting of the center of
gravity is such that there is a balance between centrifugal and
gravity forces corresponding to a self-banking position.
Advantages of this FIG. 6 system involves safety, weather
protection, placement underground, and in some cases stacking in
the sense that one such tube may be positioned above another like
tube track.
While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been
shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art
that changes and modifications may be made without departing from
the invention in its broader aspects.
* * * * *