Rotatable Bridge Switch For Trackless Air Cushion Vehicle

Abstract

A bridge switch with a body having a right triangular cross section is positioned between a main guideway and a pair of other guideways for rotation about a canted axis passing through the center of gravity of the body. A pair of guideway sections are provided and the body extending in different directions and each is positioned on one of the right angle sides of the body and carrying a reaction rail. A pair of containers are mounted on the body and a pump and motor arrangement is provided for transferring liquid from one container to the other at will to rotate the body to align each of the guideway sections with the main guideway and one of the other guideways to define a pair of switch positions. Solenoid locking pins are provided for locking and provided for locking and unlocking the body in each of the switch positions. A rotary dash pot connected to the body pivot limits rotational velocity of the body when rotated. Dash pots are utilized for stopping rotation of the body at each of the switch positions.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The wide, continuous platform, with its long protruding reaction rail down the center, utilized by trackless air cushion vehicles, precludes the use of switching arrangements heretofore employed by conventional wheeled trains. Thus, it would be desirable to provide trackless air cushion vehicles with a switching arrangement that will permit the vehicles to pass easily and quickly from a main guideway portion to through or branch portions.

A suitable switch for such vehicles would utilize a rotatable bridge between the guideway portions which is triangular in cross section construction and has one switching arrangement on one side of the triangular bridge, and another switching arrangement on the other normal (90.degree.) side. By rotating the bridge 90.degree., not 180.degree., the switching function would be accomplished. In addition, the axis of rotation would be canted to minimize the rotating bridge width. This would provide a minimum weight configuration and simple construction with constant width bridge cross sections throughout its entire length.

Provision would be made for balancing the bridge such that the axis of rotation would be coincident with its center of gravity. A means would be provided for exerting large rotational torques on the bridge to easily and quickly rotate it through the 90.degree. rotation positions. Provision would be made for limiting the rotational rate of the bridge as well as gently stopping it when it reaches its desired switch positions.

Locking and unlocking of the bridge in its various switch positions, as well as a means for quickly preparing the bridge for rotation from one switch position to another would also be provided. Such a switch system for trackless air cushion vehicles is provided by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A rotatable bridge switch for trackless air cushion vehicles having a body with two sections of guideway extending in different directions, the body being rotatable positioned between a main guideway portion and a pair of other guideway portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing of a preferred embodiment of the rotatable bridge switch arrangement in accordance with the present invention positioned for permitting trackless vehicles to pass from a main guideway portion to one of a pair of other guideway portions;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing of the rotatable bridge switch of FIG. 1 positioned for permitting vehicles to pass from the main guideway portion to the other guideway portion;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the arrangement of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view along the lines 5 -- 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view along the lines 6 -- 6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view along the lines 7 -- 7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view along the lines 8 -- 8 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a view along the lines 9 -- 9 of FIG. 4 with a showing of the relationship between the moment arm and the angles of rotation of the bridge switch, which is helpful to the understanding of the invention ;

FIG. 10 is a table relating the angles of rotation and the actual and average moment arms of the bridge switch also helpful to the understanding of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing of another embodiment of the rotatable bridge switch of the present invention positioned for permitting trackless vehicles to pass from a main guideway portion to one of a pair of other guideway portions; and

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 - 9, there is shown a main concrete guideway portion 10 and a portion 12 for a trackless air cushion vehicle 14, the portions being supported on the ground by concrete guideway piers 16 and 18, respectively. The portions 10 and 12, which carry reaction rail portions 20 and 22, respectively, are in line with each other, and are separated by a rotatable bridge switch portion generally designated by the numeral 24 which will hereinafter be more fully described. Another portion 26 of guideway abuts the portion 24. The portions 10 and 12 also carry power collection rail portions 28 and 30, respectively, which are in line with each other.

The rotatable bridge switch portion 24, the purpose of which is to cause the vehicle 14 to pass at will from the portion 10 to the portions 12 or 26, essentially comprises a body 29 of triangular cross section construction, a pair of liquid containers 33 and 35, and an electric motor and pump arrangement 37 connected to the containers.

The body 29 is pivotally supported at both ends for rotation about a canted rotational axis 31 by rods 32 and 34 positional through holes provided in pillow blocks 40 and 42, respectively. The pillow blocks 40 and 42 are positioned on the guideway piers 16 and 18, respectively. The body 29 carries a straight reaction rail portion 44 and a power collection rail 46 on one side defining one reaction of guideway and which are adapted for alignment in the through traffic switch position with the reaction rail 22 and power collection rail 30, respectively, of the portion 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. On the other right angle side of the body 29 there is also provided a curved reaction rail 48 and a power collection rail 50 also adapted for alignment with the reaction rail 52 and power collection rail 54, respectively, of the portion 26, and defining another section of guideway, as shown in the switch position of FIGS. 3 and 4. The curved reaction rail 48 is typically curved on a radius of 1500 feet, a radius of curvature found to be especially suitable to the accommodation of trackless air cushion vehicles.

The containers 33 and 35, which are adapted to contain a liquid, such as water 55, are positioned on the body 29 so that the body is balanced with the axis of rotation 31 passing through the center of gravity 56 when the containers are empty of liquid. It will be appreciated that at low temperature a suitable antifreeze solution could be utilized instead of the water 55. Thus, filling of the top container 33 with the liquid 55, for example, creates a rotational torque that will rotate the body 29 through the desired 90.degree. rotation to establish the switch position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Similarly filling the container 35 by means of the electric motor and pump 37 with liquid 55 from the container 33 serves to rotate the body 29 to the second switch position depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Provision is made for limiting the rotational velocity of the bridge switch body 29 in the form of a conventional, readily available rotary dash pot 57 mounted on the end of pivot rod 32 and pillow block 40. An end travel dampener in the form of a dash pot 58, which could be a rubber bumper, is mounted on the portion 12 as best shown in FIG. 5, for gently stopping the body 29 in the switch position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Likewise a pair of dash pots 60 and 62, mounted on the portions 10 and 26, respectively, best shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, serve to stop the body 29 in the switch position of FIGS. 3 and 4.

Locking and unlocking of the body 29 in the switch position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is accomplished by the provision of an electric solenoid actuated locking pin 64 on the portion 10 adapted for operation in any well known manner from a remote position (not shown) to engage or disengage at will a hole 66 provided in a plate 68 carried by the body 29. A similar pin 70 carried by the portion 12 serves to lock and unlock the other end of the body 29 by engagement and disengagement with a hole 72 of a plate 74 mounted on that end of the body 29. In the switch position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, locking and unlocking is accomplished by the pin 64 engageable and disengageable with a hole 76 carried by the plate 78 mounted on that end of the body 29. The other end of body 29 is similarly locked and unlocked at will by the solenoid locking pier 80 carried by the portion 26 and the hole 82 in the plate 84.

In the switch position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the elevated container 33 is full of liquid 55 while the container 35 is empty. The rotatable bridge switching sequence is initiated by merely retracting the locking pin 64 from the hole 76 and the locking pin 80 from the hole 82. The unbalancing counterclockwise torque due to the mass of liquid 55 in the container 33, at a 10 foot moment arm, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, starts rotation of the body 29. Table I of FIG. 10 shows the average moment arm of both containers 33 and 35 is greater than eight feet through 75.degree. of the entire 90.degree. of rotation. In a contemplated application of the invention, 2,000 pounds of liquid 55 would generate a tongue in excess of 1,600 foot/pounds, which would rotate a 150,000 pound bridge body 29 through 90.degree. of rotation in less than 25 seconds. It will be apparent from FIG. 9 that the containers 33 and 35 are so positioned on the body 29 that the moment arm of clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the body is nearly constant for the first 60.degree. of rotation then drops rapidly for the remainder of travel. The rotary dash pot 57 limits the angular velocity and the end travel dampeners 58 and 60 bring the body 29 to rest. The locking pin 70 is now actuated to engage the hole 72, as well as the pin 64 to engage the hole 66 to lock the body 29 in the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 allowing through traffic to pass from the portion 10 to the portion 12. Meanwhile, the liquid 55 is pumped from the container 33 to the container 35, which has been elevated, by means of the electric motor and pump arrangement 37 to thus prepare the rotatable bridge switch-to-switch from the switch position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Once the transfer of liquid 55 is completed, the reverse switching sequence may be initiated when desired by retracting the locking pins 64 and 70 from their respective holes 66 and 72. This time the bridge rotation would be clockwise to assume the position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Typically a 2-house power pump provided in the arrangement 37 could be expected to accomplish transfer of 2,000 pounds of liquid 55 between the containers 33 and 35 in less than 30 seconds.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate yet another embodiment of the present invention which provides a yoke exit configuration and wherein the rotatable bridge is only one-half the length of the bridge of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 - 9, since the reaction rails carried thereon are both curved and formed on equal radii. The numeral 90 designates the main guideway for trackless air cushion vehicles which carries a reaction rail 92 and power collection rails 94 and 96 and is supported on a guideway pier 98, best shown in FIG. 12. The guideways 102 and 104 consist of two portions each, the branch 102 being formed of portions 106 and 108, whereas the guideway 104 consists of portions 110 and 112, the portions all being supported on guideway piers 114 and 116, as shown in FIG. 12. The portions 106 and 108 carry a continuous power collection rail 118 and a reaction rail 120 positioned to provide a 4.degree. exit angle. Likewise the portions 110 and 112 carry power collection rail 122 and reaction rail 124, also positioned for a 4.degree. exit angle, as shown best in FIG. 11.

The rotatable bridge switch, generally designated by the numeral 126, essentially comprises the body 128, also of triangular cross section, which is schedmatically shown positioned for rotation about a canted axis of rotation 130 in a marine similar to the body 29 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 - 9. Similarly, the body 128 carries a reaction rail portion 132 and a power collection rail 134 on one side. The reaction rail 132 is curved on a 1,500 foot radius and is adapted to align with the reaction rails 92 and 120 in the switch position shown in FIG. 11 to divert traffic to the guideway 102. Likewise, the power collection rail 134 aligns with the power collection rails 94 and 118. On the other right angle side of the body 128 there is provided another similarly curved reaction rail portion 136 and power collection rail 138. The reaction rail 136 aligns with the reaction rails 92 and 124 when the body 128 is rotated 90 degrees to assume the switch position diverting vehicles to the guideway position 104. Similarly, the power collection rail 138 aligns with the power collection rails 96 and 122 in this switch position.

It will be apparent that several embodiments of rotatable bridge switches have been described which are well suited for use with trackless air cushion vehicles or conventional vehicles such as trains or cars. Obviously many modifications and variations of this invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims

I claim:

1. A rotatable bridge switch for vehicles comprising:

a body with two sections of guideway extending in different directions, said body being rotatably positioned between a main guideway and a pair of other guideways,

said body being rotatable about a vertically canted axis that passes through the center of gravity of the said body with the lower end of the axis pivotally connected to the opposite pair of guideways.

2. The rotatable bridge switch of claim 1 wherein said body has a right triangular cross section.

3. The rotatable bridge switch of claim 2 wherein said guideway sections are each positioned on one of the right angle sides of said body.

4. The rotatable bridge switch of claim 1 wherein each of said guideway section carries a reaction rail.

5. The rotatable bridge switch of claim 4 wherein one of said reaction rails is curved and the other straight.

6. The rotatable bridge switch of claim 4 wherein both of said reaction rails are curved.

7. The rotatable bridge switch of claim 1 further comprising means mounted on said body to provide first a relatively large, constant, then small moment arm for rotating said body at will to align each of said guideway sections with said main guideway and are of said other guideways to define a pair of switch positions.

8. The rotatable bridge switch of claim 7 wherein said rotation means comprises a pair of containers mounted on said body, and a pump and motor means connecting said containers for transferring liquid from one to the other of said containers to rotate at will said body to either of said switch positions.

9. The rotatable bridge switch of claim 7 further comprising means carried by said body and the guideways for locking and unlocking at will said body in each of said switch positions.

10. The rotatable bridge switch of claim 7 further comprising means carried by said guideways for stopping rotation of said body at each of said switch positions.

11. The rotatable bridge switch of claim 1 further comprising means for limiting rotational velocity of said body.

12. A rotatable bridge switch for vehicles comprising:

a right triangular cross section body positioned between a main guideway and a pair of branch guideways, for rotation about a vertically canted axis passing through the center of gravity of said body with the lower end of the axis pivotally connected to the main guideway and the elevated end of the axis pivotally connected to the opposite pair of branch guideways;

a pair of guideway sections on said body extending in different directions, said guideway sections each being positioned on one of the right angle sides of said body and carrying a reaction rail;

means mounted on said body for rotating said body at will to align each of said guideway sections with said main guideway and are of said branch guideways to define a pair of switch positions;

means carried by said body and the guideways for locking and unlocking at will said body in each of said switch positions;

means for limiting rotational velocity of said body; and

means carried by said guideways for stopping rotation of said switch postions.