U.S. patent number 3,841,225 [Application Number 05/194,576] was granted by the patent office on 1974-10-15 for inertia switching.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Docutel Corporation. Invention is credited to Ivan E. Johnson.
United States Patent |
3,841,225 |
Johnson |
October 15, 1974 |
INERTIA SWITCHING
Abstract
High speed switching of a track mounted moving vehicle from one
direction to another is completed by a divert mechanism attached to
the vehicle chassis. Four springs bias a divert arm of the divert
mechanism into one of two stable positions. A cam wheel mounted to
each side of the divert arm engages a divert ramp located alongside
one rail of the track layout to switch the divert mechanism into a
desired stable position. To change from one direction to another,
the divert mechanism is switched into one of the stable positions
and a divert wheel engages a divert plate that guides the vehicle
into the desired direction. For fail-safe operation, a series of
divert ramps are located around the track layout to direct the
vehicle along a substantially straight path upon a power failure.
These fail-safe divert ramps position the divert mechanism to a
prearranged pattern.
Inventors: |
Johnson; Ivan E. (Richardson,
TX) |
Assignee: |
Docutel Corporation (Dallas,
TX)
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Family
ID: |
26677261 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/194,576 |
Filed: |
November 1, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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7675 |
Feb 2, 1970 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
104/130.01;
105/215.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61L
23/005 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B61L
23/00 (20060101); E01b 025/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;104/88,105,96,130
;105/215 ;214/63 ;246/359X |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Sheridan; Robert G.
Assistant Examiner: Keen; D. W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Richards, Harris & Medlock
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 7,675, filed Feb. 2,
1970 now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout
having divert ramps and divert plates arranged at change of
direction locations, comprising:
a divert arm rotatably mounted to the undercarriage of said vehicle
along a longitudinal axis thereof and having two stable
positions,
divert means attached to one side of said divert arm in a position
to engage a selected arrangement of said divert plates with the arm
in one of the two stable positions,
second divert means attached to the opposite side of said divert
arm in a position to engage another selected arrangement of said
divert plates with the arm in the second of the two stable
positions, and
actuating means attached to said divert arm to engage said divert
ramps to rotate the divert arm to one of the bistable positions
depending on the desired direction of the wheeled vehicle.
2. Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout as
set forth in claim 1 including means for mechanically biasing said
divert arm into the two stable positions thereof.
3. Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout
having divert ramps and divert plates arranged at change of
direction locations, comprising:
a divert arm mounted to the undercarriage of said vehicle and
having two stable positions,
first divert means attached to one side of said divert arm in a
position to engage said divert plates with the arm in one of the
two stable positions,
second divert means attached to the opposite side of said divert
arm in a position to engage said divert plates with the arm in the
second of the two stable positions,
actuating means to engage said divert ramps to change said divert
arm to one of the bistable positions depending on the desired
direction of the wheeled vehicle, and
biasing means including at least one spring at each side of said
divert arm for biasing said arm into the stable positions
thereof.
4. Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout as
set forth in claim 3 wherein said actuating means includes a cam
mounted to said divert arm to force said arm from one stable
position to the other when engaging one of said divert ramps.
5. In a transportation system wherein wheeled vehicles travel
around a track layout having change of direction locations, the
combination comprising:
a plurality of divert plates attached to said track, one of said
plates positioned at each of the change of direction locations,
a plurality of divert ramps positioned adjacent said tracks, one of
said ramps located preceding a divert plate at the change of
direction locations,
a divert arm rotatably mounted to the undercarriage of each of said
vehicles along a longitudinal axis thereof and having two stable
positions,
first divert means attached to one end of said divert arm in a
position to engage said divert plates with the arm in one of the
two stable positions,
second divert means attached to the opposite end of said divert arm
in a position to engage said divert plates with the arm in the
second of the two stable positions, and
actuating means to engage said divert ramps to change the divert
arm to one of the bistable positions depending on the desired
direction of the wheeled vehicles.
6. In a transportation system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the
plurality of divert ramps are divided into a fixed ramp group and
an adjustable ramp group, the adjustable ramp group being
positionable to engage said divert means upon being actuated by a
control signal.
7. In a transportation system as set forth in claim 6 wherein each
adjustable ramp includes means responsive to a control signal to
extend a ramp to a divert position.
8. A transportation system wherein wheeled vehicles move around a
track layout having change of direction locations, the combination
comprising:
a plurality of divert plates attached to said track, one of said
plates positioned at each of the change of direction locations,
a plurality of divert ramps positioned adjacent set tracks, one of
said ramps located preceding a divert plate at the change in
direction locations,
a divert arm rotatably mounted to the undercarriage of each of said
vehicles along a longitudinal axis thereof and having two stable
positions,
first divert means attached to one end of said divert arm in a
position to engage said divert plates with the arm in one of the
two stable positions,
second divert means attached to the opposite end of said divert arm
in a position to engage said divert plates with the arm in the
second and the two stable positions,
actuating means to engage said divert ramps to change the divert
arm to one of the stable positions depending on the desired
direction of the wheeled vehicle, and
a fail-safe ramp at each change of direction location where a
vehicle may move in one of two directions, said fail-safe ramp
engaging said actuating means to cause said vehicle to continue
along a straight path on a failure of a control signal source.
9. Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout
having divert ramps and divert plates arranged at change of
direction locations, comprising:
a divert arm having an outline in the general shape of a rectangle
and rotatably mounted to the undercarriage of said vehicle along a
longitudinal axis thereof,
a divert wheel attached at each corner of the divert arm,
means for biasing said divert arm into one of two stable positions,
and
actuator means mounted on each side of said divert arm, said
actuator means positioned to engage said divert ramps to change the
divert arm to one of the bistable positions depending upon the
desired direction for the wheeled vehicle.
10. Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout
as set forth in claim 9 wherein said biasing means includes at
least one spring at each end of said divert arm.
11. Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout
as set forth in claim 10 including damper means connected between
said divert arm and the undercarriage of said vehicle to stabilize
said divert arm as it rotates from one stable position to the
other.
12. Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout
having divert ramps and divert plates arranged at change of
direction locations, comprising:
a first divert wheel having two stable positions at one side of the
undercarriage of said vehicle in a position to engage said divert
plates when in one of two stable positions,
a second divert wheel having two stable positions at the opposite
end of the undercarriage of said vehicle from said first divert
wheel in a position to engage said divert plates when in one of two
stable positions,
support means for mounting said first and second divert wheels to
the undercarriage of said vehicle and interconnect the movement of
said wheels between the two stable positions thereof,
a first actuator carried by said support means on the side of the
vehicle undercarriage as said first divert wheel and movable
therewith between the two stable positions thereof, for engaging
divert ramps of the track layout depending upon the desired
direction of the wheeled vehicle, and
a second actuator carried by said support means on the side of the
vehicle undercarriage as said second divert wheel and movable
therewith between the two stable positions thereof, for engaging
divert ramps of said track layout depending upon the desired
direction of the wheeled vehicle.
13. Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout
as set forth in claim 12 wherein:
said first actuator engages the divert ramps to change the second
divert wheel into a divert plate engaging position, and
said second actuator engages the divert ramp to change the first
divert wheel into a divert plate engaging position.
14. Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout
as set forth in claim 12 wherein:
said first actuator extends from said support means in a direction
away from the center of the vehicle undercarriage, and
said second actuator extends from said support means in a direction
away from the center of the vehicle undercarriage.
15. In a transportation system including a track layout having
change of direction locations, the combination comprising:
divert plates positioned around said track layout at each change of
direction location,
a plurality of divert ramps positioned adjacent said tracks, one of
said ramps located preceding a change of direction location,
and
a wheeled vehicle including:
a. a first divert wheel having two stable positions at one side of
the undercarriage of said vehicle in a position to engage said
divert plates when in one of two stable positions,
b. a second divert wheel having two stable positions at the
opposite side of the undercarriage of said vehicle from said first
divert wheel in a position to engage said divert plates when in one
of two stable positions,
c. support means for mounting said first and second divert wheels
to the undercarriage of said vehicle and interconnect the movement
thereof between the two stable positions,
d. a first actuator carried by said support means on the side of
said undercarriage as said first divert wheel and movable therewith
between the two stable positions thereof for engaging divert ramps
of the track layout depending on the desired direction of the
wheeled vehicle, and
e. a second actuator carried by said support means on the side of
said undercarriage as said second divert wheel and movable
therewith between the two stable positions thereof for engaging
divert ramps of the track layout depending upon the desired
direction of the wheeled vehicle.
16. In a transportation system as set forth in claim 15 including a
fail-safe ramp at each change of direction location of the track
layout where a vehicle may move in one of two directions, said
fail-safe ramp selectively engaging said first actuator and said
second actuator to cause the wheeled vehicle to continue along a
straight path upon a failure of a control signal source.
17. In a transportation system as set forth in claim 15
wherein:
said first actuator of the wheeled vehicle engages said divert
ramps to change the second divert wheel into a divert plate
engaging position, and
said second actuator of the wheeled vehicle engages said divert
ramps to change the first divert wheel into a divert plate engaging
position.
18. In a transportation system as set forth in claim 15 wherein
said divert ramps include means for actuating said ramp from a
position of nonengagement with said first and second actuators to a
position of engagement with said actuators.
Description
This invention relates to vehicle guidance, and more particularly
to inertia switching of a high speed, track mounted, vehicle.
Heretofore, to switch a high speed vehicle from movement along one
direction to movement along a second direction, complicated and
bulky moving-track arrangements were employed. In addition to the
maintenance problems associated with these moving-track mechanisms,
they are relatively slow-moving devices due to their size and
weight. This seriously curtails the amount of traffic that can be
carried by a track layout due to spacing requirements between
vehicles to allow for movement of the switching mechanism. In
addition to limiting the amount of traffic that can be carried on a
track layout, the moving-track switching device necessitates
careful vehicle surveillance to insure that a vehicle does not
approach a change of direction location with the switch thrown in
the wrong direction from the one desired.
An object of the present invention is to provide high speed
switching of a moving vehicle. Another object of this invention is
to provide a switching mechanism that uses vehicle inertia to
change directions. Yet another object of this invention is to
provide vehicle switching that minimizes interference with the flow
of other vehicles around a track layout. Still another object of
this invention is to provide a vehicle mounted switching mechanism.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide fixed track
switching of moving vehicles. A further object of this invention is
to provide a fail-safe switching mechanism.
In accordance with the present invention, a wheeled vehicle is
guided around a track layout having divert ramps and divert plates
arranged at change of direction locations. A divert arm mounted to
the undercarriage of the vehicle is pivotally mounted and has two
stable positions. A pair of divert wheels are attached to opposite
sides of the divert arm in a position to engage the divert plates
when the divert arm is in one of its two stable positions. To
change the divert arm from one stable position to the other, a cam
wheel is also mounted to each side of the divert arm. This wheel is
arranged to engage the divert ramps located around the track
layout.
In a more specific embodiment of this invention, a vehicle
supported on a two-rail track by means of load bearing caster
wheels is guided around the track layout by movable divert ramps
that engage a divert mechanism pivotally mounted to the
undercarriage of the vehicle. At each change of direction location
around the track layout, there is mounted a divert plate which
engages a divert wheel as part of the divert mechanism. To change
the direction of a moving vehicle at a change of direction
location, the divert ramp at that location is activated to engage a
cam wheel to switch the divert mechanism to the desired stable
position. The desired stable position of the divert mechanism is
that one which will cause the horizontal divert wheel to engage the
divert plate at the change of direction location. For fail-safe
operation, a series of fixed divert ramps are mounted at each
change of direction location to switch the divert mechanism into
the stable position that causes the vehicle to move along a
straight path.
A more complete understanding of the invention and its advantages
will be apparent from the specification and claims and from the
accompanying drawings illustrative of the invention.
Referring to the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial of a baggage handling cart that is guided
around a track layout by means of the divert mechanism of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the cart illustrated in FIG. 1 showing
the divert mechanism;
FIG. 3 is a front view of the cart of FIG. 1 partially cutaway to
illustrate the divert mechanism in one of its two stable
positions;
FIG. 4 is also a front view of the cart of FIG. 1 partially cutaway
to illustrate the divert mechanism in a position to change the cart
direction;
FIG. 5 is a view of one of the bias springs for the divert
mechanism taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a view of opposite bias spring for the divert mechanism
taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a schematic of the divert mechanism of the present
invention;
FIG. 8 is a schematic of a track section showing the divert
mechanism operation;
FIG. 9 is a side view of one form of a movable divert ramp;
FIG. 10 is a top view of the movable divert ramp of FIG. 9 with the
ramp cutaway;
FIG. 11 is a side view of a cart passing a divert ramp location
where the ramp is in a lowered position;
FIG. 12 is a side view of a cart passing a divert ramp location
where the ramp has been actuated to a raised position; and
FIG. 13 is a simplified track layout having change of direction
locations each with a movable divert ramp and a fixed divert
ramp.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a baggage handling cart 10 on a
two-rail track layout 12. Motive power for the cart 10 is derived
from linear induction motors 14 which are energized to provide
forward thrust to the cart. Although only one cart is illustrated
on the track layout 12, a complete system would include a number of
the baggage handling carts. Each individual cart includes a slider
plate (not shown) attached to the underside of the cart chassis.
When the linear motor 14 is energized, it produces magnetic thrust,
which when applied to the slider plate, provides forward movement
to the cart 10.
To change the direction of travel of the cart 10 as it moves around
the track layout 12, an inertia switching divert mechanism is
mounted to the underside of the cart chassis. The switching
mechanism is contained in the cart chassis instead of the track, so
that no moving parts are required as part of the track. The only
parts on the track layout 12 required for cart switching are the
divert plates 11. This approach permits a single cart, moving at
full speed, to be switched from the main line without interfering
with the flow of the other carts.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the underside of the chassis
for the cart 10 including the inertia switching divert mechanism.
The chassis 16 may be a unitary cast construction that includes
various mounting locations for the apparatus for supporting and
guiding the cart. Mounted directly to the chassis 16 are four
load-bearing caster wheels 18 which ride on top of the rails of the
track 12. Also mounted directly to the chassis 16 are four capture
wheels 20 which engage an angle plate under each of the rails of
the track 12. In addition to the load-bearing and capture wheels,
the slider plate 22, shown partially cutaway, is also attached to
the chassis 16. The slider plate 22 is attached to the chassis by
means of four slider mounting brackets, two of which (24 and 26)
are shown attached by means of machine screws.
The divert mechanism itself includes a divert arm 28 pivotally
mounted along a longitudinal center axis of the chassis 16 by means
of support brackets 30 and 32. Basically, the divert arm 28 has a
rectangular outline with four divert wheels 34 located at the four
corners of the rectangle. Each of the wheels 34 is attached to the
divert arm 28 by means of wheel mounting brackets 36. As best
illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the divert wheels 34 are mounted on
an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the divert arm
at the point of attachment.
With the divert arm 28 mounted as illustrated and explained, it is
free to pivot between the limits illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The
two positions illustrated are defined as the two stable positions
of the divert arm. To stabilize the divert arm into these two
positions, four overcenter springs 38 are mounted to the chassis 16
at the four corners of the divert arm 28. These four springs
provide a snap action to the divert arm 28 as it pivots between its
two stable positions.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown in detail the spring
biasing mechanisms for the divert arm 28. The solid line
illustrates the divert arm in the position shown in FIG. 3 and the
dotted line illustrates the position shown in FIG. 4. In
particular, there is shown the spring biasing mechanism for the
overcenter spring 38d and the mechanism for the overcenter spring
38b. For the spring 38d, a spring hanger 144 attaches to the
chassis 16 and an overcenter shaft 146 is rotatably mounted in the
spring hanger. One end of the overcenter spring 38d is held in
position by the overcenter shaft 146. The shaft 146 includes a
transverse aperture through which a rod 148 of a spring holder 150
is free to move. The holder 150 is coupled to the divert arm 28 by
shaft 152. A similar mechanism is provided for the overcenter
spring 38b. A spring hanger 154 attaches to the chassis 16 and
carries a pivot shaft 156. Shaft 156 includes a transverse aperture
through which a rod 158 of a holder 160 is free to move. The holder
160 attaches to the divert arm 28 by means of a shaft 162. Spring
38b is positioned between the shaft 156 and the holder 160.
In operation, as an upward force is exerted on a cam wheel 46, the
springs 38b and 38d are compressed as the rods 158 and 148 pass
through the shafts 156 and 146, respectively. The maximum
compression of the springs 38b and 38d occurs when the respective
shafts 158 and 148 are in a horizontal position. An upward force on
the cam wheel 46 is required until this point.
After the holder 150 rotates to a position above the shaft 146 and
the holder 160 rotates to a position below the shaft 156, the
stored energy of the compressed spring causes the arm 28 to pivot
to the dotted line position. The two stable positions of the arm 28
are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. To switch the arm into the solid line
position from the dotted line position, an upward force is exerted
on a cam wheel 48 by a divert ramp. The action of the spring
mechanisms is the same as described. It should be noted that four
overcenter springs 38 are provided. The four springs tend to
balance the forces exerted on the divert arm 28.
To dampen the motion of the divert arm 28, two dampers 44 are
provided on each side of the arm, as shown in FIG. 3. Damper shafts
40, mounted to the divert arm 28, pass through the dampers 44 and
engage the dampers when the divert arm is raised in the position
shown by the dotted lines of FIG. 5.
As explained, the divert arm 28 snaps from one of its stable
positions to the other by an upward force on the cam wheel 46 which
is fixed to one side of the divert arm and snaps to its second
stable position by an upward force exerted on the cam wheel 48
which is fixed to the opposite side of the arm. The cam wheel 46 is
attached to the divert arm by means of a cam horn 50 and the cam
wheel 48 is attached to the divert arm by means of a cam horn
51.
The cam wheels 46 and 48 cause the divert arm 28 to snap between
its two stable positions by engaging a divert ramp positioned
alongside one rail of the track 12. Referring again to FIG. 3 and
assuming the cart 10 is moving into the plane of the paper, the cam
wheel 46 approaches a divert ramp 52 which has been extended to
engage the wheel. As the wheel engages the ramp 52, an upward force
is exerted to compress the springs 38c and 38d to cause the divert
arm 28 to rotate to its second stable position, as illustrated in
FIG. 4. With the divert arm 28 in the position illustrated in FIG.
4, the divert wheels 34 located on the right side of the cart 10
will engage a divert plate 54 attached to the rail 12R. In this
position, the divert wheel 34 will guide the cart 10 in the
direction of the divert plate 54.
The operation of divert mechanism is better understood by referring
to the schematic diagrams of FIGS. 7 and 8. A divert arm 56 is
pivotally mounted to a chassis 58 along a longitudinal axis in a
direction parallel to rails 60 and 62 of a track layout. The
chassis 58 is supported on the rails 60 and 62 by caster wheels 64
and 66. Note, the caster wheels are not flanged, but run on the
flat upper surface of the supporting rails. Thus, the rails 60 and
62 do not actually guide a vehicle as in the case of a flanged
wheel.
Also attached to the chassis 58 are capture wheels 68 and 70 which
engage angular portions of the rails 60 and 62, respectively. These
capture wheels basically serve the same purpose as flanges in the
usual construction of support wheels for a track mounted vehicle.
They maintain the caster wheels 64 and 66 properly positioned on
the rails 60 and 62.
With the divert arm 56 in the position shown, a divert wheel 72a is
in engagement with a divert plate 74 attached to the rail 62. In
this position, and with the vehicle moving in the direction of the
arrow 76, of FIG. 8, the divert wheels 72a and 72b will pull the
vehicle from the main track section 78 to the spur track section
80. Note that with the wheels 72a and 72b in engagement with the
divert plate 74, the divert wheels 82a and 82b, attached to the
left side of the divert arm 56, will pass over the divert plate 84
attached to the left rail of the main track section 78.
After the vehicle has passed the divert plate 74, the divert arm 56
will remain in the stable position illustrated until the cam wheel
87 engages a divert ramp at some other location along the track
layout.
If instead of approaching the track section of FIG. 8 with the
divert arm 56 in the position shown, the divert arm was in its
second bistable position, the divert wheels 82a and 82b would
engage the divert plate 84. In this situation, the divert wheels
72a and 72b will pass over the divert plate 74 and the cart
continues to move along the main track section 78. By employing the
divert plate 84 at a change of direction location, the vehicle is
positively guided in the desired direction.
A vehicle will move around a track layout changing directions where
desired by means of the divert wheels engaging a divert plate.
Whether a cart will move to the left or right depends on whether
the right divert wheels or the left divert wheels are in the lower
of the stable positions. If the right wheels are in the lower
position, the cart will move to the right, and if the left divert
wheels are in the lower position, the cart will move to the left.
The direction of the diversion depends on the position of the
divert arm which is controlled by divert ramps positioned alongside
the track layout, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is shown a side view and top
view of the divert ramp 52. A ramp 86 (partially cutaway in FIG.
10) is rotatably mounted to vertical side plates 88 and 90 by means
of a shaft 92. The ramp 86 includes a depending web member 94
having an elongated slot 96 formed therein. A roller 98 is retained
to move in the slot 96 at the end of a push arm 100. The push arm
is rotatably supported by the side plates 88 and 90 on a shaft 102
and coupled to a push rod 104 by means of a clevis 106. The push
rod 104 connects to a piston (not shown) as part of a double acting
cylinder 108. Cylinder 108 is mounted to a base plate 110 by a
shaft 116 supported by foot brackets 112 and 114. The entire
structure of the side plates 88 and 90 and the ramp 86 are mounted
to the base plate 110.
Air pressure for operating the cylinder 108 is supplied through
flexible hoses 118 and 120 to the front and rear, respectively, of
the cylinder. Control of the air pressure to the cylinder 108 is by
means of a solenoid valve 122 mounted to the base plate 110 and
selectively energized from a central control station (not shown)
which may include a computer. The solenoid valve 122 connects to a
source of air pressure through a tube 123.
In operation, the divert ramp of FIGS. 9 and 10 is located adjacent
one rail of a track layout as illustrated by the divert ramp 52 in
FIGS. 3 and 4. When the control station calls for the divert arm 28
to be switched from the position illustrated in FIG. 3 to that
illustrated in FIG. 4, an energizing signal actuates the solenoid
122. Actuating the solenoid 122 opens a valve to connect a source
of air pressure (not shown) to the front chamber of the cylinder
108 through the hose 118. This causes pressure to build up in the
front chamber of the cylinder 108 to force the piston rod 104 into
a fully retracted position. Retracting the piston rod 104 rotates
the push arm 100 clockwise around the shaft 102 thereby causing the
roller 98 to be forced up and forward in the elongated slot 96. The
roller 98 rotates in an arc about the shaft 102 and thus raises the
ramp 86 to an extended position, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
As the cam wheel 46 engages the extended ramp 86, it produces an
upward force against the springs 38c and 38d to switch the divert
arm 28 into the stable position illustrated in FIG. 4.
After the cart 10 has passed the location of the divert ramp 52,
the solenoid 122 is de-energized from the central station thereby
applying air pressure to the rear chamber of the cylinder 108 and
venting the front chamber. This causes a pressure build-up in the
rear chamber thereby pushing the platon rod 104 to its fully
extended position. The ramp 86 is retracted to the position
illustrated in FIG. 9 by action of the push arm 100 and the roller
98.
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, there is shown a side view of a cart
10 as it passes the divert ramp 52. When the solenoid valve 122 is
de-energized, the ramp 52 will be in a retracted position as
illustrated in FIG. 11. As the cart 10 moves past a retracted
divert ramp, the cam wheel 46 passes over the ramp 86 and the
divert arm 28 remains in one of its stable positions.
Upon receiving an energizing signal from the control station, the
solenoid valve 122 applies air pressure to the cylinder 108 to
raise the ramp 86 to the position illustrated in FIG. 12. As the
cart 10 now approaches the divert ramp 52, the cam wheel 46 engages
the ramp 86 and the divert arm 28 is rotated from one stable
position to the other. If the divert arm 28 had been in its second
stable position as it approached the divert ramp 52 of FIG. 12, the
cam wheel 46 would clear the ramp 86. In this case the arm 28 would
have been in the desired position and no switching was
required.
In addition to positionable divert ramps, a track layout also
includes fixed ramps for curve track sections and for fail-safe
operation. Referring to FIG. 13, there is shown a simplified track
layout including six change of direction locations. The divert
ramps 124 through 127 are fixed ramps that always cause the divert
arm 28 to rotate to one of the stable positions as a result of
passing these ramps. Fixed ramp 126 is required to guide a vehicle
around the curve 128. On the inside of each curve in the track
layout, there is located a divert plate to guide the vehicle around
the curve. Fixed ramps 124, 125 and 127 are for the purpose of
fail-safe operation of the track system. Upon the occurrence of a
malfunction in the system, such as a power failure, all the movable
ramps are retracted and the fixed ramps set the divert arms of the
various vehicles such that they would proceed along a straight
path, where possible. For example, if a power failure occurs as a
vehicle is approaching the change of direction location 130, the
cam wheel on the right side of the vehicle engages the fixed ramp
124 to cause the divert wheels on the left side of the vehicle to
be in the lower of two positions to engage a divert plate along the
straight track section. As the vehicle continues to coast to the
change of direction 132, the fixed ramp 125 engages the left cam
wheel of the vehicle to cause the right divert wheels to engage a
divert plate on the straight through track section. If the vehicle
is still moving as it approaches the change of direction location
134, the left cam wheel of the vehicle will engage the fixed ramp
127 to cause the right divert wheel to engage a divert plate on the
straight through track section. As the vehicle approaches the
change of direction location 136, the divert wheel on the right
side of the vehicle is positioned to engage the divert plate at the
straight through track section and a fixed ramp is not required.
Thus, when a change of direction location follows a change in the
same direction, a fixed divert ramp is not required for the second
location for fail-safe operation.
To divert a moving vehicle from a straight through direction at any
of the change of direction locations, a positionable divert ramp is
required. For the track layout of FIG. 13, the divert ramps 138
through 142 are positionable. To change a moving vehicle from a
straight through direction at any of the direction locations, the
solenoid valve of the appropriate divert ramp is energized to cause
the ramp to be extended, as illustrated in FIG. 12.
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in
detail herein, and shown in the accompanying drawings, it will be
evident that various further modifications are possible.
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