Having Movable Track Element For Slot-guided Vehicle Patents (Class 104/130.09)
  • Patent number: 10144438
    Abstract: A traveling bogie includes a steerable wheel, a bogie main body configured to support the steerable wheel, a guide apparatus pivotally supported by the bogie main body and turned by receiving a reaction force from a guide rail, a steering mechanism configured to apply a steering force to the steerable wheel using the reaction force received by the guide apparatus, and an assist mechanism configured to apply an auxiliary steering force for assisting with the steering force from the steering mechanism to the steerable wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINEERING, LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihide Yanobu, Hiroyuki Kono, Akihisa Kawauchi, Kousuke Katahira, So Tamura
  • Patent number: 8714092
    Abstract: A switch system for a guided automatic transit vehicle (GATV) is adapted for maintaining a first path of travel or for redirecting the first path of travel of the GATV. The switch includes a continuous guide having a first end and a pivotable second end opposite the first end. The continuous guide has a first edge with a first edge profile and a first continuous sidewall and a second edge with a second edge profile and a second continuous sidewall. A pivot point having a pivot axis is provided at the pivotable second end. The switch system pivots about the pivot point from a first position and a second position. In the first position, the switch system maintains the GATV along the first path of travel via the first continuous sidewall. In the second position, the GATV travels along a second path via the second continuous sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventor: Douglas Vincent Heitzenrater
  • Publication number: 20130199404
    Abstract: A switch system for a guided automatic transit vehicle (GATV) is adapted for maintaining a first path of travel or for redirecting the first path of travel of the GATV. The switch includes a continuous guide having a first end and a pivotable second end opposite the first end. The continuous guide has a first edge with a first edge profile and a first continuous sidewall and a second edge with a second edge profile and a second continuous sidewall. A pivot point having a pivot axis is provided at the pivotable second end. The switch system pivots about the pivot point from a first position and a second position. In the first position, the switch system maintains the GATV along the first path of travel via the first continuous sidewall. In the second position, the GATV travels along a second path via the second continuous sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION GMBH
    Inventor: Douglas Vincent Heitzenrater
  • Patent number: 8074577
    Abstract: Structure of a bifurcation site and crossover site of a guideway in a guided vehicle transportation system; in which the guideway consists of left and right roadbeds, a depression between the roadbeds, and a guard rail having a U-shaped groove laid down on the depression; and a fail-safe mechanism is constituted by the guard rail and guard wheels attached to the vehicle; is proposed. The vehicle is equipped with automatic steering mechanisms for steering front and rear wheels and guard wheels supported laterally rotatably by front and rear supporting arms which are supported laterally rotatably underside the vehicle. The guard wheels are received in the groove of the guard rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunji Morichika, Katsuaki Morita, Masahiro Yamaguchi, Kosuke Katahira, Yasuhiro Nagamichi
  • Patent number: 7669533
    Abstract: The connection guide for a rail transport apparatus is provided with a first direction control guide and a second direction control guide such that when the transport vehicle travels in a forward direction, after the guiding operation of the first direction control guide is released the transport vehicle is guided by the second direction control guide, wherein a forward shift guide abuts a guide roller of the transport vehicle during the shift operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Muratec Automation Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Senzo Kyutoku
  • Patent number: 7640863
    Abstract: A track system for storage and retrieval of materials for use with warehousing vehicle that rides upon tracks in horizontal configuration for storage locations, and that is capable of switching to and riding a sloped track to ascend or descend vertically. A set of transition exchanges allows the vehicle to access multiple levels of storage “flooring” or shelving. The exchanges use ramps, or movable sections of railway, that may be moved out of the way of a set of wheels of the vehicle, while other ramps are set in place to provide support to some wheels of the vehicle, whereby the vehicle may selectively either travel along the elevator track, or to move between elevator track and level storage locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Inventor: Marcus C. Minges
  • Publication number: 20090217839
    Abstract: A device comprising a guide having a first pair of substantially parallel running surfaces, which are placed along a first track at a lateral distance apart, and a second pair of substantially parallel running surfaces, which are placed along a second track at a lateral distance apart. The second pair of running surfaces extends, at a crossing or junction, transversely to the first pair of running surfaces. A carrier is displaceable over at least the running surfaces and has a bearing axle, extending transversely to the running surfaces, for fastening of a load, which bearing axle extends between the running surfaces. The device, close to the crossing junction, has a transport mechanism. The transport mechanism is movable between a take-up position in the first track, for load-bearing engagement with the carrier, and a delivery position in the second track, for release of the carrier. The invention further relates to a rail system and a transport mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: Espero B.V.
    Inventors: Adrian Banks, Ruud Kaandorp
  • Publication number: 20080127851
    Abstract: The connection guide includes a first direction control guide which is provided on the other side of its width direction and extends in the extending direction; and a second direction control guide which is provided on one side of its width direction, apart from the first direction control guide by the interval area and extends in the extending direction. When the transport vehicle travels in a forward direction, after the guiding operation of the guide rollers of the traveling unit by the first direction control guide is released, by carrying out the shift operation, the traveling unit is shifted such that the guide roller of the traveling unit is guided by the second direction control guide. The forward shift guide having the abutting surface abutting on the guide roller during the shift operation is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: ASYST TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN, INC.
    Inventor: Senzo KYUTOKU
  • Patent number: 6279484
    Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for actuating a switch guide beam swinging laterally between two or more fixed guide beam ends, in order to make a route selection for a beam guided vehicle. The moving guide beam pivots distantly of the primary fixed guide beam end to create a gap spanned by an intermediate suspended channel plate guide segment that provides substantially two equal lateral deflections to the moving vehicle for a route diversion in a storage yard or repair shop area. The mechanism for high speed or main line operation has two additional channel plate guide segments slidably guided at each end of the guide segment centrally affixed on the straddle beam and pivoted at the primary beam fixed end and the merge point on the radially moving swing guide beam to provide four substantially equal lateral deflections to the moving vehicle when a route diversion is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Inventor: John B. Shaw