Abstract: A primary of a linear induction motor has a plenum formed on its upper surface to receive cooling air from a fan. The upper surface of the core is formed with fins to promote cooling. Air flows from the plenum to side housings in which the end turns are located. A deflector plate directs air from the plenum over the end turns of the windings. Exhaust slots are provided in the housing above the end turns and a baffle between the housing and the end turns promotes flow through the end turns as it moves toward the exhaust slots.

Abstract: A truck is braced by diagonal struts that are clamped to one another at their intersection. The clamp includes a pair of plates each having a channel to receive one of the struts. An elastomeric member is located between the struts and the plates to permit some flexibility in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A controller for a linear induction motor primary includes sensors to measure motor operating parameters which allow the thrust developed by the linear induction motor to be determined. In one embodiment, a microprocessor receives the output of the sensors and determines the thrust developed by the linear induction motor. The microprocessor also performs operations to determine an updated supply voltage frequency which will cause the linear induction motor to develop thrust having a magnitude closer to the maximum thrust point of the linear induction motor at the given motor speed if the determined thrust is less than the maximum thrust. The microprocessor monitors the output of the sensors continuously so that the supply voltage frequency is updated continuously. This permits the linear induction motor to develop thrust near to or at its maximum thrust point regardless of changes in the ambient temperature or the linear induction motor secondary characteristics at any given speed.

Abstract: A primary for a linear induction motor is formed from laminae which are bolted together. The bolts are located in protuberances on the opposite edge to the teeth so as to be outside the path of substantial flux penetration.

Abstract: A railway truck for a railway vehicle which has steerable axles has axle bearings supported by support pedestals. Each support pedestal is located longitudinally by a flexible bar element which aallows the pedestal sufficient vertical movement to accommodate varying load conditions and also allows rotation about a horizontal axis which is not coincident with the axle bearings but restrains horizontal movement fore and aft of the rotational axis. A steering assembly reacting to relative rotational movements between the truck and the vehicle permits pivoting of the support pedestals about the horizontal axis. The tipping of the pedestal moves the axle bearing in the fore and aft direction which effectively rotates the axle about a vertical axis so as to guide the axle of the railway truck into radial alignment with respect to a curved track. The structure has the effect of an "inverted" pendulum, that is a pendulum with negative restoring force.

Abstract: A vehicle for a freight transportation system has a platform with end walls located at opposite ends. A pair of doors are pivotally connected to the end walls and are pivotal upwardly between closed and open positions. The doors are held in the closed position by a latch that includes a release member projecting laterally from the door. Upward movement of the release member releases the latch and allows the doors to be moved to the open position.

Abstract: A deceleration zone in a linear motor in-track transit system is provided. The transit system includes a guideway and at least one vehicle carrying a linear motor secondary moveable along the guideway between a freight loading station and a freight unloading station. Linear induction motor (LIM) primaries are disposed along the guideway at spaced intervals to provide thrust to the vehicles. Deceleration zones are designated at certain segments of the guideway wherein reduced speed of the vehicles is required. The deceleration zones include a plurality of spaced permanent magnet decelerators located along the guideway adjacent the vehicle entrance end of the deceleration zone. The decelerators cause eddy currents to flow in the linear motor secondaries carried by vehicles passing thereover due to the magnetic interaction between the decelerators and the linear motor secondaries. The eddy currents result in a retarding thrust being supplied to the vehicles.

Abstract: A transit system implementing a reduced voltage braking scheme is provided. The transit system includes a guideway extending between freight loading and freight unloading stations. Freight carrying vehicles are moveable along the guideway between the stations. The guideway is divided into a number of blocks with each block including at least two linear motor primaries located along the guideway at spaced intervals. A controller is associated with each block and communicates with the linear motor primaries as well as with sensors positioned along the guideway within the block. The controller is in communication with the controllers in the adjacent upstream and downstream blocks and provides an occupied signal to the upstream block when a vehicle is detected in the block.

Abstract: Stopping zones in a linear motor in-track transit system are provided. The transit system includes a guideway and at least one vehicle moveable along the guideway between freight loading and unloading stations. Stopping zones are designated at certain segments of the guideway where it is necessary to stop a vehicle. The stopping zones include a primary brake in the form of a linear motor primary which is operable under normal conditions to stop the vehicle in the stopping zone at a designated stopping point when the vehicle enters the stopping zone. The linear motor primary is also operable to restart a vehicle it has stopped. A secondary brake is also provided along the guideway within the stopping zone and is spaced from the primary brake. The secondary brake typically remains inoperative but is also capable of stopping a vehicle within the stopping zone when the vehicle travels beyond the designated stopping point due to failure or malfunction of the primary brake.

Abstract: A linear induction motor (LIM) secondary is provided. The LIM secondary includes a thermally and electrocally conductive non-ferromagnetic top cap having one side defining a substantially smooth, continuous planar surface to be spaced from a LIM primary. The other side of the top cap has a plurality of evenly spaced fins projecting therefrom. The fins project otrhogonally from the other side of the top cap and extend longitudinally along the length of the top cap, thereby defining a plurality of separated longitudinally extending channels. Bars of magnetizable back iron are disposed in the channels and extend substantially along the length thereof. Each of the bars is fastened to the top cap via a single centrally located fastening pin. The fins project beyond the exposed surface of the bars to define air channels and also to provide structural reinforcement for the LIM secondary to counter distortion of the top cap resulting from heat and/or electro-mechanical stress.

Abstract: A chassis for an articulated vehicle comprises a pair of chassis portions pivotally connected to a central longitudinal beam. The beam is supported by inboard wheelsets and the chassis portions are supported by outboard wheelsets. Each portion is hinged intermediate its ends to permit elevation of one end relative the other. A body is supported on the wheelsets.

Abstract: A freight transportation system is provided and comprises a loading station, an unloading station and a vehicle moveable therebetween to transport freight. The vehicle includes a lower platform for carrying freight and a pair of doors moveable between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the doors constitute side walls to prevent removal of the freight from the vehicle. In the open position, the doors are located to facilitate removal of the freight from the vehicle. The unloading station includes a door moving mechanism for moving the doors of the vehicle to the open position upon its arrival at the station. A freight removal device moves the freight off of one side of the platform when the doors are moved to the open position.

Abstract: A train comprising a plurality of interconnected revenue carrying vehicles is provided. Each of the vehicles includes a controller for controlling the various sub-systems in the vehicle. When the vehicles are coupled to form a train, the controller in one of the vehicles operates as a master and controls the operation of the other vehicles in the train. The controllers in the other vehicles operate as slaves and are responsive to control signals generated by the master. Software is included in the controllers to allow the master role to be transferred between vehicles without disabling the train.

Abstract: A centering mechanism for a tunnel of an articulated vehicle includes a pair of control members connected to opposite ends of a transversely extending arm. The members extend to transverse links that connect spaced portions of the adjacent vehicle bodies and act as a torque transmitting linkage through a cross-over link pivoted on one of the vehicle bodies. The members are connected at the midpoints of the transverse links so that they are displaced one-half the relative displacement of the vehicle bodies as they negotiate vertical curves and thereby maintain the tunnel centered.

Abstract: A freight transportation system is provided and comprises a loading station, an unloading station and a vehicle moveable therebetween to transport freight. The vehicle includes a lower platform for carrying freight and a pair of doors moveable between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the doors constitute side walls to prevent removal of the freight from the vehicle. In the open position, the doors are located to facilitate removal of the freight from the vehicle. The unloading station includes a door moving mechanism for moving the doors of the vehicle to the open position upon its arrival at the station. A freight removal device moves the freight off of one side of the platform when the doors are moved to the open position.

Abstract: A flexible drive coupling for transmitting rotational forces between respective flanges of a driving shaft and a driven shaft. The flexible drive coupling has, in a substantially planar circular configuration, a number of wedges. The wedges have respective end faces facing the adjacent wedges and connected thereto by flexible elements. Alternate wedges attach respectively to the flanges of the driving and driven shafts. The flexible elements consist of a link between two end plates. The mating faces of the link and the end plates are curved so that they co-operate one with the other. An elastomeric filler occupies the space between the curved surfaces of the end plates and the links permitting each end plate to pivot with respect to the link by deforming the elastomeric filler. The end faces of the wedges and, the corresponding faces of the end plates of the flexible elements which face them, have co-operating tabs and recesses to prevent relative radial and axial movement.

Abstract: This invention applies the linkage connected between the interaxle yokes of a truck and a railroad vehicle car body so as to create radially steered alignment of wheelsets on circular curves without reference to the truck frame. Forces exchanged between the wheelsets and the car body are essentially longitudinal and no significant lateral forces are created on the truck frame or car body from the steering action. The steering linkage utilizes the longitudinal component of relative motion of a point on the car body with reference to the vehicle truck to cause relative pivotal movement of the interaxle yokes thereby guiding the wheelsets to a radial alignment. Radial alignment is achieved by suitable proportioning of the links of the mechanism.

Abstract: An articulated vehicle has two body portions which are pivotally connected and supported on a frame. First and second wheelsets are pivotally mounted to and support the frame. The third and fourth wheelsets are provided for supporting the other ends of the first and second body portions, remote from the frame. A steering arrangement comprising a detecting device and a guiding device are provided, which can be in the form of a mechanical linkage. The first detecting device detects changes in the angle between the frame and the first body portion, while a second detecting device detects changes in the angle between the frame and the second body portion. Corresponding first and second guide devices respond to the detected angles; the first guide device guides the first and third wheelsets to radial alignment, while the second guide device guides the second and fourth wheelsets to a radial alignment.