Abstract: A track for vehicles which is particularly adapted for amusement park rides having a plurality of banked curves. The track comprises a pair of track rails connected to a lower backbone pipe. In curved sections, the plane of the track rails extends at varying banked angles around the course line of the track. In such sections, the distances between the plane of the track rails and the backbone pipe varies in direct relationship to the bank angle of the curve. The distance between the plane of the track rails and the course line remains constant. The plane of the backbone pipe also remains parallel to the plane of the course line. The course line is preferably disposed a substantial distance above the plane of the track rails.

Abstract: A self-propelled car and load-conveying container on the car travel along a track system having horizontal and vertical track runs with bends or curves between such runs, and having inside and outside corner bends or curves between horizontal track runs . The track system also has switches to connect the system between various stations at various locations on the same or different building floors. The track is generally channel-shaped with spaced rail heads at the extremities of the channel legs. The channel web always has vertical orientation for the horizontal and vertical track runs and bends. The track is formed in sections, and the rail heads have replaceable wear strips. The track sections and wear strips have staggered, non-registering joints. Car travel control strips are mounted at desired locations on the track. Spring-pressed, rounded-groove guide wheels support the car on the track. Car movement control brushes are mounted on the car engageable with the control strips.

Abstract: A transportation system includes a pair of rails spaced transversely of an elongated track on which flanged support wheels of a vehicle are adapted for travel along the sides, top or bottom of the track. The support wheels are transversely spaced apart by at least one-half the width or one-half the height of the vehicle and are sloped to respectively lie in planes intersecting at the center of gravity of the vehicle. Accordingly, horizontal forces acting on the vehicle during travel around curves produce no stresses on the wheel flanges but increase direct stress on one set of wheels and decrease direct stress on the other set of wheels.In another embodiment, the wheels are designed to tip parallel to the resultant forces acting on the wheels during horizontal force changes acting on the vehicle.

Abstract: A self steering vehicle for a transportation system including a roadway having a pair of elongated parallel tracks whose shape in cross-section is domed or convex and preferably having a pair of guide flanges positioned outwardly of the tracks, the vehicle having wheels provided with resilient track-engaging means, such as pneumatic tires, and driving means for propelling the vehicle over the roadway. The wheels of the vehicle tend to follow the tracks because of the deformation of the tires if they tend to move laterally off the center portions of the tracks, and the guide flanges engage the tires, upon the wheels having moved off the tracks because of the imposition of excessive side loads on the vehicle, to turn the wheels back onto the tracks.