Abstract: A strong, lightweight monorail guideway assembly for carrying a monorail train vehicle in transport having selectively joined load-bearing rails which are structurally reinforceable on site in relation to support columns holding the track in suspension. Variations in stresses placed on the track are accommodated by the track structure while minimizing overall weight and material consumption. An easily accessible hollow interior provides protection and serviceability for electrical conduit placed therein. A conduit immediately adjacent the running surface may be selectively heated to inhibit icing.

Abstract: A pleasure vehicle which is to be used on a trough-shaped downhill track, includes a vehicle body and a leg support, extending frontwardly therefrom. A plurality of support elements support the vehicle on the downhill track for movement down the track. A plurality of brake shoes are mounted on the vehicle body, for simultaneous displacement by a single actuating lever into and out of braking positions, so that the support elements of the vehicle body are lifted off the downhill track, while the support elements of the leg support continue to guide the vehicle on the downhill track.

Abstract: Track apparatus, consisting of a circular track adapted to be affixed end-to-end around a pipe, usually adjacent an end thereof, to support a carriage apparatus for travel about the pipe, welding equipment, or the like, being mounted on the carriage apparatus for use in welding the pipe to another pipe abutted end-to-end therewith, or for other similar purposes. The track is supported by circularly spaced crossbars each provided with inwardly projecting spring biased pins upon which the crossbars are supported. A latch device for affixing the ends of the track together is provided. The track has frictional engagement means around its outwardly facing surface for engagement by drive wheels of the carriage apparatus.

Abstract: An elongate formable drive rail for carrying a working apparatus having a toothed drive gear and support elements is provided in the form of a narrow elongate strip of metal having a regular series of corrugations extending lengthwise of the strip intermediate its edges and adapted to be engaged by the toothed drive gear while the edges of the strip engage the support elements.

Abstract: A vehicle is supended on a pair of slotted rails of tubular shape. The vehicle has a plurality of support members sloping downwardly from the sides of the car and having running gear thereon engaging within the rails through the slots. The vehicle is preferably of light weight materials and provided with some form of aerodynamic means to provide lift as the vehicle passes through the air along a right of way. The running gear includes rolling friction means designed to function in any event from low speed with maximum weight to negative gravity at high speeds.

Abstract: A carriage guidance system is disclosed which employs an endless track defining upper and lower parallel track-ways adapted to receive guide rollers mounted on a carriage for rotation about vertical coplanar axes. The track also defines an intermediate track-way adapted to receive horizontal support rollers mounted on the carriage plate. The track-ways and carriage rollers cooperate in a manner to increase the allowable manufacturing and assembly tolerance range, and facilitate relatively easy removal of the carriage plate from the guide track.

Abstract: Apparatus for roll-stabilizing a vehicle broadly includes a compound physical pendulum operatively arranged to sense the lateral and angular acceleration of the vehicle attributable to an applied disturbance torque, and an inertia wheel arranged to be accelerated in the appropriate angular direction to exert a reaction torque on the vehicle to oppose the disturbance torque. The compound physical pendulum has a rigid dumbbell-shaped member mounted for frictionless pivotal movement between opposing discharge nozzles of a hydraulic amplifier. The hydraulic amplifier produces a differential control pressure in response to the acceleration forces acting on the pendulum, and this control pressure is used to operate a servovalve. The servovalve produces a drive pressure which is supplied to a hydraulic motor to accelerate the inertia wheel in the appropriate angular direction.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for transporting heavy equipment such as welding current generators, a prime mover therefor, and associated devices or supplies, on and along a pipeline, the pipeline serving as a monorail. The apparatus, of elongated construction along the pipeline, is supported at one end and propelled along the line by power driven traction means engaging the top part of the pipeline. The opposite end of the apparatus is supported on a pair of laterally spaced swivel mounted wheels which engage the sides of the pipeline laterally away from and somewhat below the top of the line. The latter wheels give lateral support and stability to maintain the apparatus in a substantially upright position on the pipeline. Sensing means, such as a pendulum, mercury switch means, or equivalent, detect incipient tilting or motion towards instability and are used to steer the swivel mounted wheels, either directly or indirectly.

Abstract: A switching arrangement for an elevated track having upper and lower rails includes a pair of first upper and lower switch beams at a switching interruption along the track, the beams being movable from a position of rail alignment with the upper and lower rails to a position shifted toward on another. For switching a rail vehicle to a secondary track, a pair of second upper and lower switch beams are provided at the switching interruption for movement toward and away from one another between a position out of rail alignment with the upper and lower rails to a position into alignment therewith when the first beams are shifted toward one another.

Abstract: There is disclosed a monorail transport apparatus for transport of golf equipment in golf links, comprising a transport vehicle body provided with a caster wheel rollable on a monorail, a driving vehicle body equipped with a prime mover and partly received in and pivotally connected to the front portion of the transport vehicle body so as to be swingable around the axis of a transverse shaft, a driving wheel and a driven wheel disposed on both sides of the transverse shaft, an endless driving belt entrained around the driving and driven wheels and pressed against the upper surface of the monorail, and an auxiliary wheel pivotally connected to the driving vehicle body so as to be swingable around the axis of the transverse shaft and pressed against the lower surface of the monorail, the arrangement being such that the transport apparatus travels while holding the monorail from above and below between said driving belt and the auxiliary wheel, thereby achieving increased hill climbing ability and increased trav

Abstract: A track for combined monorail and overhead monorail having a power supply and control tracks consisting of a U-shaped rail section having inwardly extending flanges at its upper sides for receiving the rollers or wheels of the accessory device. At least one shoulder section is formed on the lower surface of the bottom portion of the U-shaped rail section as well as on the upper surface of the upper inwardly extending flange so that the track can be mounted on a suitable support or suspension structure.

Abstract: A transit system for urban and inter-urban use is provided which comprises a plurality of electrically energized helicopters which are tethered to and powered from a pair of rails. The rails are supported in a track structure which is constructed to extend above the normal traffic on the streets and roadways. Power is supplied to each helicopter through a flexible cable which also serves to tether the helicopter to the track and which allows the helicopter a measure of vertical and horizontal movement. The cable is supported on a trolley which moves along the track, and the cable is retractable, so that it moves in and out of the helicopter, or trolley, as the helicopter is maneuvered.

Abstract: A toy train system providing a plurality of sections of rigid and flexible track members and a switching device for selectively connecting one of the members together. The switching device includes a pair of stationary rings and a rotatable ring with the flexible pieces of track extending between them and selectively registerable with the rigid track members at one of them. Self powered cars are equipped to travel the tracks in upside down condition, upright or on their side, the tracks being especially formed to receive the cars and maintain their security regardless of their oriented condition.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for supporting load bearing, sharply curved girders, particularly for use in a transportation system. The sharply curved girders are supported only at their ends, even for those of substantial length, so as to reduce the number of vertical supports for the girders. This is achieved by providing a relatively short cross-support for the girder extending from the vertical support through the girder at each end thereof, with that cross-support or console having one end bearing on the vertical support and the other end forming a portion of a pivot bearing positioned on the inside of the curve of the girder. A crossbeam rigidly connected to the vertical support also extends transversely of each girder end and forms the opposite portion of the pivot bearing. Thus, torsional forces tending to twist the outside of the curve of the girder downwardly under load is compensated by the pivot bearing which provides a twisting force in the opposite direction.

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: The specification discloses a transport system comprising a track including a horizontal top rail with a vertical web extending below the rail. A canted surface extends between one edge of the horizontal rail and the web. A support member extends angularly from the vertical web opposite the canted surface of the track. A transport unit is mounted on the track and includes motorized wheels rotationally supported on the unit for tracking along the surface extending angularly from the web. Counterbalance wheels are rotationally supported on the unit for tracking the canted surface of the track. The unit has its center of gravity outside the contact surfaces between the motorized and counterbalance wheels and the track and to the side of the web face on which the motorized wheels track. The transport unit is adapted to channel air between the underside of the main body of the unit and the horizontal rail of the track to lift the transport unit thereby relieving the loading of the unit on the track.

Abstract: Bending beam arrangement for use in supporting elevated trains and the like, and method of making same. The profile member beam is formed as a composite structure having steel profilemember and a concrete profile member connected thereto. The concrete profile member is disposed and configured so as to maximally absorb the compression forces experienced by the bending beam while minimizing the total cross sectional area of the concrete so that the overall weight of the bending beam is maintained at a minimal level. By absorbing the compressive forces on the composite beam and thereby preventing buckling of the steel beam, a thin walled steel beam construction can be utilized hence substantially only significant tensile forces need be accommodated thereby. Various preferred geometrical embodiments are included with means being provided in each embodiment to accommodate supporting and guiding of an elevational or suspended train vehicle for movement therealong.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a trench revetment device which includes a hollow post having a wall facing the interior of a trench and with the wall having a generally centrally disposed slot therein. A guiding head is carried by the post for receiving the end of one or more bracing studs and to position such braking stud or studs longitudinally of the post. The guiding head includes a head member disposed within the post and carrying sets of rollers facing in opposite directions and engaging opposite surfaces of the slotted wall. The head member also carries a support element for mounting a bracing stud with the support element extending through the slot.

Abstract: A roadway for rapid transit railways comprises concrete or reinforced concrete piers supporting an all steel support or suspension structure for the support and/or suspension as well as guiding of the vehicles.