Abstract: A vehicle transport system and accompanying guide device designed to serve in automated warehouses has a guide rail that guides the transport vehicle. The transport vehicle has a carrying platform. The vehicle runs along the rail astride it and linked by connecting guides. The guide rail is located beneath an upper surface of the carrying platform so that material carried thereon can be transferred across the rail to staging areas on the other side of the rail. By locating the vehicle astride the rail, the guide rail, which projects upwardly from the floor, does not interfere with access to the carrying platform. In an embodiment of the invention, the drive wheel of the vehicle is located at a longitudinal midpoint of the transport vehicle to minimize the parasitic effects on the guides connecting the vehicle to the rail generated by application of traction forces, applied by a drive wheel, to the side of the rail.

Abstract: A personal rapid transit vehicle for movement on a monorail guideway system advantageously limits the vehicle width by requiring the riders to be seated in the vehicle. Furthermore, a suspension system for coupling the vehicle to the guideway provides for a very light, narrow driverless vehicle in which the riders face sideways and are suspended laterally from and seated over the guideway. The suspension system controls lift, slip and roll of the vehicle relative to the guideway and allows a reduction in the guideway cross-sectional area. Moreover, the guideway, rather than the vehicle itself, absorbs all overturning or roll vibration.

Abstract: The invention comprises a replaceable power unit and transportation system for a dual-mode vehicle, such as an electric car which can operate on built-in batteries and by way of power supplied by a running rail. The vehicle moreover comprises road wheels for moving on a roadway as well as rail wheels for moving on a railway. The railway is a substantially triangular profile wherein the vehicle includes a downwardly facing rail interface extending in the longitudinal direction. The power unit forms an elongate unit which is adapted to be mechanically and electrically connected to the vehicle by mounting it in the rail interface.

Abstract: A mass transit system provides an on-demand transportation system including private vehicles to provide point to point non-stop transport from a first passenger station to a second station within an area serviced by the system. The system includes a plurality of self-propelled passenger vehicles with each vehicle suitable to transport a plurality of passengers. A network of interconnected tracks including main tracks and holding tracks are provided. The main tracks provide the main conduits for the passenger vehicles to move within the network, while the holding tracks provide a location to hold unoccupied vehicles that are available to be dispatched for passenger transport. The system also provides a plurality of passenger stations wherein each station is removed and decoupled from the main tracks. In addition to the main tracks and holding tracks, ramps are included to enable passenger vehicles to move between the respective passenger stations and the main tracks and the holding tracks.

Abstract: A track system for roller-equipped carriers to run along a straight and/or curving guide rail, which includes two pairs of opposed parallel plain lanes, a pair of oppositely directed parallel V edges intermediate the two pairs of plain lanes, and narrow lubricating grooves along each V edge. Each carrier has a frame and roller assemblies, each having a pair of ball bearings mounted on a journal, spaced apart from each other and beveled oppositely on their adjacent outer race corners, so that the base areas of V edges engage between the beveled corners, and the top areas of V edges remain free within the space between the outer races in each pair, the outer races mostly rolling on the plain lanes. Each curving rail segment is provided with straight extensions formed on both ends to be connected to straight rail segments.

Abstract: A transportation system including a vehicle support structure (21), a vehicle (22) supported thereon, and elongated semi-rigid fin (44) attached to the vehicle (22) and a plurality of drive assemblies (45) positioned along the support structure (21) to frictionally engage and drive the fin (44). The fin (44) is sufficiently rigid for support of compressive loads, for example, in braking and acceleration, without lateral buckling, and moreover, the fin (44) is sufficiently rigid to assist in steering of the vehicle (22). The fin (44) preferably is not a continuous or endless member, but extends several vehicle lengths in front of the vehicle (22) for steering and most preferably several vehicle lengths behind the vehicle (22) for propulsion and braking. A flexible traction belt (86) optionally can be coupled in tandem with the fin (44) to provide an endless loop propulsion system.

Abstract: The linear motion rolling guide unit has a top seal secured to the casing which comprises a pair of lip seals that are in sliding contact with side areas of the upper surface of the track rail. The lip seals each have a pair of lip portions that incline from a base portion outwardly toward the sides of the casing. Because the lip portions are spaced a predetermined distance from each other, their sealing actions are not affected by each other, effectively preventing further ingress into the raceway grooves of foreign matters that have entered into the slider. When the pressure in the raceway grooves is increased by the supplied grease, the lip portion on the outer side is pressed with an increased force against the upper surface of the track rail, effectively preventing leakage of the grease.

Abstract: A system for moving a work element along a work surface for performing work thereon includes an elongated track of flexible plastic material formed with gear teeth along one edge thereof. A carriage having a drive motor and a drive wheel driven thereby, is moved along the track by the drive wheel engaging the gear teeth. The drive wheel is connected to the drive motor by an eccentric cam mechanism. The work element is carried by the carriage and preferably is a high-pressure fluid cutting device. The track is formed of a flexible plastic material such as a linear high density polyethylene, enabling it to bend and conform to the work surface, and has a second elongated strip of plastic material movably secured to the track and extending longitudinally therealong. A series of magnets are mounted on the track for adhering the track to the work surface. The magnets are attached to the track by fasteners extending through slotted openings in the second strip of the track when conforming to the work surface.

Abstract: An improved monorail-type track section for use in a material handling and sortation system in which one or more train-type trolleys or cars runs along the track between various sortation and handling stations. The track section comprises a substantially hollow, vertical support member terminating at an upper end in an upper transverse leg defining upper wheel bearing surfaces on each side of the support, and terminating at a base end in a transversely extending base leg defining lower wheel bearing surfaces on each side of the vertical support. The upper and lower wheel bearing surfaces are angled to trap upper and lower wheel assemblies on a trolley in a torsionally stable mounting arrangement. The spacing of the upper wheel bearing surfaces is less than that of the lower wheel bearing surfaces, such that removal of the upper wheel assemblies allows the entire trolley to be lifted vertically off the track section with clearance for the lower wheel assemblies.

Abstract: A safety system for restraining and preventing a person from falling off an elevated structure such as a locomotive. The safety system includes a segmented rail structure comprising a plurality of releasable and/or removable rail sections that are supported by a series of rail posts. The rail sections can be released and/or removed in order to provide access to an adjacent locomotive compartment to be serviced. A pair of spring biased support members are attached to each of the rail posts and automatically extend when corresponding section is removed. A moveable trolley apparatus engages the rail sections with a plurality of wheels, and has an extendable arm that can be connected to a lanyard worn by a maintenance person. When extended, the raised support members prevent the trolley from coming off the end of a rail section adjacent to a rail section that has been removed.

Abstract: A toy vehicle system has a vehicle provided with a resiliently biased driven wheel. The wheel is driven by a motor and interposed gears for rotating said driven wheel. The driven wheel is in contact with a lateral side of the track. The motor and driven wheel are mounted on a panel which is positioned for relative movement within a slot in the vehicle pedestal. Track engaging elements, which may preferably be spools, have a pair of rotatable elements in engagement with each side of the track. A pair of resiliently biased electrical pickups is disposed in contacting relationship with the electrically energized track rails. One or more lights may be provided on the vehicle. The vehicle is preferably disposed within a closed hollow enclosure.

Abstract: A linear motor driven transport system of an improved design is presented. The conventional roller configuration for holding the transport vehicle on the rail track has been replaced with a spring-loaded design so as to maintain the contact between the roller and the rail surface regardless of the curvatures in the routing track. Weighing device of an improved direct-loading design is adopted to improve the ruggedness of the device. Devices for controlling the positioning of the transport vehicle, including the carrier, have been simplified and the number of component pieces reduced to lower the cost of manufacturing the transport system. The container and track configurations have also been modified to enable efficient track set-up and loading/unloading of goods in complex track routing in a limited space.

Abstract: The invention is a monotract conveyor which has a pivotal tray which is selectively lockable to either pivot to either side of a track which the conveyor runs on, or to stay in an upright position. The tray is mounted to an upper portion of the conveyor unit which is mounted to the main body of the unit by a male/female key member connection. This connection enables one end of the upper portion to be lifted from lower portion, while the key members lock the upper and lower portions of the other end together.

Abstract: A transportation system comprises a continuous stationary track having a pair of opposed rigid bearing surfaces, and a plurality of discrete cantilevered load-carrying vehicle units movable beside said track. Each vehicle is coupled to the track by a bogie having a linear arrangement of bogie wheels running between the bearing surfaces. The bogie wheels are mounted on mutually articulated frames and have a diameter slightly less than the separation of the opposed bearing surfaces to allow limited pivoting movement of the frames within the track. The adjacent articulated frames are forcibly urged to pivot in opposite directions within the track between the bearing surfaces such that bogie wheels carried thereby forcibly and alternately engage the respective opposed bearing surfaces at at least three points to ensure a pro-loaded positive coupling between the bogie and the track.

Abstract: A safety trolley restraint system for easy attachment to the rail of a railroad track crossing a bridge includes a trolley carriage with opposed rollers clampable to the rail so as to hold the trolley on the rail while permitting rolling movement of the trolley on the rail and provides a movable attachment point for the end of a safety line of a personnel safety harness. The carriage includes two halves pivoted together which may be opened to remove the trolley from the rail and closed and locked to secure the trolley to the rail. The trolley restraint attachment point is preferably swingable from side to side with respect to the rail and includes a swiveling mounted attachment eye for the personnel safety line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a monorail tramcar type conveyor having a driven carriage connected to a free rolling carriage for traveling along the top of the rail. Both the driven and free carriages have a rectangular frame, from which vertical axis guide rollers are cantilevered so as to engage the sides of the rail. The top portion of the frames have a vertical opening which is surrounded by the frame, and the driven and free rolling wheels which ride on the top of the rail are loosely fitted into these openings on the respective driven and free rolling carriages.

Abstract: A trolley for traveling along a beam supported from below and having two protruding flanges comprising a frame that partially surrounds the beam, a travel wheel mounted so that it contacts and rolls on an upper surface of the lower flange of the beam, a second wheel mounted within the frame for gliding the trolley along one of the upper surface of the lower flange or a lower surface of the upper flange and a guide roller mounted within the frame for guiding the trolley along the beam.

Abstract: The bogie (1) features a pair of running wheels (3, 3') running on bearings fastened to a rocking frame (4). The rocking frame is hinged on one side to the bogie and connected on the other side over spring devices (5, 5') with the frame. Hereby the running wheels are located inside a slewing ring resting on the frame. Guide wheels (11, 11' and 12, 12' respectively), each running on bearings attached to a transverse link (13), are provided for lateral guidance along the track. The spring-loaded transverse links swivel horizontally and are hinged to a guide body (14).

Abstract: A linear motor transportation system is constituted by a movable member 11A in the form of a ring and a plurality of cylindrical stationary portions 3B-3E arranged in series to form a cylindrical guide. The movable member has an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the cylindrical guide and is slidably fitted on the cylindrical guide. A transportation table 14 is fixedly secured to the movable member to transport an article 15. A plurality of parallel grooves 3a are formed in an outer surface of the cylindrical guide and the movable member is provided on its inner surface with a corresponding number of rollers 11a, 11b engaged with the respective grooves to stably guide the movable member therealong.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a thin flexible track of spring steel having a series of perforations therethrough for use in conjunction with a variable speed travel carriage having a carriage drive sprocket which is studded about the periphery with balls or spherical members adapted to mesh with the track perforations to drive the carriage along. By this arrangement, greater loads may be driven than was hitherto possible with known flexible-track devices requiring the use of a guide and drive track following the contour of workpiece upon which work is being carried out.

Abstract: A monorail vehicle support system for supporting a vehicle body along a monobeam rail having top and side running surfaces. An attachment frame is secured to opposed ends of the vehicle chassis. A single steerable load carrying wheel is supported in a vertical plane by the attachment frame for support engagement with the top running surface of the rail. A pair of side wheels, having pneumatic tires, are supported spaced-apart in parallel horizontal planes below the carrying wheel and on one side thereof for frictional engagement with one of the side running surfaces of the rail. A load arm secured at one end to an axle of the carrying wheel is provided with an air bag and a levelling system for maintaining the vehicle chassis at a substantially constant level with respect to the beam by compensating for vertical displacement of the pneumatic suspension element (airbag) caused by the load variations.

Abstract: A displacing apparatus includes a moving table provided movably on a guide rail mounted on a fixed base. A guide bar is provided on the fixed base in parallel with the guide rail. The guide bar is formed with a recess. Also provided is a driving roller maintained in contact with the guide bar and driven by a driving source provided on the moving table for moving the moving table. A device is provided on the moving table for generating a contact pressure for maintaining the driving roller in pressure contact with the guide bar at a position on the guide bar opposite to the drive roller. A detector is also provided in relation to the moving table for detecting the position of the moving table. Finally, a device is provided for nullifying the contact pressure. The nullifying device drops the driving roller into the recess of the guide bar to nullify the contact pressure of the drive roller, the drive roller moving on the guide bar.

Abstract: A bicycle monorail system is provided and consists of a series of bicycles which are to be peddled by riders to run about an elevated monorail track having an irregular continuous path. Each bicycle includes a structure thereon to prevent another bicycle from behind to bump into it.

Abstract: A railway carrier apparatus for semiconductor wafers which are contained in a wafer cassette is disclosed. This railway carrier apparatus includes: a carrier for carrying the wafer cassette; a guide rail, disposed along a line of travel of the carrier, for supporting the carrier to guide the carrier along the line of travel; and a drive mechanism for driving the carrier along the line of travel. The carrier includes; a carrier body slidably connected to the guide rail for movement along the guide rail; and a bedplate member, mounted on the carrier body, for supporting the wafer cassette on its upper face. The upper face of the bedplate member is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane in such a manner that one of its opposite side edges is positioned at a higher level than the other side edge.

Abstract: A traveling service unit for an associated textile spinning mill machine may be elevationally adjusted with respect to a reference rail mounted longitudinally along the machine by a feeler guide element pivotably mounted to the service unit in following engagement to the reference guide rail in conjunction with an operatively associated controller connected with vertically adjustable roller support assemblies of the service unit 1 for varying the elevation of the service unit 1 as necessary to compensate for deviations in the pivotal disposition of the feeler guide element with respect to horizontal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a conveyor rail intended for handling individual objects. The rail is composed of straight and curved modules consisting of quadratic sections (1), preferably of aluminium, with chain guides (4, 5, 6, 7) arranged on each side, This enables a single type of curved profile to be utilized for curves in any direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding, selecting and sorting has a coding and feeding unit, a sorting machine and a synchronizing unit. The coding and feeding unit has a keyboard for keying in codes of respective unloading-station destinations of respective items thereat and conveys the items from the keyboard. The sorting machine has a monorail of T-shaped cross section, a plurality of conveying devices for conveying respective items in one direction along the monorail, a chain for moving the conveying devices along the monorail in the one direction one after the other, and pairs of feed rods spacedly parallel to each other, the pairs of feed rods being spaced along the monorail for defining an unloading station at each pair of the feed rods therealong and spaced from the monorail for sliding contact with slidable contacts of each conveying device as it moves therepast along the monorail in the one direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cargo handling system including cargo containers (10) having recesses (68) extending through the lower central region of the containers. The containers straddle and are transported over a route that is formed by four types of conveyor modules: lateral transfer modules (16) which move cargo along a straight line path; turntable/elevator modules (20) for transfer of containers between modules that are horizontally and vertically displaced from one another; ship connector modules (26) for linking shore-bound modules to shipboard modules (28); and shipboard modules for stowage of the containers during transit on a ship.

Abstract: A crane comprising: an elongated support structure arranged to extend generally horizontally during crane operation; a crane chassis; at least one mounting assembly mounting the chassis at least substantially on the top of the support structure for movement therealong during crane operation; and, a hoist carried by the crane chassis, the hoist extending at least substantially entirely laterally of the chassis so as to be cantilevered from the support structure. The support structure has a plate having a pair of shoulders on which the mounting assembly bears and moves along during movement of the chassis along the structure.

Abstract: A welding head base to facilitate the mounting of a welding head assembly thereon for the purpose of welding a joint between abutted ends of a pipe. The base is mounted on the edges of a thin, sheet material, continuous band track and is capable of low frictional movement, through a series of wheel assemblies, relative to the track. Each wheel assembly includes a wheel with each wheel including an enlarged flange to facilitate the mounting of the welding head base onto the track. Mounted on the fixed section of the base is a sprocket assembly with a sprocket wheel that is to be rotatably driven by a motor. The sprocket is to engage with a series of gear teeth formed within the track. The sprocket assembly is to be movable from an operating position (in engagement with the track) to a retracted position (spacing the sprocket wheel from the track). Movement of the sprocket assembly is caused through the use of a manually operated cam assembly.

Abstract: A monorail beam is provided with a lower, upwardly-facing support surface, a lower, laterally-facing support surface and an upper, medially-facing support surface (relative to the support beam). Vehicles are hangingly supported, pendulum-like, from davit-like cantilevering arms of support trucks having wheels which run on or act against the base support surfaces so that they run along the side or sides of the beam. The beam may be elevated on columns, surface mounted, or depressed in tunnels. By preference, the vehicles' bodies are detachable from the trucks, and the heaviest air-conditioning components are mounted on the trucks rather than on the bodies. Power transmission and automatic control systems are described, as are switching systems and station facilities.

Abstract: Welding carriage, including an articulated body having support wheel sets on its end sections, one of said end sections supporting a drive assembly movable toward and away from a track upon which the carriage travels, the drive assembly including two tandem drive wheels driven by an electric motor supported by the drive assembly. The carriage may support one welding head or plural welding heads, so that one or more weld beads may be formed as the carriage travels past a section of a welding groove.

Abstract: A pipeline monorail comprising a pipeline provided with at least one outwardly extending flange extending the length of the pipeline; two carriages, longitudinally spaced on the pipeline, each carriage having wheels operable to frictionally engage the flange of the pipeline for guidance, the wheels of at least one of the carriages being driven by a power source for propelling the carriages which carry and are connected by a load carrier, preferably including a boom. The boom is adapted to carry pipe sections and is longitudinally moveable relative to the carriages for suspending the pipe sections forwardly of the existing end of the pipeline and is operable to lower or raise the pipe section for attachment to the existing pipeline for construction of the pipeline. Each section so attached is also provided with a flange. Pedestals are used to support the pipeline where required.

Abstract: Motion is imparted to a car (12) by a cable (10) that runs along the length of a guideway (14) in sheaves (22). To accommodate directional changes in the guideway (14), the sheaves (22) are oriented in a range of configurations, including orientations (22C, 22D) above the cable (10). A guiderail (30) is located high on a side of the guideway (14) and imparts guidance to the car (12) via a rail follower (38) on the car. A cable clamp (54) attaches the car (12) to the cable (10) and displaces the cable (10) a large amount from the sheaves (22) to avoid impingement of the clamp (54) and sheaves (22). The cable clamp (54) is disposed so as to occupy the area defined by the rail follower (38). Cable supports (56,56), disposed forward and rearward of the cable clamp (54) displace the cable (10) by a small amount from the sheaves (22) and replace the cable (10) onto the sheaves (22). The cable supports (56,56) are disposed so as to occupy the area defined by the cable as displaced (55) by the cable clamp (54).

Abstract: An air assisted sliding device has a pallet supported on a base. The pallet has a recess provided on the periphery of its bottom surface in which a flexible tubular sealing member is mounted. The sealing member has a memory normally contracting it so as to be flat. An air passage communicates with the interior of the flexible sealing member so that compressed air can be fed to it. A groove is evenly provided on the bottom surface of the pallet within the bounds of the recess and a separate air passage for feeding compressed air or vacuum air is communicated with the groove so that the pallet may be provided with an air film of compressed air or may be stopped and a vacuum applied to attract the pallet to the base at a predetermined position on the base. A timing belt drive or an electromagnetic motor is used.

Abstract: An elongate deformable ribbon drive rail for carrying a working apparatus having a toothed drive gear and support mechanism is provided in the form of a first narrow elongate strip of metal of width to carry the support mechanism, a second narrower strip of metal having a regular series of corrugations extending lengthwise thereof fixed to the first strip intermediate its edges at each valley of the second strip and adapted to be engaged by the toothed drive gear while the edges of the first strip engage the support mechanism.

Abstract: A passenger carrying vehicle, supported on air cushions in a guideway, is propelled back and forth in that guideway by a cable. A motor is at one end of the guideway and pulls the cable. The cable is part of a closed loop, having two parts, that extend along the same side of the guideway. Rollers, positioned along that side of the guideway, support each length of the cable. In curved portions of the guideway, where the vehicle is turned left or right, the roller that supports that length to which the car is attached is oriented to support the combined horizontal and vertical loads on the cable as the car is pulled around the turn. The vehicle comprises two cabs. These cabs are pivotally interconnected, allowing them to flex or pivot vertically relative to each other and allowing the vehicle to conform to variations in the contour of the guideway, thereby improving the lift characteristics of the air cushions.

Abstract: A transportation system for rapidly loading people from a platform into and from a plurality of cars. The system includes an elongated trackway which extends along a platform. Trolleys extend between the trackway and the cars supporting the cars on the trackway. The cars have side doors extending along the length thereof which open towards the platform to provide access to a single row of seats carried in the vehicles facing the doors. The doors can be automatically opened and closed upon reaching the platform. The trackway includes upper lower and intermediate rails upon which upper, lower and intermediate wheels, carried by the trolleys, engage to provide an interlocking relation therebetween. A vertically extending keel is carried by at least some of the vehicles for engaging power driven wheels that are positioned along the trackway.

Abstract: A connecting mechanism of an XY table is provided with a first table movable in one direction, a second table movable relative to the first table in a direction perpendicular thereto and having a guide rail parallel to the direction of movement of the first table, an auxiliary slide movable parallel to the direction of movement of the second table, a first support shaft fixed to the auxiliary slide, a second support shaft rotatably supported by the auxiliary slide and having an eccentric portion, a first antifriction bearing supported by the first support shaft, a second antifriction bearing supported by the eccentric portion of the second support shaft, and biasing means for biasing the second support shaft in a rotational direction. The guide rail is sandwiched between the first antifriction bearing and the second antifriction bearing biased in the direction of movement of the second table by the biasing means.

Abstract: A novel crane trolley has four guiding pulleys lying on opposed upper and lower guiding surfaces, arranged diagonally to eliminate the need for having eight guiding pulleys. On each side of the trolley are upper and lower guiding pulleys, with the lower in front on one side and the upper in front on the other side. The pulleys may be mounted under spring tension. Two such trolleys may be hinged together to support heavy loads.

Abstract: A tractor assembly for mounting on a track fixed to a workpiece the tractor used to support and guide a metal-working tool along a fixed path, the tractor having three wheels to engage opposite edges of the track, one of said wheels being laterally displaceable to facilitate mounting of the tractor to the track. The invention also includes rest buttons or supports to facilitate alignment and mounting of the tractor and additional roller supports engageable to said track if needed.

Abstract: A rail-transportation system had a longitudinally elongated rail assembly along which extends a longitudinally moving traction element connected to a plurality of longitudinally spaced cars riding on the assembly. The rail assembly consists of upper and lower longitudinally extending rails interconnected by struts and normally formed thereby into a rigid framework or box-beam construction. The car has a car body to one transverse side of the rails, an upper wheel to the other transverse side of the rails and riding on the upper rail, and a lower wheel to the one side of the rails and bearing on the lower rail in a transverse direction opposite that of the upper wheel. The car may have inner and outer frames connected together by a parallelogrammatic linkage connected to a guide rail between the upper and lower rails to maintain a load-carrying platform of the car horizontal even when the various rails are all inclined to the horizontal.

Abstract: In an elevated railway system having a track comprising upper and lower rails extending longitudinally along one side of a beam structure, and passenger cars traveling on the track having doors on their sides adjacent the beam structure, a passenger station comprising an elevator shaft structure, including an elevator car, which extends up from ground level through a gap in the beam structure. A track section with upper and lower rails in continuity with the rails on the beam structure extends alongside the elevator shaft structure at the bottom and top of the door of a car stopped at the station, permitting passenger egress from and ingress to the passenger car and the elevator car between the rails at the station.

Abstract: Cog wheel vehicle system. A single track consists of a square beam having a pair of flanges. There is a row of holes in each flange. A vehicle rides on the track and has a cog wheel engaging the holes in the flange. A directional hydraulic motor is connected to drive the cog wheel. A hydraulic pump is connected to drive the motor. A gasoline engine is pivotally mounted on the vehicle and is connected to drive the pump.

Abstract: A bi-modal mechanically trackable vehicle adapted to be rail driven with or without a guide track, the vehicle including at least one non-steerable axle having non-steerable wheels mounted thereon, a plurality of tracking transverse guide rollers are provided for guiding the vehicle along the track. The transverse guide rollers are at least indirectly mounted at the non-steerable axle in an area of the respective wheels so as to be transversely displaceable. The non-steerable axle is mounted on the vehicle so as to be freely pivotable about a vertical axis. An arrangement is provided for automatically selectively locking the at least one non-steerable axle in an exact transverse position for driving without a guide track and for unlocking the at least one non-steerable axle from the exact transverse position.

Abstract: A vehicle adapted to be externally guided mechanically along guide tracks, especially for public local passenger service, which includes a steerable vehicle axle provided with steerable wheels and with maximally bending resistance supporting arms arranged at wheel hubs of the steerable wheels and extending unilaterally forwardly in the driving direction of the vehicle. A transverse guide arrangement is disposed at the forward ends of the supporting arms so as to provide for an automatic track-side influencing of the turning angle of the steerable wheels. A motor is fixedly mounted in a zone of a hub of a steering wheel so as to be capable of operatively acting upon the steering wheel. The motor, when an output part thereof is at a quasi-stand still, is capable of exerting a torque on the steering wheel which torque can be freely selected in its effective direction.

Abstract: A vehicle adapted to be selectively operated with or without guide rails or tracks, the vehicle including a steerable vehicle axle means having steerable wheels mounted thereon and at least one non-steerable vehicle axle having non-steerable wheels mounted thereon. The non-steerable vehicle axle is mounted so as to be pivotable in its entirety about a centrally positioned vertically extending pivot axis. Springs are provided for suspending a superstructure of the vehicle with a spring bracket fixedly mounted to an axle body of the non-steerable vehicle axle for supporting the springs at the vehicle. A ring mount segment is provided for mounting the springs at outer ends of the spring bracket so as to be horizontally movable with at least two supporting rollers, each having an axis of rotation disposed approximately toward a pivot center of the non-steerable axis, being attached to an underside of the springs.

Abstract: A guided vehicle having a body with rubber-tired steerable running wheels mounted on axles. A suspension system for the axles includes transversely extending upper and lower link arms which are parallel with each other and have equal arm lengths. Each of the links or link arms has one end connected with the wheel axle through a joint mechanism for a steering movement and a rotative movement about a longitudinal axis and its other end connected at two longitudinally spaced portions with the vehicle body for rotative movement about a second longitudinal axis. Air springs are disposed between one of the links and the vehicle body for normally maintaining the links substantially horizontally to thereby maintain the associated wheel always vertical.

Abstract: A vehicle adapted to be selectively operated with or without guide rails with the vehicle including a steerable vehicle axle and at least one nonsteerable vehicle axle. The nonsteerable vehicle axle is mounted so as to be entirely pivotable to a limited extent about a centrally positioned vertically extending pivot axis. At least two longitudinally extending control arms are provided for determining a transverse position of the nonsteerable vehicle axle with the longitudinally extending control arms being constructed so as to be variable in length and at least one of selectively lockable in or releasable from a predetermined length required for an exact transverse positioning of the nonsteerable vehicle axle when the vehicle is operated without guide rails. Each of the longitudinally extending control arms includes at least two doubleacting hydraulic cylinder piston units which are disposed in parallel to a bending resistant guide rod slidably received in a guide bore of a guide housing.

Abstract: A bi-mobile mechanically trackable road vehicle which includes a steerable axle having steerable wheels and at least one additional unsteerable axle having unsteerable wheels. Tracking transverse guide rollers are provided in an area of the vehicle axles. The non-steerable axle is mounted in the manner of a turntable so as to be freely pivotable about a vertical axis with an arrangement being provided for automatically selectively rocking the at least one non-steerable axle in an exact transverse position when the vehicle leaves a guide track and for automatically unlocking the non-steerable axle upon an entry of a vehicle onto the guide track. At least one of the transverse guide rollers is mounted so as to be freely transversely displaceable within mechanical preset limits.