Abstract: A guided vehicle including at each end portion of the body a pair of steerable running wheels adapted to run on track surfaces and a pair of guide wheels adapted to run along guide rails provided at the opposite sides of the track surfaces. A steering linkage is provided for connecting the running and guide wheels so that the former is steered in response to a transverse movement of the latter. A friction type restraining device is provided in the linkage so that the steering movement is not produced by a small amount of surface roughness in the guide rail.

Abstract: A motor vehicle adapted to be used on tracks, especially for the public local passenger traffic, with a steerable vehicle axle and with at least one non-steerable vehicle axle and with track-determining cross-guide rollers arranged on both sides of the vehicle which are provided at least within the area of the steerable wheels and are supported near the end points of mounting arms that are relatively fixed; a force-measuring device for determining the cross-guide force is provided in the mounting or bearing support of at least one of the cross-guide rollers of each vehicle wheel while a brake pressure medium valve is adapted to be influenced by the force-measuring device in such a manner that a brake deceleration is automatically initiated when the vehicle exceeds a threshold value of the cross-guide force.

Abstract: Traveling carriage apparatus, adapted to travel along a track disposed about or upon an object, to carry a device such as a welding torch to do work upon the object or upon other apparatus supported thereby. The apparatus is hinged end-to-end, preferably having three hinged-together portions, the angularity at the hinges being adjustable so that the apparatus may travel along a track which is either curved or flat. The apparatus is supported by track-engaging sets of wheels at its opposite ends. A retractable drive wheel assembly is carried by one of the hinged portions of the apparatus.

Abstract: A sledding system having a track installed on a ski slope in the summer has U-shaped track sections with a flat bottom and substantially upright sides which serve to retain a driver controlled sled sliding on the track. Braking is provided by extendable side brakes which engage the upright sides.

Abstract: A guideway gravity vehicle combination designed for recreational use on hills and mountains consisting of a wheeled, stabilized vehicle riding on a monorail which extends from the top to the bottom of a downwardly inclined slope. The rider controls the vehicle speed through the use of powerful braking systems. Maximum speeds are regulated by automatic braking.

Abstract: A spring biased over-center linkage transmits a biasing force to opposite guide wheels in alternate sequence for maintaining a selected one of the guide wheels in contact with one of two parallel guide surfaces, depending upon whether the vehicle is operative in a left or a right follower mode. A steering assembly controls the direction of travel of the vehicle in response to the position of the selected one guide wheel as it follows the contour of the cooperative guide surface. A double-acting reciprocative operator positions the over-center linkage at left and right bias positions for left and right follower mode operation, respectively. A spring provides over-center bias to the over-center linkage and constitutes the sole source of biasing force. The apparatus is suitable for use with a vehicle in an automated transportation system in which the vehicle travels along a predetermined travel path or a guideway.

Abstract: An overhead monorail conveyor whose inverted U-shaped rail has flanges provided with inwardly extending lower marginal portions to provide tracks for the wheels of a vehicle having an inverted U-shaped frame which surrounds a portion of the rail. The wheels are mounted on brackets which extend at a level below the marginal portions of the flanges and thereupon upwardly into the interior of the vehicle frame. The motor which drives the vehicle is mounted in the frame in the interior of the rail, the same as the conductors which supply electrical energy and the toothed rack or racks which mate with several gears driven by the motor. The interior of the rail further confines and shields other sensitive components of the conveyor, such as electric switches, proximity detectors, contacts which slide along bus bars, centering rolls for the frame of the vehicle, and devices for biasing the motor-driven gears against the toothed racks.

Abstract: A slide and sled combination designed for use on the side of a mountain in conjunction with the operation of ski lift, consists of a monorail extending the length of a mountain from the upper end near the top of a ski lift along a path containing curves, banked curves, and straight segments to the bottom of the mountain near the base of the ski lift. The monorail consists of, in cross-section, a tubular segment supported on a web. Sleds comprising shells are supported on and secured to the monorail by two sets of four wheels which engage the tubular segment. Each set of wheels are supported on bulkheads connected to the shell. A braking system controllable by an operator sitting in the shell includes brakes actuated by a lever that are adapted to engage the tubular segment at diametrically opposite points. Stabilizing wheels are provided on at least one of the bulkheads and are adapted to engage the web.

Abstract: A traffic system in which the cross-guide device in the operating position thereof is arranged immovably in the transverse direction relative to the axle body of the vehicle axle having steerable wheels and is constructed so sturdily itself as also as regards its suspension that the vehicle can be form-lockingly track-guided and/or laterally displaced also without deflection of the steerable wheels by way of the cross-guide device without damage and in an operationally reliable manner; force-measuring devices for determining the lateral forces exerted on the cross-guide device are arranged in the suspension of the cross-guide device while the force- and movement-transmitters are so constructed that the steerable wheels are automatically deflected always so as to maintain a predetermined desired value of the lateral force at the cross-guide device.

Abstract: In overhead cranes of the kind including a box girder fabricated of elongate plates and torsionally loaded by a trolley running on three rails respectively at three corners of the box girder, the structure of the box girder is usually such that flanges project from the corners thereof and prevent proper support of the rails in optimum corner positions in alignment with the walls of the girder. This problem is now solved by providing a rail with an elongate flange and securing the rail and flange respectively to marginal portions of a pair of adjacent plates of the box girder. In this way the rail can be secured in optimum position at the corner of the girder and forms with the flange a member which encloses the corner flange and serves as a stiffener or reinforcement for the corner. In a preferred construction the rail and flange are the respective arms of a generally V-section elongate member enclosing the corner of the girder.

Abstract: Traveling support apparatus for supporting welding device or other apparatus for peripheral travel about a pipe. The support apparatus utilizes endless belts disposed around paired wheels at opposite sides of the apparatus to propel the apparatus along a track. The endless belts are pivotally supported for equal pressure engagements with the path along which the support apparatus travels. The support apparatus engages opposite sides of a track in the form of a strip or band spacedly surrounding a pipe to support a frame which is held firmly against movements toward or away from the track so that the supported apparatus is reliably held in position with relation to the pipe.

Abstract: A transportation vehicle for use in a mass transit system is provided with a laterally sprung guidance apparatus operative with a vehicle restraining guide beam included with the vehicle roadway, for restraining the removal of the vehicle in relation to that roadway while providing a desired improvement in the lateral ride quality of that vehicle.

Abstract: A personal transportation system including a guideway of channel members submerged beneath the ground with an opening along the ground line, the guideway including an intersection, a rail running along the base of the channel members for supporting wheeled, passenger carrying vehicle thereon, and a steering system for selectively steering the vehicle through the intersection and into one of at least two guideway sections leading from the intersection.

Abstract: A passenger transportation system includes a transport vehicle which travels in the interior of an elongated tunnel formed from a series of concrete modular conduits. The cross-section of the conduit interior includes a bottom surface on which the vehicle travels, a pair of spaced apart side walls, and a pair of spaced apart upper wall surfaces extending inwardly from the side walls and on opposite sides of an elongated slotted opening extending lengthwise along the top of the conduit tunnel. The transport vehicle is supported by a suspension system which includes a plurality of carrier frames, each having guide rollers traveling along the bottom surface, the side walls, and the upper wall surfaces of the conduit. The guide rollers are supported by respective biasing elements which urge the guide rollers into continuous contact with the walls of the tunnel to keep the vehicle centered in the tunnel during transit.

Abstract: A train system particularly adapted to be used in tunneling operation to outwardly move the loosened earth and rock or muck and, for that purpose, which is trackless and takes its lateral guidance from the usual utility duct which is required along the tunnel. This trackless train system also distinctively includes wagons having each a walking beam suspension which supports the load carrying ground wheels in a longitudinal central row, such that the wagon adequately and undistinctively rides on a tunnel floor which is uneven or which has a transversely concave profile, such as to form an underground conduit.

Abstract: A protective housing is provided for electrical rails and the like, namely, reaction (secondary) rails and slide pick-up lines for operating electro linear propulsion motors for monorail vehicles. The new and improved housing is of simplified construction and enables comparatively large protective plate members to be assembled in the form of a tight housing on elevated monorail structures. The protective plates may be readily removed and slidingly displaced to expose the normally protected electrical components for maintenance, replacement or repair.

Abstract: There is disclosed a target range and mechanisms for use on those target ranges.The mechanisms comprise a trolley for use in shooting ranges wherein the trolley is constructed and arranged to be movable backwards and forwards along a track and including a target moving mechanism adapted, in use, to carry a target and to move the target from an operative shooting position to an inoperative shooting position and wherein the target moving mechanism is adapted to move the target such that in use, the width of the trolley and target across the direction of intended movement of the trolley when the target is in the inoperative shooting position is not substantially greater than the width of the trolley and target across the direction of intended movement of the trolley when the target is in the operative shooting position.