Abstract: A guidance system for a vehicle designed to follow a two-way track and having pneumatically tired steered wheels coupled to a directional arm. The system includes a rail with a rolled steel section having a head supported on a web strengthened by a lower foot projecting from each side of the web; the head is bounded laterally by receding inclined lateral faces. A grooved roller follows the rail, and floats at an end of the directional arm of the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved automatic guiding arm having a deformable hinged frame like construction controlled by an actuator. The actuator raises and lowers the end of the frame like construction which supports a pair of guide wheels in a "V" shaped arrangement for engaging a guide rail. The axially supported wheels may be mutually pivotable about a transaxial shaft and controlled by an angle control member hinged to the actuator. Through the angle control member the actuator can automatically control the transaxial pivoting and angle of the wheels as well as the tilt of the angle control member during raising and lowering operations of the guide arm. The guide arm is useful for automatically steering public transportation vehicles.

Abstract: The invention is a guidance device for a railway vehicle and, more generally, is a guidance device for any track-following vehicle. The guidance device has a guide wheel which is complementary with a substantially circular guide rail, and which is capable of pivoting about the guide rail from rotation about a substantially horizontal axis to rotation about a non-horizontal axis. The guide wheel is pivoted by a pivoting member to which the guide wheel is mounted. The substantially circular guide rail extends parallel to the main rails of the track and is located at least in the area of a bend in the track, e.g., a branch in the track, a curve in the track, or the like. The guide rail is preferably positioned laterally outboard of one of the main rails of the track. The track may additionally comprise a second guide rail which is positioned laterally outboard of the other main rail of the track. In an alternate embodiment, the track may have a single guide rail positioned between the main rails of the track.

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: A rail conveyor, including an I-shaped main rail, a trolley guided at the I-shaped rail and having lateral guide rollers, a running wheel rolling on the rail, a counter-wheel and an extra rail for the counter-wheel for increasing frictional engagement of the running wheel with the main rail, the extra rail extending parallel to the main rail, the extra rail being arranged laterally adjacent to the rail, the running wheel and the counter-wheel each having an axle that lies in a plane aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the main rail.

Abstract: A track traveling system for enabling a two-wheeled vehicle to travel along a single rail of a railroad track has an elongated guide component (18) having vertically spaced apart guidance surfaces (24, 26) and a stabilizer component (20) that has a proximal end (28) releasably couplable to the axle and fork of a bicycle and a distal end (36) that has confronting rollers to movably bear against the vertically spaced apart guidance surfaces (24, 26) whereby the elongated guide component (18) and stabilizer component (20) cooperate to stabilize and guide the two-wheeled vehicle along a single rail of a railroad track.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a playground carriage (10) is provided for moving people (100) from one play area to another. The playground carriage comprises a rotatable support pipe (12) having a first end (14) and a second end (16). The support pipe extends between a first vertical column (18) and a second vertical column (20). A manually-operated crank (22) having a first end (24) and a second end (26) is also included. The manually-operated crank extends between the first vertical column and a third vertical column (48). The first end of the crank is coupled to the first end of the support pipe so that manually turning the crank rotates the support pipe. A carriage (28) for carrying people is mounted to the support pipe. The carriage is advanced along the support pipe by a carrier (30).

Abstract: The invention relates to a steering device for a vehicle bogey fitted with wheels having pneumatic tires that run on a pair of runways forming a track along which the vehicle travels. The device comprises a steering caster whose mean plane is parallel or substantially parallel to that of the wheels of the bogey and which is capable of rotating about its own axis when engaging in a guide groove installed between the above-mentioned runways of the track ahead of each branch point. The caster is carried by the frame of the bogey via laminated link blocks that confer to the caster and relative to the bogey a small amplitude degree of freedom in rotation about a vertical axis passing through the center of the caster, and a similarly small amplitude degree of freedom in translation along the axis of the caster, but prevent the caster from moving relative to the bogey in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A rail truck for use in an elevated closed beam having a slot in the bottom surface for clearance of a car body support member. The passenger car body is hung beneath the beam and elevated above the ground with the trucks running inside the beam. The flanged wheels run on a pair of parallel rails with an electric power rail located above the center of the two running rails. The suspension permits restrained swinging of the passenger car in the lateral and longitudinal directions. A safety wheel is mounted to the frame to prevent upward movement of the frame to the extent that the wheel flanges on the running rails could climb over the top of the running rails. A pair of auxiliary climbing rails are mounted parallel to the power rail and above the running rails. Auxiliary climbing wheels on the truck are mounted on actuators which permit a controlled elevation of the auxiliary climbing wheels.

Abstract: A double-gauge rail system for the rolling stock of railroad trains including pairs of rails of differing gauges, with the rail track sections of each gauge being in axial alignment but separate and not welded together at the section ends. The inner and outer rail sections of the two gauges at least partially overlap so that the inner rail sections extend across the gaps of the outer rail sections and, likewise, the outer rail sections extend across the gaps of the inner rail sections. To provide continuous contact between the wheels and rails sections, each axle of a vehicle car or engine has pairs of wheels on each end of the axle; the outer pair of wheels corresponding to the outer gauge and the inner pair of wheels corresponding to the inner gauge, so that the wheels of at least one rail gauge are in contact with the corresponding pair of rail sections.

Abstract: A coil transportation system includes air cushion vehicles guided for traveling along a travel path comprising straight lines and curves. Each vehicle comprises mechanical side guides at its longitudinal right and left hand sides. The side guides are actuatable alternatively from the right and left hand sides. The side guides are arranged for associating with floor mounted routing guides, for guiding the air cushion vehicles along a travel path and transversely to the travel path.

Abstract: An automatic stabilizing unit for a free trolley and a load carriage in an inverted power and free conveyor system is connected to the free trolley. The stabilizing unit includes a stabilizer actuator which extends above a free track containing the free trolley from beneath the floor of a building which houses the conveyor, and a stabilizing gear mounted on the load carriage. At locations in an assembly plant, such as robotic welders or riveting stations where load shifting tolerances are critical, there must be additional stabilization of the load carriage. At these locations, stabilizing rails are positioned on top of the free track in line with stabilizing trucks on the stabilizing actuator. When the stabilizing trucks contact the rails, the trucks are urged upward, pushing an attached piston upward against a spring which causes a pair of stabilizing wheels on the stabilizing gear to rotate downward into contact with the factory floor, thus stabilizing the carriage only when needed.

Abstract: A vehicle with a noncontact drive mechanism includes a magnetic propelling device 7 for generating a propelling force derived from magnetic induction of an eddy current within a reaction plate 4 laid on a road surface, without contact between the magnetic propelling device and the reaction plate; a flux changing device 13 for changing magnetic flux of the magnetic propelling device; a chassis supporting device for holding a chassis with respect to the road surface; and running-direction control devices 3, 5 for controlling the direction of running of the vehicle. The vehicle is adapted to run by generating a magnetic force in noncontact with the reaction plate.

Abstract: A railway loading dock is provided with adjacent trackage having pairs of main rails and stabilizing rails. A modified railway flatbed car is equipped along its sides with stabilizing wheels and associated support structure to retain the car bed coplanar with the loading dock surface to permit drive on loading and drive off unloading of large trucks. The railway car bed is equipped with bed extensions which primarily occupy that space between ends of adjacent cars to permit travel of trucks, in a straight or oblique manner, over the ends of adjacent railway cars. The stabilizing rails have inclined segments for gradual engagement with the car stabilizing wheels.

Abstract: An electrically driven self-propelled truck having at least one electrically driven wheel guidable along a rail on a floor, an article lift table mounted on the upper side of the truck body, a work space provided around the lift table, and an adjacent truck coupling provided at least one side edge portion of the truck body. At an intersection of truck guide rails on the floor, a rail segment rotating mechanism is provided which has a rail segment for changing the course of the wheel. A truck orientation changing turntable is provided on a floor portion where the orientation of the truck is to be changed.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the lateral disposition of a guide roller of a traveling service unit on a textile machine is provided. The apparatus includes a first support wheel rotatably mounted on the traveling service unit and an adjustable wheel assembly. The adjustable wheel assembly includes a second support wheel laterally spaced from the first support wheel, a device for rotatably mounting the second wheel to the traveling service unit and a device for selectively adjusting the vertical displacement of the second wheel relative to the traveling service unit to maintain the guide roller at a predetermined disposition relative to a guide surface of the textile machine. The device for selectively adjusting the vertical displacement of the second wheel includes, in one aspect of the invention, a cylinder and piston assembly and, in another aspect of the invention, a pair of bell cranks interconnected to one another by a cylinder and piston assembly.

Abstract: There is provided a multi-rail vehicle system, which can be used to improve the efficiency of existing systems and to reduce risk of derailments. The systems comprises a vehicle designed to ride upon a pair of conventional outer rails and an additional load-carrying central rail. The central rail comprises a pair of slanted rails having external surfaces which extend, preferably, substantially perpendicularly one to the other, and are joined at an apex pointing upwardly. The intersection of the central rail surfaces coinciding, preferably, with the central line of the rail. The vehicle of the present invention comprises a central traction wheel with an axle secured to the vehicle by means permitting vertical linear movement and rotation about a vertical axis, the wheel, being rotatably secured about the horizontal axis of the axle. The vehicle also includes two or more pairs of outer wheels on axles; the wheels are designed to ride upon the three rails.

Abstract: There is described an arrangement for movably and guidingly supporting articles or furniture, such as enclosed shelving systems, cabinets, cupboards and like articles. The arrangement includes a carriage (2) which is provided with guide wheels (8) and runners (6) and which is intended to be placed beneath the article of furniture to be supported. The arrangement further comprises at least two mutually parallel rails (3, 4) which are placed on a floor surface or like supporting surface and which co-act with the wheels and runners on the carriage (2) in moving and guiding the article of furniture carried thereby.

Abstract: A guiding device for a traveling service unit for a spinning machine having guide rollers supporting the service unit on the floor and related to a rail engaging member to maintain the service unit at a predetermined spacing from a guide running along the machine. In one form of the invention, the guide rollers are pivotally mounted and are pivoted by a connecting rod of the rail engaging member to direct the guide rollers toward or away from the rail upon any deviation of the travel of the service unit so that the service unit will be guided at a proper spacing from the rail and, therefore, from the components of the spinning machine. The control rod can be maintained in proper relation to the rail by followers on the rod straddling the rail or by a spring mounted on the servicing unit and biasing a follower roller on the rod against the rail.

Abstract: In a traveling service unit of the type utilized in conjunction with a textile spinning mill machine, the transverse and longitudinal inclination of the service unit with respect to the machine is monitored and adjusted with respect to a fixed horizontal reference plane by at least two electronic levels or like inclination detectors each operatively connected through an associated controller with a vertically-adjustable roller wheel supporting assembly of the service unit for controlling the elevation of the service unit at each supporting assembly to compensate for detected inclination deviations.

Abstract: An amusement ride vehicle for travel along a trackway defined by a pair of track rails. The vehicle includes a pair of transverse frames pivotally carried by an elongated main frame, with drive wheels carried by the transverse frames in driving engagement with upper surfaces of the track rails. Up-stop or pinch wheels below the drive wheels engage under sides of the track rails. The pinch wheels are pivotally mounted to the transverse frames by strut assemblies which hold the pinch wheels in constant forcible rolling engagement with the track rails at all times. This improves the driving traction of the drive wheels and provides constant up-stop protection against separation of the vehicle from the track rails. The strut assemblies are disconnectable to enable the pinch wheels to be pivoted out of interfering relation with the track rails so that the vehicle can be lifted from the track rails for maintenance, storage or the like.

Abstract: A chain conveyor assembly wherein the conveyor chain is constructed to enable the chain to be flexed in two dimensions, e.g., about horizontal and vertical axes, and is designed to convey heavy loads in a stable manner despite the use of a simple and economical conveyor chain. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the chain conveyor assembly is comprised of a conveyor chain that is formed of a series of wheel units, a guide track arrangement providing surfaces upon which wheels of the wheel units ride, a drive arrangement for driving the conveyor chain, and self-supporting trays for conveying of articles thereon. Each of the trays is coupled to a drive link arrangement that is used to interconnect successive wheel units together and by which the conveyor chain is driven by the drive arrangement.

Abstract: A conveyor system is composed of a trolley and an elongated inverted U-shaped or C-shaped track which is formed without any machining involving removal of material by simple deformation of a sheet-metal blank. The track has a horizontal or vertical web, two vertical or horizontal legs extending from the marginal portions of the web, and two horizontal or vertical ledges which constitute the inwardly bent end portions of the legs. One of the ledges has a V-shaped cross-sectional outline and the other ledge has an inturned carrier for a toothed rack in mesh with a pinion driven by a motor on the trolley. The trolley has a first pair of rollers whose conical peripheral surfaces engage the opposite sides of the V-shaped ledge, and a second pair of rollers whose cylindrical peripheral surfaces engage the opposite sides of the other ledge. One roller of each pair is adjustable to ensure that both rollers of each pair engage the corresponding ledge with negligible clearance.

Abstract: An electric motor driven toy train is disclosed which has a novel wheel and track assembly for minimizing slippage and avoiding binding between the train's wheels and the track as the train goes around a curve section of the track. The train's wheels are each stepped in cross-section with a small diameter rim and a large diameter rim, and the wheels ride on track sections with rails that are also stepped in cross-section. The inside rail of a curve track section is structured so that only the inside train wheels' small diameter rims ride thereover, and the outside rail is structured so that only the outside wheels' large diameter rims ride thereover. The train comprises multiple cars, each of which is articulated about a vertical axis and each of which has only a single axle so as to minimize the turning radius of the train set. A child sits upon the second car, the coal tender, and steers the first car, the locomotive of the set.

Abstract: A tow wheel attachment for an automobile and which is used in conjunction with an underground conveyor system comprising a tubular metal frame having a base, a pair of legs extending divergently outwardly from the base and a horizontal crossbeam interconnecting the legs intermediate their ends; a wheel rotatably mounted on the base; a pair of brake disks disposed on appropriate sides of the wheel; a pair of mounting brackets affixed to the outer ends of the legs for the purpose of attaching the frame to the lower surface of the automobile; and a hydraulic cylinder connected at one end to the frame and at its other end to the center of the crossbeam for the purpose of lowering and raising the frame.

Abstract: A guide-way vehicle adapted for running on guide way means having running surface means and guide rail means on the running surface means, wherein the vehicle comprises three axle assemblies provided at front and rear end portions and an intermediate portion of a car body, each axle assembly having wheels with rubber tires attached to the opposite ends thereof. The axle assemblies at the front and rear portions of the car body are adapted to swivel in a horizontal plane relative to the car body and respectively have guide wheels adapted for running along the guide rail means whereby the axle assemblies are steered along the guide rail means.

Abstract: The device for pushing incandescent coke out of individual chambers of a coke oven battery which has a plurality of horizontally arranged coke oven chambers, comprises a trackway of spaced apart inboard and outboard tracks which extend along the length of the coke oven battery and a gantry-like carriage which is movable over the trackway and carries the apparatus for pushing the coke out of the individual batteries. The carriage includes inboard legs which are elastically connected to a platform portion which contains the movable ram and other operating parts and outboard legs which are rigidly connected to the platform. The outboard legs also carry contact pressure mechanisms which connect between the legs and the outboard tracks for distributing horizontal stresses to the tracks.

Abstract: A multi-rail system and method of installation wherein an additional load carrying rail assembly is installed in centered relation between the rails of a conventional railroad and secured by a first set of tie plates joined to existing ties and a second set of tie plates joined to cement anchor columns located between selected ties, both sets also being joined to the existing rails; the system further including load carrying wheels engaging the additional rail assembly and supplementing the conventional car wheels, the railroad cars also provided with supplemental brakes engaging the additional rail assembly to increase the braking force, and retainers extending under the additional rail assembly for preventing excess movement of the auxiliary wheels from the additional rail assembly.