Passenger Patents (Class 104/28)
  • Patent number: 6374746
    Abstract: A ground-based capsule pipeline with greatly improved speed, energy efficiency, and cost for transportation of freight and/or people. Passive magnetic levitation is used to suspend inert, rugged capsules within an air-evacuated pipeline, where they are propelled by a linear motor. Permanent magnet pole arrays incorporated in the capsules interact with inductively-enhanced conductive loops on the interior of the pipeline to produce a low “take-off” speed, high lift, and a high lift-drag ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Inventor: Orlo James Fiske
  • Patent number: 6352034
    Abstract: The installation for amusement park, referred to as roller coaster, comprises a circuit made up of rails (6), mounted on supports (10), themselves fixed on a carrier beam (11), on which one or more vehicles run, designed to run on the rails, as opposed to a suspended roller coaster, and at least one station for the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers. Each vehicle comprises a main beam (1), at least one transverse chassis element (2) on which are mounted, on the one hand, wheels (3, 4, 5) interacting with the rails (6), and, on the other hand, seats (7) provided with retention means (8). The station, which comprises at least one platform (12) likewise comprises a fold-away floor (14), which replaces the floor, absent of the vehicle, when the vehicle is stopped in a predetermined position for embarkation and disembarkation. Due to this, the vehicle may be designed without any floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Bolliger & Mabillard Ingenieurs Conseils S.A.
    Inventors: Walter Bolliger, Claude Mabillard
  • Patent number: 6341563
    Abstract: A platform sensing and control system including a wireless sensor (10, 12) for sensing at least the presence of a platform (26) opposite a door (32) of a railcar and providing an output indication of at least a platform presence in response thereto, and a door control controller (14) operative in response to the output indication of at least platform (26) presence for enduring that normally a door (32) is not opened other than when a platform (26) is located opposite such door (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Sensotech Ltd.
    Inventors: Eli Gal, Uri Agam, Eli Ben-Bassat, Ronen Jashek
  • Publication number: 20020007758
    Abstract: The installation conveys persons from a valley station to a mountain station and for carries individuals from the mountain station to the valley station via carriages that are guided along a track formed by a running rail. The installation has a cableway system with a haulage cable and transport assemblies that can be coupled thereto and are intended for persons and for conveying devices that convey the carriages from the valley station to the mountain station. The haulage cable is guided over cable-deflecting pulleys in the valley station and in the mountain station. Guide rails are provided in the valley station and in the mountain station along which the conveying devices and transport assemblies, uncoupled from the haulage cable, are guided around the cable-deflecting pulleys with conveying wheels. Bypass rails are connected to the guide rails via diverters both in the valley station and in the mountain station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventor: Reinhard Albrich
  • Patent number: 6321657
    Abstract: A monorail transit system includes transit drive units for supporting a transit car body on a beam and propelling the body along the beam. Improvements to the transit system include a quiet steel rail with vibration isolation for the beam, a vehicle braking system using a fixed plat engaged with a steel rail to arrest motion of the drive unit, a beam stabilizing support structure comprising a column with an insert that extends into a hollow beam portion, a drive unit coupled to the transit car body so as to be able to rotate with respect to the body while the drive unit and transit car body are traversing a curve in the rail, a leveling system for automatically leveling the car body with respect to a loading platform and a mechanism for automatically tilting the car body in response to centrifugal forces and then leveling the body, an articulating car body for accommodating curved beams, and a mechanism for providing positive traction on an inclined steel rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventor: William E. Owen
  • Patent number: 6263799
    Abstract: A transportation system, generically known as Personal Rapid Transit, employs conventional electric or hybrid automobiles (18) underwhich are mounted electro-mechanical adaptors (24) which permits them to operate autonomously on an elevated guideway (16) which is part of the PRT system. An electronic guidance sensor system (45), and other functional components built into the adaptors, permits the vehicles to track unique rf signals emitted from a guidance wire (36) centrally embedded in the guideway, and to exit and enter the guideway to and from off-line stations (10), and to select various platforms and storage areas within these stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: Herman I. Pardes
  • Patent number: 6202563
    Abstract: A process for both storing vehicles of an aerial cable transport installation and taking vehicles from stored stock in a station. The vehicles are suspended by disengagable coupling clamps to the cable. The installation is shut down by braking and stopping a first car in the vicinity of a station exit, transferring the other cars in the station during the first step, braking and stopping a second car, transferring the rest of the cars in the station during the preceding step, and repeating the last two steps to use the entire station length to store cars. In one embodiment, the cable speed is approximately constant during the second and fourth steps of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Pomagalski SA
    Inventors: Serge Tarassoff, Gilles Vibert
  • Patent number: 6105905
    Abstract: A railway gate system comprising a railway station having an elevated platform area for passengers to stand and a recessed area with a track and a train movable therealong. A gate has a continuous upper restraining rail along its length. A plurality of cylindrical posts each have an upper end secured to the lower surface of the rail and a lower end. A horizontal recess and vertical apertures are located in the edge of the platform area adjacent to the track. The recess is adapted to receive the rail when lowered to an inoperative orientation and with the circular apertures adapted to slidably receive the posts. Motion imparting mechanisms include elongated pistons having upper ends secured to the lower surface of the rail, central extents extending through selected spaced circular apertures in the platform and lower ends. Hollow cylinders are located beneath the selected spaced circular apertures having open upper ends to receive the pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: Roy Spence
  • Patent number: 5950543
    Abstract: An evacuated tube transport (ETT) system comprises: Evacuated tubes (200) along a travel route (100) for both directions; capsules (300) to transport occupants or cargo within the tubes; equipment (700) providing continuous transfer to tube while preserving vacuum; capsule suspension (400) that substantially eliminates drag; coordinated acceleration device (500); energy recovery braking (600); vibration control structures (820); tube alignment devices (230); automatic capsule switch (650) and synchronization (885); automated operation, inspection, and maintenance (810); methods of construction; redundant data (835), safety and security (880) systems. Low and high technology embodiments are comprehensively disclosed. Possibilities include replacement or augmentation of: vehicles, power lines, energy storage devices, power plants, heaters, air conditioning, water and sewer pipes, and communication cables and satellites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: et3.com Inc.
    Inventor: Daryl Oster
  • Patent number: 5873310
    Abstract: A loading station of a detachable chair-lift comprises two spots 22, 29 for alternate pickup of skiers 21. To give the skiers easy access to the pickup spots, the distance between the chairs is increased by grouping them in pairs in the access zones. The station may comprise two tracks 16, 17, each having a pickup spot, onto which the chairs 11, uncoupled from the rope, are directed alternately. The two pickup spots can be on the same track, one after the other, the grouping of the chairs in pairs then being modified when running between the two pickup spots so that the rear chair of the pair at the first is pickup spot comes in front at the second pickup spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventors: Denis Creissels, Jean Fran.cedilla.ois Piard
  • Patent number: 5836251
    Abstract: System and method for loading and unloading highway vehicles for transportation over railroad lines. The system has a number of railroad vehicles, each having a deck for highway vehicles. The deck extends from a central portion of the vehicle to one or both ends of the railway vehicle. The invention includes a terminal which has at least one stationary railroad track portion which is connected to a railroad system outside of the terminal. The terminal also has number of moveable railroad track segments. These segments can be positioned in a first configuration in which they are aligned so that railroad vehicles can be rolled from one or more of the stationary railroad track segments onto the moveable railroad track segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Kaci Terminal System Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard C. Hathaway, Mearl K. Bridges, John M. Barr, Donald R. Klein
  • Patent number: 5813349
    Abstract: A transport system comprises a number of dual-mode vehicles (11) and a number of station systems (31). Each of the dual-mode vehicles (11) accommodates a number of passengers, such as, for example ten passengers. Each station system (31) comprises a number of platforms (32) each with a roadway section (36) configured as a ramp on which vehicles are guided forward by electronic control. Each of the platforms (32) are raised above the roadway. The roadway includes barriers (34) with an opening (35) on each side for the admission of a stationary vehicle (11) which has openable doors on each side of the vehicle which can provide admission to all seats simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Inventor: Palle Rasmus Jensen
  • Patent number: 5797330
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Inventor: Zhengzhong Li
  • Patent number: 5669307
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a vehicle body supported above ground level by wheels. A first door on the vehicle body curb side has a doorsill at one level. A door on the vehicle body street side has a doorsill at a different level, spaced by a greater distance above the ground level. A driver station in the vehicle body has a door control for controlling the opening and closing of the doors from the driver station. The vehicle can be employed in a transportation system with stations having different platform levels at heights corresponding to the different levels of the two doorsills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Inventor: Gerald R. Cichy
  • Patent number: 5669588
    Abstract: A safety device for train passengers which permits barriers to rise and lower as trains (66) pass. Ridge posts (58) are secured by ridge post mounts (64) on a train undercarriage (68). Ridge wheels (60) spins on the ridge posts (58). As the train (66) moves into a train station, the ridge wheels (60) will first encounter an inclined ramp guide (1) or a mechanical ramp guide (52) and spin along the spin wheel ridge (4), causing the motion barrier wall (2) to move downward, below the platform level (10). As the motion barrier wall (2) moves downward, its support system, pole spring units (12) or cylinder spring units (22) will be compressed into underground chambers. As the train (66) leaves the train station the ridge wheels (60) will continue spinning until the last car of the train (66) rolls off the end of the spin wheel ridge (4) and the ramp guide (1) or a mechanical ramp guide (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Inventor: Michael A. Goldsmith
  • Patent number: 5664499
    Abstract: An apparatus for loading skiers on a ski lift consisting of a plurality of rollers the rollers being parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ski lift at least during the portion of its length past the loading point. The rollers rotate, thereby accelerating a skier who is standing on the rollers to a speed the same or substantially the same as the speed of the ski lift. The skier is thereby able to sit down comfortably on the chair while standing on the rollers. A second apparatus may be disposed at an unloading point whereby the skier is moved away from the ski lift and is decelerated in order to safely transfer to the mow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Inventor: William Gault Kingsmill
  • Patent number: 5626078
    Abstract: A cable car system has a suspension and traction cable carrying passenger rriers, such as lift chairs. The cable is guided around two deflection pulleys. A conveyor device conveys passengers from an entrance gate to a boarding point at which the passengers board to carriers. The opening of the entrance gate and the conveyor device are controlled with a central control unit. The central control unit receives signals from various sensors, such as a signal transducer which is tripped when a passenger carrier passes by, and a speed transducer which measures the speed of the suspension and traction cable. A measuring instrument provides information with regard to the distance traversed by a specific passenger carrier which has tripped the signal transducer. The entrance gate is opened by the central control unit as a function of the output signal of the signal transducer and of the measuring instrument, and further on condition that at least one passenger is present at the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Konrad Doppelmayr & Sohn Maschinenfabrik Gesellschaft mbh & Co. KG
    Inventor: Elmar B. Fuchs
  • Patent number: 5619930
    Abstract: A transportation system for transporting vehicles between destinations, including a self-supporting tunnel connecting automated loading and unloading yards, and a non-wheeled tubular vehicle including a ram drive. The vehicle is provided with anti-friction pads between the vehicle and the tunnel, enabling the vehicle to be pushed with a minimum of friction through the tunnel. The pads include an expansion and contraction mechanism for regulating the position of the pads relative to an inner surface of the tunnel. The system uses a jet-powered drive vehicle controlled by an operator to transport a plurality of vehicles interconnected by a coupling apparatus. The vehicles may transport automobiles or passengers. The automobile transport vehicles include an automatic wheel locking system having front bars and caps, all automatically operated to secure the vehicles in the capsules during transportation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Inventor: Constantin Alimanestiano
  • Patent number: 5570637
    Abstract: A garage for storing vehicles of a continuous cable railway system. The garage has a plurality of side tracks arranged parallel or substantially parallel to one another to form preferably a rectangular shape. The garage is loaded with vehicles from the station track of the cable railway system over a first feeder track. A second feeder track is used to load the vehicles from the garage to the station track. Conveying units are present at the feeder tracks and side tracks to convey the vehicles. A single junction having two switch units is arranged between the feeder tracks. The junction also allows the vehicles to travel from one of the feeder tracks to the other. Sliding switches, each having an arc-shaped conveyer track, are located on the incoming and outgoing sides of the side tracks. Buffer tracks, each having several stopping points, act as buffers in the feeder tracks for the vehicles when loading or unloading the garage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Garaventa Holding AG
    Inventor: Ruedi Wagner
  • Patent number: 5485347
    Abstract: A riding situation guiding management system includes, in each of plural cars constituting a train, an up/down counter for counting passengers getting on and off each car with passenger sensor/counter units provided at doorways and passways of the cars, and a transmission unit arranged in the train for transmitting the passenger information to forward stations, and a broadcasting unit provided in each station for receiving and analyzing the information as well as for broadcasting speech indicative of a current riding situation for each car of the train to passengers who are waiting for the train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Okimi Miura
  • Patent number: 5454326
    Abstract: A fixed grip chairlift comprises a continuously moving conveyor belt for transporting the skiers to the loading point where they are met by a chair which moves at a higher speed. The chair impact is thus reduced and the chairlift speed may be increased. A gate is disposed at the entrance of the conveyor belt to control the access. A loading cycle is started by the passage of a chair at a predetermined point. The gate is opened so that the skiers may step onto the conveyor belt and are transported to the loading point where they are caught by the chair which has started the cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Pomagalski S.A.
    Inventor: Bernard Goirand
  • Patent number: 5454327
    Abstract: A fixed grip chairlift comprises a continuously moving conveyor for transporting the skiers to the loading point, where they are catched up by the chair which moves at a higher speed. The chair impact is thus reduced and the chairlift speed may be increased. The conveyor comprises an endless belt which passes around two drums, each drum being barrel like shaped to centralise the belt on the drums during running. The drum outer surface has holes to allow the snow transported by the belt towards the drum to escape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Pomagalski S.A.
    Inventor: Bernard Goirand
  • Patent number: 5295441
    Abstract: A sliding door apparatus for a railway platform, has a plurality of sliding doors provided along an edge of a railway platform, the plurality of sliding doors being, in a closed position, arranged continuously along a line; a sliding door shifting apparatus for shifting those of the sliding doors to be opened and closed into shifted positions parallel to the closed position of the plurality of sliding doors; opening/closing apparatus for opening and closing the sliding doors disposed at the shifted positions, the opening/closing apparatus being capable of moving the sliding doors in varying directions and amounts; and a logic apparatus for analyzing information regarding the positions and widths of entrances of a railway vehicle stopped at the platform, selecting the sliding doors to be shifted, and controlling the shifting and opening/closing of the sliding doors such that the sliding doors are opened and closed in conformity with the entrances of the railway vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isamu Kawanishi, Yukio Uozumi
  • Patent number: 5253589
    Abstract: A folding door apparatus for a railway platform has a plurality of continuously provided folding doors each composed of two elements, a mid-portion between the two elements serving as an inflection point, the plurality of folding doors being movable between closed positions in which the folding doors are disposed in a line along a railway platform and inflected positions in which openings in the folding door apparatus are formed; a door opening and closing driving apparatus including a pair of opening and closing acting bodies for moving the folding doors in a direction and amount necessary to form the openings in the folding door apparatus; and a logic unit for analyzing information regarding the positions and widths of entrances of a railway vehicle stopped at the platform, and controlling the direction and amount of movement of the folding doors such that the openings in the folding door apparatus correspond to the entrances of the railway vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isamu Kawanishi, Yukio Uozumi
  • Patent number: 5237931
    Abstract: In a transportation system for city transportation in which the cars are moved on a rail system and are brought at least part of the time into circulation from a circulating traction cable and the cars are fastened with clamps on the traction cable, stations are arranged at any given distance between the end railway stations with reversing devices for the traction cable, cars come to stand on a secondary track at the stations, and the through traffic has the ability to pass the standing cars. In the individual stations, an electronic calling system is installed which in cooperation with a central control causes a next car with a free place to seek the stations and to pick up the passenger(s), or to transfer a further car or car train into the rail system. In the cars themselves are provided station selection devices for the next stop. The secondary track is preferably arranged above or below the through rail system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Waagner-Biro Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Norbert Riedl
  • Patent number: 5176082
    Abstract: A passenger detection loading and unloading control system is provided for high volume passenger transporters such as subway trains and the like which electronically counts the passengers in each passenger compartment and prepositions passengers that intend to deboard at the next passenger loading and unloading platform and which electronically counts and prepositions a number of passengers at the next platform for boarding. The system further permits simultaneous loading and unloading of passengers without interference with passenger flow. Passengers on the transporter are numerically counted and those passengers intended to deboard the transporter at the next platform are also counted. Signals representing these counted passengers are continuously transmitted to a signal processing facility for processing. A predetermined time schedule for arrival and departure is established for the high volume passenger transporter in relation to each passenger loading and unloading platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Inventors: Joong H. Chun, Hanjoo Lee
  • Patent number: 5119731
    Abstract: Station on a railway or similar line, situated on a viaduct consisting of a carrying structure which comprises a running deck (3) stiffened by longitudinal (4), vertical or oblique ribs placed beneath the deck, the carrying structure resting on supports such as piers (1), the station comprising at least one platform element (6) placed along the carrying structure at a level above that of the running deck. The platform element (6) is supported by at least one sustaining piece (10) which on the one hand is connected to the deck by rods or cables (14) which are transverse, horizontal or slightly inclined to the horizontal, and which resist traction, and on the other hand bears on an abutment (13) carried by the closest longitudinal rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Jean Muller International
    Inventor: Jean M. Muller
  • Patent number: 5069140
    Abstract: A transportation system includes a continuously moving traction cable; a plurality of carriers connectable to and disconnectable from the traction cable; a station for receiving, loading, unloading and dispatching the carriers; an uncoupling zone at the entrance side of the station for disconnecting each carrier from the traction cable; a coupling zone at the exit side of the station for reconnecting each carrier to the traction cable; an unloading zone and a loading zone situated between the uncoupling and coupling zones; a transfer rail assembly extending from the uncoupling zone to the coupling zone through the unloading and loading zones for guiding the disconnected carriers; and additional unloading zone and an additional loading zone situated between the uncoupling and coupling zones at a level different from that where the first-mentioned unloading and loading zones are located; an additional transfer rail assembly connecting the additional unloading and loading zones with one another; and a conveyor a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Inventor: Paul Glassey
  • Patent number: 5033392
    Abstract: Apparatus for loading and unloading passengers from watercraft, such as for use in boat rides at amusement parks, include a substantially planar inclined platform mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the platform. The platform extends obliquely to the path of the watercraft so that a section of the platform is submerged. Watercraft traveling along a predetermined path are engaged by a section of the rotating platform as it surfaces and is carried by the platform over an arcuate path as it rotates. The watercraft is disengaged from the rotating platform as the section of the platform on which it rests submerges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Waagner-Biro Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Walter Schemitsch
  • Patent number: 5016539
    Abstract: A track installation for vehicles of a transport installation comprises a track supporting the vehicles at their vehicle carriages and possessing an inbound side and an outbound side for the vehicles. A conveyor is operatively associated with the track and contains entrainment members for entraining coaction with the vehicles. The track constitutes a generally or essentially horizontal track structure and extends along the complete length of the conveyor. Vehicle stops defining stop or parking positions for the vehicles are distributively arranged along the track. Each stop is provided with an actuation element and each stop or parking position has a vehicle sensor as well as an interrupter for disabling the entrainment of the there parked vehicle by the conveyor. The vehicle sensor of each stop or parking position is connected with the actuation element of the stop and also with the interrupter of the preceding or upstream located stop or parking position viewed in the vehicle conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Von Roll Transportsysteme AG
    Inventors: Fritz Feuz, Ferdinand Hora, Fritz Linder
  • Patent number: 4898100
    Abstract: An aerial transport installation having two parallel continuously moving suspension traction cables defining two endless loops have at least one cable car equipped with ward rippers for clamping the cables on the top part of the cables. The cables define a line of circulation for the cars including a track of arrival and a track of departure at each station, with the tracks defining horizontal planes. The end pulleys at each station include at least one return pulley for separating the cable loops so that the cable car can be totally disengaged and disassociated from the cable. The pulleys are arranged such that a longitudinal free space is provided between the loops of the cable at each station to facilitate the removal of the cable car from the cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Pomagalski SA
    Inventor: Max Brochand
  • Patent number: 4843968
    Abstract: At a station of an overhead cable transport installation, such as an aerial cableway, wherein the disembarking section is connected with the embarking section by a transfer section, a revolving clock conveyor travels along the transfer section. This clock conveyor is provided with entrainment members arranged thereat at a predeterminate spacing from one another and the clock conveyor is driven by the drive of a revolving cable. A further revolving conveyor travels substantially parallel to the clock conveyor along the transfer section. This further revolving conveyor is equipped with a multiplicity of driver elements distributed over the length thereof and which possesses a somewhat smaller revolving velocity than the clock conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Von Roll Transportsysteme AG
    Inventor: Christian Rikli
  • Patent number: 4843970
    Abstract: The overhead cable transport installation possesses at each of the stations a transfer section between a disembarking section and an embarking section. At a still linear starting section of each transfer section there are provided driven wheels and at the linear end or terminal section of each transfer section there are likewise provided driven wheels. The driven wheels at the starting section are driven at a stepped greater rotational speed in relation to wheels located at the disembarking section, so that vehicles of the overhead cable transport installation arriving in the transfer section can be accelerated by the driven wheels engaging at friction shoes of the vehicle. A chain conveyor extends between the driven wheels of the starting section of the transfer section along the latter and transports the vehicles at an increased velocity and with a correspondingly greater mutual spacing from one another through curved portions of the transfer section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Von Roll Transportsysteme AG
    Inventor: Fritz Feuz
  • Patent number: 4833997
    Abstract: A bicable ropeway aerial transport system is disclosed which includes a pair of carrier and haulage ropes and at least two pair of end pulleys that are respectively engaged with the ropes in embarking and disembarking stations. The end pulleys in at least one of the stations are offset longitudinally and form between them a free space dimensioned to permit the engagement and disengagement of the vehicles from between the ropes in the free space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Pomagalski SA
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Cathiard
  • Patent number: 4690064
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Inventor: William E. Owen
  • Patent number: 4662285
    Abstract: Aerial chairlift comprising at the loading station two separate loading areas spaced apart along the travel path of the chairs. Each loading area comprises separate lanes for queuing skiers normally closed by gates. A traffic control system for controlling boarding of the chairlift is actuated by the arrival of chairs at a predetermined location for causing alternate opening of the gates so that the successive chairs are loaded at separate loading areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Pomagalski S.A.
    Inventor: Robert Rossignol
  • Patent number: 4627361
    Abstract: Gondola lift or chairlift with carriages supporting a gondola or a chair and having a grip for coupling on a continuously moving cable. In the terminals the carriages uncoupled from the cable run without stopping on a transfer rail. The carriages are regularly spaced and the transfer rail comprises a rail section equipped with a rhythm device which controls the release of the carriages at regular time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Pomagalski, S.A.
    Inventor: Serge Tarassoff
  • Patent number: 4503778
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Inventor: Fillmore G. Wilson
  • Patent number: 4394837
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Inventor: Lawrence K. Edwards
  • Patent number: 4202272
    Abstract: A pneumatic transport system in which a continuous overhead rail extends through a plurality of transport stations. Transport tubes are arranged along the rail for high-speed travel of a vehicle which is suspended therefrom. Between the transport tubes, the vehicle rests upon driven rollers which propel the vehicle into the tubes and receive the vehicle after it leaves the tubes. In the stretches provided with these rollers, the rail approaches the rollers so that the vehicle rests upon the rollers and is only guided laterally by the rail. Within the tubes themselves, however, the vehicle is suspended from the rail generally out of contact with the walls of the tubes and is displaced through the latter by a pressure differential generated by suction devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Assignee: Institutul National Pentru Creatie Stiintifica Si Tehnica
    Inventors: Constantin Teodorescu, Constantin Ceauselu, Stefan Ardeleanu
  • Patent number: 4124129
    Abstract: This invention is a loader-unloader and storage system for loads such as cargo containers or trailers to transfer them to or from trains or vehicles moving by. This loader has a lift frame with forks or hooks for engaging under to hold a load. The frame is pivotally secured on a plurality of parallel crank arms each mounted to rotate on a vertical pivot to form a parallelogram linkage. The arms are supported on wheels that run on a circular track concentric under each crank arm. The track has slopes to lift and lower the arms together according to the rotary position of the arms and track to transfer loads to or from a vehicle having side latches coupled the the forks, the frame, or the load. A load receiver cooperates for removing loads from the lift frame nonstop so the loader can be used to unload or load successive loads. One receiver is a conveyor having two chain runs which receive the load from the loader and move the load back to clear a place to set the next load thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1978
    Inventor: Leonard D. Barry
  • Patent number: 4111130
    Abstract: A station for a transport system comprising a track, an entry level, a transit level vertically spaced from the entry level and at which vehicles or trains may be stopped and two pairs of lifts arranged one pair on each side of the track, the lifts being arranged so that successive lifts arrive at the transit level on opposite sides of the track. A method of synchronizing the passenger lifts and train arrivals and departures is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1978
    Inventor: Frederic B. Rodot
  • Patent number: 4098036
    Abstract: The station, including access stairs and elevator systems are supported by a single vertical girder to reduce the space requirement for the station in a crowded inner city. Various components of the station may be prefabricated and then joined together at the site to standardize and reduce construction costs, and to reduce construction interference at the station site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1978
    Assignee: Demag A.G.
    Inventors: Johannes-Gerhard Spoler, Uwe Lichtenvort
  • Patent number: 4050385
    Abstract: There is disclosed a high capacity passenger transport apparatus which may be employed as a ski lift including a high speed main cable ascending up a ski run and driven at high speeds. A pair of first and second shuttle tracks lead from the downhill run of such cable at the bottom station and separate to pass through respective first and second loading areas and then merge back together at the uphill run of the high speed cable. Chair trucks are carried on the main cable and include releasable grippers gripping such cables and are intercepted at the end of their downhill travel by escort cars which decelerate such trucks and escort them past a selector switch to direct alternate ones thereof onto the respective first and second shuttle tracks and then to a stopped position at the loading area so skiers can be loaded thereonto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1977
    Assignee: Walt Disney Productions
    Inventors: Robert H. Gurr, Roger E. Broggie
  • Patent number: 4027596
    Abstract: An enclosed roadway supported by a superstructure forms an endless transit loop on which vehicles are propelled for the mass transportation of passengers between selected stations in the transit loop. A stabilizing system maintains the vehicles on the roadway and includes a stabilizing track having recessed portions that are supported above and at opposite sides of the roadway. A circumferential bumper surrounds each vehicle and is positioned within the recessed portions of the stabilizing track. Braking apparatus mounted on the bumper are operable to frictionally engage the recessed portions of the stabilizing track to slow and stop the vehicle on the roadway. Traction motors mounted on the front and rearward end portions of each vehicle include drive shafts that support driven wheels on the upper surface of the stabilizing track for propelling the vehicle along the roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1977
    Inventor: Michael A. Nardozzi, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3971324
    Abstract: A cable transport system for cabins wherein at each station there are secured two control rails and wherein each cabin comprises a door which, in its closed condition, is locked by a locking mechanism, the door being operatively connected with an actuation lever at which there engages one end of a tensioning device which in an intermediate position of the door intersects an extension of the axis of rotation of the actuation lever. A feeler element is connected with a control element, the feeler element, upon scanning the control rails, moving the control element from one terminal position into another terminal position, the door being opened in one terminal position and closed in the other terminal position. The control element comprises a carriage which can be displaced along a guide rail fixedly connected with the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1976
    Inventor: Anton Frech