Raised Center Rail Patents (Class 105/145)
  • Patent number: 11377129
    Abstract: A traction mechanism, a bogie assembly and a straddle-type monorail vehicle are disclosed. The traction mechanism comprises: a traction component, comprising a traction connecting rod, a first crank and a transmission shaft, the traction connecting rod being suitable to be hinged to a bogie frame, a first end of the first crank being hinged to the traction connecting rod, a second end of the first crank being fixedly connected to the transmission shaft, and the transmission shaft being suitable to be rotatably connected to a vehicle body; and a traction crank, both ends of the traction crank being suitable to be respectively hinged to the bogie frame and the vehicle body, wherein the first end of the first crank is away from the traction crank. The traction mechanism of the present disclosure has a simple and compact structure, and a transmission path of a traction force is short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Lin Ren, Daolin Li, Zhicheng Tan
  • Patent number: 11161530
    Abstract: A traction mechanism, a bogie assembly and a straddle-type monorail vehicle are disclosed. The traction mechanism comprises: a traction component, comprising a transmission shaft and a traction connecting rod, the transmission shaft and the traction connecting rod being connected, the transmission shaft being suitable to be rotatably connected to a vehicle body, and the traction connecting rod being suitable to be hinged to a bogie frame; and a traction crank, both ends of the traction crank being suitable to be respectively hinged to the bogie frame and the vehicle body. The traction mechanism of the present disclosure has a simple and compact structure, and a transmission path of a traction force is short. The traction mechanism is convenient to assemble and disassemble, occupies a small space, is wide in usage range, can be used for low-floor and high-floor vehicles, and is also applicable to a single-axle bogie, a double-axle bogie and a multi-axle bogie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Lin Ren, Daolin Li, Zhicheng Tan
  • Patent number: 9221504
    Abstract: A mobile stabilization device consists of at least one linear gear forming a track adapted to be securely attached to a vehicle. A movable counterweight member including at least one gear that is adapted to cooperate with at least one linear gear and thereby move linearly along the track, and a servo-motor attached between the counterweight member and at least one gear for actuating and rotating at least one gear thereon and hence along the track. An inclination detector adapted to determine the inclination of the vehicle and send signals to at least one servo-motor and at least one of the counterweight's gears to thereby move the counterweight along the track to a position that would increase the stability of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: 8287872 Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Louis-Philippe Rivard
  • Patent number: 8342101
    Abstract: Disclosed is a transportation system with integrated infrastructure. In one embodiment, this infrastructure takes the form of a hollow elevated load bearing guideway structure designed to support the weight of traveling vehicles. The structure supports a backbone beam, or rail, that has multiple functions. These functions may include vehicle control, security, and energy delivery. The structure is bimodal meaning vehicles can have wheels like cars or steel rimmed wheels like a train or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: WFK & Associates, LLC
    Inventor: Waldemar F. Kissel
  • Patent number: 8333157
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automated system for controlling and operating a vehicle. The system has three primary components: a vehicle, a saddle assembly, and a railway. The saddle is firmly attached to the bottom of the vehicle. The saddle assembly engages and rides along the rail. Sensors ensure that the rail is centered within the saddle. In the event the vehicle loses traction the backbone will maintain vehicle control and stability. The vehicle can change from one roadway to another while always being secured to a railway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: WFK & Associates, LLC
    Inventor: Waldemar F. Kissel
  • Patent number: 8291829
    Abstract: A motorized transport cart and a system and method employing one or more of such carts. The carts may be used to transport assembly parts or other items of interest within a desired area. Each cart includes its own drive system, including a drive motor and drive wheel assembly that propels the cart along a guide rail assembly affixed to the transport area floor. Power for the drive motor is transferred from a conductor rail of the guide rail assembly through a contactor assembly of the cart. The drive system includes a sensor that is used to signal a drive controller of the cart drive system to de-energize the drive motor and halt motion of the cart when a trailing cart gets within a certain distance of a leading cart in a row of carts. Carts may be automatically arranged into properly spaced rows with little user interaction, and the carts of a given row will automatically move forward when a lead cart of the row is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Dunlavy, Steve Oppy, David Bonaventura, Anthony Wilkins
  • Patent number: 7823512
    Abstract: A monorail bogie for supporting a monorail car travelling over a monorail track. The monorail bogie comprises a load-bearing wheel having an axis of rotation that is parallel to the running surface. The monorail bogie further comprises an inboard pair of guide wheels and an outboard pair of guide wheels. Each guide wheel of the inboard pair of guide wheels has an axis of rotation and each guide wheel of the outboard pair of guide wheels has an axis of rotation. The axes of rotation of the inboard pair of guide wheels and the axes of rotation of the outboard pair of guide wheels are offset in opposite directions in relation to the axis of rotation of the load bearing wheels. The monorail bogie further comprises at least one stabilizing wheel positioned co-axially with each one of the inboard pair of guide wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Edward Timan, Friedrich Wilhelm Honegger
  • Patent number: 7127999
    Abstract: A rail system for transporting dual use vehicles includes a network of multiple non-interconnected rails where each rail comprises an extruded triangular shell and a support material. The rails are supported by a system of support structures where each support structure includes a base with a rail adjustment actuator for selectively adjusting the position of the supported rail. Each rail is sized to support a standardized dual use passenger vehicle adapted for roadway and rail travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Inventor: Jerry M. Roane
  • Patent number: 5845581
    Abstract: A monorail system for passenger and light freight transportation provides a support structure with an essentially planar top surface and a stabilizer guide rail having a vertical web portion supporting an upwardly outwardly extending head. The head guides a vehicle along the top surface while conductors secured to the web portion transmit electrical current to the vehicle through a current collector secured to the vehicle. A portion of the stabilizer guide rail may be flexible providing a simple, inexpensive device for switching the vehicle between a plurality of tracks. The system operates equally well with a variety of vehicle propulsion and suspension systems including electro-mechanical, magnetic levitation or linear electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: Einar Svensson
  • Patent number: 5845583
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: Palle Rasmus Jensen
  • Patent number: 4635559
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Inventor: Warren B. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4603638
    Abstract: A train system includes(a) a train car,(b) a support for the car adapted to be guided along a rail having variable angular tilt along its length and relative to horizontal, whereby the support assumes the tilt of the rail, and(c) a gimbal coupled between the car and support to accommodate rotation of the support relative to the car as the car travels lengthwise of and along the rail, whereby the car remains upright despite variable tilting of the rail along which the car travels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: Charles S. Dozer Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles S. Dozer
  • Patent number: 4573413
    Abstract: The transport system comprises a rail and an undercarriage provided with two running wheels arranged in the longitudinal axis of the undercarriage. The running wheels have curved travel or bearing surfaces which rest upon a complementary curved supporting surface of the rail. The undercarriage is guided by a pair of guiding rollers arranged below the rail supporting surface, these guiding rollers engaging a guiding web extending perpendicularly between the guiding rollers. During travelling along curves the undercarriage is inclined towards the interior or inner side, whereby the occurring centrifugal forces are compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Assignee: Feramatic AG
    Inventor: Jurg Eberle
  • Patent number: 4491073
    Abstract: A train system includes(a) a train car,(b) a support for the car adapted to be guided along a rail having variable angular tilt along its length and relative to horizontal, whereby the support assumes the tilt of the rail, and(c) a gimbal coupled between the car and support to accommodate rotation of the support relative to the car as the car travels lengthwise of and along the rail, whereby the car remains upright despite variable tilting of the rail along which the car travels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Assignee: Charles S. Dozer Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles S. Dozer
  • Patent number: 4382412
    Abstract: An auxiliary drive traction system for an automated guideway transit (AGT) vehicle. Remotely controlled hydraulic or electrically powered auxiliary drive systems are used to drive the AGT vehicle's lateral guide wheels, which are biased against a running surface, thus providing an auxiliary drive and braking system. A remotely controlled clutch may be added so as to selectively couple the auxiliary drive system and the guide wheels. A protective skirt is attached to the edges of the guideway assembly along its entire length in order to shield the guide wheel running surfaces from adverse weather conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: Universal Mobility, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald P. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 4353308
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Brown
  • Patent number: 4304187
    Abstract: A monorail system having a rail surface that is provided for small vehicles traversing an incline or slippery areas, with the surface having a plurality of spaced recesses positioned in those areas to form gripping edges for the drive wheels of the vehicles. The recesses may be of a variety of shapes and positioned in different ways to provide the proper grip. The recesses may be mechanically punched into a separate elongated flat bed riveted in appropriate locations to the rail. The punching may be done in such a way so as to form raised ramp-like edges adjacent the recesses to help with the gripping action. The ramp faces face downwardly in inclined areas. The drive wheels of cooperating vehicles may have elastic treads to help with the gripping action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: Mannesmann DeMag AG
    Inventors: Klaus Becker, Ferdinand Nolte, Karl-Ernst Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 4237790
    Abstract: A monorail rapid transit system including a plurality of cars coupled together to form a train and supported for travel on a main track comprising a pair of upstanding rails arranged in spaced-apart parallel relationship and including an auxiliary track diverging obliquely from one side of the main track at an intersection and having one rail in common with one rail of the main track, each of the cars including at least one pair of retractable guide arms pivotally movable into guiding engagement with the rails on opposite sides of the track together with a central guide member on the car accommodated between the rails for guiding engagement therewith, whereby pivotal movement of the arms selectively into engagement with only one of the rails permits the car to be guideably directed either on the main track or onto the auxiliary track when passing through the intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Inventor: Thomas A. DeLucia
  • Patent number: 4236454
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1980
    Inventors: Alve J. Erickson, Robert D. Thulman
  • Patent number: 4221170
    Abstract: A monorail mountain coaster for recreational transportation along an inclined path on a hill or mountain comprising a channel disposed on and spaced from the path, a chassis frame moveable along the channel, a coaster shell resiliently mounted on the chassis frame, riding wheels rotatably mounted on the chassis frame and engaged with the channel for movement of the frame along the channel, retainer wheels rotatably mounted to the frame disposed about and engaged with the channel to retain the frame on the channel and a brake pivotally mounted to the frame and engageable with the channel to stop the movement of the frame on the channel. The channel is suspended above the inclined path on, for example, the side of a hill, by suspension brackets which securely prevent the channel from moving. The frame with pivotally mounted shell is then allowed to roll along the channel on its wheels and provide entertaining and recreational transportation along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1980
    Inventor: Slavos Koudelka
  • Patent number: 4217727
    Abstract: A toy monorail system of the support type for vehicles such as miniature railway cars and slot cars. The monorail track consists of an elongated flat strip or length of plastic having flat metal conductors located in flanged recesses molded into each side of the strip or length. The track is edge-mounted and, on flat surfaces, is self-supporting. The system can be set up in an unlimited number of configurations and elevations. In use, the track is arranged either in a self-supporting configuration on floors, table tops and the like, or utilizes special supports which engage a slot or recess molded into one edge of the track. Various styles of vehicles are used with the system, including trains, automobiles, boats, and rockets. The drive vehicle is mounted on the edge of the track opposite the slotted or recessed edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1980
    Inventors: Warren N. Fetty, Rosabelle Fetty
  • Patent number: 4201137
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: American Zephyr Corporation
    Inventor: Andry Lagsdin
  • Patent number: 4175224
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for transporting heavy equipment such as welding current generators, a prime mover therefor, and associated devices or supplies, on and along a pipeline, the pipeline serving as a monorail. The apparatus, of elongated construction along the pipeline, is supported at one end and propelled along the line by power driven traction means engaging the top part of the pipeline. The opposite end of the apparatus is supported on a pair of laterally spaced swivel mounted wheels which engage the sides of the pipeline laterally away from and somewhat below the top of the line. The latter wheels give lateral support and stability to maintain the apparatus in a substantially upright position on the pipeline. Sensing means, such as a pendulum, mercury switch means, or equivalent, detect incipient tilting or motion towards instability and are used to steer the swivel mounted wheels, either directly or indirectly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1979
    Assignee: CRC-Crose International, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene F. Sims, Trueman Dierlam
  • Patent number: 3999488
    Abstract: Haulage equipment for hauling a mining machine or vehicle along a stationary elongated rail assembly having a generally wedge shaped cross-sectional area comprising a body rotatably supporting two pairs of drivably interconnected rollers, the axes of the rollers in each pair being inclined to one another such that the rollers are arranged for drivable engagement with two opposed acutely related inclined faces of the rail assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1976
    Assignee: Coal Industry (Patents) Limited
    Inventor: Harry Monks