Railway train suspension

Claim 2

A vehicle for riding the rails of a railroad track, said vehicle comprising: a wheeled millepede-type running gear comprising an elongate horizontally flexible center-sill structure including wheel modules disposed in closely spaced relation therealong; each of said wheel modules including a first wheel on one side of the center sill adapted to ride on one of the rails of the track and a second wheel on the other side of the center-sill adapted to ride on the other rail of the railroad; knee action suspension means for individually and independently connecting the respective wheels of the respective wheel modules to said center sill; means for driving said wheels; one or more railroad car length load-supporting means mounted on said center sill; means for resiliently supporting the individual load-supporting means on the wheels of said wheel modules that are beneath same independent of loads carried by adjacent of said loadsupporting means; and said resilient supporting means of the respective loadsupporting means including means for distributing the weight carried by same substantially uniformly over the wheels of said modules supporting the respective load-supporting means.

Claim 3

The vehicle set forth in claim 1 wherein: the portion of said center-sill structure at one end of the train has increased flexure horizontally; said one End of said train serving as a leading end of the train; and said portion of said center-sill structure serving to lead said center sill around track curves.

Claim 4

The train set forth in claim 2 wherein: said tubular members each define a chamber filled with fluid and extending the length of the respective load-supporting means on either side of the vehicle; and said fluid being composed of a gas and a liquid, with the liquid filling on the order of about 50 to about 75 percent of the respective chambers of the respective tubular members.

Claim 5

The vehicle set forth in claim 1 wherein: said knee action suspension means for each of said vehicle wheels is of the parallel-linkage-type in which the links thereof have flexure joints that flex about axes that extend longitudinally of said center-sill structure.

Claim 6

The vehicle set forth in claim 1 including means for selectively suspending above the respective rails those of said wheels that become inoperative whereby movement of the vehicle can proceed on the remainder of said wheels.

Claim 7

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for driving said wheels comprises: an individual motor for each of said wheels; and means for driving said motors including means for providing 100 percent dynamic braking of said wheels.

Claim 8

The invention set forth in claim 6 wherein: the respective motors and the wheel driven by same comprise a drive unit connected to said center-sill structure by the respective suspension means; and means for readily disconnecting the respective suspension means from said center sill structure, whereby each wheel and the motor and suspension means associated with same comprise a readily disconnectable drive unit.

Claim 9

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said modules each further include: a crossbearer member secured to said center-sill structure in transverse alignment with the wheels of the respective modules; with the ends of the respective crossbearers projecting over the respective wheels of the respective modules; said load supporting means each comprising a deck plate; said deck plates each being pivotally connected to said center-sill structures adjacent the ends of the respective deck plates; said deck plates resting on rollers carried by the crossbearer members underlying same; and said rollers supporting the respective deck plates being rotatable about axes passing through the respective deck plate connections closest to same.

Claim 10

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein: on either side of said center-sill structure, the relation of the diameter of said wheels to the distance between the axial centers of same is on the order of one to four.

Claim 11

The vehicle set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient supporting means comprises: an elongate flexible resilient compressible tubular member on either side of said center-sill structure; said tubular members extending longitudinally of said center-sill structure and being interposed between the wheels of the respective modules and said load-supporting means; said tubular members each defining a chamber filled with fluid and extending the length of the respective load-supporting means they support; said fluid being composed of a gas and a liquid; with said liquid of each chamber filling on the order of about 50 percent of the space defined by the respective tubular member chambers; and said fluid of the respective tubular member chambers comprising said weight-distributing means.

Claim 12

The vehicle set forth in claim 1 wherein: the load-supporting means at one end of said center-sill structure comprises a nose structure forming a forward moving end of the vehicle; and said nose structure being formed to define a streamlined curve that is logarithmic in nature.

Claim 13

The train set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient supporting means for the respective load-supporting means comprises: an elongate flexible resilient compressible tubular member on either side of said center-sill structure; and said members extending longitudinally of said center-sill structure and being interposed between the wheels of the respective modules and said load-supporting means.

Claim 14

A railroad train for riding on the track of a railroad, said train comprising: a continuous center-sill structure extending the length of the traIn and including wheel modules in closely spaced relation lengthwise thereof each having a pair of wheels adapted to ride on the respective rails of the track; said wheels of each wheel module being independently journaled on a knee-action-type suspension for suspending said center-sill structure from the respective wheels of said wheel modules; said center-sill structure carrying railroad car length load-supporting means; means for driving said wheels; and means for resiliently supporting said load-supporting means on the respective wheels beneath same.

Claim 15

A railroad train for riding on the track of a railroad, said train comprising: a continuous center-sill structure extending the length of the traIn and including wheel modules in closely spaced relation lengthwise thereof each having a pair of wheels adapted to ride on the respective rails of the track; said wheels of each wheel module being independently journaled on a knee-action-type suspension for suspending said center-sill structure from the respective wheels of said wheel modules; said center-sill structure carrying railroad car length load-supporting means; means for driving said wheels; and means for resiliently supporting said load-supporting means on the respective wheels beneath same.

Claim 16

A vehicle for riding the rails of a railroad track, said vehicle comprising: a wheeled millepede-type running gear comprising an elongate horizontally flexible center-sill structure including wheel modules disposed in closely spaced relation therealong; each of said wheel modules including a first wheel on one side of the center-sill adapted to ride on one of the rails of the track and a second wheel on the other side of the center-sill adapted to ride on the other rail of the railroad; knee action suspension means for individually and independently connecting the respective wheels of the respective wheel modules to said center-sill; means for driving said wheels; railroad car length load-supporting means mounted on said center sill; means for resiliently supporting the individual load-supporting means on the wheels of said wheel modules that are beneath same independent of loads carried by adjacent load-supporting means; said resilient supporting means of the respective load-supporting means including means for distributing the weight carried by same substantially uniformly over the wheels of said modules supporting the respective load-supporting means; said knee action suspension means for each of said train wheels being of the parallel linkage type in which the links thereof have flexure joints that pivot about axes that extend longitudinally of said center-sill structure, and in which the links thereof extend generally transversely of said center-sill structure; means for selectively suspending above the rail those of said wheels that become inoperative whereby movement of the train can proceed on the remainder of said wheels; and said parallel linkage suspension means of each wheel being individually removably connected to said center-sill structure for ready simultaneous removal and replacement of the respective wheels and suspension means therefor.

Claim 17

A vehicle for riding the rails of a railroad track, said vehicle comprising: a wheeled millepede-type running gear comprising an elongate horizontally flexible center-sill structure including wheel modules disposed in closely spaced relation therealong; each of said wheel modules including a first wheel on one side of the center-sill adapted to ride on one of the rails of the track and a second wheel on the other side of the center-sill adapted to ride on the other rail of the railroad; knee action suspension means for individually and independently connecting the respective wheels of the respective wheel modules to said center-sill; means for driving said wheels; railroad car length load-supporting means mounted on said center sill; means for resiliently supporting the individual load-supporting means on the wheels of said wheel modules that are beneath same independent of loads carried by adjacent load-supporting means; said resilient supporting means of the respective load-supporting means including means for distributing the weight carried by same substantially uniformly over the wheels of said modules supporting the respective load-supporting means; said knee action suspension means for each of said train wheels being of the parallel linkage type in which the links thereof have flexure joints that pivot about axes that extend longitudinally of said center-sill structure, and in which the links thereof extend generally transversely of said center-sill structure; means for selectively suspending above the rail those of said wheels that become inoperative whereby movement of the train can proceed on the remainder of said wheels; and said parallel linkage suspension means of each wheel being individually removably connected to said center-sill structure for ready simultaneous removal and replacement of the respective wheels and suspension means therefor.

Claim 18

A vehicle for riding the rails of a railroad track, said vehicle comprising: a wheeled millepede-type running gear comprising an elongate horizontally flexible center-sill structure including wheel modules disposed in closely spaced relation therealong; each of said wheel modules including a first wheel on one side of the center-sill adapted to ride on one of the rails of the track and a second wheel on the other side of the center sill adapted to ride on the other rail of the railroad; knee action suspension means for individually and independently connecting the respective wheels of the respective wheel modules to said center sill; means for driving said wheels; railroad car length load-supporting means mounted on said center-sill; means for resiliently supporting the individual load-supporting means on the wheels of said wheel modules that are beneath same independent of loads carried by adjacent load-supporting means; said resilient supporting means of the respective load-supporting means including means for distributing the weight carried by samE substantially uniformly over the wheels of said modules supporting the respective load-supporting means; said knee action suspension means for each of said vehicle wheels being of the parallel-linkage-type in which the links thereof have flexure joints that pivot about axes that extend longitudinally of said center-sill structure and in which the links thereof extend generally transversely of said center-sill structure; said means for driving said wheels comprising; an individual motor for each of said wheels; and means for driving said motors including means for providing dynamic braking of said wheels; said modules each further including: a crossbearer member secured to said center-sill structure in transverse alignment with the wheels of the respective modules; with the ends of the respective crossbearers projecting over the respective wheels of the respective modules; said load-supporting means each comprising a deck plate; said deck plates each being pivotally connected to said center-sill structure adjacent the ends of the respective deck plates, whereby the portion of said center-sill underlying the respective deck plates between said deck plate pivotal connections is free to shift laterally of the respective deck plates as said vehicle rounds curves of the track; said deck plates resting on rollers carried by the crossbearer members underlying same; and said rollers supporting the respective deck plates being rotatable about axes passing through the respective deck plate connections closest to same; said resilient supporting means for the respective deck plates each comprising: an elongate flexible resiliently compressible tubular member on either side of said center-sill structure; said tubular members extending longitudinally of said center-sill structure and being interposed between the suspension means of the respective wheels and the crossbearer member of the respective modules; said tubular members each defining a chamber filled with fluid and extending the length of the respective deck plates they support; said fluid being composed of a gas and a liquid; with said liquid of each chamber filling on the order of about 50 percent of the space defined by the respective tubular member chambers; and said fluid of the respective tubular member chambers comprising said weight-distributing means.

Claim 19

A vehicle for riding the rails of a railroad track, said vehicle comprising: a wheeled millepede-type running gear comprising an elongate horizontally flexible center-sill structure including wheel modules disposed in closely spaced relation therealong; each of said wheel modules including a first wheel on one side of the center-sill adapted to ride on one of the rails of the track and a second wheel on the other side of the center sill adapted to ride on the other rail of the railroad; knee action suspension means for individually and independently connecting the respective wheels of the respective wheel modules to said center sill; means for driving said wheels; railroad car length load-supporting means mounted on said center-sill; means for resiliently supporting the individual load-supporting means on the wheels of said wheel modules that are beneath same independent of loads carried by adjacent load-supporting means; said resilient supporting means of the respective load-supporting means including means for distributing the weight carried by samE substantially uniformly over the wheels of said modules supporting the respective load-supporting means; said knee action suspension means for each of said vehicle wheels being of the parallel-linkage-type in which the links thereof have flexure joints that pivot about axes that extend longitudinally of said center-sill structure and in which the links thereof extend generally transversely of said center-sill structure; said means for driving said wheels comprising; an individual motor for each of said wheels; and means for driving said motors including means for providing dynamic braking of said wheels; said modules each further including: a crossbearer member secured to said center-sill structure in transverse alignment with the wheels of the respective modules; with the ends of the respective crossbearers projecting over the respective wheels of the respective modules; said load-supporting means each comprising a deck plate; said deck plates each being pivotally connected to said center-sill structure adjacent the ends of the respective deck plates, whereby the portion of said center-sill underlying the respective deck plates between said deck plate pivotal connections is free to shift laterally of the respective deck plates as said vehicle rounds curves of the track; said deck plates resting on rollers carried by the crossbearer members underlying same; and said rollers supporting the respective deck plates being rotatable about axes passing through the respective deck plate connections closest to same; said resilient supporting means for the respective deck plates each comprising: an elongate flexible resiliently compressible tubular member on either side of said center-sill structure; said tubular members extending longitudinally of said center-sill structure and being interposed between the suspension means of the respective wheels and the crossbearer member of the respective modules; said tubular members each defining a chamber filled with fluid and extending the length of the respective deck plates they support; said fluid being composed of a gas and a liquid; with said liquid of each chamber filling on the order of about 50 percent of the space defined by the respective tubular member chambers; and said fluid of the respective tubular member chambers comprising said weight-distributing means.

Claim 20

A wheeled millepede-type running gear for riding on the rails of a track, said gear comprising: an elongate horizontally flexible center-sill structure including wheel modules disposed in closely spaced relation therealong; each of said wheel modules including a first wheel on one side of the center sill adapted to ride on one of the rails of the track and a second wheel on the other side of the center-sill adapted to ride on the other rail of the railroad; knee action suspension means for individually and independently connecting the respective wheels of the respective wheel modules to said center-sill; means for driving said wheels; and said modules each further including: a crossbearer member secured to said center-sill structure in transverse alignment with the wheels of the respective modules; said knee action suspension means for each of said vehicle wheels being of the parallel-linkage type in which the links thereof have flexure joints that pivot about axes that extend longitudinally of said center-sill structure, and in which the links thereof extend generally transversely of said center-sill structure; and means for suspending above the rail those of said wheels of the respective modules that become inoperative during service whereby movement of the running gear can proceed on the remainder of said wheels.

Claim 21

A wheeled millepede-type running gear for riding on the rails of a track, said gear comprising: an elongate horizontally flexible center-sill structure including wheel modules disposed in closely spaced relation therealong; each of said wheel modules including a first wheel on one side of the center sill adapted to ride on one of the rails of the track and a second wheel on the other side of the center-sill adapted to ride on the other rail of the railroad; knee action suspension means for individually and independently connecting the respective wheels of the respective wheel modules to said center-sill; means for driving said wheels; and said modules each further including: a crossbearer member secured to said center-sill structure in transverse alignment with the wheels of the respective modules; said knee action suspension means for each of said vehicle wheels being of the parallel-linkage type in which the links thereof have flexure joints that pivot about axes that extend longitudinally of said center-sill structure, and in which the links thereof extend generally transversely of said center-sill structure; and means for suspending above the rail those of said wheels of the respective modules that become inoperative during service whereby movement of the running gear can proceed on the remainder of said wheels.

Claim 22

A vehicle for riding the rails of a railroad track, said vehicle comprising: a wheeled millepede-type running gear comprising an elongate horizontally flexible center-sill structure including a multitude of wheel modules disposed in closely spaced relation therealong each including a set of wheels adapted to ride on the respective rails of the track; knee action suspension means for individually and independently connecting the respective wheels of the respective wheel modules to said center-sill; one or more load-supporting means mounted on said center-sill; means for resiliently supporting the individual load-supporting means on the wheels of said wheel modules that are beneath same; and said resilient supporting means of the respective load-supporting means including means for distributing the weight carried by same substantially uniformly over the wheels of said modules supporting the respective load-supporting means.

Claim 23

A vehicle for riding the rails of a railroad track, said vehicle comprising: a wheeled millepede-type running gear comprising an elongate horizontally flexible center-sill structure including a multitude of wheel modules disposed in closely spaced relation therealong each including a set of wheels adapted to ride on the respective rails of the track; knee action suspension means for individually and independently connecting the respective wheels of the respective wheel modules to said center-sill; one or more load-supporting means mounted on said center-sill; means for resiliently supporting the individual load-supporting means on the wheels of said wheel modules that are beneath same; and said resilient supporting means of the respective load-supporting means including means for distributing the weight carried by same substantially uniformly over the wheels of said modules supporting the respective load-supporting means.

Claim 24

A vehicle for riding the rails of a railroad track, said vehicle comprising: a wheeled millepede-type running gear comprising an elongate horizontally flexible center-sill structure including a multitude of wheel modules disposed in closely spaced relation therealong each including a set of wheels adapted to ride on the respective rails of the track; knee action suspension means for individually and independently connecting the respective wheels of the respective wheel modules to said center-sill; one or more load-supporting means mounted on said center sill; fluid spring means for resiliently supporting the individual load-supporting means on the wheels of said wheel modules that are beneath same independent of loads carried by adjacent of said load-supporting means; and said fluid spring means for the respective load-supporting means on the respective sides of the vehicle being interconnected together for common fluid support of the respective load support means, whereby the weight carried by the respective load-supporting means is distributed substantially uniformly over the wheels supporting same, and vertical deflection of the individual wheels supporting the respective load-supporting means effects corresponding pressure changes in said fluid spring means on the respective sides of the vehicle for varying the wheel pressure of the remaining wheels of such sides on the respective rails.

Claim 25

A vehicle for riding the rails of a railroad track, said vehicle comprising: a wheeled millepede-type running gear comprising an elongate horizontally flexible center-sill structure including a multitude of wheel modules disposed in closely spaced relation therealong each including a set of wheels adapted to ride on the respective rails of the track; knee action suspension means for individually and independently connecting the respective wheels of the respective wheel modules to said center-sill; one or more load-supporting means mounted on said center sill; fluid spring means for resiliently supporting the individual load-supporting means on the wheels of said wheel modules that are beneath same independent of loads carried by adjacent of said load-supporting means; and said fluid spring means for the respective load-supporting means on the respective sides of the vehicle being interconnected together for common fluid support of the respective load support means, whereby the weight carried by the respective load-supporting means is distributed substantially uniformly over the wheels supporting same, and vertical deflection of the individual wheels supporting the respective load-supporting means effects corresponding pressure changes in said fluid spring means on the respective sides of the vehicle for varying the wheel pressure of the remaining wheels of such sides on the respective rails.