US3584583A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Monorail train
Assignee: Spare IPG 15 Ltd
•
Filing: 1968-11-25
•
Granted: 1971-06-15
•
Expires: 1988-11-25
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a locomotive adapted to run on a ground mounted monorail track composed of rail elements of channel shape in cross section arranged with the mouths of the channels presented inwardly, the locomotive being supported upon bogies at opposite ends, at least one of which includes a pair of large diameter driving wheels engaging the upwardly presented faces of the horizontal flanges of the rail elements, two pairs of counterpressure wheels situated fore-and-aft of the driving wheels, and of a diameter to be contained within the channels presented by the rail elements of the track, and a beam element on which the counterpressure wheels are carried, and which is suspended by contractable hydraulic rams from a mounting member for the driving wheel, the beam element carrying guide or stabilizing wheels at opposite ends of a diameter slightly less than the horizontal distance between the inwardly presented faces of the vertical webs of the rail elements, and adapted to engage respectively with opposed faces of these webs.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis Charles Cartwright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:02
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61B; B61B13/00; B61B13/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
312 words
A locomotive for use in a monorail conveyor of the kind specified, comprising a body on which is mounted a prime mover, and which is supported by longitudinally spaced bogies, one at least of which is a driving bogie, to enable said locomotive to travel along a ground mounted monorail trackway, incorporating at least one generally horizontal flange, and at least one generally vertical web, the improvement wherein the driving bogie comprises: a. a bogie body structure pivotally connected to said locomotive body about an upright swiveling axis, and including: i. a mounting member and ii. a counterpressure wheel support b. a central group of bogie wheels mounted on said bogie body structure for engaging said flange of said trackway over upwardly and downwardly presented faces thereof, and including: i. at least one driving wheel operatively connected with said prime mover and driven therefrom and mounted on the mounting member for engaging one of said flange faces; and ii. at least one counterpressure wheel mounted on said counterpressure wheel support for engaging the opposed one of said flange faces; c. means interconnecting the mounting member and the counterpressure wheel support and including: i. preload means for acting upon the mounting member and the counterpressure wheel support for urging said driving wheel and said counterpressure wheel into engagement under pressure with said flange; ii. pivot means for accommodating angular movement of the counterpressure wheel support relative to the preload means about a horizontal axis; iii. guide means for constraining the counterpressure wheel support against movement longitudinally of the bogie relative to the mouNting member, and for accommodating relative movement of the mounting member and counterpressure wheel support upwardly and downwardly; d. stabilizing wheels on said bogie body structure at opposite ends of said central group of bogie wheels for engaging opposed laterally presented faces of said trackway, and afforded by said web thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
312 words
A locomotive for use in a monorail conveyor of the kind specified, comprising a body on which is mounted a prime mover, and which is supported by longitudinally spaced bogies, one at least of which is a driving bogie, to enable said locomotive to travel along a ground mounted monorail trackway, incorporating at least one generally horizontal flange, and at least one generally vertical web, the improvement wherein the driving bogie comprises: a. a bogie body structure pivotally connected to said locomotive body about an upright swiveling axis, and including: i. a mounting member and ii. a counterpressure wheel support b. a central group of bogie wheels mounted on said bogie body structure for engaging said flange of said trackway over upwardly and downwardly presented faces thereof, and including: i. at least one driving wheel operatively connected with said prime mover and driven therefrom and mounted on the mounting member for engaging one of said flange faces; and ii. at least one counterpressure wheel mounted on said counterpressure wheel support for engaging the opposed one of said flange faces; c. means interconnecting the mounting member and the counterpressure wheel support and including: i. preload means for acting upon the mounting member and the counterpressure wheel support for urging said driving wheel and said counterpressure wheel into engagement under pressure with said flange; ii. pivot means for accommodating angular movement of the counterpressure wheel support relative to the preload means about a horizontal axis; iii. guide means for constraining the counterpressure wheel support against movement longitudinally of the bogie relative to the mouNting member, and for accommodating relative movement of the mounting member and counterpressure wheel support upwardly and downwardly; d. stabilizing wheels on said bogie body structure at opposite ends of said central group of bogie wheels for engaging opposed laterally presented faces of said trackway, and afforded by said web thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
A locomotive according to claim 1 wherein: a. said driving wheel is mounted for rotation on said mounting member about a single axis situated above said flange; b. said counterpressure wheels are mounted for rotation on said counterpressure wheel support about respective axes disposed beneath said flange and offset longitudinally from said driving wheel axis to lie forwardly and rearwardly respectively of the latter; c. said stabilizing wheels are mounted on said bogie body structure at a position beneath said flange to engage with respective opposed faces of said web which extend downwardly from said flange.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
151 words
A locomotive according to claim 2 wherein: a. said mounting member is disposed above said flange; b. said counterpressure wheel support is in the form of a beam element extending longitudinally of said trackway below the level of said flange, and having bearing means for rotatably mounted said longitudinally spaced counterpressure wheels for rotation about their axes respectively; c. said preload means comprises suspension elements extending upwardly from said beam element adjacent to opposite ends thereof, one before and one behind said driving wheel axis and connected adjacent to their upper ends to said mounting member; d. at least one of said suspension elements comprises components movable between an extended position and a contracted position to drawn said beam element upwardly in the latter of said positions, and establish the requisite contact pressure between said bogie wheels of said central group, and said upwardly and downwardly presented faces of said flange.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A locomotive according to claim 2 wherein: a. said driving wheel has a diameter larger than the diameter of said counterpressure wheels; b. said counterpressure wheels have diameters less than the vertical dimension of said web of said trackway.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
116 words
A locomotive according to claim 2 wherein: a. said driving wheel or each of same is provided with a tire 08 resilient material providing a zone of contract with the upwardly presented face of said flange extending longitudinally thereof; b. said axes of rotation of said counterpressure wheels are spaced apart from each other by a distance only slightly greater than the length of said zone of contact; c. said counterpressure wheels are formed of relatively rigid material, and have zones of contact with the downwardly presented face of said flange lying at opposite ends of, but close to, the ends of said first zone of contact of said driving wheel or wheels with said flange.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
A locomotive according to claim 1 wherein: a. said counterpressure wheel support comprises a beam element disposed beneath said flange and extending longitudinally of said trackway; b. said guide means comprises respective cooperative guide elements on the mounting member and on the beam element engaging with each other to provide for upward and downward movement of said beam element relatively to said mounting member, and constraint to longitudinal movement of said beam element relatively to said mounting member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A locomotive according to claim 6 wherein: a. said guide elements on said mounting member comprise downwardly projecting arms at opposite ends of said mounting member extending vertically to a position beneath said flange of said trackway; b. said guide elements on said beam element comprise guide faces thereon presented in opposite longitudinal directions for engagement with respective ones of said arms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
239 words
A locomotive according to claim 1 for use with a trackway including laterally spaced rail elements each having a Vertical web, and a laterally inwardly extending horizontal or approximately horizontal flange at the upper end of said web, wherein: a. each driving bogie of said locomotive incorporates two laterally spaced coaxial driving wheels for engagement with the upwardly presented faces of respective flanges of said rail elements b. said prime mover is operatively connected with said driving wheels by transmission means on said bogie body structure disposed laterally outwardly of said driving wheels respectively; c. said counterpressure wheels include pairs thereof disposed respectively forwardly and rearwardly of said driving wheels; d. the mounting member is disposed above said rail elements, and includes bearing means for rotatably mounting said driving wheels; e. said counterpressure wheel support includes a beam element extending longitudinally of said trackway between said laterally spaced rail elements thereof, and beneath the flanges of said rail elements, and includes bearing means for rotatably mounting said counterpressure wheels; f. said preload means comprises suspension elements extending upwardly between said rail elements and connecting said beam element with said mounting member adjacent to opposite ends of the latter, at least one of said suspension elements being contractable; g. said stabilizing wheels are mounted in bearing means provided adjacent to opposite ends of said beam element for engagement with respective inwardly presented faces of said webs of said rail elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A locomotive according to claim 1 wherein each of said bogies comprises a bogie body structure, including means for effecting pivotal connection between said locomotive and a carriage to be drawn thereby about an upright axis, and for providing swiveling movement of said bogie relative to said body of said locomotive about said upright axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
A locomotive according to claim 10 wherein said bogie body structure includes an upwardly projecting post for extension through bearing means provided both on said body of said locomotive and on a carriage to be drawn thereby, said bogie this providing support to both said locomotive and to said carriage at the end of said locomotive and said carriage at which said bogie is situated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-14 | 1974-12-14 | 1975-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-14 | 1978-12-14 | 1979-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-14 | 1982-12-14 | 1983-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |