Aerial guideway system

Claim 2

In a high speed vehicle transport system, a track structure comprising substantially rigid supporting columns at spaced intervals along the span of said track structure, an elongated, flexible vehicle-carrying track, main longitudinal suspension cables extending in spaced relation to one another between said supporting columns and connected to said supporting columns including cable takeup means for maintaining predetermined tension in said cables notwithstanding expansion and contraction of said track members, transverse suspender elements extending between said longitudinal suspension cables and between each of said longitudinal suspension cables and said track for suspension of said track in spaced relation to and beneath said longitudinal suspension cables, and said track suspended by said transverse suspender elements from said longitudinal suspension cables independently of said supporting columns whereby to maintain uniform flexible suspension of said track from said longitudinal suspension cables throughout the length of the track structure under static and dynamic loading of a vehicle.

Claim 3

In a high speed vehicle transport system according to claim 1, said main longitudinal suspension cables consisting of at least two pretensioned longitudinal suspension cables.

Claim 4

In a high speed vehicle transport system according to claim 2 said interconnected cables and track being in the cross-sectional form of an inverted delta.

Claim 5

In a high speed vehicle transport system according to claim 1, said cable takeup means disposed between said supporting columns and each of said cables whereby to maintain predetermined tension in said cables notwithstanding expansion and contraction of said track members.

Claim 6

In a high speed vehicle transport system according to claim 4, said cable takeup means including suspender elements extending at a relatively low angle to the longitudinal axis of said track between each column and a main suspension cable member.

Claim 7

In a vehicle transport system, a track structure comprising an elongated, flexible vehicle-carrying track member, said track member consisting of a continuous track dampening cable and a segmented steel section parallel and adjacent to said track dampening cable, said steel section segments expanding and contracting with changes in temperature, said track dampening cable maintaining a constant length and undergoing changes in tensile stress with changes in temperature, main longitudinal suspension cables extending in spaced relation to one another between said supporting columns, transverse suspender elements extending between said main longitudinal suspension cables and between each of said main longitudinal suspension cables and said track for suspension of said track member in spaced relation to and beneath said main longitudinal suspension cables, and said tracks suspended by said transverse suspender elements from said longitudinal suspension cables independently of said supporting columns whereby to maintain uniform flexible suspension of said track from said longitudinal suspension cables throughout the length of the track structure under static and dynamic loading of a vehicle.

Claim 8

In a vehicle transport system, a track structure comprising an elongated, flexible vehicle-carrying track member, said track member consisting of a continuous track dampening cable and a segmented steel section parallel and adjacent to said track dampening cable, said steel section segments expanding and contracting with changes in temperature, said track dampening cable maintaining a constant length and undergoing changes in tensile stress with changes in temperature, main longitudinal suspension cables extending in spaced relation to one another between said supporting columns, transverse suspender elements extending between said main longitudinal suspension cables and between each of said main longitudinal suspension cables and said track for suspension of said track member in spaced relation to and beneath said main longitudinal suspension cables, and said tracks suspended by said transverse suspender elements from said longitudinal suspension cables independently of said supporting columns whereby to maintain uniform flexible suspension of said track from said longitudinal suspension cables throughout the length of the track structure under static and dynamic loading of a vehicle.

Claim 9

In a high speed vehicle transport system, a track structure comprising a pair of elongated, flexible vehicle-carrying track members rigidly interconnected in horizontally spaced parallel relation to one another, main longitudinal suspension cables arranged for lengthwise extension of said track structure in substantially horizontally spaced parallel relation to one another, transverse suspender elements extending between said longitudinal suspension cables and between said longitudinal suspension cables and said track members under a predetermined degree of tension, substantially rigid supporting columns at spaced intervals along the span of said track structure, said longitudinal suspension cables being anchored at said supporting columns and said tracks being suspended from said longitudinal suspension cables, and dampening means connecting said tracks to said supporting columns whereby to cooperate with said longitudinal suspension cables in maintaininG uniform flexible suspension of said tracks throughout the length of said track structure.

Claim 10

In a high speed vehicle transport system, a track structure comprising a pair of elongated, flexible vehicle-carrying track members rigidly interconnected in horizontally spaced parallel relation to one another, main longitudinal suspension cables arranged for lengthwise extension of said track structure in substantially horizontally spaced parallel relation to one another, transverse suspender elements extending between said longitudinal suspension cables and between said longitudinal suspension cables and said track members under a predetermined degree of tension, substantially rigid supporting columns at spaced intervals along the span of said track structure, said longitudinal suspension cables being anchored at said supporting columns and said tracks being suspended from said longitudinal suspension cables, and dampening means connecting said tracks to said supporting columns whereby to cooperate with said longitudinal suspension cables in maintaininG uniform flexible suspension of said tracks throughout the length of said track structure.

Claim 11

In a high speed vehicle transport system according to claim 7, said suspension cables consisting of two main longitudinal suspension cables, said transverse suspender elements extending between said cables and between each of said cables and each of said track members in the substantial form of an inverted delta.

Claim 12

In a vehicle transport system, a track structure comprising a pair of elongated, flexible vehicle-carrying track members rigidly interconnected in horizontally spaced parallel relation to one another, main suspension cables arranged for lengthwise extension of said track structure in substantially horizontally spaced parallel relation to one another, said suspension cables consisting of three suspension cables defined by one principal suspension cable and two secondary suspension cables, transverse suspender elements extending between said cables and between said cables and said track members, in the substantial form of an inverted delta, and p1 substantially rigid supporting columns at spaced intervals along the span of said track structure, said cables being anchored at said supporting columns and said tracks being freely suspended from said cables and flexibly connected to said supporting columns whereby to maintain uniform flexible suspension of said tracks from said cables throughout the length of said track structure.

Claim 13

In a vehicle transport system, a track structure comprising a pair of elongated, flexible vehicle-carrying track members rigidly interconnected in horizontally spaced parallel relation to one another, main suspension cables arranged for lengthwise extension of said track structure in substantially horizontally spaced parallel relation to one another, said suspension cables consisting of three suspension cables defined by one principal suspension cable and two secondary suspension cables, transverse suspender elements extending between said cables and between said cables and said track members, in the substantial form of an inverted delta, and p1 substantially rigid supporting columns at spaced intervals along the span of said track structure, said cables being anchored at said supporting columns and said tracks being freely suspended from said cables and flexibly connected to said supporting columns whereby to maintain uniform flexible suspension of said tracks from said cables throughout the length of said track structure.

Claim 14

In a high speed vehicle transport system according to claim 9 said transverse suspender elements extending between said principal suspension cable and each of said secondary suspension cables and between said principal suspension cable and each of said track members and between each of said secondary suspension cables and the said track member nearest said secondary suspension cable and between said track members.

Claim 15

In a vehicle transport system, a track structure comprising a pair of elongated, flexible vehicle-carrying track members rigidly interconnected in horizontally spaced parallel relation to one another, each of said track members having a segmented steel section and a continuous track dampening cable parallel to and above said steel section whereby said steel section segments expand and contract with changes in temperature and said track dampening cables maintain a constant length and undergo changes in tensile stress with changes in temperature, main suspension cables arranged for lengthwise extension of said track structure in substantially horizontally spaced parallel relation to one another and to said track members, transverse suspender elements extending between said cables and between said cables and said track members, and substantially rigid supporting columns at spaced intervals along the span of said track structure, said cables being anchored at said supporting columns and said tracks being freely suspended from said cables and flexibly connected to said supporting columns whereby to maintain uniform flexible suspension of said tracks from said cables throughout the length of said track structure.

Claim 16

In a vehicle transport system, a track structure comprising a pair of elongated, flexible vehicle-carrying track members rigidly interconnected in horizontally spaced parallel relation to one another, each of said track members having a segmented steel section and a continuous track dampening cable parallel to and above said steel section whereby said steel section segments expand and contract with changes in temperature and said track dampening cables maintain a constant length and undergo changes in tensile stress with changes in temperature, main suspension cables arranged for lengthwise extension of said track structure in substantially horizontally spaced parallel relation to one another and to said track members, transverse suspender elements extending between said cables and between said cables and said track members, and substantially rigid supporting columns at spaced intervals along the span of said track structure, said cables being anchored at said supporting columns and said tracks being freely suspended from said cables and flexibly connected to said supporting columns whereby to maintain uniform flexible suspension of said tracks from said cables throughout the length of said track structure.

Claim 17

In a high speed vehicle transport system according to claim 11, said steel section segments being interconnected by expansion joints, and yieldable suspension means between said steel section segments and said supporting columns.

Claim 18

In a high speed vehicle transport system having an elongated vehicle-carrying track defined by a plurality of track sections arranged in end-to-end relation to one another and suspension means including support columns at spaced intervals for suspending the track in elevated relation to the ground, the combination comprising: an expansion joint between adjacent ends of the track sections including a wedge provided with convergent side edges aligned with and complementary to laterally inclined edges at the ends of the track sections, a slide bearing assembly between adjacent ends of the track sections and said wedge member causing said wedge to be laterally slidable along the inclined side edges between the adjacent ends of the track sections in response to expansion and contraction of said track sections, and alignment means between the adjacent ends of the track sections to permit expansion and contraction of the track sections while preventing displacement therebetween.

Claim 19

In a high speed vehicle transport system having an elongated vehicle-carrying track defined by a plurality of track sections arranged in end-to-end relation to one another and suspension means including support columns at spaced intervals for suspending the track in elevated relation to the ground, the combination comprising: an expansion joint between adjacent ends of the track sections including a wedge provided with convergent side edges aligned with and complementary to laterally inclined edges at the ends of the track sections, a slide bearing assembly between adjacent ends of the track sections and said wedge member causing said wedge to be laterally slidable along the inclined side edges between the adjacent ends of the track sections in response to expansion and contraction of said track sections, and alignment means between the adjacent ends of the track sections to permit expansion and contraction of the track sections while preventing displacement therebetween.

Claim 20

In a vehicle transport system according to claim 13 in which said track sections span adjacent support columns, and yieldable suspension means extending between said support columns and said tract sections for flexible suspension of said track sections from the support columns.

Claim 21

In a vehicle transport system according to claim 13, said track sections each including a horizontal dampening cable slidably secured to the upper track surfaces for extension between adjacent support columns.

Claim 22

In a vehicle transport system according to claim 13, each wedge member being of generally triangular configuration having convergent sides extending laterally between inclined side edges arranged opposite one another along the lower surfaces of each of the adjacent ends of said track section, said bearing assembly including bearing members mounted on said wedge member parallel and adjacent to each of the convergent sides, and bearing support portions attached to adjacent ends of the track sections parallel to the inclined edges, said bearing support portions being provided with sockets for insertion and slidable movement of said bearing members on said wedge.

Claim 23

In a vehicle transport system according to claim 16, said alignment means being defined by male and female telescoping elements connected to adjacent ends of said track sections for longitudinal slidable movement with respect to one another under expansion and contraction of said track sections.

Claim 24

In a vehicle transport system according to claim 13 wherein said track sections include a series of track sections defining a branch line in laterally spaced relation to a main line, one of the track sections in the main line movable between the main line and the end of the branch line, said transport system further including incremental track positioners arranged at longitudinally spaced intervals along at least a portion of said movable track section to impart progressively increased lateral movement to said movable track toward the end nearest the branch line for switching said movable track section from the main line to the branch line.

Claim 25

In a vehicle transport system according to claim 18, further including a switch guide mechanism between adjacent ends of the branch line and the movable track section to effect locking engagement between adjacent ends when the end of the movable track section is advanced by said incremental track positioners into alignment with the branch line.

Claim 26

In a vehicle transport system according to claim 18, said incremental track positioners being defined by drive means engageable with the undersurface of the movable track section for advancement of said movable track section into a predetermined curvature leading from the main line into the branch line.

Claim 27

In a high-speed elevated track transport system for overhead suspension of a vehicle comprising: a pair of elongated, vehicle-carrying track members arranged for extension in horizontally spaced parallel relation to one another, substantially rigid, upright supporting columns mounted at spaced intervals along the span of said track members, rigid strut members extending transversely between said tracks, a pair of main suspension cables extending in horizontally spaced, parallel relation to one another between adjacent supporting columns, transverse suspender elements extending between said main suspension cables and between each of said track members under a predetermined degree of tension whereby to deflect said track members upwardly into cambered position between said supporting columns, said main suspension cables being connected to said supportiNg columns with said track suspended from said cables independently of said supporting columns whereby to maintain uniform flexible suspension of said track throughout its length.

Claim 28

In a high-speed elevated track transport system for overhead suspension of a vehicle comprising: a pair of elongated, vehicle-carrying track members arranged for extension in horizontally spaced parallel relation to one another, substantially rigid, upright supporting columns mounted at spaced intervals along the span of said track members, rigid strut members extending transversely between said tracks, a pair of main suspension cables extending in horizontally spaced, parallel relation to one another between adjacent supporting columns, transverse suspender elements extending between said main suspension cables and between each of said track members under a predetermined degree of tension whereby to deflect said track members upwardly into cambered position between said supporting columns, said main suspension cables being connected to said supportiNg columns with said track suspended from said cables independently of said supporting columns whereby to maintain uniform flexible suspension of said track throughout its length.

Claim 29

A vehicle transportation system according to claim 21, further including cable takeup means between the ends of each of said main suspension cables and said supporting column whereby to maintain a predetermined tension in said cables notwithstanding expansion and contraction of the track members.

Claim 30

A vehicle transportation system according to claim 21 further including first auxiliary suspension cables extending in a substantially vertical direction between said supporting columns and said track and second auxiliary suspension cables extending substantially horizontally from said supporting columns for connection to said track.