US3643601A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transportation system
Assignee: Alden Self Transit Systems Corp
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Filing: 1970-06-01
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Granted: 1972-02-22
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Expires: 1990-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle includes a steering mechanism and a switching mechanism that includes biasing means for biasing the steering mechanism in a selected direction away from a predetermined vehicle path, and guide sensor means for resisting the biasing means in response to path defining means external of the vehicle for maintaining the vehicle on a predetermined path.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul A Taylor
- 👤 Thomas A Boissevain
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:56
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/24; B62D1/26; B62D1/265
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
329 words
In a transportation system comprising structure defining a predetermined vehicle path having a generally horizontal surface that provides a support for a vehicle as it moves therealong, said path including a main portion and a spur portion connected to said main portion at a junction, and a pair of fixed opposed spaced guide surfaces extending along said drive surface for providing directional guidance to a vehicle as it moves along said path, said guide surfaces diverging from one another at said junction, a vehicle for use on said vehicle path, said vehicle having a travel axis extending front to back through its center of gravity along which said vehicle moves in straight line motion, a steering mechanism for diverting said vehicle from movement along its travel axis, and a dynamically responsive vehicle steering and path selection control comprising biasing means for biasing said steering mechanism in either of two directions to steer said vehicle along a path either to the left or to the right of its travel axis, two guide follower wheels mounted for rotation about generally vertical axes, means resiliently connecting each said follower wheel to said steering mechanism to damp minor oscillations of each said follower wheel and isolate such oscillations from said steering mechanism, said guide follower wheels being disposed forwardly of said steering mechanism and the center of gravity of said vehicle, and selector means for operating said biasing means to selectively bias said steering mechanism in either of said two directions to divert said vehicle from movement along its travel axis and cause a corresponding guide follower wheel to engage and maintain substantially continuous contact with the cooperating guide surface, the biasing force imposed by said biasing means on said steering mechanism being opposed and overcome by the reaction between the guide surface and the guide follower wheel engaged therewith so that said vehicle moves along said vehicle path as controlled by the direction of the guide surface engaged by said follower wheel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
329 words
In a transportation system comprising structure defining a predetermined vehicle path having a generally horizontal surface that provides a support for a vehicle as it moves therealong, said path including a main portion and a spur portion connected to said main portion at a junction, and a pair of fixed opposed spaced guide surfaces extending along said drive surface for providing directional guidance to a vehicle as it moves along said path, said guide surfaces diverging from one another at said junction, a vehicle for use on said vehicle path, said vehicle having a travel axis extending front to back through its center of gravity along which said vehicle moves in straight line motion, a steering mechanism for diverting said vehicle from movement along its travel axis, and a dynamically responsive vehicle steering and path selection control comprising biasing means for biasing said steering mechanism in either of two directions to steer said vehicle along a path either to the left or to the right of its travel axis, two guide follower wheels mounted for rotation about generally vertical axes, means resiliently connecting each said follower wheel to said steering mechanism to damp minor oscillations of each said follower wheel and isolate such oscillations from said steering mechanism, said guide follower wheels being disposed forwardly of said steering mechanism and the center of gravity of said vehicle, and selector means for operating said biasing means to selectively bias said steering mechanism in either of said two directions to divert said vehicle from movement along its travel axis and cause a corresponding guide follower wheel to engage and maintain substantially continuous contact with the cooperating guide surface, the biasing force imposed by said biasing means on said steering mechanism being opposed and overcome by the reaction between the guide surface and the guide follower wheel engaged therewith so that said vehicle moves along said vehicle path as controlled by the direction of the guide surface engaged by said follower wheel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The transportation system of claim 1 wherein one said guide surface is located on each side of said vehicle path, one said follower wheel is located on each side of said vehicle, said selector means biases said steering mechanism to steer said vehicle to move toward a selected guide surface, and the follower wheel that engages said selected guide surface maintains said vehicle a predetermined distance from said selected guide surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The transportation system of claim 1 wherein said guide surfaces, independent of junctions, and said follower wheels are mutually constructed so that the follower wheel corresponding to the nonselected guide surface is also in substantially continuous contact with the nonselected guide surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The vehicle of claim 1 including two steerable wheels, steered in unison by said steering mechanism, and fixed support structure therefor, and wherein said biasing means comprises a biasing assembly mounted between one said steerable wheel and said wheel support structure for steerably rotating said steerable wheels relative to said support structure, said biasing assembly comprising means selectively operable in either of two modes to bias said steerable wheels in either of two generally opposite directions away from said vehicle travel axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The vehicle of claim 4 wherein said biasing means includes two biasing assemblies, one of said assemblies is mounted between each of said steerable wheels and said fixed structure, and said selector means for operating said biasing assemblies in unison in one of two opposite operating modes to bias said wheels in a selected one of two generally opposite directions away from said vehicle travel axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
The vehicle of claim 5 wherein each said biasing assembly comprises a piston rod having a piston head, and a hydraulic cylinder having two fluid ports, one located on either side of said piston head, and said selector means comprise a hydraulic valve directing fluid to one port of each cylinder and away from the other port of each cylinder, said ports selected to move both said pistons in unison in directions tending to bias said steerable wheels in the same direction, and switching means for said valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said resilient connecting means further includes a safety switch actuated by a predetermined large movement of said follower wheel in a direction away from said steerable wheel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The vehicle of claim 1 and further including selector means for operating said biasing means to bias said steering mechanism to close said guide sensor means to be responsive to a preselected one of a plurality of path defining means external of said vehicle to select a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined paths at a junction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
200 words
In a vehicle, a steering mechanism, and a control mechanism for said steering mechanism including biasing means for biasing said steering mechanism in a selected direction away from a predetermined vehicle path, and guide sensor means constructed to resist said biasing means in response to path defining means external of said vehicle sufficient to maintain said vehicle on said predetermined path, said guide sensor means comprising a follower wheel adapted to contact guide means disposed along the said selected direction of travel, and a linking structure connected at one end to said follower wheel and at the other end to said steering mechanism so that said steering mechanism and said follower wheel turn on the same axis through the same arc during turning of said vehicle, said linking structure including a cylinder secured to said steering mechanism and having a closed end adjacent thereto and an open end, a shaft aligned with said cylinder secured at one end to said follower wheel and having its opposite end facing the closed end of said cylinder, and a pring disposed between the said opposite end of said shaft and the closed end of said cylinder for damping movement of said follower wheel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
200 words
In a vehicle, a steering mechanism, and a control mechanism for said steering mechanism including biasing means for biasing said steering mechanism in a selected direction away from a predetermined vehicle path, and guide sensor means constructed to resist said biasing means in response to path defining means external of said vehicle sufficient to maintain said vehicle on said predetermined path, said guide sensor means comprising a follower wheel adapted to contact guide means disposed along the said selected direction of travel, and a linking structure connected at one end to said follower wheel and at the other end to said steering mechanism so that said steering mechanism and said follower wheel turn on the same axis through the same arc during turning of said vehicle, said linking structure including a cylinder secured to said steering mechanism and having a closed end adjacent thereto and an open end, a shaft aligned with said cylinder secured at one end to said follower wheel and having its opposite end facing the closed end of said cylinder, and a pring disposed between the said opposite end of said shaft and the closed end of said cylinder for damping movement of said follower wheel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The vehicle of claim 9 wherein said shaft has an enlarged head slidably received with said cylinder, said cylinder includes stops for limiting axial sliding movement of said shaft relative to said cylinder to limit movement of said follower wheel in response to said path-defining means, and said vehicle includes a switch actuated upon engagement of said head and one of said stops.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The vehicle of claim 10 wherein said cylinder includes a counterbore providing an annular shoulder defining said stop.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-21 | 1975-08-23 | 1976-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-21 | 1979-08-23 | 1980-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-21 | 1983-08-23 | 1984-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |