US3763788A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic switching of vehicles
Assignee: Rohr Inc
•
Filing: 1971-08-17
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Granted: 1973-10-09
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Expires: 1991-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A system for switching a high speed captive surface vehicle from a primary guideway to a secondary guideway by magnetic attraction means. The vehicle carries on its sides controllable electromagnetic force fields that cause the vehicle to be magnetically attracted to without touching corresponding ferro-magnetic guidance rails along the guideways. When switching is required, the magnetic force field on the side of the moving vehicle opposite from the side of an arcuate secondary guideway intersection is de-energized allowing the vehicle under control of the remaining energized force field to follow the guide rail of the secondary guideway. When the vehicle clears the intersection, the de-energized force field is then re-activated thus completing the switching maneuver to resume normal guidance control along the secondary guideway.
Inventors
- 👤 L Pougue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:09
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61F; B61F5/00; B61F5/38; B61F5/383; B61B; B61B13/00; B61B13/12; B61B13/122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A switching and guiding system for a tracked high speed magnetically supported, guided, and propelled vehicle comprising, in combination, a vehicle, a plurality of rails including a support rail spaced above the vehicle out of contact therewith, first controllable magnetic means carried by the vehicle for supporting the same from said support rail and against the force of gravity thereon by magnetic attraction, means including the support rail and said magnetic means for transporting the vehicle along the rail, second and third guidance rails spaced on opposite sides of the vehicle out of contact therewith, second and third controllable magnetic means carried by the vehicle for respectively developing magnetic attraction and vehicle propulsion forces with respect to said second and third rails when the respective gaps between the second and third rails and the vehicle exceed a predetermined value, said rails having straight-a-way and branch sections defining a switching intersection at their junction, and means for selectively deactivating one of said second and third magnetizing means in relation to its associated rail section, thereby to continue movement of the vehicle along the straight-a-way rail section while the vehicle is passing through the intersection thereby to direct continued movement selectively along the straight-a-way or branch rail sections.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A switching and guiding system for a tracked high speed magnetically supported, guided, and propelled vehicle comprising, in combination, a vehicle, a plurality of rails including a support rail spaced above the vehicle out of contact therewith, first controllable magnetic means carried by the vehicle for supporting the same from said support rail and against the force of gravity thereon by magnetic attraction, means including the support rail and said magnetic means for transporting the vehicle along the rail, second and third guidance rails spaced on opposite sides of the vehicle out of contact therewith, second and third controllable magnetic means carried by the vehicle for respectively developing magnetic attraction and vehicle propulsion forces with respect to said second and third rails when the respective gaps between the second and third rails and the vehicle exceed a predetermined value, said rails having straight-a-way and branch sections defining a switching intersection at their junction, and means for selectively deactivating one of said second and third magnetizing means in relation to its associated rail section, thereby to continue movement of the vehicle along the straight-a-way rail section while the vehicle is passing through the intersection thereby to direct continued movement selectively along the straight-a-way or branch rail sections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The switching and guiding system as in claim 1 wherein said support rail has a generally Y configuration with branches following said straight-a-way and rail branch sections.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The switching and guiding system as in claim 1 wherein said rails are banked in the portion of the branch rail section leading from the intersection.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The switching and guiding system as in claim 1 wherein said first controllable magnetic means produces a force field which is regulated at a level sufficient to counteract gravity and said second and third controllable means produce force fields independently of gravity and effective to exert no attractive force on their rails when said gaps have said pre-determined value.
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) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |