US3791306A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle guideway switching mechanism
Assignee: Rohr Inc
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Filing: 1971-10-18
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Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1991-10-18
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to a guideway switch for self-guided vehicles having at least two selectable routes of travel. The switch includes at least two movable guide beams each having one end pivotally connected with the stationary guide rails of a roadway having a horizontal supporting surface on each side of the guide rails. A plurality of wheeled carriers are disposed below the horizontal supporting surfaces and are guided by a trackway. Each wheeled carrier includes a vertically adjustable support which has one end rigidly connected to the movable guide beams and which has the other end rotatably and slidably connected to the wheeled carrier. An actuating means includes an electric motor which drives a ball bearing screw drive mechanism. The screw drive mechanism moves the wheeled carriers and, in turn, shifts the movable beams to selected positions to establish the desired route of travel over the roadway for the self-guided vehicles.
Inventors
- 👤 J Wagner
- 👤 P Noble
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:32
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01B; E01B25/00; E01B25/08; E01B25/12; B; B61; B61L; B61L23/00; B61L23/002; B61L23/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A guideway switch for a vehicle traversing a roadway having supporting surfaces disposed on either side of a central guide beam comprising, a plurality of movable guide beams for selectively establishing a route of travel along said guideway, a plurality of carriers disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to said movable guide beams, and an actuating mechanism disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to one of said plurality of said carriers whereby said movable guide beamS are shifted between selected positions to establish the routes of travel, said movable guide beams pivoted at one end and a carrier disposed at the other end of each of said movable guide beams and a pair of carriers disposed intermediate the ends of each of said movable guide beams, the other end of each of said movable guide beams being locked in the selected positions by a linear actuated lock rod and each of said pair of carriers being also locked in the selected positions by a linear actuated lock rod.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A guideway switch for a vehicle traversing a roadway having supporting surfaces disposed on either side of a central guide beam comprising, a plurality of movable guide beams for selectively establishing a route of travel along said guideway, a plurality of carriers disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to said movable guide beams, and an actuating mechanism disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to one of said plurality of said carriers whereby said movable guide beamS are shifted between selected positions to establish the routes of travel, said movable guide beams pivoted at one end and a carrier disposed at the other end of each of said movable guide beams and a pair of carriers disposed intermediate the ends of each of said movable guide beams, the other end of each of said movable guide beams being locked in the selected positions by a linear actuated lock rod and each of said pair of carriers being also locked in the selected positions by a linear actuated lock rod.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
136 words
A guideway switch for a vehicle traversing a roadway having supporting surfaces disposed on either side of a central guide beam comprising, a plurality of movable guide beams for selectively establishing a route of travel along said guideway, a plurality of carriers disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to said movable guide beams, and an actuating mechanism disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to one of said plurality of said carriers whereby said movable guide beams are shifted between selected positions to establish the routes of travel, said actuating means including a power driven ball bearing screw drive mechanism, said power driven ball bearing screw drive mechanism including a nut having an endless train of bearings which cooperates with a threaded shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
A guideway switch for a vehicle traversing a roadway having supporting surfaces disposed on either side of a central guide beam comprising, a plurality of movable guide beams for selectively establishing a route of travel along said guideway, a plurality of carriers disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to said movable guide beams, and an actuating mechanism disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to one of said plurality of said carriers whereby said movable guide beams are shifted between selected positions to establish the routes of travel, said actuating means including a power driven ball bearing screw drive mechanism, said power driven ball bearing screw drive mechanism including a nut having an endless train of bearings which cooperates with a threaded shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
157 words
A guideway switch for a vehicle traversing a roadway having supporting surfaces disposed on either side of a central guide beam comprising, a plurality of movable guide beams for selectively establishing a route of travel along said guideway, a plurality of carriers disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to said movable guide beams, and an actuating mechanism disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to one of said plurality of said carriers whereby said movable guide beams are shifted between selected positions to establish the routes of travel, said carriers taking the form of dollies which roll on a fixed trackway, said dollies including a plurality of wheels some of which are grooved to match the engaging surface of said trackway, said wheels being held onto the trackway by a pair of elongated retaining plates which are disposed adjacent the tops of said wheels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
157 words
A guideway switch for a vehicle traversing a roadway having supporting surfaces disposed on either side of a central guide beam comprising, a plurality of movable guide beams for selectively establishing a route of travel along said guideway, a plurality of carriers disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to said movable guide beams, and an actuating mechanism disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to one of said plurality of said carriers whereby said movable guide beams are shifted between selected positions to establish the routes of travel, said carriers taking the form of dollies which roll on a fixed trackway, said dollies including a plurality of wheels some of which are grooved to match the engaging surface of said trackway, said wheels being held onto the trackway by a pair of elongated retaining plates which are disposed adjacent the tops of said wheels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
A guideway switch for a vehicle traversing a roadway having supporting surfaces disposed on either side of a central guide beam comprising, a plurality of movable guide beams for selectively establishing a route of travel along said guideway, a plurality of carriers disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to said movable guide beams, and an actuating mechanism disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to one of said plurality of said carriers whereby said movable guide beams are shifted between selected positions to establish the routes of travel, a shock absorber located at the selected positions to minimize energy shocks when said movable beams reach the selected position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
A guideway switch for a vehicle traversing a roadway having supporting surfaces disposed on either side of a central guide beam comprising, a plurality of movable guide beams for selectively establishing a route of travel along said guideway, a plurality of carriers disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to said movable guide beams, and an actuating mechanism disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to one of said plurality of said carriers whereby said movable guide beams are shifted between selected positions to establish the routes of travel, a shock absorber located at the selected positions to minimize energy shocks when said movable beams reach the selected position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
139 words
A guideway switch for a vehicle traversing a roadway having supporting surfaces disposed on either side of a central guide beam comprising, a plurality of movable guide beams for selectively establishing a route of travel along said guideway, a plurality of carriers disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to said movable guide beams, and an actuating mechanism disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to one of said plurality of said carriers whereby said movable guide beams are shifted between selected positions to establish the routes of travel, each of said carriers being connected to said movable guide beams by a vertically adjustable support which has one end rigidly secured to said movable guide beam and which has the other end slidably connected to said carriers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
A guideway switch for a vehicle traversing a roadway having supporting surfaces disposed on either side of a central guide beam comprising, a plurality of movable guide beams for selectively establishing a route of travel along said guideway, a plurality of carriers disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to said movable guide beams, and an actuating mechanism disposed below the level of said supporting surfaces of said roadway and connected to one of said plurality of said carriers whereby said movable guide beams are shifted between selected positions to establish the routes of travel, each of said carriers being connected to said movable guide beams by a vertically adjustable support which has one end rigidly secured to said movable guide beam and which has the other end slidably connected to said carriers.
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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) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |