US3828691A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Railway vehicle
Assignee: Mannesmann Demag AG
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Filing: 1973-09-07
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1993-09-07
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is a new and improved railway vehicle supported by rimless support wheels and guided by special guide wheels and control wheels on a unique track system comprising horizontal main rails having horizontal surfaces upon which traction wheels mounted on horizontal axes for the railway car are supported, guide rails having vertical control surfaces spaced above or below (depending upon whether the railway vehicle is bottom supported or suspended) in non-branching portions of the rail system, and auxiliary or directional rails also having vertical control surfaces. The vertical surfaces of the directional rails contact the control wheels mounted on the railway vehicle for controlling che direction that the railway vehicle takes in traversing a branch. The guide wheels and control wheels are mounted on vertical axes for rotation in horizontal planes and are supported on a unique linkage which is adapted, under a dynamic control influence applied from within the vehicle itself or from a static camming control influence applied by a steering rail disposed in the railway path prior to a junction (in which pairs of tracks are merging or diverging), to pivot the control wheels about the guide wheels to contact a selected one of the directional rails for the purpose of properly and safely directing the railway vehicle as it traverses the junction.
Inventors
- 👤 B Purath
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:44
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01B; E01B25/00; E01B25/08; E01B25/12; B; B61; B61F; B61F9/00; B65; B65G; B65G2812/00; B65G2812/02; B65G2812/02009; B65G2812/02019; B65G2812/02069; B65G2812/02079
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
An improved railway vehicle comprising a. truck means mounting traction wheels on opposite sides of said vehicle for rotation about horizontal axes and mounting guide wheels on opposite sides of said vehicle for rotation about vertical axes; b. said traction wheels being adapted to engage horizontal main rail surfaces for propulsion of said truck means therealong; c. said guide wheels being adapted to engage vertical guide rail surfaces associated with said main rail surfaces for guiding said vehicle; d. a control wheel associated with each of said guide wheels and mounted for rotation about a vertical axis; e. each of said control wheels being adapted to engage a vertical auxiliary directional rail surface in branching areas of track systems; f. each of said control wheels being driven through transmission means by the guide wheel with which it is associated; g. lever means interconnecting each of said control wheels with each of said guide wheels, said lever means being adapted selectively to pivot each of said control wheels about each of said guide wheels for selective engagement with said directional rail surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
An improved railway vehicle comprising a. truck means mounting traction wheels on opposite sides of said vehicle for rotation about horizontal axes and mounting guide wheels on opposite sides of said vehicle for rotation about vertical axes; b. said traction wheels being adapted to engage horizontal main rail surfaces for propulsion of said truck means therealong; c. said guide wheels being adapted to engage vertical guide rail surfaces associated with said main rail surfaces for guiding said vehicle; d. a control wheel associated with each of said guide wheels and mounted for rotation about a vertical axis; e. each of said control wheels being adapted to engage a vertical auxiliary directional rail surface in branching areas of track systems; f. each of said control wheels being driven through transmission means by the guide wheel with which it is associated; g. lever means interconnecting each of said control wheels with each of said guide wheels, said lever means being adapted selectively to pivot each of said control wheels about each of said guide wheels for selective engagement with said directional rail surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A railway vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further characterized, in that a. separate shaft means mount each of said control and guide wheels for rotation; b. said transmission means includes sprocket wheels mounted on each of said shaft means and roller chains interconnecting the sprocket wheels of each associated pair of guide and control wheels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A railway vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further characterized, in that a. shaft means mount each of said guide wheels and control wheels for rotation; b. said transmission means includes pulleys mounted on each of said shaft means and a belt means interconnecting the pulleys of each associated pair of guide and control wheels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A railway vehicle in accordance with claim 3, further characterized, in that a. said transmission belt means are crossed between said pulleys to reverse the direction of rotation imparted to the driven control wheel by the driving guide wheel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A railway vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further characterized, in that a. separate shaft means mount each of said control and guide wheels for rotation; b. said transmission means includes pinions mounted on said shaft means of said guide wheels and gears driven by said pinions; c. said gears are mounted on said lever means and are adapted to drive said control wheels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A railway vehicle in accordance with claim 5, further characterized, in that a. the outputs of said driven gears are transmitted to said control wheels by pulleys mounted on said control wheel shaft means and pulleys mounted on shaft means supporting said driven gears; and b. belt means interconnect said pulleys.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A railway vehicle in accordance with claim 5, further characterized, in that a. the outputs of said driven gears are transmitted to said control wheels by sprockets mounted on said control wheel shaft means and sprockets mounted on shaft meAns supporting said driven gears; and b. roller chain means interconnect said sprockets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A railway vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further characterized, in that a. said truck means is generally rectangular in configuration; b. said guide wheels and control wheels are disposed at each of the four corners of said truck means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A railway vehicle in accordance with claim 8, in which a. all of said control wheels are interconnected by a common control mechanism which includes said lever means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A railway vehicle in accordance with claim 8, in which a. said control mechanism further includes longitudinal links, and cross links articulated to said lever means; and b. said guide wheels are disposed at inner ends of said lever means and said control wheels are mounted at outer ends of said lever means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A railway vehicle in accordance with claim 10, further characterized, in that a. said control mechanism is adapted to operate in the nature of a bilateral toggle switch having two limit positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A railway vehicle in accordance with claim 11, further characterized, in that a. electrolinear motor means are mounted on said truck means; b. the secondary of said electrolinear motor is directly associated with one of said longitudinal links to displace said mechanism into one of its two positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A railway vehicle in accordance with claim 12, further characterized, in that a. the opposite limits of said bilateral toggle switch are defined by the cooperation of first stop means disposed on one of said links and a second stop means disposed on said truck means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
A railway vehicle in accordance with claim 12, further characterized, in that a. said bilateral toggle switch mechanism is biased by a coil spring fastened at one end to a link in said control mechanism and fastened at its other end to said truck means.
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) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |