Patent US3840736A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3840736A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for controlling vehicles at junction points
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1972-10-27
•
Granted: 1974-10-08
•
Expires: 1992-10-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is disclosed for controlling separate or a few interconnected vehicles running along a track, such as separate rail cars, or types of similar vehicles. The system permits both high vehicle speeds and high traffic densities, and is especially effective for controlling the distance between vehicles at a junction or switching point in a track, path or roadway network.
Inventors
- 👤 T Asano
- 👤 H Takamiya
- 👤 Y Morimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:23
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L3/00; B61L3/16; B61L3/18; B61L3/185
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for controlling a vehicle comprising: a first plurality of ground elements placed at predetermined intervals along a main line, a second plurality of ground elements placed at predetermined intervals along a first branch of said main line, a third plurality of ground elements placed at predetermined intervals along a second branch of said main line, all of said ground elements generating output signals as said vehicle passes said ground elements, a plurality of adding devices coupled to said ground elements for progressively summing said output signals and for generating output signals indicating said progressive summing. control means responsive to said progressive summing output signals for regulating the speed of said vehicle and the spacing between said vehicle And other vehicles, auxiliary control means responsive only to output signals generated by said second and third pluralities of ground elements; and, circuit means responsive to said auxiliary control means for controlling said vehicle in a zone where said first and second branch lines merge with said main line.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for controlling a vehicle comprising: a first plurality of ground elements placed at predetermined intervals along a main line, a second plurality of ground elements placed at predetermined intervals along a first branch of said main line, a third plurality of ground elements placed at predetermined intervals along a second branch of said main line, all of said ground elements generating output signals as said vehicle passes said ground elements, a plurality of adding devices coupled to said ground elements for progressively summing said output signals and for generating output signals indicating said progressive summing. control means responsive to said progressive summing output signals for regulating the speed of said vehicle and the spacing between said vehicle And other vehicles, auxiliary control means responsive only to output signals generated by said second and third pluralities of ground elements; and, circuit means responsive to said auxiliary control means for controlling said vehicle in a zone where said first and second branch lines merge with said main line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus for controlling a vehicle as in claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of conductive segments arranged along said main line and said first and second branch lines and connected to said ground elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus for controlling a vehicle as in claim 2, further comprising: a receiving element coupled to said vehicle for progressively contacting said conductive segments; and driving means coupled to said receiving element for driving said vehicle in response to output signals from said receiving element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus for controlling a vehicle as in claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of switching gate means coupled to said ground elements and actuated thereby for progressively transmitting the output signals of said adding devices to said vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus for controlling a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein: said control means includes a first plurality of control devices for regulating said speed and spacing on said main line, a second plurality of control devices for regulating said speed and spacing on said first branch line; and, a third plurality of control devices for regulating said speed and spacing on said second branch line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus for controlling a vehicle as in claim 5, further comprising: comparing means coupled to said control devices for comparing the outputs of at least one control device in said second plurality of control devices and at least one control device in said third plurality of control devices, and for controlling said vehicle in said zone in response to the smaller of said compared outputs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus for controlling a vehicle as in claim 1, further comprising: comparing means coupled to at least two of said adding devices located adjacet to said zone for comparing the outputs thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |