Transportation system

Claim 2

A vehicle drive system comprising a first endless drive member for driving engagement with a first vehicle and a second vehicle along a path in a constant speed section of the system, a second endless drive member for driving engagement with said first vehicle in a variable speed section of the system, a third endless drive member for driving engagement with said second vehicle in said variable speed section of the system, means for gradually changing the speed of said second endless drive member between the speed of said first endless drive member and a different speed in a different speed section of said system whereby the speed of said first vehicle can be gradually changed from said speed of said first endless drive member to said different speed and a second means for gradually changing the speed of said third endless drive member whereby more than one vehicle is driven at gradually changing speeds in said variable speed section at the same time.

Claim 3

A vehicle cable drive system comprising a first cable for driving engagement with a vehicle along a path in a constant speed section of the system, a second cable for driving engagement with said vehicle in a variable speed section of the system and a clamping mechanism for gripping said first cable in said constant speed section and for gripping said second cable in said variable speed section and means for gradually changing the speed of said second cable between the speed of said first cable and a different speed in a different speed section of said system whereby the speed of said vehicle can be gradually changed from said speed of said first cable to said different speed.

Claim 4

A vehicle cable drive system comprising a first cable for driving engagement with a vehicle along a path in a constant speed section of the system, a second cable for driving engagement with said vehicle in a variable speed section of the system and a clamping mechanism for gripping said first cable in said constant speed section and for gripping said second cable in said variable speed section and means for gradually changing the speed of said second cable between the speed of said first cable and a different speed in a different speed section of said system whereby the speed of said vehicle can be gradually changed from said speed of said first cable to said different speed.

Claim 5

A vehicle cable drive system according to claim 2, wherein said constant speed section is a high speed section, said different speed of said different speed section is a low speed in a low speed section and said variable speed section is a deceleration section with said means for gradually changing the speed of said second cable slowing the vehicle from said high speed to said low speed.

Claim 6

A vehicle cable drive system according to claim 3 further comprising a separate drive member for propelling said vehicle at a low speed in said low speed section.

Claim 7

A vehicle cable drive system according to claim 4 further comprising an acceleration section between said low speed section and said high speed section, an accelerating cable in said acceleration section for driving engagement with said vehicle and means for gradually increasing the speed of said accelerating cable from said low speed to said high speed.

Claim 8

A vehicle cable drive system according to claim 1, wherein said constant speed section has spaced-apart portions, said variable speed section and said different speed section of said system are located between said spaced-apart portions of said constant speed section and said first cable extends continuously between said spaced-apart portions and around said variable speed section and said different speed section.

Claim 9

A vehicle cable drive system according to claim 2 wherein said second cable continues in driving engagement with said vehicle through said variable speed section and said different speed section.

Claim 10

A vehicle cable drive system according to claim 7 wherein said variable speed section includes an acceleration section and a deceleration section interposed between said constant speed section and said different speed section and said means for gradually changing the speed of said second cable, accelerates, decelerates and drives said cable at said different speed.

Claim 11

A vehicle drive system comprising a first endless drive member for driving engagement with a vehicle along a path in a constant speed section of the system, a second endless drive member for driving engagement with said vehicle in a variable speed section of the system, a clampiNg mechanism for gripping said first endless drive member in said constant speed section and for gripping said second endless drive member in said variable speed section, said clamping mechanism having two grips with one grip releasable from gripping engagement with said first endless drive member as the other grip is closed on said second endless drive member, and means for gradually changing the speed of said second endless drive member between the speed of said first endless drive member and a different speed in a different speed section of said system whereby the speed of said vehicle can be gradually changed from said speed of said first endless drive member to said different speed.

Claim 12

A vehicle drive system comprising a first endless drive member for driving engagement with a vehicle along a path in a constant speed section of the system, a second endless drive member for driving engagement with said vehicle in a variable speed section of the system, a clampiNg mechanism for gripping said first endless drive member in said constant speed section and for gripping said second endless drive member in said variable speed section, said clamping mechanism having two grips with one grip releasable from gripping engagement with said first endless drive member as the other grip is closed on said second endless drive member, and means for gradually changing the speed of said second endless drive member between the speed of said first endless drive member and a different speed in a different speed section of said system whereby the speed of said vehicle can be gradually changed from said speed of said first endless drive member to said different speed.

Claim 13

A vehicle drive system according to claim 9 wherein said one grip further comprises a pair of lever arms hingedly connected to said vehicle at positions spaced from the ends of said lever arms, said arms having opposing gripping surfaces at one end of each of said arms for gripping said endless drive member, cam engaging surfaces at the other end of each of said arms and cam members mounted along said path in positions for engagement by said cam engaging surfaces to move said gripping surfaces out of engagement with said first endless drive member and spring means mounted on said arms for closing said gripping surfaces and urging said gripping surfaces into engagement with said second endless drive member.

Claim 14

A vehicle drive system according to claim 9 wherein said vehicle and a second vehicle each has a clamping mechanism for gripping said frist endless drive member in said constant speed section and for gripping said second endless drive member and a third endless drive member in said variable speed section.

Claim 15

A vehicle drive system according to claim 11 wherein said clamping mechanism further comprises two grips with one grip releasable from gripping engagement with one of the endless drive members as the other grip is closed on the other endless drive member.

Claim 16

A vehicle drive system according to claim 12 wherein said clamping mechanism includes selective means for controlling the position of said grips for driving engagement of said vehicle with said second endless drive member and driving engagement of said second vehicle with said third endless drive member in said variable speed section.

Claim 17

A vehicle drive system according to claim 13 wherein said selective means comprises a transversely extending carriage, said grips being mounted on said carriage for driving engagement with said second endless drive member and said third endless drive member, said carriage being slidably supported on said vehicle from one position in which one of said grips is in position to grip said second endless drive member to another position where another of said grips is in a position to grip said third endless drive member in said variable speed section and means mounted along said path for shifting said carriage from one position to the other.

Claim 18

A vehicle drive system comprising a first endless drive member for driving engagement with a vehicle along a path in a constant speed section of the system, a second endless drive member for driving engagement with said vehicle in a variable speed section of the system and means for gradually changing the speed of said second endless drive member between the speed of said first endless drive member and a different speed in a different speed section of said system, said variable speed section including an acceleration section and a deceleration section interposed between said constant speed section and said different speed section, said second endless drive member extending around said different speed section and through said acceleration section and deceleration section and being in driving engagement with said vehicle through said acceleration section and said deceleration section, and said means for gradually changing the speed of said second endless drive member accelerating and decelerating said second drive member in said accelerAtion section and said deceleration section whereby the speed of said vehicle can be gradually changed from said speed of said first endless drive member to said different speed.

Claim 19

A vehicle drive system comprising a first endless drive member for driving engagement with a vehicle along a path in a constant speed section of the system, a second endless drive member for driving engagement with said vehicle in a variable speed section of the system and means for gradually changing the speed of said second endless drive member between the speed of said first endless drive member and a different speed in a different speed section of said system, said variable speed section including an acceleration section and a deceleration section interposed between said constant speed section and said different speed section, said second endless drive member extending around said different speed section and through said acceleration section and deceleration section and being in driving engagement with said vehicle through said acceleration section and said deceleration section, and said means for gradually changing the speed of said second endless drive member accelerating and decelerating said second drive member in said accelerAtion section and said deceleration section whereby the speed of said vehicle can be gradually changed from said speed of said first endless drive member to said different speed.