US3908554A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-propelled amusement-park rail vehicle
Assignee: INTAMIN Corp Inc A CORP OF LIECHTENSTEIN
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Filing: 1974-03-27
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1994-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A self-propelled amusement-park vehicle, adapted to ride on a pair of running rails and to drive itself on a drive rail located between the running rails, has a pair of units each comprising a rubber drive wheel engaging a respective lateral face of the drive rail, and mounted on an upright shaft which is connected at its upper end via a right-angle drive to the drive motor of the vehicle. Each drive unit is pivotal about an axis extending generally parallel to the drive rail which is parallel to the normal direction of travel of the vehicle, and a spring is provided which urges the lower end of the shaft mounting the wheel toward the drive rail so that the wheel is pressed against the respective face of the drive rail. The spring urging the drive wheel into engagement with the drive rail is received in a hollow shaft constituting the pivot axis for the support wheels. The vehicle has in each corner a pair of hyperboloidal support wheels which ride on the running rails of the system. Each pair of such wheels is mounted in a support which pivoted about the respective hollow shaft on the housing of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Anton Schwarzkopf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:45
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63G; A63G7/00; A63G21/00; A63G21/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A self-propelled amusement-park vehicle adapted to ride on a pair of stationary parallel running rails and to propel itself on a stationary drive rail between said running rails, said vehicle comprising: a housing; support wheels on said housing engageable with said running rails permitting said housing to roll therealong; a pair of angularly displaceable drive arms flanking said drive rail, each arm having a lower end adjacent said drive rail and an upper end said lower end displaceable angularly with respect to its upper end; respective means defining a respective pivot between said housing and each of said upper ends for displacement of the respective lower end laterally toward and away from said drive rail, said pivots being parallel to said drive rail; a respective drive wheel at each of said lower ends and rotatable about an axis transverse to said drive rail; a respective spring bearing on each arm for urging the respective lower end toward said drive rail and thereby pressing said drive wheels against said drive rail; a respective right-angle drive mounted wholly on each of said arms and having an output at the respective lower end carrying the respective drive wheel and an input at the respective upper end; and a motor in said housing connected to said inputs for rotating said wheels with said drives to propel said housing along said running rails.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A self-propelled amusement-park vehicle adapted to ride on a pair of stationary parallel running rails and to propel itself on a stationary drive rail between said running rails, said vehicle comprising: a housing; support wheels on said housing engageable with said running rails permitting said housing to roll therealong; a pair of angularly displaceable drive arms flanking said drive rail, each arm having a lower end adjacent said drive rail and an upper end said lower end displaceable angularly with respect to its upper end; respective means defining a respective pivot between said housing and each of said upper ends for displacement of the respective lower end laterally toward and away from said drive rail, said pivots being parallel to said drive rail; a respective drive wheel at each of said lower ends and rotatable about an axis transverse to said drive rail; a respective spring bearing on each arm for urging the respective lower end toward said drive rail and thereby pressing said drive wheels against said drive rail; a respective right-angle drive mounted wholly on each of said arms and having an output at the respective lower end carrying the respective drive wheel and an input at the respective upper end; and a motor in said housing connected to said inputs for rotating said wheels with said drives to propel said housing along said running rails.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein each arm comprises a rigid casing extending transversely to said drive rail, and enclosing the respective right-angle drive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vehicle defined in claim 2 wherein each right angle drive includes a worm at said input, a pinion meshing therewith, and a shaft carrying said pinions and the respective wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vehicle defined in claim 3, further comprising a universal joint between said motor and each of said inputs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is provided with a plurality of supports each carrying a pair of said support wheels and pivotal on said housing about an axis transverse to said running rails.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The vehicle defined in claim 5 wherein said housing includes a plurality of hollow pivot shafts each constituting the pivot axis of a respective support, said springs of said means for urging each being received within a respective hollow shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein said drive rails includes a pair of like T-beams each having a flange turned toward the other T-beam.
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) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |