US3915093A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suspended vehicle propulsion and suspension system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-05-10
•
Granted: 1975-10-28
•
Expires: 1994-05-10
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a suspension system for a carriage suspended from an overhead track. Resilient elements in the suspension each comprise a deformable chamber filled with pressure fluid. Fluid is distributed between the chambers to effect curve negotiation.
Inventors
- 👤 Maurice Barthalon
- 👤 Jean Guy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:43
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61B; B61B13/00; B61B13/12; B61B13/122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
In a suspension system for a vehicle hanging from a guiding track, said system comprising guiding units arranged in a line on said track and movable along said track, said suspended vehicle comprising a cabin having at least one rigid section and connected to each of said guiding units through a suspension unit comprising at least a movable link attached respectively to one point of the guiding unit and one point of a rigid section of the cabin, at least some of the suspension units incorporating damping means, resilient tension means, and means to control the tension thereof; the improvement wherein the number of said guiding units is greater than two for said rigid section, and wherein the movable link incorporates bearing means permitting a variation of the distance between the projections of the attachment points of said movable link both in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction on a horizontal plane to aid in negotiating curves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a suspension system for a vehicle hanging from a guiding track, said system comprising guiding units arranged in a line on said track and movable along said track, said suspended vehicle comprising a cabin having at least one rigid section and connected to each of said guiding units through a suspension unit comprising at least a movable link attached respectively to one point of the guiding unit and one point of a rigid section of the cabin, at least some of the suspension units incorporating damping means, resilient tension means, and means to control the tension thereof; the improvement wherein the number of said guiding units is greater than two for said rigid section, and wherein the movable link incorporates bearing means permitting a variation of the distance between the projections of the attachment points of said movable link both in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction on a horizontal plane to aid in negotiating curves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the four attachment points of two of the movable links to the moving unit and to the cabin form a deformable quadrangle and wherein the suspension unit incorporates means to vary the length of said movable links and means located at the four corners of the quadrangle to allow free rotation of said links both with respect to the guiding unit and with respect to the cabin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said resilient tension means are attached to the same guiding unit as the movable link concerned.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said resilient tension means are attached to the upper deck of the cabin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the movable links concerned with said tension control means are located abreast of each other in relatioN with the cabin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the movable links concerned with said tension control means are located lengthwise of each other in relation with the cabin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the movable links concerned with said tension control means form a symmetrical arrangement with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the cabin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the movable links concerned with said tension control means form a fore-and-aft symmetrical arrangement with respect to the cabin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the movable links concerned with said tension control means are arranged in a number of longitudinal rows with respect to the cabin, the tension control means of said movable links being combined with a pitch monitoring device to control the nose-up-or-down attitude of the cabin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the movable links concerned with said tension control means are arranged in a number of rows transversely of the cabin, the tension control means of said movable links being combined with a lateral monitoring device to control the lateral attitude of the cabin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the tension control means comprise equalizing means to provide an equal tension on at least two movable links.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the tension control means comprise proportional distribution means to provide tensions in a predetermined ratio on at least two movable links.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the tension control means comprise differential means to provide a predetermined difference of tension on at least two movable links.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein transverse balance means are provided at least on some of said movable links in such an arrangement as to develop a transverse load on said movable links in a direction consistent with the movable arrangement of such suspension members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 14, wherein each of said transverse balance means is attached to the same guiding unit as the movable link concerned.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 14, wherein each of at least some of said transverse balance means is arranged abreast of the movable link concerned.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 14, wherein each of at least some of said transverse balance means is arranged lengthwise with respect to the corresponding movable link and to the cabin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system according to claim 14, wherein two transverse balance means are oppositely provided on two adjacent suspension means arranged transversely of the cabin, said movable links being provided with joints allowing a sideways movement of the cabin with respect to the guiding unit concerned, said transverse balance means being arranged to provide sideways directed loads on said movable links relative to the cabin.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
82 words
A system according to claim 14, wherein at least some of said transverse balance means are attached to the upper deck of the cabin, and wherein the attachment of at least one of the movable links concerned with said transverse balance means is combined with a sliding linkage in a parallel arrangement with the corresponding transverse balance means, thus providing a displacement of said movable link relative to the cabin in a direction parallel with the arrangement of said transverse balance means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said tension control means are combined with a general monitoring device to control the attitude of the cabin, detectors being provided to measure the relative position of the cabin with respect to at least one guiding unit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the variable tension means include a system of bellows connected with a pressurized fluid source.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the variable tension means include at least one jack comprising a piston and a cylinder connected with a pressurized fluid source.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a suspension system for a vehicle hanging from a guiding track, said system comprising guiding units arranged in a line on said track and movable along said track, said suspended vehicle comprising a cabin having at least one rigid section and connected to each of said guiding units through a suspension unit comprising at least a movable link attached respectively to one point of the guiding unit and one point of the rigid section of the cabin, at least some of the suspension units incorporating damping means, resilient tension means, and means to control the tension thereof; the improvement wherein the number of said guiding units is greater than two for said rigid section and wherein at least two said tension control means are interconnected to aid in controlling the relative position of said rigid section and guiding units.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a suspension system for a vehicle hanging from a guiding track, said system comprising guiding units arranged in a line on said track and movable along said track, said suspended vehicle comprising a cabin having at least one rigid section and connected to each of said guiding units through a suspension unit comprising at least a movable link attached respectively to one point of the guiding unit and one point of the rigid section of the cabin, at least some of the suspension units incorporating damping means, resilient tension means, and means to control the tension thereof; the improvement wherein the number of said guiding units is greater than two for said rigid section and wherein at least two said tension control means are interconnected to aid in controlling the relative position of said rigid section and guiding units.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 23 and wherein the movable link incorporates means permitting a variation of the distance between the projections of the attachment points of said movable links on a horizontal plane.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein said resilient tension means are attached to the same guiding unit as the movable link concerned.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein said resilient tension means are attached to the upper deck of the cabin.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein the movable links concerned with said tension control means are located abreast of each other in relation with the cabin.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein the movable links concerned with said tension control means are located lengthwise of each other in relation with the cabin.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein the movable links concerned with said tension control means form a symmetrical arrangement with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the cabin.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein the movable links concerned with said tension control means form a fore-and-aft symmetrical arrangement with respect to the cabin.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein the movable links concerned with said tension control means are arranged in a number of longitudinal rows with respect to the cabin, the tension control means of said movable links being combined with a pitch monitoring device to control the nose-up-or-down attitude of the cabin.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein the movable links concerned with said tension control means are arranged in a number of rows transversely of the cabin, the tension control means of said movable links being combined with a lateral monitoring device to control the lateral attitude of the cabin.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein the tension control means comprise equalizing means to provide an equal tension on at least two movable links.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein the tension control means comprise proportional distribution means to provide tensions in a predetermined ratio on at least two movable links.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein the tension control means comprise differential means to provide a predetermined difference of tension on at least two movable links.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein transverse balance means are provided at least on some of said movable links in such an arrangement as to develop a transverse load on said movable links in a direction consistent with the movable arrangement of such movable links.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 36, wherein each of said transverse balance means is attached to the same guiding unit as the movable link concerned.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 36, wherein each of at least some of said transverse balance means is arranged abreast of the movable link concerned.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 36, wherein each of at least some of said transverse balance means is arranged lengthwise with respect to the corresponding movable link and to the cabin.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system according to claim 36, whErein two transverse balance means are oppositely provided on two adjacent suspension means arranged transversely of the cabin, said movable links being provided with joints allowing a sideways movement of the cabin with respect to the guiding unit concerned, said transverse balance means being arranged to provide sideways directed loads on said movable links relative to the cabin.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
82 words
A system according to claim 36, wherein at least some of said transverse balance means are attached to the upper deck of the cabin and wherein the attachment of at least one of the movable links concerned with said transverse balance means is combined with a sliding linkage in a parallel arrangement with the corresponding transverse balance means, thus providing a displacement of said movable link relative to the cabin in a direction parallel with the arrangement of said transverse balance means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein said tension control means are combined with a general monitoring device to control the attitude of the cabin, detectors being provided to measure the relative position of the cabin with respect to at least one guiding unit.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein the variable tension means include a system of bellows connected with a pressurized fluid source.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein the variable tension means include at least one jack comprising a piston and a cylinder connected with a pressurized fluid source.
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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) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |