Steering system for a train of rail-less vehicles

Claim 2

A steering system for coupling one vehicle to an adjacent vehicle within a train including a plurality of vehicles comprising: a first pair of wheels, each separately connected at a generally vertical pivot to said one vehicle for supporting a portion of its weight, each wheel of said pair provided with pivotal arms adapted to accept force moments for effecting turning of the corresponding wheel, in respect to said one vehicle longitudinal axis, a second pair of wheels, each wheel connected about a separate pivot to said adjacent vehicle for supporting a portion of its weight, each of said second pair of wheels having a pivotal arm adapted to accept force moments for effecting turning movement of the corresponding wheel in respect to said adjacent vehicle longitudinal axis, an elongated steering bar having opposite lengthwise end portions of greater width than its central portion pivotally connected at one end portion of its length to said one vehicle and pivotally connected at a second opposite end portion of its length to said adjacent vehicle, said steering bar is of sufficient strength to accomodate all tension and compressive stresses between said vehicles during ordinary longitudinal movement of the train of vehicles, first linkage means connecting the one lengthwise end portion of said steering bar to the pivotal arms of the wheel pair on said one vehicle for positioning said wheels at an angle proportional to the angle of said steering bar in respect to said one vehicle longitudinal axis; and a second linkage means connected between the second lengthwise end portion of said steering bar and the individual pivot arms of said second pair of wheels on said adjacent vehicle for positioning said wheels at an angle proportional to the angle of said steering bar in respect to said adjacent vehicle longitudinal axis, said first and second linkage means each are connected to one of said end portions of greater width at a location disposed outwardly along the steering bar length from its points of pivotal connection to said one vehicle and to said adjacent vehicle, whereby movement of said train results in tracking of said second pair of wheels along the path of said first pair of wheels.

Claim 3

The steering system of claim 1 wherein said one vehicle and said adjacent vehicle are substantially free of load-bearing coupling members other than said steering bar interconnecting said vehicles.

Claim 4

A steering system for coupling one vehicle to an adjacent vehicle within a train including a plurality of vehicles comprising: a first pair of wheels, each separately connected at a generally vertical pivot to said one vehicle for supporting a portion of its weight, each wheel of said pair provided with pivotal arms adapted to accept force moments for effecting turning of the corresponding wheel, in respect to said one vehicle longitudinal axis, a second pair of wheels, each wheel connected about a separate pivot to said adjacent vehicle for supporting a portion of its weight, each of said second pair of wheels having a pivotal arm adapted to accept force moments for effecting turning movement of the corresponding wheel in respect to said adjacent vehicle longitudinal axis, an elongated steering bar pivotally connected at one end portion thereof to said one vehicle and pivotally connected at a second end portion thereof to said adjacent vehicle, said first and second end portions being at opposite longitudinal ends of said steering bar, first linkage means connecting the one end portion of said steering bar to the pivotal arms of the wheel pair on said one vehicle for positioning said wheels at an angle proportional to the angle of said steering bar in respect to said one vehicle longitudinal axis, a second linkage means connected between the second end portion of said steering bar and the individual pivot arms of said second pair of wheels on said adjacent vehicle for positioning said wheels at an angle proportional to the angle of said steering bar in respect to said adjacent vehicle longitudinal axis, whereby movement of said train results in tracking of said second pair of wheels along the path of said first pair of wheels, said first linkage means comprises a first and a second crossed linkage, each linkage connected at opposite width-wise margins of the one end portion of said elongated steering bar and individually connected one each to the pivotal arm of each wheel of said pair on said one vehicle, said second linkage means comprises a first and a second crossed linkage, each linkage connected at opposite width-wise margins of the second end portion of said steering bar and individually connected one each to the pivotal arms of each wheel of said pair on said adjacent vehicle.

Claim 5

A steering system for coupling one vehicle to an adjacent vehicle within a train including a plurality of vehicles comprising: a first pair of wheels, each separately connected at a generally vertical pivot to said one vehicle for supporting a portion of its weight, each wheel of said pair provided with pivotal arms adapted to accept force moments for effecting turning of the corresponding wheel, in respect to said one vehicle longitudinal axis, a second pair of wheels, each wheel connected about a separate pivot to said adjacent vehicle for supporting a portion of its weight, each of said second pair of wheels having a pivotal arm adapted to accept force moments for effecting turning movement of the corresponding wheel in respect to said adjacent vehicle longitudinal axis, an elongated steering bar pivotally connected at one end portion thereof to said one vehicle and pivotally connected at a second end portion thereof to said adjacent vehicle, said first and second end portions being at opposite longitudinal ends of said steering bar, first linkage means connecting the one end portion of said steering bar to the pivotal arms of the wheel pair on said one vehicle for positioning said wheels at an angle proportional to the angle of said steering bar in respect to said one vehicle longitudinal axis, a second linkage means connected between the second end portion of said steering bar and the individual pivot arms of said second pair of wheels on said adjacent vehicle for positioning said wheels at an angle proportional to the angle of said steering bar in respect to said adjacent vehicle longitudinal axis, whereby movement of said train results in tracking of said second pair of wheels along the path of said first pair of wheels, said first linkage means comprises a first and a second crossed linkage, each linkage connected at opposite width-wise margins of the one end portion of said elongated steering bar and individually connected one each to the pivotal arm of each wheel of said pair on said one vehicle, said second linkage means comprises a first and a second crossed linkage, each linkage connected at opposite width-wise margins of the second end portion of said steering bar and individually connected one each to the pivotal arms of each wheel of said pair on said adjacent vehicle.

Claim 6

The steering system of claim 3 wherein said first linkage means comprises first and second crossed linkages that are substantially the same as those of said second linkage means, in respect to dimensions and connection locations to corresponding steering bar end portions and corresponding pivotal arms.

Claim 7

The steering system of claim 4 wherein said first and said second crossed linkages are connected to corresponding wheel pivotal arms at locations disposed longitudinally toward said steering bar with the corresponding wheels aligned parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis.

Claim 8

The steering system of claim 3 wherein said steering bar along with said first and second linkage means are so connected to said one vehicle and to said adjacent vehicle such that said first wheel pair makes an angle of about one-half that of the angle of said steering bar to the longitudinal axis of said one vehicle and said second wheel pair makes an angle of about one-half that of said steering bar to the longitudinal axis of said adjacent vehicle.

Claim 9

The steering system of claim 3 wherein said elongated steering bar is connected between pivotal points on the longitudinal axis of said one vehicle and of said adjacent vehicle.

Claim 10

The steering system of claim 3 wherein means are provided at each end portion of said steering bar for laterally translating its pivotal connection in respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle on which said steering bar end portion is connected.

Claim 11

The steering system of claim 3 wherein the linkages means interconnecting the end portions of said steering bar and wheel pivotal arms are connected at inward locations axially respecting the pivotal connections of said steering bar and wheels on said one and on said adjacent vehicle.

Claim 12

A train of vehicles including a plurality of the steering system of claim 3 installed between and coupling adjacent vehicles of said train.

Claim 13

A vehicle for coupling into a train of such vehicles capable of rail-less tracking along a curved path, said vehicle comprising: a frame, first and second steering configurations independently mounted for separate pivotal movement, one each at opposite end portions of said frame length, each of said steering configurations including, a pair of wheels each wheel pivotally connected by a separate vertical pivot to said vehicle frame, a steering bar pivotally connected at one end portion thereof to said vehicle frame at an axially aligned location, said steering bar provided at an opposite end portion thereof with means for pivotal connection to an adjacent vehicle, and linkage means between said pivotally connected end portion of said steering bar to each wheel of said pair of wheels whereby the angle of said steering bar is proportional to the angle of each wheel of said pair to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle frame.

Claim 14

A vehicle for coupling into a train of such vehicles capable of rail-less tracking along a curved path, said vehicle comprising: a frame, first and second steering configurations independently mounted for separate pivotal movement, one each at opposite end portions of said frame length, each of said steering configurations including, a pair of wheels each wheel pivotally connected by a separate vertical pivot to said vehicle frame, a steering bar pivotally connected at one end portion thereof to said vehicle frame at an axially aligned location, said steering bar provided at an opposite end portion thereof with means for pivotal connection to an adjacent vehicle, and linkage means between said pivotally connected end portion of said steering bar to each wheel of said pair of wheels whereby the angle of said steering bar is proportional to the angle of each wheel of said pair to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle frame.

Claim 15

A rail-less train of series connected vehicles, each vehicle having front and rear independently mounted pairs of wheels for separate pivotal movement supporting said vehicle, each wheel pivotally connected through a vertical pivot to said vehicle, said vehicles coupled together only by a plurality of steering bars each pivotally connected at its opposite end portions between adjacent vehicles and each steering bar provided with linkage means connected from its longitudinal end portions to adjacent wheel pairs on the corresponding vehicle for positioning said pair of wheels at a turning angle independent of the turning angle of the other pair mounted on said vehicle whereby the wheels of each vehicle in the moving train of vehicles closely track the wheels of the preceding vehicle.

Claim 16

A rail-less train of series connected vehicles, each vehicle having front and rear independently mounted pairs of wheels for separate pivotal movement supporting said vehicle, each wheel pivotally connected through a vertical pivot to said vehicle, said vehicles coupled together only by a plurality of steering bars each pivotally connected at its opposite end portions between adjacent vehicles and each steering bar provided with linkage means connected from its longitudinal end portions to adjacent wheel pairs on the corresponding vehicle for positioning said pair of wheels at a turning angle independent of the turning angle of the other pair mounted on said vehicle whereby the wheels of each vehicle in the moving train of vehicles closely track the wheels of the preceding vehicle.

Claim 17

The rail-less train of claim 12 wherein each vehicle includes self-contained propulsion system capable of propelling at least that individual vehicle along the surface on which it rests.

Claim 18

The rail-less train of claim 12 wherein the individual cars of said train carry a continuous haulage system for conveying solid material, said train including a receiving vehicle for collecting said solid material and a discharge vehicle at the opposite end thereof for discharging said solid material to a stationary conveying system and intermediate vehicles coupled between said receiving and discharge vehicles, each of said intermediate vehicles including a receiving end portion and a discharge end portion wherein said discharge end portion being at a higher elevation than said receiving end portion to permit cascading of solid material between said vehicles.

Claim 19

The rail-less train of claim 14 wherein said steering bar and linkage means are oppositely facing but symmetrical on each intermediate vehicle in said train in respect to steering bar length and location of pivotal connections.