Monorail train and track

Abstract

An improved monorail track and wheel arrangement is provided for a monorail train, specifically a model monorail train. The monorail train includes an engine having an electric motor, conductive wheels, a drive train for driving the wheels, electrical connections between the motor and the wheels for supplying current to the motor and a track for conducting current. In accordance with the improvement of the invention, the wheels have rims with vertical flanges on the outside thereof, and are arranged in pairs to straddle the track. The flanges are positioned on the outsides of the track when the engine is on the track. The track comprises monorail means for receiving the wheels, and the monorail means has an insulating upper surface and two L-shaped conductor means forming outside corners for the upper surface for engaging both the rims and the flanges of the wheels. Each of the L-shaped conductor means has a horizontal leg for engaging the rims of corresponding wheels and a vertical leg for engaging the flanges of corresponding wheels. Thus, there is excellent electrical contact between the wheels and the L-shaped conductors both at the rim and the flanges, and the flanges retain the train on the track laterally.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.