# US 4,031,662 A · Monorail train and track

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- Number: US 4,031,662 A
- Document ID: US4031662A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 05/707,272
- Filed: 1976-07-21
- Granted: 1977-06-28
- Earliest claimed: 1976-07-21
- Inventors: Alan S. Beshany
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4031662A

## CPC

- A63H 19/10: electrically driven
- A63H 21/04: Mono-railways, e.g. with vehicles embracing the rail in the form of a saddle (A63H21/02 takes precedence)
- A63H: TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In a model monorail train including an engine having an electric motor, conductive wheels, a drive train coupled between said motor and said wheels for driving said wheels, electrical connection means connected between said motor and said wheels for supplying current to said motor, and a track for conducting current, the improvement wherein:
said wheels have rims with vertical flanges on one side thereof and are arranged in pairs to straddle said track;
said flanges are positioned on the outsides of said track when said engine is on said track;
said track comprises monorail means for receiving said wheels;
said monorail means has an insulating upper surface and two L-shaped conductor means forming outside corners of said upper surface for engaging both said rims and said flanges of said wheels; and
said L-shaped conductor means each have a horizontal leg for engaging the rims of corresponding wheels and a vertical leg for engaging the flanges of corresponding wheels.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The model monorail train as claimed in claim 1 including further:
means for electrically insulating said wheels of each said pair from each other;
said electrical connection means including contact means slidably engaging one wheel of each said pair;
and means for supplying electrical current to said conductor means for flow through said one wheel of each pair and said electrical connection means to said motor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The model monorail train as claimed in claim 2 wherein:
the wheels in each of said pairs have an axle connecting them together;
and each said insulating means comprises an insulating bushing on said axle at the center of said one wheel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The model monorail train as claimed in claim 3 wherein:
each said contact means conprises a conductive finger slidably engaging said one wheel.

### Claim 5

In a monorail train including an engine having a motor, a drive train, electrically conductive wheels coupled to the motor by the drive train, and electrical connections from certain wheels to the motor, the improvement comprising:
a monorail track including an insulating body having an upper surface and two electrical conductor means forming two L-shaped corners for said upper surface for conducting current, with each of said conductor means having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg;
and wherein
said wheels are arranged in pairs having outside flange means for straddling said track, with one wheel in each pair engageable with both legs of one of said conductor means and the other wheel in each pair engageable with both legs of the other said conductor means;
and said electrical connections including contact meand slidably engageable, with said one wheel of each said pair.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The train as claimed in claim 5 in which:
each of said pairs of wheels has an axle connecting them together, and means electrically insulating said one wheel from said other wheel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The train as claimed in claim 6 in which:
said insulating means comprises an insulating bushing on said axle at the center of said one wheel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The train as claimed in claim 7 in which:
said contact means comprises a conductive finger engaging said one wheel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The train as claimed in claim 8 in which:
said axle has spacer means thereon between said wheels for spacing purposes.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The train as claimed in claim 9 in which:
said bushing includes a vertical flange at the inside of said one wheel for engaging said spacer means.