Guidance device for a track-following vehicle and method of guiding a track-following vehicle

A track-following vehicle intended for use with a track comprising a first main rail, a second main rail parallel to the first main rail, and a first guide rail joined to the first main rail, the first guide rail of the track being substantially parallel to the first main rail, being substantially circular in cross-section, and having a centerpoint, said vehicle comprising:

• a chassis having longitudinal sides;
• main wheels mounted to said chassis for rotation about a horizontal axis;
• a first guide wheel having a circumference comprising a guide portion which is complementary with the first guide rail;
• and
• a first pivoting member joined to said vehicle, said first guide wheel being mounted to said first pivoting member for rotation about an axis such that said guide portion of said first guide wheel is aligned with the first guide rail, said first pivoting member being capable of pivoting said first guide wheel from rotation about a substantially horizontal axis to rotation about a non-horizontal axis while maintaining a substantially radial orientation relative to the centerpoint of the first guide rail.

A track-following vehicle, intended for use on a track comprising a first main rail, a second main rail parallel to the first main rail, a first guide rail joined to the first main rail, and a second guide rail joined to the second main rail, the first guide rail of the track being substantially parallel to the first main rail, being substantially circular in cross-section, and having a centerpoint, the second guide rail of the track being substantially parallel to the second main rail, being substantially circular in cross-section, and having a centerpoint, said vehicle comprising:

• a chassis having longitudinal sides;
• main wheels mounted to said chassis for rotation about a horizontal axis;
• a first guide wheel having a circumference comprising a guide portion which is complementary with the first guide rail;
• a second guide wheel having a circumference comprising a guide portion which is complementary with the second guide rail;
• a first pivoting member joined to said vehicle, said first guide wheel being mounted to said first pivoting member for rotation about an axis such that said guide portion of said first guide wheel is aligned with the first guide rail, said first pivoting member being capable of pivoting said first guide wheel from rotation about a substantially horizontal axis to rotation about a non-horizontal axis while maintaining a substantially radial orientation relative to the centerpoint of the first guide rail;
• and
• a second pivoting member joined to said vehicle, said second guide wheel being mounted to said second pivoting member for rotation about an axis such that said guide portion of said second guide wheel is aligned with the second guide rail of the track, said second pivoting member being capable of pivoting said second guide wheel from rotation about a substantially horizontal axis to rotation about a non-horizontal axis while maintaining a substantially radial orientation relative to the centerpoint of the second guide rail.

A method of guiding a track-following vehicle intended for use with a guideway comprising a pair of horizontal running surfaces, and at least one substantially circular guide rail associated with and parallel to said horizontal running surfaces, the guide rail being located in at least the area of a bend in the guideway, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first pivoting member joined to the track-following vehicle, said first pivoting member being capable of pivoting from a first position to a second position;
• providing a first guide wheel having a circumference comprising a guide portion which is complementary with the guide rail, said first guide wheel being mounted to said first pivoting member for rotation about an axis and being positioned relative to the track-following vehicle and the guideway such that said circumference of said first guide wheel is in facing relation with the guide rail, said axis of rotation of said first guide wheel being substantially horizontal in said first position and said axis of rotation of said first guide wheel being non-horizontal in said second position;
• and
• pivoting said first pivoting member to said second position at about the bend such that said axis of rotation of said first guide wheel is non-horizontal and said first guide wheel will follow the guide rail.

A method of guiding a railway vehicle intended for use with a track comprising a first main rail, a second main rail parallel to the first main rail, and at least one substantially circular guide rail associated with and parallel to the first main rail and the second main rail and being located in at least the area of a bend in the track, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first pivoting member joined to the railway vehicle, said first pivoting member being capable of pivoting from a first position to a second position;
• providing a first guide wheel having a circumference comprising a guide portion which is complementary with the guide rail, said first guide wheel being mounted to said first pivoting member for rotation about an axis and being positioned relative to the railway vehicle and the track such that said circumference of said first guide wheel is in facing relation with the guide rail, said axis of rotation of said first guide wheel being substantially horizontal in said first position and said axis of rotation of said first guide wheel being non-horizontal in said second position;
• and
• pivoting said first pivoting member to said second position at about the bend such that said axis of rotation of said first guide wheel is non-horizontal and said first guide wheel will follow the guide rail.