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US 7,124,692 B2Granted
Overhead suspended transportation system and method
AssigneeSky Train Corporation
InventorsKarl Guenther, Wilfred Sergeant
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An overhead transportation system includes a support structure positioning a running surface above ground level for operating a truck along the running surface. A car body is suspended from a beam or chassis carried by the truck in such a manner to place a center of rotation of the car body above the chassis and truck. Improved performance on curves is provided through superelevation of the tracks upon which fixed steel wheel assemblies of the truck ride.
Claims63
A transportation system comprising:
- a running surface;
- a support structure for positioning the running surface above ground level;
- a carrying vehicle operable along the running surface;
- a rigid suspension member rotatably connected to the carrying vehicle;
- a car body rigidly attached to the suspension member, wherein a single axis of rotation of the car body is above a connection of the suspension member to the carrying vehicle, thus effectively extending a radius of rotation of the car body, the car body having a floor surface for carrying a load thereon, wherein the floor surface moves from a horizontal orientation to a tilted orientation during operation of the carrying vehicle along a curved portion of the running surface so as to result in a pendulum like movement of the floor surface and thus the load, wherein the rigid suspension member includes a first support at a proximal end thereof carried by the carrying vehicle and a linking arm connected between the car body and the first support, wherein the linking arm includes an arcuate member rotatably operable with a surface of the first support and a bracket having a proximal end operable with the arcuate member and a distal end affixed to the car body.
2 more elements
A transportation system comprising:
- a running surface including a steel rail pair forming a track;
- a support structure for positioning the running surface above ground level;
- a truck having steel wheel pairs operable along the running surface with the wheel pairs synchronized and tapered for self centering while rolling along the track;
- a chassis carried by the truck;
- a car body suspended from the chassis, wherein a center of rotation of the car body is above the connection therebetween, the car body having a floor surface for carrying a load thereon, wherein the floor surface moves from a horizontal orientation to a tilted orientation during operation of the truck along a curved portion of the running surface so as to result in a pendulum like movement of the floor surface and thus the load;
- and
- a suspension member for removably suspending the car body from the chassis, the suspension member having a first support at a proximal end thereof carried by the chassis and a linking arm connected between the car body and the first support, wherein the linking arm includes an arcuate member rotatably operable with a surface of the first support and a bracket having a proximal end operable with the arcuate member and a distal end affixed to the car body.
4 more elements
A transportation system comprising:
- a running surface including a steel rail pair forming a track;
- a support structure for positioning the running surface above ground level;
- a truck having steel wheel pairs operable along the running surface with the wheel pairs synchronized and tapered for self centering while rolling along the track;
- a chassis carried by the truck;
- a car body suspended from the chassis, wherein a center of rotation of the car body is above the connection therebetween, the car body having a floor surface for carrying a load thereon, wherein the floor surface moves from a horizontal orientation to a tilted orientation during operation of the truck along a curved portion of the running surface so as to result in a pendulum like movement of the floor surface and thus the load;
- and
- a suspension member removably suspending the car body from the chassis, the suspension member having a proximal end operable with the chassis and an opposing distal end connected to the car body, wherein the suspension member includes a first support carried by the chassis and a linking arm connected between the car body and the first support, wherein the linking arm comprises at least one of a spring, a piston, and a combination thereof.
4 more elements
A transportation system comprising:
- a running surface suspended above ground level;
- a carrying vehicle having wheels operable over the running surface;
- a rigid suspension member for removably suspending a car body from the carrying vehicle, the suspension member having a proximal end operable with the carrying vehicle and an opposing distal end for connecting to the car body;
- and
- a car body rigidly attached to the suspension member, wherein a single axis of rotation of the car body is above a connection of the suspension member to the carrying vehicle, the car body having a floor surface for carrying a load thereon, wherein the floor surface moves from a horizontal orientation to a tilted orientation during operation of the carrying vehicle along a curved portion of the running surface so as to result in a pendulum like movement of the floor surface and thus the load,
- wherein the rigid suspension member includes a first support at a proximal end thereof carried by the carrying vehicle and a linking arm connected between the car body and the first support, wherein the linking arm includes an arcuate member rotatably operable with a surface of the first support and a bracket having a proximal end operable with the arcuate member and a distal end affixed to the car body.
3 more elements
A transportation system comprising:
- a running surface having a rail pair forming a track carried thereby;
- a support structure for positioning the running surface above ground level;
- a truck operable along the running surface, the truck having wheel pairs synchronized and tapered for self centering while rolling along the track;
- a chassis carried by the truck;
- a car body suspended from the chassis;
- and
- a suspension member having a first support at a proximal end thereof carried by the chassis and a linking arm connected between the car body and the first support, wherein the linking arm includes an arcuate member rotatably operable with a surface of the first support and a bracket having a proximal end operable with the arcuate member and a distal end affixed to the car body.
4 more elements
A transportation system comprising:
- a running surface having a rail pair forming a track carried thereby;
- a support structure for positioning the running surface above ground level;
- a carrying vehicle operable along the running surface, the carrying vehicle having wheel pairs with each wheel tapered, the wheel pairs synchronized for self centering while rolling along the track;
- a car body suspended from the carrying vehicle;
- and
- a suspension member having a first support at a proximal end thereof carried by the carrying vehicle and a linking arm connected between the car body and the first support, wherein the linking arm includes an arcuate member rotatably operable with a surface of the first support and a bracket having a proximal end operable with the arcuate member and a distal end affixed to the car body.
3 more elements
A transportation system comprising:
- a running surface suspended above ground level;
- a carrying vehicle having wheels operable over the running surface;
- a car body;
- a suspension member suspending the car body from the carrying vehicle, the suspension member having a proximal end operable with the carrying vehicle and an opposing distal end connected to the car body, the suspension member having a first support carried by the carrying vehicle, a linking arm connected between the car body and the first support, an arcuate member rotatably operable with a surface of the first support, and a bracket having a proximal end rotatably operable with the arcuate member and a distal end affixed to the car body.
1 more element
A transportation system comprising:
- a running surface suspended above ground level;
- a carrying vehicle having wheels operable over the running surface;
- and
- a car body suspended below the carrying vehicle, wherein a center of rotation of the car body is thereabove;
- a suspension member for removably suspending the car body from the carrying vehicle, the suspension member having a proximal end operable with the carrying vehicle and an opposing distal end connected to the car body, wherein the suspension member includes a first support carried by the carrying vehicle and a linking arm connected between the car body and the first support, and wherein the linking arm includes at least one of a spring, a piston, and a combination thereof.
2 more elements
A transportation system comprising:
- a running surface having a rail pair forming a track carried thereby, wherein the track is superelevated at least along a curved portion thereof.
- a support structure for positioning the running surface above ground level;
- a carrying vehicle operable along the running surface;
- and
- a car body suspended from the carrying vehicle, wherein a center of rotation of the car body is above a connection to the carrying vehicle, thus effectively extending a radius of rotation thereof, the car body having a floor surface for carrying a load thereon, wherein the floor surface moves from a horizontal orientation to a tilted orientation during operation of the carrying vehicle along the curved portion of the running surface so as to result in a pendulum like movement of the floor surface and thus the load.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.