Track-switching device and method
AssigneeUniversal City Studios LLC
InventorSteven C. Blum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure provides an apparatus for switching a vehicle from a first track to a second track. The track-switching device may be rotated by a motor, and may have a drive axle and a primary axle. The drive axle may have a barrel located at one end of the drive axle, the barrel having a plurality of switch tracks located thereon and a braking assembly connected to the drive axle and spaced from the barrel. The primary axle may have a flywheel and a clutch assembly. The drive axle may then be driven by the primary axle upon engagement of the clutch assembly via the motor and the energy stored in the flywheel. A method for switching a vehicle from a first track to a second track is also provided.
Claims15
A track-switching device for switching a vehicle from a first track to a second track the track-switching device being rotated by a motor, the track switching device comprising:
- a drive axle comprising:
- a barrel located at one end of the drive axle, the barrel having a plurality of switch tracks located thereon;
- and
- a braking assembly connected to the drive axle and spaced from the barrel;
- a primary axle driven by the motor, the primary axle comprising:
- a flywheel;
- and
- a clutch assembly;
- wherein the drive axle is driven by the primary axle upon engagement of the clutch assembly via the motor and the flywheel.
A method for switching a vehicle from a first track to a second track the track-switching device being rotated by a motor, the track switching device comprising:
- providing a drive axle comprising:
- a barrel located at one end of the drive axle, the barrel having a plurality of switch tracks located thereon;
- and
- a braking assembly connected to the drive axle and spaced from the barrel;
- providing a primary axle driven by the motor, the primary axle comprising:
- a flywheel;
- and
- a clutch assembly;
- and
- driving the drive axle with the primary axle upon engagement of the clutch assembly via the motor and the flywheel;
- and
- rotating the barrel about an axis to align the switch tracks with the first tracks and second tracks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.