Monorail vehicle apparatus with gravity-controlled roll attitude and loading
US8950336B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 2012 |
| Grant date | Feb 10, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 6, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB61B13/04
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Monorail vehicle that travels on a non-featured rail with substantial profile variation and controls roll attitude, lateral location, and loading through judicious placement of the vehicle's center of gravity without using springs or suspensions. The vehicle has a bogie for engaging the non-featured rail so the center of gravity has a lateral offset r1 from the rail centerline to produce a roll moment Nr determined by vehicle's mass and value of r1. The center of gravity also has a vertical offset r2. The bogie uses first and second assemblies for engaging the rail to produce a pair of surface normal reaction forces to thus control roll attitude and loading by the placement of the center of gravity, thereby enabling accurate alignment of the monorail vehicle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.