Monorail vehicle apparatus with gravity-augmented contact load
US9428198B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 24, 2015 |
| Grant date | Aug 30, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 24, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB61B13/04
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus and method for gravity-augmented preload of drive wheels in a monorail vehicle travelling along a guide rail with bearing and contact surfaces that are non-parallel with the gravity vector. The vehicle defines a pivot location against the bearing surface and a constraint point on the contact surface for engaging the rail on the bearing and contact surfaces, respectively. The vehicle is mounted so its center of gravity is at a rear longitudinal offset rrl from the pivot location and a vertical offset rvert from the guide rail. A force and moment balance thus created result in a normal load on a drive wheel engaged with the bearing surface at the pivot location, where the load value exceeds a standard normal load generated by the mass of the monorail vehicle alone.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.