Tram with gravity driven vehicles and method for controlling the operation of the tram
First Claim
1. A tram, comprising:
- a route divided into a plurality of route sections;
a central controller;
a plurality of vehicles configured to travel along said route substantially exclusively driven by gravity, at least in sections of said route, and having vehicle controllers connected to said central controller through wireless connection;
switching elements disposed along said route and respectively assigned to said route sections;
switches respectively mounted to said vehicles and connected to said vehicle controllers, said switches cooperating with said switching elements for determining a position of said vehicles along said route.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A railroad, in particular an amusement ride, has a route subdivided into sections. Vehicles driven exclusively by gravity move along the route. Switching elements are arranged on the route for switches situated on the vehicles, in order to determine the position of the vehicles on the route. Vehicle controllers on the vehicles are connected to a central controller via a radio network. Brakes are arranged on the vehicles. Therefore, apart from the switching elements, all safety-relevant parts are shifted from the railroad to the vehicles and the vehicles are equipped with controllers, so that they can brake automatically and at any time if necessary, e.g. in the event of a failure or a disruption of the communication with the central controller.
14 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A tram, comprising:
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a route divided into a plurality of route sections;
a central controller;
a plurality of vehicles configured to travel along said route substantially exclusively driven by gravity, at least in sections of said route, and having vehicle controllers connected to said central controller through wireless connection;
switching elements disposed along said route and respectively assigned to said route sections;
switches respectively mounted to said vehicles and connected to said vehicle controllers, said switches cooperating with said switching elements for determining a position of said vehicles along said route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of controlling a movement of at least one vehicle along a route divided into sections, the method which comprises:
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driving the at least one vehicle substantially exclusively by gravity, at least in sections, along the route;
detecting a section of the route in which the vehicle is currently located by way of at least one switching element and at least one switch connected to a vehicle controller mounted to the vehicle;
transmitting a corresponding item of information from the vehicle controller to a central controller by wireless communication and determining a current location of the vehicle with the central controller. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification