TRANSPORT SYSTEM

• US 3,610,160 A
• Filed: 08/18/1969
• Issued: 10/05/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mihai Alimanestianu
• Original Assignee: Mihai Alimanestianu
• Inventors: Alimanestianu, Mihai
• Primary Examiner(s): La Point, Arthur L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Keen, D. W.
• Application Number:
  US04/850,939
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 104/76,77,88,127,134,168 198/137
• US Class Current: 104/165
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 1/02 General arrangement of stations and platforms including protection devices for the passengers B61B1/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 15/00 Combinations of railway systems

Abstract

A system for transporting passengers and freight through areas of high-density traffic including loading and unloading stations at street or other convenient approach level, the transporting means moving basically on a main line level displaced from the station level, together with spur means for connecting the two levels for high-speed switching of the transportation means between the levels; and improved propulsion means for the transport system.

Claims

1. A transport system comprising a main line path, a spur line path communicating at the opposite ends thereof with said main line path at longitudinally spaced switch points therein, a loading and unloAding station, said spur line path passing through said station, carrier means movable over said main line path for diversion to said spur line path at one of said switch points and return to said main line path at the other of said switch points, means for propelling said carrier means over said main line path at main line speed, means for propelling said carrier means at said main line speed over a pair of portions of said spur line path extending from said switch points respectively, means for propelling said carrier means over a second pair of spur line path portions extending from said firstmentioned pair of spur line path portions respectively and arranged to provide progressively decreasing speeds from said main line speed to a given minimal spur line speed and progressively increasing speeds from said minimal spur line speed to said main line speed respectively, and means for propelling said carrier over an intermediate spur line path portion in said station at said minimal spur line speed, said spur line path being at a level different from the level of said main line path, said spur line path further comprising a pair of substantially vertical portions connecting the opposite ends of said intermediate spur line portions respectively, means for propelling said carrier means over said vertical spur line path portions, means for retaining said carrier means in its movements over said vertical spur line path portions against displacement therefrom, said spur line path including rail means and said carrier means including wheels movable over said rail means, rotatable idler means on said wheels, said retaining means comprising fixed means engageable with said idler means for retaining said wheels in engagement with said rail means.

2. A transport system comprising a main line path, a spur line path communicating at opposite ends thereof with said main line path at longitudinally spaced switch points therein, a loading and unloading station, said spur line path passing through said station, carrier means movable over said main line path for diversion to said spur line path at one of said switch points and return to said main line path at the other of said switch points, means for propelling said carrier means over said main line path at a main line speed, means for propelling said carrier means at said main line speed over a pair of portions of said spur line path extending from said switch points respectively, means for propelling said carrier means over a second pair of spur line path portions extending from said first mentioned pair of spur line path portions respectively and arranged to provide progressively decreasing speeds from said main line speed to a given minimal spur line speed and progressively increasing speeds from said minimal spur line speed to said main line speed respectively, means for propelling said carrier means over an intermediate spur line path portion in said station at said minimal spur line speed, means for controlling said last mentioned propelling means for stopping and starting said carrier means in said station, said last-mentioned propelling means comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced electric motors located along the length of said station for operative engagement with successive, adjacent carrier means, said controlling means comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced, series-connected normally open switches located along the length of said station for operation by said carrier means, and normally closed switch means in circuit with each of said motors responsive to the closing of said normally open switches to open the circuits to said motors.

3. A transport system comprising a main line path, a spur line path communicating at the opposite ends thereof with said main line path at longitudinally spaced switch points therein, a loading and unloading station, said spur line path passing through said station, carrier means movable over said main line path for diversion to said spur line path at one of said switch points and return to said main line path at the other of said switch points, means for propelling said carrier means over said main line path at a main line speed, means for propelling said carrier means at said main line speed over a pair of portions of said spur line path extending from said switch points respectively, means for propelling said carrier means over a second pair of spur line path portions extending from said first-mentioned pair of spur line path portions respectively and arranged to provide progressively decreasing speeds from said main 186 speed to a given minimal spur line speed and progressively increasing speeds from said minimal spur line speed to said main line speed respectively, and means for propelling said carrier means over an intermediate spur line path portion in said station at said minimal spur line speed, said first-mentioned propelling means comprising electric motor means on said carrier means, said third-mentioned propelling means comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced constant speed motor means arranged along said second pair of spur line path portions for frictionally engaging and advancing said carrier means, successive motor means of said plurality of motor means having speeds of progressively changing values.