Switch mechanism
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle mounted switch mechanism for use in a transportation system having a wheeled vehicle having an attached support structure, said system having a fixed guideway with diverging switching sections, the switch mechanism comprising:
- a first elongated upper switch arm attached in a pivoting relationship to said support structure and having first and second switch wheels rotatably affixed at the ends of said first switch arm, said first and second switch wheels having intersecting axes of rotation, said axes intersecting at an angle of between 10 and 60 degrees;
said first upper switch arm switchable between a first position and a second position;
said first position placing said first switch wheel in engaging relation with a first switch channel located within said guideway and said second switch wheel distant from a second switch channel located within said guideway;
said second position placing said second switch wheel in engaging relation with said second switch channel and said first switch wheel distant from said first switch channel;
said first position of said upper switch arm causing said vehicle to select a first path at said switching sections within said guideway, and said second position of said upper switch arm causing said vehicle to select a second path at said switching sections, said first upper switch arm having a generally "W" shape, having outer legs with ends and a central inverted "V" portion, said switch wheels affixed to said ends of said outer legs of said "W";
said first arm being attached at the apex of said inverted "V" portion, to said support structure so that a line passing from the point of engagement of said switch wheel with said switch channel through said apex will pass substantially perpendicularly through said switch channel; and
a first elongated lower switch arm affixed in pivoting relation near the midpoint of said first lower switch arm to said support structure below said first upper switch arm, and coupled to said first upper switch by a first slave link affixed to both said first upper and said first lower switch arms.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A switching mechanism for use in a transit system employing vehicles (10) traveling on a guideway (12), the switching mechanism includes forward and rearward switching subassemblies each having upper (32) and lower (36) switch arms. The upper switch arms include switching wheels (34) which selectively engage switch channels (42) positioned on opposite sides of the guideway to cause the vehicle to follow a selected path on the guideway (12).
69 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A vehicle mounted switch mechanism for use in a transportation system having a wheeled vehicle having an attached support structure, said system having a fixed guideway with diverging switching sections, the switch mechanism comprising:
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a first elongated upper switch arm attached in a pivoting relationship to said support structure and having first and second switch wheels rotatably affixed at the ends of said first switch arm, said first and second switch wheels having intersecting axes of rotation, said axes intersecting at an angle of between 10 and 60 degrees; said first upper switch arm switchable between a first position and a second position;
said first position placing said first switch wheel in engaging relation with a first switch channel located within said guideway and said second switch wheel distant from a second switch channel located within said guideway;
said second position placing said second switch wheel in engaging relation with said second switch channel and said first switch wheel distant from said first switch channel;said first position of said upper switch arm causing said vehicle to select a first path at said switching sections within said guideway, and said second position of said upper switch arm causing said vehicle to select a second path at said switching sections, said first upper switch arm having a generally "W" shape, having outer legs with ends and a central inverted "V" portion, said switch wheels affixed to said ends of said outer legs of said "W"; said first arm being attached at the apex of said inverted "V" portion, to said support structure so that a line passing from the point of engagement of said switch wheel with said switch channel through said apex will pass substantially perpendicularly through said switch channel; and a first elongated lower switch arm affixed in pivoting relation near the midpoint of said first lower switch arm to said support structure below said first upper switch arm, and coupled to said first upper switch by a first slave link affixed to both said first upper and said first lower switch arms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A vehicle mounted switch mechanism for use in a vehicle supported by a guideway having switching sections, said guideway including switch channels affixed to opposite sides of said guideway and running along a portion of said guideway adjacent said switching sections, wherein said switch mechanism includes:
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a switch arm having a generally "W" shape, with outer legs with ends and a central inverted "V" portion, said switch arm including rotatably affixed switch wheels attached to said ends of said outer legs of said "W" shaped arm, said arm pivotally affixed to rotate between a first and a second position; means for rotating said switch arm so that said switch wheels will selectively engage either of said opposite switch channels and said vehicle will travel on a predetermined path through said switch section, said means for rotating said switch arm including a switch throw mechanism having a motor attached to said vehicle and interacting with an arcuate shaped throw plate operatively affixed to said switch arm; means for selectively locking said throw plate and said switch arm in either said first or second positions;
said means for locking including a locking pin affixed to said vehicle, said pin selectively operated by a solenoid to engage one of a plurality of locking holes located within said throw plate; andsaid switch wheels having axes of rotation which intersect each other at an angle between 10 and 60 degrees of arc. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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Specification