Y-shaped support structure for elevated rail-vehicle guideway

• US 6,571,717 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Einar Svensson
• Original Assignee: Einar Svensson
• Inventors: Svensson, Einar
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US09/925,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20020073876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 104/124, 104/125, 104/118, 104/119, 104/120, 104/121, 105/141, 105/144, 105/145, 105/146, 105/147, 521/74, 14/75, 14/773
• US Class Current: 104/125
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 13/04 Monorail systems
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 25/08 Tracks for mono-rails with centre of gravity of vehicle above the load-bearing rail
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 25/10 Mono-rails; Auxiliary balancing rails; Supports or connections for rails

Abstract

The invention is a support structure for a railed-vehicle that includes individual, unassembled components sized for easy transport. In one embodiment, the support structure includes curved columns integrally-formed with a base, the columns imparting a curved, Y-shaped configuration to the support structure. The components may be prefabricated with known materials and methods and transported to an installation site for assembly. The support structure is preferably sized to support one or two vehicle guideways. The support structure may include a pile foundation for improved support during seismic activity and to facilitate installation on existing streets and sidewalks without covering or interfering with underground plumbing or utilities. Preferably, multiple sections of the guideway are rigidly secured together through expansion joints to define a continuous guideway such that loads on the guideway are distributed over multiple columns.

Claims

1. A support structure for an elevated monorail vehicle, said support structure comprising:

at least one guideway having a width less than the width of the vehicle;

a pair of inclined columns diverging from a base in a direction of said guideway to thereby form a first Y-shaped configuration, the columns having portions that are curved in the direction of said guideway, the columns terminating in guideway supports located opposite said base and configured to attach to said guideway, the columns each having a greater dimension in the direction of the guideway adjacent the respective guideway support than adjacent the base; and

a foundation attached to said base for supporting said guideway and columns, said guideway and columns forming discrete, prefabricated components that may be transported prior to assembly using conventional transportation methods.

2. The support structure of claim 1, wherein each said column supports at least two guideways.

3. The support structure of claim 2, wherein each said column branches in a direction transverse to said guideway to form a first said guideway support and a second said guideway support, each said column thereby having a second Y-shaped configuration.

4. The support structure of claim 3, wherein said first said guideway support attaches to a first said guideway and said second said guideway support attaches to a second said guideway, said first said guideway being parallel to said second said guideway.

6. The support structure of claim 1, wherein said foundation is a pile foundation.

7. The support structure of claim 6, wherein said pile foundation includes an elongated column having two ends, each said end having a belled-out portion.

8. The support structure of claim 1, wherein a top portion of said guideway includes a vehicle runway and a vehicle guide rail, said vehicle guide rail having a vertical web that supports a head.

9. The support structure of claim 1, wherein a prefabricated, drop-in guideway section is disposed between a first said support structure and a second said support structure, said guideway section, said first said support structure, and said second said support structure forming a continuous runway for said vehicle.

10. The support structure of claim 1, wherein said support structure is formed of materials that include at least one of the group consisting of steel, aluminum, concrete, and composite materials.

5. A support structure for an elevated monorail vehicle, said support structure including:

at least one guideway having a width less than the width of the vehicle;

a pair of inclined, curved columns curving and diverging from an integral base in a direction of said guideway to thereby form a first Y-shaped configuration, each said column including a guideway support located opposite said base, said guideway support being configured to attached two said guideways; and

a foundation attached to said base for supporting said guideway and columns, said guideway and columns forming discrete, prefabricated components that may be transported prior to assembly using conventional transportation methods;

wherein said guideway includes cantilevered sections that extend in a longitudinal direction from ends of said columns.

11. A support structure for an elevated monorail vehicle, said support structure comprising:

at least one guideway having a width less than the width of the vehicle;

a first column and a second column having an inclined configuration that diverges in a direction of said guideway from a base to thereby for a first Y-shaped configuration, the columns having portions that are curved in the direction of said guideway, at least said first column including a guideway support located opposite said base, said guideway support flaring outward relative to a central portion of said first column to form an elongate area for supporting said guideway, said elongate area having a greater dimension in the direction of the guideway than a dimension of the first column in the direction of the guideway, and said guideway support being configured to attach to said guideway; and

a foundation attached to said base for supporting said guideway and columns, said guideway and columns forming discrete, prefabricated components that may be transported prior to assembly using conventional transportation methods.

12. The support structure of claim 11, wherein each said column supports at least two guideways.

13. The support structure of claim 12, wherein each said column branches in a direction transverse to said guideway to form a first said guideway support and a second said guideway support, each said column thereby having a second Y-shaped configuration.

14. The support structure of claim 13, wherein said first said guideway support attaches to a first said guideway and said second said guideway support attaches to a second said guideway, said first said guideway being parallel to said second said guideway.

15. The support structure of claim 11, wherein said elongate area of said guideway support has a width that is at least three times a width of said central portion of said first column.

16. The support structure of claim 11, wherein said second column includes another guideway support located opposite said base, said guideway support of said second column flaring outward relative to a central portion of said second column to form an elongate area for supporting said guideway, and said guideway support of said second column being configured to attach to said guideway.

17. The support structure of claim 11, wherein said guideway includes cantilevered sections that extends in a longitudinal direction from said ends of said columns.

18. The support structure of claim 11, wherein said foundation is a pile foundation.

19. The support structure of claim 18, wherein said pile foundation includes an elongated column having two ends, each said end having a belled-out portion.

20. The support structure of claim 11, wherein a top portion of said guideway includes a vehicle runway and a vehicle guide rail, said vehicle guide rail having a vertical web that supports a head.

21. The support structure of claim 11, wherein a prefabricated, drop-in guideway section is positioned between a first said support structure and a second said support structure, said guideway section, said first said support structure, and said second said support structure forming a continuous runway for said vehicle.

22. The support structure of claim 11, wherein said support structure is formed of materials that include at least one of the group consisting of steel, aluminum, concrete, and composite materials.

23. A support for supporting an overriding monorail guideway, the support comprising:

a base;

a pair of columns extending upwardly from the base and diverging from each other, the columns terminating at respective guideway supports;

the guideway supports being spaced from each other in a first direction parallel to an axis of a guideway to be supported;

the guideway supports having respective support surfaces;

the columns having portions that are curved in the first direction; and

the support surfaces of the guideway supports having a greater dimension in the first direction than the base.

24. A support structure for an overriding monorail vehicle, the support comprising:

a pair of uninterrupted guideways extending approximately parallel to each other in a first direction;

a base;

a pair of columns extending upwardly from the base and diverging from each other in the first direction;

each of the pair of columns having two upwardly extending legs that diverge from each other in a second direction transverse to the first direction;

the legs terminating in respective guideway support surfaces separated from each other in the first and second directions, each of the guideways being positioned above and supported from below by a pair of the guideway support surfaces that are aligned in the first direction.

25. A forked support member for supporting an elevated guideway for an overriding monorail vehicle comprising a base and two columns extending from the base and diverging from each other in a forked configuration, the columns terminating in guideway support surfaces, wherein, viewed from a side elevation, each column has an interior curved surface and an opposing exterior curved surface, the respective interior curved surfaces initially diverging from each other adjacent the base and continuously converging toward each other adjacent the support surfaces.

26. The forked support member of claim 25, wherein the respective exterior surfaces of the support members, viewed from a side elevation, do not converge toward each other.

27. The forked support member of claim 25, wherein, viewed from the side elevation, a distance separating the ends of support members is at least three times a dimension of the base.

28. A support structure system for an overriding monorail vehicle, comprising:

at least two first pieces spaced from each other over a ground surface by a desired spanning distance, the first pieces having;

at least one first guideway having an elongate shape with opposing first guideway ends, the first guideway defining a first direction; and

an elevated support member for supporting the first guideway, the support member having a pair of columns that extend upwardly from the ground surface and diverge from each other in the first direction, the columns being adapted for attachment to the guideway at two places spaced in the first direction such that the first guideway ends are overhanging; and

at least one second piece having;

a second guideway sized for the spanning distance, the second guideway having second guideway ends, the overhanging first guideway ends of the spaced first pieces being shaped to receive the second guideway ends inserted from above, thereby allowing the second guideway to be lowered into place between the spaced first pieces to assemble the guideway support system.