SWITCHING DEVICE CONFIGURED FOR OPERATION ON A CONVENTIONAL RAILROAD TRACK

• US 20140311377A1
• Filed: 03/20/2014
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rail Pod Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rail Pod Incorporated
• Inventors: ENGLISH, Brendan
• Granted Patent: US 9,669,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 104/130.01
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 15/12 power propelled
• CPC Class Codes: B61F 19/02 Wheel guards
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 7/18 Combinations of switches and crossings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 30/00 Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance

Abstract

RailPods are an alternative personal rapid transit system that operate on and utilize existing railroad infrastructure. RailPods are one to two passenger vehicles that travel on one rail of a traditional railroad track. RailPods provide on-demand transportation to cities and towns where rail exists or can be built.

Claims

1. A switching device configured for operation on a conventional railroad track system with a first rail and a second rail supported in a spaced relationship, the switching device comprising:

a main wheel supported on the vehicle in position to abut and ride upon a top surface of a rail head as the vehicle traverses the conventional railroad track system; and

a side roller bearing movably supported on the vehicle, the side roller bearing movable between a guide position, in which the side roller bearing abuts and rides upon a first one of a generally-vertical side surfaces of the rail head as the vehicle traverses the conventional railroad track system, and a clearance position, in which the side roller bearing is displaced away from the guide position.

2. The switching device of claim 1, further comprising:

a spring operatively connected to the side roller bearing, the spring biasing said roller bearing toward said guide position.

3. The switching device of claim 1, further comprising:

a linear actuator operatively connected to said switching device, said linear actuator being operable to raise and lower said switching device.

4. The switching device of claim 1, further comprising:

a ramp supported adjacent the side roller bearing, the ramp being positioned to impinge upon rail structure at a junction of the conventional railroad track system and to cause the side roller bearing to move away from the guide position and toward the clearance position while the switching device is traversing the junction.

5. The switching device of claim 1, further comprising:

an opposing side roller bearing movably supported on the vehicle, the opposing side roller bearing being movable between a guide position, in which the side roller bearing abuts and rides upon a second one of the generally-vertical side surfaces of the rail head opposite the first one of the generally-vertical side surface of the rail head as the vehicle traverses the conventional railroad track system, and a clearance position, in which the opposing side roller bearing is displaced away from the guide position to prevent interference of the side roller bearing with structure of the corresponding rail as the side roller bearing traverses a junction of the conventional railroad track system.

12. The switching device of claim 1, further comprising:

a ramp supported adjacent the side roller bearing, the ramp being positioned to impinge upon rail structure at a junction of the conventional railroad track system and to cause the side roller bearing to move away from the guide position and toward the clearance position while the guide shoe is traversing the junction.

13. The switching device of claim 1, further comprising:

an opposing side roller bearing movably supported on the vehicle, the opposing side roller bearing being movable between a guide position, in which the side roller bearing abuts and rides upon a second one of the generally-vertical side surfaces of the rail head opposite the first one of the generally-vertical side surface of the rail head as the vehicle traverses the conventional railroad track system, and a clearance position, in which the opposing side roller bearing is displaced away from the guide position to prevent interference of the side roller bearing with structure of the corresponding rail as the side roller bearing traverses a junction of the conventional railroad track system.

6. A switching device for a vehicle configured for operation on a conventional railroad track system with a first rail and a second rail supported in a spaced relationship, the switching device comprising at least one of a wheel and a bearing operable to abut a rail head during the vehicle'"'"'s traversal of the junction and to cause traversal of the junction regardless of a configuration of the junction, and regardless of a direction of approach of the vehicle relative to the junction.

7. A vehicle configured for operation on a conventional railroad track system with a first rail and a second rail supported in a spaced relationship, the vehicle comprising:

a first vehicle unit elongated in a first direction, said first vehicle unit comprising;

at least two vehicle wheels positioned on said first vehicle unit to support said first vehicle unit above one of said first and second rails; and

at least one switching device positioned on said first vehicle unit to engage said one of said first and second rails, said guide shoe being configured to maintain said at least two wheels on said one of said first and second rails when traversing a junction of the conventional railroad track system.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said switching device further comprises:

a main wheel supported on the vehicle in position to abut and ride upon the top surface of the rail head as the vehicle traverses the conventional railroad track system; and

a side roller bearing movably supported on the vehicle, the side roller bearing being movable between a guide position, in which the side roller bearing abuts and rides upon a first one of the generally-vertical side surfaces of the rail head as the vehicle traverses the conventional railroad track system, and a clearance position, in which the side roller bearing is displaced away from the guide position to prevent interference of the side roller bearing with structure of the corresponding rail as the side roller bearing traverses a junction of the conventional railroad track system.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising a second guide shoe, the first and second guide shoes being respectively positioned to engage opposite vertical sides of said one of said first and second rails. Page 7 of 12

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the switching device further comprises:

a spring operatively connected to the side roller bearing, the spring biasing said roller bearing toward said guide position.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the switching device further comprises:

a linear actuator operatively connected to said guide shoe, said linear actuator being operable to raise and lower said guide shoe.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the switching device further comprises:

a linear actuator operatively connected to said switching device, said linear actuator being operable to raise and lower said switching device.

15. The switching device of claim 8, further comprising:

a ramp supported adjacent the side roller bearing, the ramp being positioned to impinge upon rail structure at a junction of the conventional railroad track system and to cause the side roller bearing to move away from the guide position and toward the clearance position while the switching device is traversing the junction.

19. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said vehicle is a vehicle without a driver.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein said vehicle is a personal rapid transit system vehicle.

21. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said vehicle is configured to operate on only one of the first and second rails of the conventional railroad track system

16. A method for operating a vehicle on a conventional railroad track system with a first rail and a second rail supported in a spaced relationship, the method comprising:

causing at least one switching device, the switching device abutting one of the first and second rails during the vehicle'"'"'s traversing of a junction to cause the vehicle to traverse the switch track independent of a position of the switch track'"'"'s switch, and independent of the vehicle'"'"'s direction of approach relative to the switch track.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

causing one of a wheel and a bearing of the switching device to surround a head of the one of the first and second rails to maintain the vehicle on the first and second rails while traversing the junction.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the switching device is configured to maintain contact with at least two wheels of the vehicle on the only one of the first and second rails to allow the vehicle to traverse at least one junction.