Transportation systems

• US 3,895,584 A
• Filed: 02/06/1973
• Issued: 07/22/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Denys Ian Paddison
• Original Assignee: Denys Ian Paddison
• Inventors: Paddison, Denys Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. Henson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Application Number:
  US05/330,149
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 104/88 246/63R,187B,187C,632
• US Class Current: 104/88.03
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/04 Automatic systems, e.g. controlled by train; Change-over to manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/10 Operations, e.g. scheduling or time tables
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/225 using separate conductors along the route

Abstract

A transportation system including a network of tracks for remotely-controllable vehicles to run over, having intersections each enabling vehicles to be driven from one track to another track, and each comprising a junction track associated with vehicle detector means, signalling means and a computer for controlling vehicles on or approaching the junction track. A length of the junction track may be designated as queueing space sufficient to accommodate a predetermined maximum number of vehicles Q, and the computer may include means for maintaining a record of the number of vehicles q currently allocated to the queueing space, and a list of turn priorities for given destinations, and means for sending turning command signals to any vehicle whose destination gives it a turn priority greater than q, provided that q is less than Q.

Claims

1. A transportation system comprising a plurality of tracks and a plurality of remotely controllable vehicles constructed to run over the said tracks, wherein the said tracks comprise at least a first main track, a second main track, and a junction track by which vehicles may be driven from the first main track to the second main track, and the system also comprises first signalling means for sending control signals to vehicles on the first main track such that all vehicles on a continuous extended length thereof receive the same control signals to cause the said vehicles to proceed in a first regular traffic stream along the said first main track, means for sending signals to selected ones of the said vehicles to divert them on to the junction track, second signalling means for sending control signals to vehicles on the second main track such that all vehicles on a continuous extended length thereof receive the same control signals to cause the said vehicles to proceed in a second regular traffic stream along the said second main track, third signalling means for sending control signals to vehicles on the junction track to control their progress on the junction track and to make them responsive to signals derived from the second signalling means at selected times, further means for sending control signals derived from the second signalling means to vehicles on a part of the junction track to cause the said vehicles to match their speed to the speed of the said second regular traffic stream, a plurality of vehicle detector means for detecting the passage of vehicles on the first main track, the second main track, and the junction track and receiving data signals from the said vehicles, and computer means connected to the vehicle detector means and to the first, second and third signalling means for controlling the transfer of selected vehicles from the first main track to the second main track.

2. A transportation system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the first signalling means comprises a first inductive signalling cable incorporated in or mounted on the first main track, the second signalling means comprises a second inductive signalling cable incorporated in or mounted on the second main track, the third signalling means comprises a third inductive signalling cable incorporated in or mounted on the junction track, and the said further means comprises an extension of the second inductive signalling cable incorporated in or mounted on a part of the junction track.

3. A transportation system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein thE first signalling means comprises a first inductive signalling cable incorporated in or mounted on the first main track, the second signalling means comprises a second inductive signalling cable incorporated in or mounted on the second main track, the third signalling means comprises a third inductive signalling cable incorporated in or mounted on the junction track, and the said further means comprises a connection for applying control signals of the second signalling means to the third signalling cable.

4. A transportation system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said control signals sent to the vehicles have address parts and instruction parts, and in each vehicle there is provided a receiver incorporating decoder means for distinguishing prescribed address parts and instruction parts, and vehicle control apparatus responsive to output signals from the decoder means for initiating a prescribed response to predetermined control signals.

5. A transportation system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the decoder means in each vehicle comprises a bistable circuit, means for setting the bistable circuit in response to a control signal comprising a prescribed specific address part specific to the individual vehicle and a first prescribed instruction part, means for resetting the bistable circuit in response to a control signal comprising the said specific address part and a second prescribed instruction part, and instruction detector means controlled by the bistable circuit responsive to the instruction part of any control signal whose address part is a first prescribed group address whenever the bistable circuit is set, and responsive to the instruction part of any control signal whose address part is a second prescribed group address whenever the bistable circuit is reset.

6. A transportation system comprising a network of main tracks and main track signaling means for signaling to vehicles on each main track so that all vehicles on a continuous extended length of any main track will receive the same control signals for causing said vehicles to proceed in regular traffic streams along said main track;

the network having a plurality of intersections which each comprise a one-way junction track connecting two of the said main tracks and having intersection control means provided for each intersection capable of substantially self-sufficient operation for controlling vehicles approaching the junction track and on the junction track thereof;

the junction track leading from a first main track to a second main track at each of said intersections, the first main track being equipped with first main track signaling means, the second main track being equipped with second main track signaling means, and the intersection control means comprising means for directing selected vehicles from the first track onto the junction track, third signaling means for sending control signals to vehicles on the junction track to control their progress and to make selected vehicles responsive to signals derived from the second main track signaling means at selected times, further means for sending control signals derived from the second main track signaling means to vehicles on a part of the junction track, a plurality of vehicle detector means for detecting the passage of vehicles on the first main track, the second main track, and the junction track and for receiving data signals from the said vehicles, and computer means connected to the vehicle detector means and to the first, second and third signaling means for controlling the transfer of vehicles from the first main track over the junction track to the second main track.

7. A transportation system as claimed in claim 6 wherein each vehicle is notionally allocated to a section of the track in which it may safely come to rest, and in each of the intersections a length of the junction track is designated as queueing space sufficient to accomodate a predetermined maximum number of vehicles Q and the intersection control means comprises:

A first vehicle detector means for ascertaining the destination of each vehicle and an indication of the section of track to which it is currently allocated as it approaches the entry to the junction track, and computer means for maintaining a list of turn priorities for given destinations, allocating to each vehicle a turn priority selected from the list according to the destination of the vehicle, maintaining a record of the number q of vehicles currently allocated to the queueing space, comparing the allocated turn priority with the number q, and sending turning command signals to any vehicle which is allocated a turn priority greater than q if and only if q is less than Q, so as to direct the vehicle on to the junction track.

8. A transportation system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first vehicle detector means comprises means for receiving a position-lag signal from each passing vehicle, which represents the distance between the actual position of the vehicle and the track section to which it is currently allocated, and the computer means comprises means for determining the track section to which the vehicle is currently allocated by adding the vehicle'"'"''"'"'s position-lag signal to a signal representing the position of the vehicle when detected by the first vehicle detector means.

9. A transportation system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the computer means comprises means for maintaining a list of all vehicles currently allocated to sections of the junction track and the sections to which they are allocated, and a list of all vehicles currently allocated to neighbouring sections of the second main track and the sections to which they are allocated, and means responsive to the control signals sent through the said second and third signalling means to the said vehicles for incrementing the sections indicated in the said lists for the vehicles which should respond to the said control signals.

10. A transportation system as claimed in claim 9, wherein each main track has a signalling means for sending control signals to vehicles thereon to cause the said vehicles to proceed in a regular traffic stream along the main track, and each vehicle is notionally allocated to a section of the track in which it may safely come to rest, and the system also comprises a plurality of stations each having:

at least one platform track connected at both ends to a main track of the system, first vehicle detector means for detecting each vehicle on the main track as it approaches the entrance end of the platform track, ascertaining whether it is desired to stop at the station and receiving an indication of the track section to which it is currently allocated, means for sending a turning command signal to any vehicle which is desired to stop at the station to cause it to turn on to the platform track provided that the platform track is not unduly congested, means for maintaining a list of vehicles continuing on the main track and a list of vehicles on the platform track, indicating the track sections to which the vehicles are allocated, and means for rendering any vehicle desired to leave the station responsive to the signalling means of the main track at an instant when a predetermined section on the part of the main track between the two ends of the platform track is not allocated to any vehicle.

11. A transportation system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the computer means comprises means for maintaining a list of track sections on the junction track and track sections on the second main track indicating all vehicles currently allocated to the said track sections, and means for transferring vehicle indications in the said list in response to control signals sent through the said second and third signalling means to cause the vehicles to advance.

12. A transportation system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the computer means comprises means for sending a control signal to any vehicle allocated to a prescribed track section at tHe head of the queueing space to render to said vehicle responsive to signals derived from the second signalling means at an instant when a predetermined section of the second main track has no vehicle allocated to it.