GB2401089A

GB2401089A - Suspended type transport system

Info

Publication number: GB2401089A
Application number: GB0319052A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cyril Cannell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-08-13
Filing date: 2003-08-13
Publication date: 2004-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 2023-08-13
Also published as: GB0319052D0; GB2401089B

Abstract

The system has an elevated supporting rail 10 on which wheeled trolleys or bogies 11 are arranged to run. Passenger or cargo carrying cars 12 are flexibily and offsetly hung beneath the trolleys or bogies, lateral pendular motion of the cars being prevented by contact of wheels 13 with a beam 14 which is located lower than and parallel to the elevated rail, power and braking sources 16 being applied to these wheels. Alternatively, a liner electro-magnetic system is provided, with static elements on the beam. The wheels for both the rail 10 and beam 14 can have solid or pneumatic tyres. The cars 12 may be angled to the vertical on curves by positioning of the beam 14.

Description

This invention relates to suspended type monorail transport systems.

Monorail transport systems are generally classified as two basic types, one being known as the 'straddle' variety,wherein passenger or cargo carrying cars are designed to travel astride a single rail or suitably contoured guideway.The other basic type is the suspended system,wherein passenger or cargo carrying cars are hung below one or more rails.It is to this latter type that this invention relates.

Many different designs for the construction of suspended monorail systems have been proposed or actually employed,but apart from the requirement of supporting the cars,prevention of excessive lateral oscillations which could occur with high side wind forces is essential.This invention positively provides this requirement.The elevated rail or rails which support the cars is positioned in closer proximity to the basic infrastructure than with conventional suspended monorail systems,the infrastructure may than be of lighter,less costly construction and less intrusive environmentally.

According to the present invention,there is provided a suspended type monorail transport system,wherein passenger or cargo carrying cars are flexibily hung beneath wheeled trolleys or bogies arranged to run on one or more elevated supporting rail or rails,the connection points to each car being significantly offset from the vertical centre line of the car.

The lateral pendulous status of the cars is determined by contact with an adjacent beam,located lower than and parallel to the elevated supporting rail or rails. - 2 -

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing,in which the arrangement shows a single elevated supporting rail,rather than a multiple rail variant,the passenger or cargo carrying cars and adjacent beam being shown in cross section.Referring to the drawing,Figure 1. the transport system comprises elevated rail lO,which may be of circular,rectangular,channel,semielliptical trough or other suitable section,and composed of steel or other durable material,a single rail of semi-elliptical section trough section being illustrated.Wheeled trolleys or bogies 11 are arranged to run on the rail,with rollers (not illustrated) positioned close to the rail undersurface,to ensure that the wheels remain in contact with the rail.The choice of channel or semi-elliptical trough section rail would permit the employment of rubber or pneumatic tired wheels,allowing a reduction of noise over that generated by metal wheels,with idler wheels (not illustrated) to be provided for safety reasons in the event of pneumatic Lyre deflation.

The suspension structure between the cars 12 and the trolleys or bogies 11,should allow limited pendulous flexibility,and be attached to the cars at a point significantly offset from the vertical centre line of the cars. To maintain the cars upright or inclined as desired whilst traversing curves,wheels 13 are suitably positioned on the cars to travel along the vertical face of an adjacent beam 14,located lower than and parallel to the elevated supporting rail,and secured to the posts, columns or masonry 15 which sustain the supporting rail.The offset of the suspension of the cars from their vertical centre lines ensures contact of these wheels with the adjactent parallel beam,they may also be spring mounted and conveniently fitted with rubber or pneumatic Lyres.

These wheels may be driven by power sources and fitted with braking mechanisms to provided traction and retardation of the cars.Idler wheels (not illustrated) should be provided behind the adjacent parallel beam, to limit excessive lateral movement of the cars.As an alternative to the employment of conventional power sources 16 to drive the wheels,the option of linear magnetic propulsion may be taken,the adjacent parallel beam 14 an ideal location for the static elements of such a system.

By laterally adjusting the adjacent beam in relation to the elevated rail, the cars may be inclined when traversing curves,in the interest of passenger comfort. l

Claims

CLAIMS. 1. A suspended type monorail transport system,comprising of passenger or cargo carrying cars flexibily hung beneath wheeled trolleys or bogies arranged to run on one or more elevated supporting rails,the connection point to each car being significantly offset from the vertical centre line of the car The lateral pendulous status of the cars is determined by contact with an adjacent beam,located lower than and parallel to the elevated supporting rail or rails. 2. A suspended type monorail transport system,as claimed in Claim 1, wherein contact of the cars with the adjacent parallel beam is by wheels suitably positioned to travel along a vertical face of the beam. 3. A suspended type monorail transport system,as claimed in Claim 1,and Claim 2,wherein the wheels in contact with the adjacent parallel beam are fitted with solid rubber or pneumatic tyres,idler wheels being provided for safety reasons in the event of pneumatic Lyre deflation. 4. A suspended type monorail transport system,as claimed in Claims 1,2 & 3,wherein only a single elevated rail of channel or semi-elliptical trough section is employed,the wheeled trolleys or bogies being fitted with solid rubber or pneumatic tyres,idler wheels being provided for safety reasons,in the event of pneumatic Lyre deflation. 5. A suspended type monorail transport system,as claimed in any proceeding claim,wherein power and braking sources are applied to the wheels in contact with the adjacent parallel beam,to provide traction and retardation of the cars. 6.A suspended type monorail transport system,as claimed in Claims 1,2 3 & 4,wherein traction and retardation of the cars is provided by means of electro-magnetic linear syatems,the adjacent parallel beam being utilised for locating the static elements of such systems. CLAIMS - (continued). 7.A suspended type monorail transport system,as claimed in all proceeding claims,wherein the adjacent parallel beam is laterally adjusted in relation to the elevated supporting rail or rails,as may be required for the vertical inclining of the cars whilst traversing curves, 8. A suspended type monorail transport system,substantially as described herein,with reference to the accompanying drawing Figure 1. s Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: CLAIMS.

1. A suspended type elevated railway system,comprising passenger or cargo carrying cars f].exlbly suspended beneath wheeled trolleys or bogies arranged to run on one or more elevated supporting rails,a connection point from the wheeled trolleys or bogies to each car being significantly offset from the vertical centre line of the car,any inclination of the cars from the vertical plane being controlled by contact with an adjacent beam,located lower than and parallel to the elevated supporting rail or rails.

2. A suspended type elevated railway transport system,as claimed in Clalm 1,whereln contact of the passenger or cargo carrying cars with the adjacent parallel beam is by wheels suitably positioned to travel along a vertical face of the beam.

3.A suspended type elevated railway system,as claimed in ('[aims 1 and Claim 2,wherein the wheels in contact with the adjacent parallel beam are fitted with solid rubber or pneumatic tyres,idler wheels being provided for safety reasons in the event of pneumatic Lyre def].ation.

4.A suspended type elevated railway transport system,as clalrr.ed in Claims 1,? & 3,whereln only a single elevated supporting rail of channel or seml- elllptical trough section Is employed,the wheeled trolleys or bogies being fitted with solid rubber or pneumatic tyres,idlor wheels being provided for safety reasons in the event of pneumatic Lyre deflation..

5. A suspended type elevated railway transport system,as claimed In any preceding claim,where-in power and braking sources are applied to the wheels in contact with the adjacent parallel beam,to provide traction and retardation of the passenger or cargo carrying cars.

6. A suspended type elevated railway transport system,as claimed In Claims 1,2,3 & 4,wherein traction and retardation of the passenger or cargo carrying cars is provided by means of an electro-magnetic system,the adjacent parallel beam being utillsed for locating the static element of such a system.

CLAIMS - (continued).

7.A suspended type elevated railway transport system,as claimed in all preceding clalms,wherein the adjacent parallel beam Is laterally adjusted in relation to the elevated supporting rail or rails,as may be required for the inclining from the vertical plane of the passenger or cargo carrying cars,as may be required whilst traversing curves.

8. A suspended type elevated railway transport system,substantially as described herein,with reference to the accompanying drawing Figure 1.