GB2426495A

GB2426495A - Vehicle for moving along a bifurcated channel of a transportation system

Info

Publication number: GB2426495A
Application number: GB0510688A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Andrew Joynson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-25
Filing date: 2005-05-25
Publication date: 2006-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2025-05-25
Also published as: GB0510688D0; GB2426495B

Abstract

A vehicle (2) for moving along a bifurcated channel comprises a guiding unit (4) having a propelled body unit (6) and a directional controller (10) attached to front (8) of the body unit (6). The directional controller (10) is displaceable relative to the body unit (6) between a first and a second position eg by rotating. Upon engagement of the directional controller (10) in one of its positions with a wall of the channel the guiding unit (4) is physically guided along one track of the bifurcation. The vehicle (2) can comprise carrying wheels (12), and the guiding unit (4) can comprise other guiding elements, such as guiding wheels (56 for laterally stabilisation.

Description

VEHICLE FOR MOVING ALONG A BIFURCATED CHANNEL OF A

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Description [0001] The present invention pertains to a vehicle for moving along a bifurcated channel of a transportation system.

Transportation systems comprising guided vehicles are used in many places to carry goods or people. Typically, the transportation system comprises tracks or other guiding means to guide the vehicles along a predetermined path.

US 4,702,173 discloses a transportation apparatus which comprises a guideway and at least one vehicle on the guideway. The vehicle has an integral load-carrying compartment. The guideway includes a divergent junction and selectively operable switches to direct the vehicle to follow either the left hand or right hand path out of the junction. The vehicle has a bottom support adjacent the bottom of the load-carrying compartment and at both sides of the vehicle for engagement with lower support rails on the guideway. Cantilever supports engage upper guide surfaces provided on the guideway.The cantilever supports are duplicated on both sides of the vehicle and include one and the same upper follower, for engagement with an upper guide surface on the guideway, common to both of the cantilever supports so that the vehicle may be supported in cantilever fashion from either side on a single lower support rail and a single upper guide surface.

A transportation vehicle for use in a mass transit system as disclosed in US 4,132,175 is provided with movable guidance wheels operatively engageable with a vehicle restraining guide beam forming part of the vehicle roadway. The guidance wheels can be selectively moved into engagement or out of engagement with the guide beam to direct the vehicle onto one or another vehicle roadway.

A personalised rapid transit system is disclosed in US 3,913,491 using a combination of onboard and wayside switching for selecting the route of vehicles through selected divergence points. In predetermined locations divergence points, employing wayside switching, are employed and the setting of the onboard switching control has no effect. The onboard system controls the vehicle when it traverses divergence points which do not have wayside control.

US 4,068,598 discloses an element of a vehicle which is part of a continuously moving train of similar vehicles. The element consists, on one hand, of two axles carrying wheels with solid tires and inner tubes and, on the other hand, of an on-board shunting device essentially consisting of a bi-stable rocking assembly operated by fixed ramps in relation to the track. An element of the vehicle also comprises pivoting bearings which are part of the bi-stable rocking assembly and are located in the vicinity of the axles. The bi-stable rocking assembly is operated and locked by an eccentric. Shunting wheels are carried by the bi-stable rocking assembly and cooperate with the external surfaces of the rails along which the element of the vehicle travels or with counter-rails arranged against the external surfaces.

A transportation system is disclosed in US 4,203,369 in which vehicles move along a guideway which includes diverging junctions. A vehicle-mounted track selection mechanism can be set to control which side of the junction the vehicle is to follow, both by an on-board operating member and by an on-guideway operating member. In normal use, the onguideway operating member would be set to cause the vehicle to take the route with the highest traffic level so that intervention by the on-board operating member is necessary only when divergence from such route is desired.

The transportation systems and vehicles described above require a guide member or rails mounted along the track of the transportation system to guide the vehicle along a selected path. Such additional guide members increase the manufacturing and maintenance costs of the transportation system and are accident sensitive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a vehicle for moving along a bifurcated channel of a transportation system which has a simple and reliable arrangement and which does not require additional guide members arranged along the tracks of the transportation system.

This and other objects of the invention which are apparent from the following description of the invention are solved by a vehicle for moving along a bifurcated channel of a transportation system according to claim 1.

According to the invention, the vehicle has a guiding unit comprising: a propelled body unit having a front facing in a direction of motion of the vehicle; and a directional controller arranged at the front of the body unit, the directional controller being displaceable relative to the body unit between a first and a second position, whereby engagement of the directional controller in one of its positions with a wall of the channel selectively physically guides the guiding unit along one track of the bifurcation.

For directing the vehicle along one track of the bifurcated channel, the directional controller of the guiding unit engages walls of the channel, preferably lateral walls, and thereby physically forces the guiding unit to follow the track selected. The directional controller acts like a pointing device that points in the desired direction. To select a direction, the directional controller is moved into a position which corresponds with the desired direction. Preferably, the directional controller is rotatable about an axis between the first and second position. This axis of rotation may be substantially perpendicular to or substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.When the left track of the bifurcated channel is selected, the directional controller is rotated into a position in which it points towards the left track so that the directional controller engages with the right wall of the left track when the guiding unit approaches the bifurcation. Upon engagement with the right wall of the left track the guiding unit moves to the left and follows the left track.

No external guiding members or tracks to guide the vehicle along a selected track of a bifurcated channel are required. The inventive vehicle is therefore an autonomous vehicle which, by simply moving the directional controller in a respective position, selects one track and follows this track due to the engagement of the directional controller with a wall of the channel. The vehicle can therefore be employed in various channels without the requirement of having external guiding members installed along the channels. Once a path of the vehicle through a transportation system with many bifurcations is chosen, the vehicle moves autonomously without external control along the chosen path and follows one track of a bifurcation by using its directional controller.

The inventive vehicle is also fail-safe as the vehicle must take, due to the engagement of the directional controller with the channels walls, either of the two optional paths. To achieve the fail-safety, there should be only two options at each bifucration. Consequently, channels with multiple branches branching off at the same point should be avoided. In contrast to prior art transportation systems which use additional external guiding members for directing a vehicle, no additional safety systems need to be provided for the event that the vehicle fails to engage with the external guiding members. As the directional controller will always engage with at least one of the channel's walls at a bifurcation, the inventive vehicle can move faster than vehicles of conventional transportation systems.

To facilitate the engagement of the directional controller with the walls of the channels, the directional controller has a tapered shape and points in the direction of motion. For this purpose, the directional controller may have a triangular or conical shape. The tapered shape reduces impact on the vehicle upon engagement with the channel walls. Preferably, the transportation system comprises small angled bifurcations to further reduce the impact.

In a further aspect of the invention, the guiding unit comprises a loading compartment for carrying people, things or goods so that the guiding unit with the integral loading compartment substantially forms the vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle may comprise a trailer attached to the guiding unit, whereby the trailer is guided by the guiding unit. The trailer can be suspended below the guiding unit or can be arranged above the guiding unit.

In an aspect of the invention, the guiding unit comprises guiding means, other than the directional controller, for positively guiding the body unit along the channel and, in particular, for a lateral stabilisation of the body unit or vehicle in the channel. The guiding means are used to keep the guiding unit on the track, for instance, to laterally stabilise the guiding unit. The guiding means may engage with a slot in the channel.

The guiding means stabilises the guiding unit and the vehicle. If the guiding unit or the vehicle runs in a curved channel tube or track, there will be a tendency for the guiding unit and the vehicle to rock laterally which could affect the engagement of the directional controller with the lateral walls. The lateral stabilisation prevents rocking. If a trailer is suspended below or runs above the vehicle, then the connecting rod attaching the vehicle to the trailer can be used as guiding means to stabilise the vehicle by being constrained within a slot or channel. If the trailer forms a part of the guiding unit, then separate stabilisation can be provided, for instance, by using the weight of the vehicle to maintain stability, or magnetic or electrical means.Alternatively, a partial rod or body might be used to engage with a stabilisation grove or channel formed in the channel walls, floor or ceiling. More than one of these methods may be used at any one time.

The connecting rod attaching the vehicle to the trailer may or may not be used to assist the directional controller. To prevent that the directional controller and the guiding means follow different paths at a bifurcation, a secondary directional controller can be attached to the guiding means or connecting rod so that the secondary directional controller always points in the same direction as the primary or main directional controller. The secondary directional controller can be for instance linked with the main directional controller to ensure that both directional controllers point in the same direction.

In another aspect of the invention, the guiding unit comprises carrying wheels on which the guiding unit rolls along a surface of the channel. Typically, the carrying wheels rolls on a lower or bottom surface of the channel and are propelled. Alternatively, the guiding unit may be carried by other carrying and driving mechanisms such as hovercraft, linear motors or magnetive levitation. In a further aspect of the invention, the guiding unit comprises guiding wheels laterally mounted to the guiding unit to stabilise and laterally align the guiding unit in the channel. Typically, the guiding wheels are for engagement with the walls of the channel.

The object of the invention is also solved by a transportation system comprising a bifurcated channel with lateral walls and a vehicle as described above, wherein the guiding unit of the vehicle sits in the channel and is bounded by lateral walls of the channel on opposite sides. The transportation system may comprise many channels which are connected with each other so that the transportation system has many bifurcations mutually to connect the channels. Typically, the transportation system comprises a plurality of bifurcated channels forming a network.

In an aspect of the invention, the channel includes a slot which engages with the guiding means of the guiding unit to positively guide the guiding unit along the channel. The engagement of the guiding means and the slot is for lateral alignment or stabilisation of the vehicle to keep it on the track. The direction, which the vehicle travels at a bifur- cation, is, however, governed by the position of the directional controller and its engagement with the lateral walls of the channel. The channel can have a rectangular, circular or any other suitable cross-section.

In an aspect of the invention, the transportation system has an upper carrier surface arranged above the channel and an upper opening in the carrier surface providing access to the channel, the upper carrier surface runs along the longitudinal extension of the channel. The trailer of the vehicle is connected to the guiding unit by a connecting means extending through the upper opening and moves along the upper carrier surface.

In a further aspect of the invention, the transportation system has a lower opening running along a lower surface of the channel extending in the longitudinal direction of the channel. The trailer of the vehicle is connected to the guiding unit by a connecting means extending through the lower opening so that the trailer is suspended under the channel.

All aspects and advantages outlined above with respect to the vehicle apply mutatis mutandis to the transportation system and are therefore not reiterated here to avoid superfluous repetitions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having described some of the main features of the invention, a more detailed description of the invention, from which further features will become apparent, is set forth in the remainder of the specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show in:

Figure 1A a front view, Figure 1B a top view and Figure 1C a side view of a vehicle's guiding unit; [0028] Figure 2 a plan view of a transportation system with a bifurcated channel and a vehicle with a directional controller in its operational positions.

Figures 3A to 3C a bifurcated channel with a guiding unit taking the left branch of the bifurcation and Figures 3D to 3F a bifurcated channel with a guiding unit taking the right branch of the bifurcation; [0030] Figures 4A to 41 different embodiments of the directional controller; [0031] Figures 5A and 5B further embodiments of the directional controller; [0032] Figures 6A to 6C perspective views of different shapes of directional controllers; [0033] Figure 7 a guiding unit comprising a loading compartment; [0034] Figure 8 a vehicle having a trailer which moves along an upper surface above the guiding unit; [0035] Figure 9 a vehicle having a trailer suspended below the guiding unit; [0036] Figures 10A and 10B a rear and a side view of an embodiment of the transportation system with rectangular channels and a guiding means engaging a lower slot;[0037] Figures 11A and 11B a rear and a side view of a further embodiment of the transportation system with circular channels and a guiding means engaging a lower slot; [0038] Figures 12A and 12B a rear view and a side view of a further embodiment of the transportation system with circular channels and a guiding means engaging a lower slot; [0039] Figures 13A and 13B a rear view and a side view of an embodiment of the transportation system with rectangular channels and a guiding means engaging an upper slot; [0040] Figures 14A and 14B a rear view and a side view of an embodiment of the transportation system with circular channels and a guiding means engaging an upper slot; [0041] Figures 15A and 15B a rear view and a side view of an embodiment of the transportation system with circular channels and a guiding means engaging an upper slot;and [0042] Figure 16 a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and is not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on or in conjunction with other embodiments to yield yet a further embodiment. It is intended that the present invention includes such modifications and variations.

A vehicle 2 comprising a guiding unit 4 is shown in Figures 1A to 1C. The guiding unit 4 comprises a body unit 6 having propelled carrying wheels 12 and a directional controller 10 attached to a front 8 of body unit 6. Front 8 of body unit 6 is arranged in the main direction of motion of vehicle 2. The main direction of motion is the direction in which the vehicle 2 typically moves during operation. It is, however, also possible that the vehicle can move in the reverse direction, for instance to correct its position. A directional controller 10 is moveably attached to body unit 6 so that its tip 14 is laterally displaceable. Directional controller 10 further comprises laterally arranged engagement surfaces 16 which selectively engage with lateral walls of a channel of a transportation system.

Body unit 6 comprises an internal drive (not shown) to drive carrying wheels 12. Preferably, the drive comprises an electrical motor. Alternative driving mechanisms employing hovercraft, linear motors or magnetive levitation principles are also suitable to drive guiding unit 4.

A transportation system with a bifurcated channel is shown in Figure 2. The transportation system comprises a channel 20 which branches off in channels 21 and 22 at bifurcation 24. The channels are defined by lateral channel walls 28, 29 and 30. The channel walls 29 and 30 converge with respect to each other to form a pointed edge 34 of bifurcation 24. A slot 26 running along a notional centre line of channels 20, 21 and 22 are also branches at bifurcation 24.

The operation of the guiding unit will now be described with reference to Figure 2. Before guiding unit 4 approaches bifurcation 24 the directional controller 10 is moved into that position which corresponds to the selected path. As shown in Figure 2, directional controller 10 is moved to operational position 10A so that its tip 14 is displaced with respect to a notional centre line 15 of guiding unit 4. The notional centre line of guiding unit 4 runs along the longitudinal extension of the guiding unit 4. Tip 14 of directional controller 10 is thereby also laterally displaced with respect to the pointed edge 34 of bifurcation 24.When the guiding unit 4 advances in its main direction of motion, which is in Figure 2 towards the top of the page, the tip 14 of the directional controller 10 laterally passes the pointed edge 34 of bifurcation 24 so that the right engagement surface 16A of directional controller 10 faces channel wall 29, which forms the right wall of channel 21. Upon further advancement of guiding unit 4 in its direction of motion, engagement surface 16A and channel wall 29 engage with each other and thereby physically direct guiding unit 4 to the left into channel 21. When, on the other hand, guiding unit 4 is to be changed from channel 20 into channel 22 the directional controller 10 is moved into operational position 10B so that its tip 14 is laterally displaced to the right with respect to the notional centre line of guiding unit 4.The guiding unit 4 is then forced to move into channel 22 due to the engagement of left engagement surface 16b of directional controller 10 and the left channel wall 30 of channel 22. The amplitude 36 of the displacement of tip 14 is chosen such that engagement surfaces 16A and 16B are substantially coplanar with respect to their respective channel walls upon engagement. Guiding means 32 engaging slot 26 laterally stabilises the guiding unit 4 to prevent rocking.

Several phases of the engagement between the directional controllers and the channel walls are shown in Figure 3A to 3F. Figures 3A to 3C shows sequences of the advancement of guiding unit 4 during movement into a left branch while Figures 3D to 3F show sequences of the guiding unit's movement into the right branch of a channel.

Figures 4A to 41 illustrate various embodiments of the shape of the directional controller. Suitable shapes are conical shapes with straight, concave or convex generated surfaces. The directional controller can also have a wedge shape with planar engagement surfaces angled with respect to each other. It is also possible to employ pyramidal shaped directional controllers. Perspective views of conical, pyramidal and wedge shaped directional controllers are illustrated in Figures 6A to 6C.

The lateral engagement surfaces of the directional controller 10 may comprise balls, wheels or rollers 38 so that the directional controller 10 does not grind on the channel walls. The balls or rollers 38 may be of different size as shown in Figure 4G. Additionally or alternatively, balls, rollers or wheels 40 can be provided on the channel walls 21 and 22 near the pointed of edge 34 of the bifurcation.

As described above, the directional controller can be moved into one of its operational positions for instance by a suitable rotation of the directional controller around a vertical axis which runs perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal extension of the guiding unit 4. An example of such a directional controller is shown in Figures 5A and 5B. Figure 5A shows a directional controller 11B formed as a small pointer which can slide on a circular main body 11A and thereby rotates about an vertical axis 13 which is centrally arranged with respect to the main body 11A. Directional controller 11B is preferably connected to the central axis 13 by an arm (not shown) to enable rotation. Alternatively, small pointer 11B and main body 11A can be integrally formed to form a directional controller 10 being rotatable about vertical axis 13.

Alternatively, the directional controller can be rotated around a longitudinal axis running parallel to the longitudinal extension of the guiding unit. This axis is preferably parallel to a longitudinal axis of the guiding unit. A rotation around a longitudinal axis is preferred for skewed pyramidal directional controllers. By such a rotation the off axis tip of the pyramid is moved along a circle around the longitudinal rotation axis. Skewed shaped directional controllers typically comprise a single engagement surface which is moved upon the rotation from one orientation to another orientation. In each orientation, the engagement surface is substantially coplanar with a respective channel wall. A further embodiment in which the directional controller 10 rotates about a longitudinal, preferably central longitudinal, axis 15 of the body unit 6 is shown in Figure 16.The engagement surfaces 16C and 16D of the directional controller 10 may be flat, concave or convex. In the embodiment shown an inner engagement surface 16C is concave and an external engagement surface 16D is flat. As the directional controller 10 rotates from the position shown in unbroken lines to that shown in broken lines about the longitudnal axis 15 its tip 14 will rotate over or under the axis 15.

The guiding unit can be an integral part of the vehicle such as shown in Figure 7. In this embodiment, body unit 6 and directional controller 10 forms the vehicle 2 which comprises a loading compartment 42 for transporting goods, things or people. The vehicle can also be formed in two parts, one part being the guiding unit 4 and the other one being a trailer 46. The trailer 46 is controlled and directed by the guiding unit 4 and comprises a loading compartment 48 for carrying people or goods to be transported. The trailer 46 may be displaced on an upper carrier surface 50 running above the channel 20 and can be formed as a wheeled trailer rolling on the upper carrier surface 50. A rigid connecting means connects trailer 46 with guiding unit 4. Connecting means 52 extend through a slit or opening in upper carrier surface 50.Connecting means 52 can also function as guiding means 32 so that the opening in the upper carrier surface 50 corresponds to slot 26 shown in Figure 2.

Alternatively, trailer 46 can be suspended below guiding unit 4 like a. "pod" on a cable car. In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, trailer 46 is a cabin for carrying people. Again, connecting means 52 connects the suspended trailer with the guiding unit 4 through a slit like opening formed in a lower surface 54 of channel 20.

The channel 20 can have any shaped cross-section and channels with rectangular or circular cross-sections are shown in Figures 10A, 11A and 12A. The vehicle may comprise lateral guiding wheels 56 engaging the lateral walls of the channel to stabilise and align the vehicle. Preferably, the lateral guiding wheels are arranged on guiding unit 4 as the guiding unit controls the movement of the vehicle. Figure 12a shows an embodiment in which the axles of the carrying wheels run radially with respect to each other so that they are running readily with respect to the circular crosssection of the channel. The embodiments shown in Figures 10 to 12 have suspended trailers which are attached to the guiding unit 4 by connecting means 52 extending through a lower opening 58 in the lower surface of the channel.Figures 13 to 15 show embodiments corresponding to the embodiments shown in Figure 10 to 12 but with trailers arranged above the guiding unit 4. The connecting means 52 extends in these embodiments through an upper opening 60 in the channel. Lower and upper openings 58 and 60, respectively, may also form slots 26 so that connecting means 52 additionally functions as guiding means 32.Parts List 2 vehicle 4 guiding unit 6 body unit 8 front 10 directional controller 10A, 10B operational positions of directional controller 11A main body 11B directional controller 12 carrying wheels 13 vertical axis 14 tip of directional controller 16,16A,16B,16C,16D engagement surfaces of directional controller 20, 21, 22 channels 24 bifurcation 26 slot/opening 28, 29, 30 channel walls 32 guiding means 34 pointed edge of bifurcation 36 amplitude of displacement 38, 40 balls/rollers 42 loading compartment 44 people, goods 46 trailer 48 loading compartment 50 upper carrier surface 52 connecting means 54 lower surface 56 lateral guiding wheels 58 lower opening 60 upper opening

Claims

1. Vehicle for moving along a bifurcated channel of a transportation system, the vehicle having a guiding unit comprising: a propelled body unit having a front facing in a direction of motion of the vehicle; and a directional controller arranged at the front of the body unit, the directional controller being displaceable relative to the body unit between a first and a second position, whereby engagement of the directional controller in one of its positions with a wall of the channel selectively physically guides the guiding unit along one track of the bifurcation.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterised in that the directional controller has a tapered shape and points in the direction of motion.

3. Vehicle according to claim 2, characterised in that the directional controller has a triangular or conical shape.

4. Vehicle according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the directional controller is rotatable about an axis between the first and second position.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the axis is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the axis is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

7. Vehicle according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the guiding unit comprises guiding means, other than the directional controller, for a lateral stabilisation of the body unit in the channel.

8. Vehicle according to claim 7, characterised in that the guiding means is for engagement with a slot in the channel.

9. Vehicle according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the guiding means comprises a secondary directional controller.

10. Vehicle according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises a trailer attached to the guiding unit, the trailer being guided by the guiding unit.

11. Vehicle according to claim 10, characterised in that the trailer is suspended below the guiding unit.

12. Vehicle according to claim 10, characterised in that the trailer is arranged above the guiding unit.

13. Vehicle according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the guiding unit comprises a loading compartment.

14. Vehicle according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the guiding unit comprises carrying wheels on which the guiding unit rolls along a surface of the channel.

15. Vehicle according to any preceding claims, characterised in that the guiding unit comprises guiding wheels laterally mounted thereto.

16. Transportation system comprising a bifurcated channel with lateral walls and a vehicle according to any preceding claim, the guiding unit of the vehicle sitting in the channel and is bounded by lateral walls of the channel on opposite sides.

17. Transportation system according to claim 16, characterised in that the channel includes a slot which engages with the guiding means of the guiding unit to positively guide the guiding unit along the channel.

18. Transportation system according to claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the channel has a rectangular crosssection.

19. Transportation system according to claim 16 or 18, characterised in that the channel has a circular crosssection.

20. Transportation system according to any of claims 16 to 19, characterised in that the transportation system has an upper carrier surface arranged above the channel and an upper opening in the carrier surface providing access to the channel, the upper carrier surface running along the longitudinal extension of the channel, and in that the trailer of the vehicle is connected to the guiding unit by a connecting means extending through the upper opening and moves along the upper carrier surface.

21. Transportation system according to any of claims 16 to 19, characterised in that the transportation system has a lower opening running along a lower surface of the channel in a longitudinal direction of the channel, and in that the trailer of the vehicle is connected to the guiding unit by a connecting means extending through the lower opening so that the trailer is suspended under the channel.

22. A vehicle for moving along a bifurcated channel of a transportation system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A transportation system comprising a bifurcated channel substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.