Articulated pinch drive

Details Articulated pinch drive Articulated pinch drive

1994-07-28

1995-06-06

Le, Mark T.

Railways

Traction

Transverse live roll

B61B 1300

Patent

active

054212677

ABSTRACT:
The present invention provides a drive system for a suspended or ground based roller coaster. Each vehicle has an attached drive fin. A plurality of pairs of drive wheels (pinch rollers) are disposed about the track and sequentially engage the drive fin to provide driving force. The drive wheels have a special linkage arrangement that permits the wheels to operate on curves or in a straight path. The linkage also provides self adjusting of the tension applied by the drive wheels to the drive fin to reduce wear and prevent slippage. The present invention uses pivots and tie bars to allow the system to articulate to accommodate the chording effects of the driven vehicle in a curve or helix. The self adjusting drive wheels operates during contact with the drive fin. The turning of the drive wheels in contact with the drive fin causes the drive wheels to generate a pinch force in a direction perpendicular to the vehicle drive fin. The applied force and drive wheel gap are self adjusting, providing more reliable operation, longer wear, and reducing or eliminating maintenance.

REFERENCES:
patent: 155025 (1874-09-01), Holdam
patent: 468860 (1892-02-01), Wright
patent: 3056359 (1962-10-01), Fey
patent: 3537402 (1970-11-01), Harkess
patent: 4285278 (1981-08-01), Mitchell

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Articulated pinch drive does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Articulated pinch drive, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Articulated pinch drive will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-979788