Semi-rigid, fin-based transportation system

Details Semi-rigid, fin-based transportation system Semi-rigid, fin-based transportation system

1995-09-06

1997-07-15

Morano, S. Joseph

Railways

Traction

Transverse live roll

104119, 104243, 105144, B61B 1300

Patent

active

056472811

ABSTRACT:
A transportation system including a vehicle support structure (21), a vehicle (22) supported thereon, and elongated semi-rigid fin (44) attached to the vehicle (22) and a plurality of drive assemblies (45) positioned along the support structure (21) to frictionally engage and drive the fin (44). The fin (44) is sufficiently rigid for support of compressive loads, for example, in braking and acceleration, without lateral buckling, and moreover, the fin (44) is sufficiently rigid to assist in steering of the vehicle (22). The fin (44) preferably is not a continuous or endless member, but extends several vehicle lengths in front of the vehicle (22) for steering and most preferably several vehicle lengths behind the vehicle (22) for propulsion and braking. A flexible traction belt (86) optionally can be coupled in tandem with the fin (44) to provide an endless loop propulsion system. In the preferred form, the vehicle (21) is suspended by a pair of aligned, load-supporting wheels (36, 36a), and laterally extending outrigger roll control assemblies (40) are used to control roll of vehicle (22) about the load-supporting wheels (36, 36a). Methods for driving, steering and supporting the load of the vehicle (22) are also disclosed.

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