Railways – Switches – Having longitudinal pivot axis
Patent
1996-01-11
1997-08-19
Morano, S. Joseph
Railways
Switches
Having longitudinal pivot axis
10413011, E01B 2600
Patent
active
056576960
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to switches for rail/guideway systems, and in particular relates to a switch suitable for use with Automated Guideway Transit (AGT) systems of the type using small, individual vehicles, capable of operating at high speeds, with a spacing between vehicles of only three or four seconds, the vehicles running on a pair of spaced apart rails. However, the switch of the invention is suitable for use with a variety of other rail/guideway systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In AGT systems of the type mentioned above, it is a requirement that vehicles be capable of frequent stopping at stations located off the main line in order that a high mean track speed on the main line is achieved, notwithstanding that such stations may be spaced at close intervals.
It must be possible for alternate vehicles to follow either the mainline or turn off to a branch line, with a minimal loss of speed. As such, the switch length must be short and the switch actuation time minimal, for example, two seconds or less. Preferably any turning section which is used to branch from a main line should be banked for passenger comfort.
Conventional railway switches are not used for AGT systems for several reasons. First, AGT systems often use elevated guideways to avoid interference with ground-level traffic, and are too obtrusive in city or suburban environments unless the track is narrow, typically about one half the width of the vehicle, and are often termed monorail systems. In such systems, provision must be made by way of extra wheels and guide surfaces to prevent vehicles from overturning, for example, in high winds. Such extra guide surfaces are usually provided at a level underneath a flat, broad load carrying track so further complicating the design of switches and precluding the use of conventional railway switches.
Second, it is not practical to bank the turning rails in conventional railway switches.
Third, in AGT systems it is typical for power to be supplied from the guideway, for example, by longitudinal conductors as in the case of some conventional electric railways which use a third rail for this purpose; as overhead conductor wires are generally unsuited to elevated guideways on aesthetic grounds. In the case of AGTs, additional longitudinal conductors are also typically required to provide control and communication channels. Such groups of longitudinal conductors cannot intersect the running surfaces, and hence in conventional railway switches, both the conductors and the collecting brushes on the vehicle are duplicated on each side of the vehicle and track in order to provide a continuous electrical connection in the switch zone.
Some prior art proposals have attempted to overcome the problems associated with switching of monorail and other guideway systems by laterally shifting a first section of the guideway together with the longitudinal conductors and supplemental guiding surfaces, and moving into its place a second section, the first section of guideway being straight and flat and the second section curved and banked. However, the problem with such prior art proposals is that the switching time is long because of the need to move massive structures. Other prior art proposals have included the bending of an entire monorail structure including the switching zone, these proposals being generally related to fast trains where switching time is not important.
One impractical prior art proposal is that by Trent in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,472,176 and 3,477,389, which show a narrow beam carrying a track surface which is bent and twisted by virtue of being supported by a series of vertical supports or posts. These posts are inclinable, being hinged at a point well below the surface of the ground, and arranged to provide for banking as well as bending of the track in the switch zone. The impracticality of such a proposal is that, first the switching structure may well extend for hundreds of meters, and with the beam dimensions disclosed could weigh many hundreds of tons. Second, it is
REFERENCES:
patent: 2903972 (1959-09-01), Schuetze
patent: 2997004 (1961-08-01), Rosenbaum et al.
patent: 3013504 (1961-12-01), Schuetze
patent: 3093090 (1963-06-01), Rosenbaum
patent: 3472176 (1969-10-01), Trent
patent: 3477389 (1969-11-01), Trent
patent: 3918665 (1975-11-01), Alimanestianu et al.
JP,A,3-31055 (Hitachi), Feb. 8, 1991, Journal 119-M-1105.
SU,A,1486-544 (Grebennikov), Jun. 15, 1989, Derwent Abstract 90-097763/13.
LandOfFree
Switches for automated guideway transit systems does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Switches for automated guideway transit systems, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Switches for automated guideway transit systems will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1097850