Inertia switching

Claim 2

Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout having divert ramps and divert plates arranged at change of direction locations, comprising: a divert arm rotatably mounted to the undercarriage of said vehicle along a longitudinal axis thereof and having two stable positions, divert means attached to one side of said divert arm in a position to engage a selected arrangement of said divert plates with the arm in one of the two stable positions, second divert means attached to the opposite side of said divert arm in a position to engage another selected arrangement of said divert plates with the arm in the second of the two stable positions, and actuating means attached to said divert arm to engage said divert ramps to rotate the divert arm to one of the bistable positions depending on the desired direction of the wheeled vehicle.

Claim 3

Apparatus for guidIng a wheeled vehicle around a track layout as set forth in claim 1 including means for mechanically biasing said divert arm into the two stable positions thereof.

Claim 4

Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout having divert ramps and divert plates arranged at change of direction locations, comprising: a divert arm mounted to the undercarriage of said vehicle and having two stable positions, first divert means attached to one side of said divert arm in a position to engage said divert plates with the arm in one of the two stable positions, second divert means attached to the opposite side of said divert arm in a position to engage said divert plates with the arm in the second of the two stable positions, actuating means to engage said divert ramps to change said divert arm to one of the bistable positions depending on the desired direction of the wheeled vehicle, and biasing means including at least one spring at each side of said divert arm for biasing said arm into the stable positions thereof.

Claim 5

Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout having divert ramps and divert plates arranged at change of direction locations, comprising: a divert arm mounted to the undercarriage of said vehicle and having two stable positions, first divert means attached to one side of said divert arm in a position to engage said divert plates with the arm in one of the two stable positions, second divert means attached to the opposite side of said divert arm in a position to engage said divert plates with the arm in the second of the two stable positions, actuating means to engage said divert ramps to change said divert arm to one of the bistable positions depending on the desired direction of the wheeled vehicle, and biasing means including at least one spring at each side of said divert arm for biasing said arm into the stable positions thereof.

Claim 6

Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout as set forth in claim 3 wherein said actuating means includes a cam mounted to said divert arm to force said arm from one stable position to the other when engaging one of said divert ramps.

Claim 7

In a transportation system wherein wheeled vehicles travel around a track layout having change of direction locations, the combination comprising: a plurality of divert plates attached to said track, one of said plates positioned at each of the change of direction locations, a plurality of divert ramps positioned adjacent said tracks, one of said ramps located preceding a divert plate at the change of direction locations, a divert arm rotatably mounted to the undercarriage of each of said vehicles along a longitudinal axis thereof and having two stable positions, first divert means attached to one end of said divert arm in a position to engage said divert plates with the arm in one of the two stable positions, second divert means attached to the opposite end of said divert arm in a position to engage said divert plates with the arm in the second of the two stable positions, and actuating means to engage said divert ramps to change the divert arm to one of the bistable positions depending on the desired direction of the wheeled vehicles.

Claim 8

In a transportation system wherein wheeled vehicles travel around a track layout having change of direction locations, the combination comprising: a plurality of divert plates attached to said track, one of said plates positioned at each of the change of direction locations, a plurality of divert ramps positioned adjacent said tracks, one of said ramps located preceding a divert plate at the change of direction locations, a divert arm rotatably mounted to the undercarriage of each of said vehicles along a longitudinal axis thereof and having two stable positions, first divert means attached to one end of said divert arm in a position to engage said divert plates with the arm in one of the two stable positions, second divert means attached to the opposite end of said divert arm in a position to engage said divert plates with the arm in the second of the two stable positions, and actuating means to engage said divert ramps to change the divert arm to one of the bistable positions depending on the desired direction of the wheeled vehicles.

Claim 9

In a transportation system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the plurality of divert ramps are divided into a fixed ramp group and an adjustable ramp group, the adjustable ramp group being positionable to engage said divert means upon being actuated by a control signal.

Claim 10

In a transportation system as set forth in claim 6 wherein each adjustable ramp includes means responsive to a control signal to extend a ramp to a divert position.

Claim 11

A transportation system wherein wheeled vehicles move around a track layout having change of direction locations, the combination comprising: a plurality of divert plates attached to said track, one of said plates positioned at each of the change of direction locations, a plurality of divert ramps positioned adjacent set tracks, one of said ramps located preceding a divert plate at the change in direction locations, a divert arm rotatably mounted to the undercarriage of each of said vehicles along a longitudinal axis thereof and having two stable positions, first divert means attached to one end of said divert arm in a position to engage said divert plates with the arm in one of the two stable positions, second divert means attached to the opposite end of said divert arm in a position to engage said divert plates with the arm in the second and the two stable positions, actuating means to engage said divert ramps to change the divert arm to one of the stable positions depending on the desired direction of the wheeled vehicle, and a fail-safe ramp at each change of direction location where a vehicle may move in one of two directions, said fail-safe ramp engaging said actuating means to cause said vehicle to continue along a straight path on a failure of a control signal source.

Claim 12

A transportation system wherein wheeled vehicles move around a track layout having change of direction locations, the combination comprising: a plurality of divert plates attached to said track, one of said plates positioned at each of the change of direction locations, a plurality of divert ramps positioned adjacent set tracks, one of said ramps located preceding a divert plate at the change in direction locations, a divert arm rotatably mounted to the undercarriage of each of said vehicles along a longitudinal axis thereof and having two stable positions, first divert means attached to one end of said divert arm in a position to engage said divert plates with the arm in one of the two stable positions, second divert means attached to the opposite end of said divert arm in a position to engage said divert plates with the arm in the second and the two stable positions, actuating means to engage said divert ramps to change the divert arm to one of the stable positions depending on the desired direction of the wheeled vehicle, and a fail-safe ramp at each change of direction location where a vehicle may move in one of two directions, said fail-safe ramp engaging said actuating means to cause said vehicle to continue along a straight path on a failure of a control signal source.

Claim 13

Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout having divert ramps and divert plates arranged at change of direction locations, comprising: a divert arm having an outline in the general shape of a rectangle and rotatably mounted to the undercarriage of said vehicle along a longitudinal axis thereof, a divert wheel attached at each corner of the divert arm, means for biasing said divert arm into one of two stable positions, and actuator means mounted on each side of said divert arm, said actuator means positioned to engage said divert ramps to change the divert arm to one of the bistable positions depending upon the desired direction for the wheeled vehicle.

Claim 14

Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout having divert ramps and divert plates arranged at change of direction locations, comprising: a divert arm having an outline in the general shape of a rectangle and rotatably mounted to the undercarriage of said vehicle along a longitudinal axis thereof, a divert wheel attached at each corner of the divert arm, means for biasing said divert arm into one of two stable positions, and actuator means mounted on each side of said divert arm, said actuator means positioned to engage said divert ramps to change the divert arm to one of the bistable positions depending upon the desired direction for the wheeled vehicle.

Claim 15

Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout as set forth in claim 9 wherein said biasing means includes at least one spring at each end of said divert arm.

Claim 16

Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout as set forth in claim 10 including damper means connected between said divert arm and the undercarriage of said vehicle to stabilize said divert arm as it rotates from one stable position to the other.

Claim 17

Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout having divert ramps and divert plates arranged at change of direction locations, comprising: a first divert wheel having two stable positions at one side of the undercarriage of said vehicle in a position to engage said divert plates when in one of two stable positions, a second divert wheel having two stable positions at the opposite end of the undercarriage of said vehicle from said first divert wheel in a position to engage said divert plates when in one of two stable positions, support means for mounting said first and second divert wheels to the undercarriage of said vehicle and interconnect the movement of said wheels between the two stable positions thereof, a first actuator carried by said support means on the side of the vehicle undercarriage as said first divert wheel and movable therewith between the two stable positions thereof, for engaging divert ramps of the track layout depending upon the desired direction of the wheeled vehicle, and a second actuator carried by said support means on the side of the vehicle undercarriage as said second divert wheel and movable therewith between the two stable positions thereof, for engaging divert ramps of said track layout depending upon the desired direction of the wheeled vehicle.

Claim 18

Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout having divert ramps and divert plates arranged at change of direction locations, comprising: a first divert wheel having two stable positions at one side of the undercarriage of said vehicle in a position to engage said divert plates when in one of two stable positions, a second divert wheel having two stable positions at the opposite end of the undercarriage of said vehicle from said first divert wheel in a position to engage said divert plates when in one of two stable positions, support means for mounting said first and second divert wheels to the undercarriage of said vehicle and interconnect the movement of said wheels between the two stable positions thereof, a first actuator carried by said support means on the side of the vehicle undercarriage as said first divert wheel and movable therewith between the two stable positions thereof, for engaging divert ramps of the track layout depending upon the desired direction of the wheeled vehicle, and a second actuator carried by said support means on the side of the vehicle undercarriage as said second divert wheel and movable therewith between the two stable positions thereof, for engaging divert ramps of said track layout depending upon the desired direction of the wheeled vehicle.

Claim 19

Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout as set forth in claim 12 wherein: said first actuator engages the divert ramps to change the second divert wheel into a divert plate engaging position, and said second actuator engages the divert ramp to change the first divert wheel into a divert plate engaging position.

Claim 20

Apparatus for guiding a wheeled vehicle around a track layout as set forth in claim 12 wherein: said first actuator extends from said support means in a direction away from the center of the vehicle undercarriage, and said second actuator extends from said support means in a direction away from the center of the vehicle undercarriage.

Claim 21

In a transportation system including a track layout having change of direction locations, the combination comprising: divert plates positioned around said track layout at each change of direction location, a plurality of divert ramps positioned adjacent said tracks, one of said ramps located preceding a change of direction location, and a wheeled vehicle including: a. a first divert wheel having two stable positions at one side of the undercarriage of said vehicle in a position to engage said divert plates when in one of two stable positions, b. a second divert wheel having two stable positions at the opposite side of the undercarriage of said vehicle from said first divert wheel in a position to engage said divert plates when in one of two stable positions, c. support means for mounting said first and second divert wheels to the undercarriage of said vehicle and interconnect the movement thereof between the two stable positions, d. a first actuator carried by said support means on the side of said undercarriage as said first divert wheel and movable therewith between the two stable positions thereof for engaging divert ramps of the track layout depending on the desired direction of the wheeled vehicle, and e. a second actuator carried by said support means on the side of said undercarriage as said second divert wheel and movable therewith between the two stable positions thereof for engaging divert ramps of the track layout depending upon the desired direction of the wheeled vehicle.

Claim 22

In a transportation system including a track layout having change of direction locations, the combination comprising: divert plates positioned around said track layout at each change of direction location, a plurality of divert ramps positioned adjacent said tracks, one of said ramps located preceding a change of direction location, and a wheeled vehicle including: a. a first divert wheel having two stable positions at one side of the undercarriage of said vehicle in a position to engage said divert plates when in one of two stable positions, b. a second divert wheel having two stable positions at the opposite side of the undercarriage of said vehicle from said first divert wheel in a position to engage said divert plates when in one of two stable positions, c. support means for mounting said first and second divert wheels to the undercarriage of said vehicle and interconnect the movement thereof between the two stable positions, d. a first actuator carried by said support means on the side of said undercarriage as said first divert wheel and movable therewith between the two stable positions thereof for engaging divert ramps of the track layout depending on the desired direction of the wheeled vehicle, and e. a second actuator carried by said support means on the side of said undercarriage as said second divert wheel and movable therewith between the two stable positions thereof for engaging divert ramps of the track layout depending upon the desired direction of the wheeled vehicle.

Claim 23

In a transportation system as set forth in claim 15 including a fail-safe ramp at each change of direction location of the track layout where a vehicle may move in one of two directions, said fail-safe ramp selectively engaging said first actuator and said second actuator to cause the wheeled vehicle to continue along a straight path upon a failure of a control signal source.

Claim 24

In a transportation system as set forth in claim 15 wherein: said first actuator of the wheeled vehicle engages said divert ramps to change the second divert wheel into a divert plate engaging position, and said second actuator of the wheeled vehicle engages said divert ramps to change the first divert wheel into a divert plate engaging position.

Claim 25

In a transportation system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said divert ramps include means for actuating said ramp from a position of nonengagement with said first and second actuators to a position of engagement with said actuators.