US4089270A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Personal transporation system
Assignee: Dahlberg Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1976-09-17
•
Granted: 1978-05-16
•
Expires: 1996-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A personal transportation system including a guideway of channel members submerged beneath the ground with an opening along the ground line, the guideway including an intersection, a rail running along the base of the channel members for supporting wheeled, passenger carrying vehicle thereon, and a steering system for selectively steering the vehicle through the intersection and into one of at least two guideway sections leading from the intersection. The steering system includes a probe extending forward of the vehicle and a guide member in the form of a vane associated with the guideway such that the probe contacts the guide member causing the guide member to move to a position wherein the vehicle is selectively guided through the intersection and into one of the guideway sections leading from the intersection, such guidance being accomplished by orienting the probe relative to the guide member such that the latter is moved to a position which provides positive guidance of the vehicle into the desired exiting guideway section. The vehicle is provided with controls manually or remotely operable to command operation of the vehicle. The opening of the guideway is provided with a cover in the form of a pair of flaps which meet in a puckered relationship at the center line of the channel opening. The cover is constructed to prevent debris from falling into the channel in normal use. The flaps are pushed apart by the vehicle as it travels and upon passing the flaps return to their puckered relationship.
Inventors
- 👤 A. Webster Blake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:34
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61B; B61B13/00; B61B13/04; B61B13/10; B61C; B61C13/00; E; E01; E01B; E01B25/00; E01B25/08; E01B25/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
A steering system for steering a track mounted vehicle through track intersections for branch tracks, the vehicle being directionally guided and laterally supported along each track by vehicle mounted guides bearing against opposed side wall members of the tracks, the improvement comprising in combination; a. at least one wheel mounted on the vehicle for guiding the vehicle along a path through a track intersection; b. a laterally pivotable probe extending forwardly of the vehicle for initiating a direction change of the vehicle at an intersection, said probe including means for reorienting said wheel to a direction change of the vehicle at an intersection; c. a switching means disposed at an intersection of the tracks and responsive to said probe for directing the vehicle through the intersection; said switching means including: i. a switching vane having a free end; ii. spring bias means for urging a central location of said switching vane; iii. pivot means for accommodating lateral pivotal movement of the free end of said switching vane in either rotational direction from the central location to a vehicle guiding location in response to engagement of said switching vane by said probe; and iv. guide means disposed upon said switching vane and cooperating with the vehicle mounted guides for guiding and laterally supporting one side of the vehicle upon engagement of the probe and switching vane and as the vehicle travels through the intersection; d. control means for pivoting said probe laterally to engage one or another side of said switching vane and, in response to forward movement of the vehicle, forcing said switching vane to pivot laterally to engage said guide means with the vehicle mounted guides; whereby, during forward motion of the vehicle into an intersection and during engagement with one of the sides of said switching vane, the free end of said switching vane is laterally pivoted to guide and support the vehicle along a selected path through the intersection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
322 words
A steering system for steering a track mounted vehicle through track intersections for branch tracks, the vehicle being directionally guided and laterally supported along each track by vehicle mounted guides bearing against opposed side wall members of the tracks, the improvement comprising in combination; a. at least one wheel mounted on the vehicle for guiding the vehicle along a path through a track intersection; b. a laterally pivotable probe extending forwardly of the vehicle for initiating a direction change of the vehicle at an intersection, said probe including means for reorienting said wheel to a direction change of the vehicle at an intersection; c. a switching means disposed at an intersection of the tracks and responsive to said probe for directing the vehicle through the intersection; said switching means including: i. a switching vane having a free end; ii. spring bias means for urging a central location of said switching vane; iii. pivot means for accommodating lateral pivotal movement of the free end of said switching vane in either rotational direction from the central location to a vehicle guiding location in response to engagement of said switching vane by said probe; and iv. guide means disposed upon said switching vane and cooperating with the vehicle mounted guides for guiding and laterally supporting one side of the vehicle upon engagement of the probe and switching vane and as the vehicle travels through the intersection; d. control means for pivoting said probe laterally to engage one or another side of said switching vane and, in response to forward movement of the vehicle, forcing said switching vane to pivot laterally to engage said guide means with the vehicle mounted guides; whereby, during forward motion of the vehicle into an intersection and during engagement with one of the sides of said switching vane, the free end of said switching vane is laterally pivoted to guide and support the vehicle along a selected path through the intersection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switching vane includes a point for engaging said probe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 2 wherein said probe includes a pair of sides extending rearwardly and laterally from a point for bearing against said point of said switching vane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said probe sides are independently pivotable at a location rearward of the point of said probe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 2 wherein said probe is triangular in planform with a forwardly directed apex.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein each track and branch track includes: a. a rail for engaging said wheel and extending to but terminating at each intersection; and b. wall sections disposed within each intersection for limiting the lateral excursion of said wheel within each intersection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein said wheel includes a rail engaging groove.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 2 wherein the terminal ends of each said rail are tapered to facilitate disengagement and reengagement of said wheel with each of said rails.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the side wall members in proximity to an intersection includes a recess for accommodating the free end of said switching vane and present a smooth transition for the vehicle mounted guides from the side wall members to said guide means disposed on said switching vane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3073259A
Cited
US3263073A
Cited
US3451350A
Cited
US3859925A
Cited
US3769915A
Cited
US3841226A
Cited
US3793959A
Cited
US3838648A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-05-15 | 1981-11-14 | 1982-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-15 | 1985-11-14 | 1986-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-15 | 1989-11-14 | 1990-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |