Carriage traction vehicle
View Patent ↗The invention is a carriage traction vehicle for use with a monorail. The vehicle is self-propelled along the monorail by one or more motors engaging a fixed rack attached to the monorail.
1. A vehicle for transporting a payload along a monorail, comprising:
a cabin configured for carrying the payload;
a counterwheel assembly configured for wheeled engagement around the monorail;
a platform assembly configured for supporting the cabin, and further comprising a cabin axle rotationally connected to the counterwheel assembly;
a leveling control system attached to the platform assembly and in rotational communication with the cabin axle; and
a motor system mounted to the counterwheel assembly for driving the vehicle along the monorail, the motor system further comprising a drive sprocket assembly with pinion drive rollers for engaging teeth of a rack mounted along the monorail.
2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the leveling control system further comprises a tilt mechanism in communication with the platform assembly for selectively rotating the cabin about the cabin axle.
3. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the tilt mechanism is configured for leveling the cabin by selectively rotating the cabin during changes in monorail inclination.
4. The vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the selective rotation of the cabin ranges up to about 50 degrees of angular rotation.
5. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the tilt mechanism is configured for pre-leveling the cabin to counteract changes in cabin horizontal force.
6. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the tilt mechanism further comprises at least one of electric, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators.
7. The vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one actuator is in communication with a tilt arm of the platform assembly.
8. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the leveling control system is configured for receiving and processing information for selectively rotating the cabin, the information comprising at least one of: vehicle location along the monorail, monorail inclination, vehicle speed, vehicle direction and current vehicle rotation.
9. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the leveling control system comprises a computer in communication with sensors for speed, location and direction of the cabin, the computer configured to drive actuators for leveling or pre-leveling the cabin by selective rotation of the cabin about the cabin axle.
10. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the cabin is cantilevered to the side of the monorail.
11. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the cabin is placed substantially above the monorail.
12. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the cabin comprises a personnel carrier and the payload comprises passengers.
13. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the cabin comprises a bulk material carrier.
14. The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the cabin is further configured to rotate up to 360° to facilitate loading and dumping of bulk materials.
15. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the motor system comprises a battery-powered electrical motor.
16. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the teeth of the rack are cycloid-shaped.
17. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the motor system comprises dual redundant electrical motors.
18. The vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein each of the dual redundant electrical motors is configured for rotating a drive sprocket assembly including pinion drive rollers further configured for engaging cycloid-shaped teeth of a rack mounted along the monorail.
19. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the motor system comprises a safety assembly configured for bringing the vehicle to a controlled stop during a over-speed condition.
20. The vehicle according to claim 19 , wherein the safety assembly comprises teeth for engaging a fixed stop thereby engaging a torque limiter to slow drive shaft rotation to a stop.
21. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a counterweight system attached to the counterwheel assembly, the counterweight system adapted to reduce drive torque required of the motor system.
22. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the monorail is triangular in cross-section.
23. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the motor system further comprises at least one safety assembly that automatically slows the vehicle to a stop during an over-speed condition in either direction of travel.