초록 ▼

A personal rapid transit vehicle for movement on a monorail guideway system advantageously limits the vehicle width by requiring the riders to be seated in the vehicle. Furthermore, a suspension system for coupling the vehicle to the guideway provides for a very light, narrow driverless vehicle in w

A personal rapid transit vehicle for movement on a monorail guideway system advantageously limits the vehicle width by requiring the riders to be seated in the vehicle. Furthermore, a suspension system for coupling the vehicle to the guideway provides for a very light, narrow driverless vehicle in which the riders face sideways and are suspended laterally from and seated over the guideway. The suspension system controls lift, slip and roll of the vehicle relative to the guideway and allows a reduction in the guideway cross-sectional area. Moreover, the guideway, rather than the vehicle itself, absorbs all overturning or roll vibration.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [20.] A monorail transportation system comprising:a fixed guideway having an upper running surface and opposing guide surfaces;a passenger vehicle having a support frame and being side mounted for movement along the guideway;at least one passenger seat mounted to the vehicle s

[ What is claimed is:] [20.] A monorail transportation system comprising:a fixed guideway having an upper running surface and opposing guide surfaces;a passenger vehicle having a support frame and being side mounted for movement along the guideway;at least one passenger seat mounted to the vehicle support frame and oriented generally perpendicular to the guideway;a linear drive motor for propulsion of the vehicle;a suspension system coupling the vehicle to the guideway and controlling lift, slip and roll of the vehicle relative to the guideway, the suspension system comprising:(a) a vehicle support frame post;(b) a running wheel mounted for rotation on the guideway upper running surface;(c) a damper coupled at a first end to the post and at a second end to the running wheel;(d) an upper and a lower shackle, a first end of each of the shackles being pivotally coupled to the post, the shackles cooperating to control lift of the vehicle relative to the guideway;(e) a main arm being pivotally coupled to a second end of each of the shackles;(f) an upper and a lower link, a first end of each of the links being pivotally coupled to the main arm, the links cooperating to control slip of the vehicle relative to the guideway;(g) an arm pivotally coupled to a second end of each of the links to control roll of the vehicle relative to the guideway; and(h) a plurality of guide wheels mounted generally perpendicular to the running wheel for rotation on the opposing guide surfaces of the guideway, the guide wheels being coupled to the arm to control roll of the vehicle relative to the guideway.