GUIDED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

• Main Authors: LOGAN J,US, COLOVAS D,US, SKRUCH R,US
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.01.1974
• Subjects: LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS; MOTOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRAILERS; TRANSPORTING

A guided transportation system is disclosed. This system comprises three basic elements. A first element is a substantially flat roadway. A second element is a guided vehicle which includes normal vehicle wheels as well as a plurality of aligning wheels mounted in a horizontal position in a space between the bottom of the vehicle and the roadway. These aligning wheels are located so that at least a portion of each wheel extends outwardly toward an associated side of the vehicle a distance greater than an associated one of the wheels supporting the vehicle. The guidable vehicle also includes at least a pair of switch wheels mounted for movement on opposite sides of the vehicle. These switch wheels are movable individually from a switching position to an inactive position. The third element of the system is a pair of sidewall assemblies which extend along the length of opposite edges of the roadway. Each of the sidewall assemblies includes a plurality of vertical supporting portions and an aligning wheel engageable surface mounted on the portions which functions to guide the vehicle along the roadway when contacted by the aligning wheels. Each sidewall assembly also has along at least the portions thereof associated with vehicle switches for the roadway, a switch wheel engageable surface which may be engaged by one of the switch wheels when in its switching position to guide the vehicle along a particular path through a switch.