Abstract:
The invention relates to transport systems of most varied applications.  
     The essence of the invention: a guide track comprises two supporting elements ( 1 ), at least one longitudinal element ( 2 ), and transverse elements ( 3 ) and ( 4 ) connecting the above elements. To enhance the structure&#39;s stiffness and to unitize it, one makes use of side sheets ( 5 ), which interconnect elements ( 1 ) with at least one longitudinal element ( 2 ) or form a longitudinal element.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to a most extensive range of devices, namely, any transportation systems including monorails, amusement rides, cableways, etc.  
         PREVIOUS ART  
         [0002]    A known similar invention comprises two supporting elements, at least one longitudinal element, and transverse elements which bind together the abovementioned elements (see Games &amp; Parks, 9, 2000). Disadvantages of the known track are the excessive consumption of metal and its labor-intensive production.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The engineering object of the invention is to eliminate the said disadvantages, which will make the guide track structure cheaper and will simultaneously increase its stiffness, preventing (reducing) the occurrence of the supporting elements vibration.  
           [0004]    The said object is achieved in the first embodiment of the invention by providing the track, comprising two supporting and at least one longitudinal element and transverse elements, with side sheets which connect the supporting elements with at least one longitudinal element, one part of the transverse elements being tied to the supporting elements and the other part with the supporting and at least one longitudinal element.  
           [0005]    To enhance the track stiffness, at least one supporting element can be tied to the side sheets, and to perform additional functions at least one transverse element of the second part should be expediently executed with a fastening portion.  
           [0006]    In another version the longitudinal element can also be a sheet, the sheets of individual track sections being made up of consecutively connected plates, some of which in a number of cases may be connected with the supporting elements. The plates may be joined by welding.  
           [0007]    The engineering object of the invention is achieved in a second embodiment of the invention by providing that in the guide track comprising two supporting elements interconnected by transverse elements at least some of which are connected with the longitudinal element, the said longitudinal element is made up of side sheets which can be connected with the corresponding supporting elements.  
           [0008]    To enhance the track stiffness, one can use additional sheets which interconnect the supporting elements and/or side sheets.  
           [0009]    If interconnected with the side sheets, the additional sheets are at least connected with some transverse elements.  
           [0010]    In still another version of the guide track the additional sheets make part of the longitudinal element, interconnecting the side sheets and being connected to at least some transverse elements.  
           [0011]    All sheets used (their part) can be made of consecutively interconnected plates, part of which may have no connection with the supporting elements: in this case the transverse elements may be also plates.  
           [0012]    Both embodiments of the guide track may use at least one means of connection to the supports in the shape of a pipe element, which passes through an opening in the side sheet and is stiffly connected with the opposite side sheets directly and\or through an intermediate element, e.g., through a ring welded to the side sheet which encircles the pipe element.  
           [0013]    It is also possible to pass the pipe element through openings in the opposite side sheets, a ring encircling the pipe element being fixed on each of the sheets.  
           [0014]    In a third embodiment of the guide track, the engineering object is achieved by using two supporting elements and at least one longitudinal element connected by transverse elements, and diagonal bar elements which connect the supporting elements with at least one longitudinal element, one part of the transverse elements being connected with the supporting elements and the other part—with the supporting elements and at least one longitudinal element.  
           [0015]    To perform additional functions, at least one transverse element of the second part should be expediently executed with a fastening portion.  
           [0016]    To reduce the nomenclature of the parts used, the supporting and longitudinal elements can be made of the same type dimension (with the same cross section), and the transverse elements of the second part—in the shape of plates.  
           [0017]    In order to form a box-like track, one can use sheets which connect the supporting elements or sheets which interconnect the supporting elements and longitudinal elements, accordingly.  
           [0018]    Diagonal bar elements can be mated with the supporting and one longitudinal elements or with longitudinal elements on the sides opposite to the transverse elements of the first and second parts, accordingly.  
           [0019]    In all embodiments of the guide track the transverse elements can be located perpendicularly and/or at an angle to the supporting and longitudinal elements. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    The essence of the invention can be seen from the drawings.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the guide track.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 shows one of the versions of the cross section of the guide track.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 shows another version of the cross section of the guide track.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 shows the cross section of the guide track with a longitudinal sheet element.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 shows schematically a plan view of the guide track in another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 shows a side view of the guide track.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 shows a cross section of the guide track with an internal outlay of the transverse elements.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 shows a version of the cross section of the guide track with an external outlay of the transverse elements.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 shows another version of the cross section of the guide track with an external outlay of the transverse elements.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 10 shows a cross section of the guide track with the transverse elements bearing against the longitudinal element.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 11 shows a means of connection with the supports.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 12 shows another version of the means of connection with the supports.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 13 shows a plan view of a third embodiment of the guide track. 
     
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0034]    The guide track of a vehicle comprises supporting elements  1 , longitudinal elements  2 , transverse elements  3  which interconnect the supporting elements, transverse elements  4  which interconnect elements  1  and  2 , side sheets  5  which connect elements  1  and  2  or form a longitudinal element, and sheets  6  and  7  which interconnect, respectively, elements  1  (side sheets  5 ) and  2 .  
         [0035]    The transverse elements are made as plates, the thickness of which may be equal to the thickness of sheets; in this case transverse elements  4  may have fastening portions  8 .  
         [0036]    Longitudinal element  2  in the guide track of the first embodiment is made as a pipe or sheets, which may be formed within the portion by plates joined together (e.g., by welding).  
         [0037]    When a longitudinal element is formed by side sheets  5 , the indicated sheets are interconnected at an angle.  
         [0038]    A variant is envisaged when the longitudinal element additionally contains sheets  6 , which are connected with the side elements and are connecting the latter to the transverse elements  3 .  
         [0039]    In other versions of the guide track sheets  6  may not only make a part of the longitudinal element but also perform the function of transverse elements (FIGS.  7 - 9 ).  
         [0040]    When the track is made per FIGS. 8 and 9, sheets  6  to a great extent may be referred to the longitudinal element, as they are connected with side sheets  5  and are limited with transverse elements  4  or transverse elements  3  and  4 , that is, the indicated transverse elements pass inside the longitudinal element or are executed flush with sheets  6  and can be stiffly connected with sheets  6 , which in FIG. 8 are not connected with supporting elements  1  and in FIG. 9 are connected with them.  
         [0041]    In the track shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and  7 , additional sheets  6  are in fact additional transverse elements, since they are connected only with supporting elements  1  and cover transverse elements  3  and  4  from above.  
         [0042]    One should also keep in mind that sheets  6  can be made not solid but latticed. Sheets  5 - 7  on some portions may be made of separate, individually interconnected plates  9 , part of which may have no connection with the supporting elements.  
         [0043]    The transverse elements  3  may interconnect only supporting elements  1 , and transverse elements  4  are additionally tied with side sheets  5 .  
         [0044]    In this case elements  3  and  4  can be positioned both perpendicularly to the supporting and longitudinal elements  1  and  2 , and at an angle to them (not shown in the drawings).  
         [0045]    The guide track is formed of individual portions interconnected by joints.  
         [0046]    The transverse elements are made as plates, the thickness of which can be equal to the thickness of the sheets; in this case transverse elements may have fastening portions  8 .  
         [0047]    To form the box-like shape of the track, sheets  6  and  7  are used, which additionally increase the structure&#39;s stiffness.  
         [0048]    The guide track is placed onto supports  10  by means of pipe element  11  passing through the openings in side sheets  5  or through the opening in one side sheet.  
         [0049]    Pipe element  11  is rigidly bound (by welding) with the corresponding side sheets  5  directly and\or through rings  12 , which are connected with the side sheets and encircle pipe element  11 .  
         [0050]    The third embodiment of the guide track employs diagonal elements  13  for connecting elements  1  and  2  in place of side sheets  5 , the diagonal elements being mated with the supporting elements and longitudinal element or elements on the sides opposite to supporting elements  3  and  4 , respectively.  
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0051]    When a vehicle is moving along the track, the possibility that elements  1  might vibrate due to their deformation on portions located between the transverse elements is excluded (reduced), and there appears a possibility to increase the distance between the supports where parts of the composite track are fixed, which makes the transportation system construction and operation more cost-effective.  
         [0052]    When transverse elements  4  are used with fastening portions  8 , the proposed structure also features some advantages over the known structures, since virtually all track elements and sheets are functioning when portion  8  is absorbing forces.