Patent GB-1279401-A (GB)
Title: Vehicle adapted to be propelled by a linear induction motor
Inventor: ENGLISH CHRISTOPHER DURRANT
IPC: B60L13/03
Filed: 1968-04-19
Abstract: 1279401 Electric railway systems; air cushion vehicles TRACKED HOVERCRAFT Ltd 15 July 1969 [19 April 1968] 18683/68 Heading B7L A vehicle 2 adapted to travel along a track 4 is combined with at least one stator 14 of a linear induction motor and with means, e.g. air cushion pads 6 and 10 for spacing the stator 14 from a linear motor rail 20, the vehicle 2 and the stator 14 being interconnected by a linkage 22 which allows movement of the stator 14 relative to the vehicle 2 to permit the stator 14 to remain substantially parallel to the rail 20. Opposite parts 16, 18 of the stator 14 which, as shown, is doublesided each carry one of a first pair of connection points 24, 26 respectively and a beam 32 of the vehicle 2 carries a second pair of connection points 28 and 30 and the two pairs of connection points 24 and 26, and 28 and 30 are interconnected by the linkage 22 which includes: a pair of main links 34, 36 extending parallel to the stator parts 16, 18 and each connected to one of the connection points 24 and 26 respectively for limited universal movement therewith a pair of cranks 38, 40 each rotatably connected to one of the connection points 28, 30 respectively by pivot spindles 48, 50 respectively and also connected to one of the main links 34, 36 respectively; and a cross link 42 extending transversely to the main links 34, 36 and interconnecting the cranks 38, 40 in such a manner that any increase in distance between the connection points 28 and 24 caused by yawing of the vehicle 2 causes rotation of both the cranks 38, 40 in the same sense and resultant decrease in the distance between connection points 30 and 26 and vice versa for an increase in distance between connection points 30 and 26. The connection points 28, 30 are each constituted by one of two lugs 52, 54 respectively on the beam 32 through which the pivot spindles 48, 50 respectively extend and the crank 38 has two arms 56 and 58 at right angles to each other and the crank 40 has two arms 60 and 62 at right angles to each other extending outwardly from the pivot spindles 48 and 50 respectively. The arms 58 and 62 extend towards each other in the same plane and the cams 56 and 60 extend in the direction of travel T and lie in a plane above the arms 58 and 62. The stator parts 16 and 18 are located laterally with respect to the rail 20 by wheels 78 and a wheel 80 is mounted on each of two yokes 17 connecting the stator ports 16 and 18 and running along the top of the rail 20. The main links 34 and 36 lie in a plane in which the tractive forces produced by the stator 14 also lie and the tractive forces are taken in tension in the main links 34 and 36, braking forces being taken in tension by the main links of a second linkage 70. In the embodiment of Fig. 4 (not shown) the wheels 80 are replaced by an additional linkage. In the further embodiment of Figs. 5 (not shown) and 6 the stator parts 128, 130 co-operate with a downwardly depending rail 124, the cross link 136 passes below the stator parts 128, 130 and the pivot spindle 140 of the crank 139 is longer than the pivot spindle 138 of the crank 141. The main links 142, 144 lie in a plane inclined to the rail 124 in which plane the tractive force produced by the stator also lies.