Patent GB-191304005-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the Means of Transport on Wheels Bearing on the Ground through Shoes and Connected by an Endless Chain.
Inventor: PERROT EDMOND
IPC: B62D55/06
Filed: 1913-02-17
Granted: 1914-02-17
Abstract: 4005. Perrot, E. Feb. 17. Portable-track wheels. -Relates to vehicles of the kind in which rails on the vehicle bear on wheels or rollers supported by shoes which rest on the ground and are connected together by an endless chain. According to the invention a train of vehicles is provided with rails continuous from end to end, these rails running on the rollers; and the various parts of the train are constructed so as to allow the necessary freedom for steering and passing over irregular ground while exercising sufficient constraint to k e e p the various vehicles composing the train in equilibrium. Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic elevation of a train composed of four wagons A; Fig. 1<a> is a similar view to a larger scale of one wagon and the ends of adjacent wagons, and Fig. 1<b> is a plan of the under parts. Each wagon A is pivotally supported at two points at the centres of two under-frames a, which are connected to a central jointed draw-bar d of invariable length running the whole length of the train. The side members a of the under-frames form a continuous rail with concave lower faces bearing on a series of rollers i supported on the ground by means of spring or other shoes k and connected together by an endless chain. The rails a are made in sections connected by flexible joints which allow the outer rails to lengthen and the inner rails to shorten on curves. The shoes k and forks carrying the wheels i are mounted at the ends of transverse bars j, which are connected to one another and to intermediate transverse bars r by central links 44 and diagonal links 46. The bars r are engaged for driving purposes by the forked ends of arms u mounted at the rear of the train on a shaft t driven by the motor. The wheels i are placed slightly forward of the shoes k so that small steering-rollers 24, carried by extensions of the forks for the wheels i, are pressed against the rails a. These small rollers are adjusted for steering from a central flexible guide-blade o suspended from the draw-bar d and running the whole length of the train, the front end of the guide-blade being set, so as to determine the direction of motion, by a steering forecarriage having two wheels h and supporting the front end of the first wagon and under-frame. The wheels i, endless chain, and connected parts return over the tops of the wagons on a flexible track carried by transverse members secured to the uprights 55 at the sides of the wagons. The flexible central guide-rail also extends along the top. The lateral stability of the wagons is ensured by the supporting-springs and by longitudinal members y connected to the upper transverse members. For braking, pads are applied to the rail and to each of the wheels i by a relay apparatus actuated by the movement of the train. When running backwards, the small steering-wheels 24 are lowered so that they no longer engage the rail, and steering is effected by an arm on the other side of the main wheel. Cams z are interposed between adjacent under-frames a and are connected by cables R to other adjacent frames for the purpose of compelling three contiguous underframes to follow successively in the path set by the first one, and for preventing the propelling or braking forces from tending to disturb the angular relations between the under-frames.