Patent GB-1154091-A (GB)
Title: Continuous and Endless Passenger Transport Complex with Multiple Destinations.
IPC: B66B21/12
Filed: 1966-10-31
Abstract: 1,154,091. Passenger transport systems. BATTELLE DEVELOPMENT CORP. 31 Oct., 1966 [29 Oct., 1965], No. 48608/66. Heading B7L. A continuous and endless passenger transport system with multiple destinations comprises a main station 10, Fig. 1, connecting in both the " out " and the " in " directions, as indicated by the arrows with secondary stations, e.g. 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, by a common transport section 18, the main station having a separate loading platform and an unloading platform for each of the secondary stations which each have a boarding platform 14 and alighting platform 13. The main station 10 is connected with each secondary station by a separate continuous and endless variable speed transport installation, dealing only with traffic between the main station and the particular secondary station, and comprising a set of passenger carrying units e.g. A, Fig. 2, each having an open top and provided with a floor 50, Fig. 6, two longitudinally extending walls 46, 47 and two transversely extending end walls which are retractable outwardly of the unit to open the ends. Each transport installation also comprises a closed loop guide means, along which the associated units are moved. The installations are all similar and it will suffice to describe that between the main station 10 and the nearest secondary station 12a with reference to Fig. 2. This closed loop guide means comprises at the main station an alighting section 32 and a boarding section 22 at the same level connected by a return loop 34 which is vertically offset below the level of the sections 22, 32. At the secondary station 12a the guide means further comprises an alighting section 27 and a boarding section 28 at the same level and connected by a return loop 33 which is vertically offset below those sections and which also passes below the transport section comprised of " in " and " out " lines 30, 24 which are a part of the common transport section 18, Fig. 1. The boarding sections 22, 28 of the stations are connected by converging sections 23, 29 with the lines 24, 30 respectively whilst the unloading sections 32, 27 are connected by sections 31, 26 diverging from the lines 30, 24, respectively. In the loading and unloading sections and the return loops the units A are moved at slow speed and in close and contacting formation whilst in the common transport section 25 they are moved at high speed and in spaced formation. On the converging sections the units are accelerated and in a progressively opening formation whilst on the diverging sections the units are decelerated and in a progressively closing formation. It will be seen from Fig. 2 that the return loop 37 for the installation between the main station 10 and the remoter station 12b for units B is within the return loop 34 of the nearer station 12a whilst the return loop 40 of the installation for units C serving the more remote station 12c is within the return loop 37 and so on. The arrangement of the drive means of the installation for the units A is so synchronized that the spacing of the units A on the common transport section 25 is sufficient to receive therebetween one unit B, C, D &c., of each installation of the succeeding stations 12b, 12c, 12d, the interpositioning of the units B, C, D between spaced pairs of units A always being in the same unvarying order of succession. At an alighting station, e.g. 32, the floors of the units A sink below a cantilevered platform section the open tops of the units permitting them to descend below the level of the platforms for movement around the return loop 34. At a boarding station, e.g. 22 the unit side walls rise past a cantilevered platform section 41 until the unit floor is in grazing contact with the section 41. The transport unit is in two parts hinged together on the longitudinal wall 47 and having a fastener for latching together the two parts of the longitudinal wall 46. This arrangement permits the unit to negotiate the return loops, as described with reference to Fig. 8 (not shown). The units are suspended by rollers from overhead rails in the horizontal sections of the system as described with reference to Fig. 5 (not shown) and the end walls of the unit are each in two parts provided with arms engageable with overhead guides at positions where the end walls have to open on approaching an alighting section or close after leaving a boarding section. The units A, B, C, D each have a drive arm of a different length to engage only with a particular drive means of the associated transport installation. Along the common transport section 18 and at the points of convergence and divergence chain drives are employed whilst along the converging and diverging sections variable pitch screws are employed all as described with reference to Figs. 14 to 19 (not shown). The drives for the inclined sections connecting the alighting and boarding sections with the return loop are described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9 (not shown).