Patent GB-1253074-A (GB)
IPC: G11C19/00
Filed: 1968-10-30
Abstract: 1,253,074. Railway systems; electric railways; elevated railways; collectors; conductors; railway control. TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN MFG. CO. Ltd. 30 Oct., 1968 [31 Oct., 1967], No. 51362/68. Headings B7L and B7N.  In an elevated railway system in which suspended, self-propelled vehicles are energized from a pair of power supply conductors extending with the vehicle track, the conductors are sectionalized and controlled from section control circuits to de-energize a section to the rear of that supplying a vehicle.  The vehicles run on track 51 and each comprises a drive motor 10, a speed reduction drive 20 coupling the motor to wheels 50, a control device 30 and a load carrying fixture 11. Conductor rails 20 extend along the track and are held in position by insulated members 602, 603 secured to the track by bolts 604. Power is picked up by stainless steel contacts 622 on bowshaped arms 623 of spring material such as phosphor bronze mounted on the top portion of the vehicle. At points sections two portions of line 404, 405 are mounted on a plate movable by a drive motor M2 transverse to the main line direction 410, 411. In one extreme position line portion 404 connects line 410 to line 411 for through operation and in the other position line 410 is connected by portion 405 to branch line 412. Detection means for signalling these extreme positions, Fig. 100 (not shown), are connected in a control circuit for energizing the various conductor rails with the movable track portions. The vehicles can also be routed to different tracks via a turn-table including a table 502, supporting track 51 and running on rollers 503, which is driven by motor 506 via belt 507 and one of wheels 504 which engages the periphery of the table. Stop means are provided for holding a vehicle on the track section 51 whilst the turn-table is in operation. At stations a track section for carrying the vehicle is mounted on a plate, Fig. 15B (not shown), which can be lowered. The plate carries a second track section which occupies the gap in the line when the plate is completely lowered. At portions where the track ascends or descends a chain conveyer 639 can be provided with dogs 632 which engage the vehicle to boost its drive during an ascent and provide braking during descent. The control apparatus 30 on the vehicle includes a first detector 37, responsive to magnetic signalling devices 42, 43 positioned adjacent to track, which via a relay circuit 57, actuates the vehicle to slow or fast speed; a second detector 38 responsive to trackside magnetic signalling device 44 for starting and stopping the drive motor 10 via relay circuit 58 and also for operating brake 12 via relay circuit 60; and a third detector 39 responsive to trackside magnetic signalling device 44 for controlling the direction of movement of motor 10 and hence the vehicle via relay circuit 59. The control apparatus also includes rectifying means 41, 39 for supplying D.C. power to the various circuits, from the power lines 2 via pick-up device 40.  Alternatively, Fig. 7A (not shown), the speed can be controlled by supplying a signal to the vehicle via the power lines having a frequency which is a function of the required speed. When a vehicle enters a power supply section its entry is detected by a magnetic detector which controls a section control circuit to open the circuit for the supply to the preceding section and also to energize a slow speed signalling device in the section before the preceding section.  Each vehicle carries one or more resonant circuits tuned to frequencies denning the route to be taken by the vehicle. At points and turntable locations oscillating circuits are provided defining the branching tracks. Where the frequencies of the oscillating and resonant circuits correspond the loading of the oscillator is detected and the points switched or turntable operated to route the vehicle to the correct path. The turntable apparatus is controlled to move from a preset position to the track from which a vehicle can be accepted; to secure the vehicle on the turntable; to move in one or other direction by the shortest movement to the outlet track as defined by the resonant circuit or by manual setting of controls and to release the vehicle.