Abstract:
A transport system according to the invention comprises a guide device having a first guide rail in the form of a first pipe ( 11 ) and a second guide rail in the form of a second pipe ( 12 ). The transport system comprises a toothed driving disk ( 330 ), which is engaged with an engagement element ( 340 ) extending along the lower pipe ( 12 ) and forms a positive drive. The engagement element ( 340 ) comprises counter-toothing, disposed along the pipe ( 12 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a transport system, in particular a rail passenger transport system in the private sector, comprising: a vehicle for accommodating at least one passenger; a circuit with a guide device along which the vehicle can be moved; and a drive system for a positive drive to propel the vehicle along the circuit, wherein, at least on sections extending along the circuit, the drive system has a first engagement element and a second engagement element, which is connected to the vehicle and which is propellable. 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    Transport vehicles with positive drives are known, for example, cog railways and in the mining industry. Positive drives have an advantage over friction drives in that the efficiency can be improved because the drive wheel in the case of a positive connection cannot slip on the drive rail. In addition, greater torques and thus greater accelerations can be transferred from the drive to the vehicle. 
         [0003]    These drives have already been proposed for use in roller coasters, too. However, there is the problem that the rack limits the possibilities for the realization of certain routes. As roller coasters are intended to thrill users by traversing the most spectacular possible thrill elements, a complicated route with more or less steep rises (e.g. camel back), curves, twists (e.g. screw), and also combinations of these (e.g. cork screw), must be realized in many cases. However, since the racks, as well as the guide elements (rails), are not freely bendable and twistable, there is limited scope for designing the circuit. 
         [0004]    Since the rack generally in addition to the rails is attached, for example, between a dual line of rails, it is difficult to integrate such a roller coaster into an existing landscape or environment. In the case of a dual rail track, the passengers always see the rails and the toothing and so can easily anticipate the course. This can partially reduce the thrill of the ride. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, positive drives suffer from the fundamental problem of high wear and high noise levels. This gives rise to higher energy requirements and can detract from the quality of the ride during transport of persons. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Proceeding therefrom, the object of the present invention is to provide a transport system with a positive drive system, which is improved with regard to wear, running smoothness and efficiency over conventional positive-drive transport systems. 
       TECHNICAL SOLUTION 
       [0007]    This object is achieved by a transport system in accordance with claim  1 . Advantageous characteristics and preferred embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims. 
         [0008]    An inventive transport system comprises: a vehicle for accommodating at least one passenger; a circuit with a guide device along which the vehicle can be moved; and a drive system for a positive drive for propelling the vehicle along the circuit, wherein, at least on sections extending along the circuit, the drive system has a first engagement element and a second engagement element, which is connected to the vehicle and which is propellable. 
         [0009]    At least the first engagement element or the second engagement element has cylinders which are arranged at spaced intervals from each other. 
         [0010]    The claimed transport system can be used in a plurality of applications, e.g., rides, in alpine areas, for the general transport of persons, indoors, etc. It is particularly suitable for use in applications in which a vehicle must overcome height differences. 
         [0011]    By first engagement element is understood the elongated element arranged on the route that has means for meshing with a complementary second engagement element arranged on the vehicle. The second engagement element is usually an element which has a circular circumference and toothing along the circumference, or pinion. The first engagement element can for example be formed as a rack or chain, in particular a flyer chain. The second engagement element is typically formed on the circumference of the drive wheel, for example a driving disk. 
         [0012]    At least the first engagement element or the second engagement element comprises cylinders arranged adjacent to each other, i.e. a kind of cage gear. The scope of the invention extends inter alia to both cage gears and crown gears. The crown wheel is a type of cage gear. The running surface of crown wheels is formed on the wheel surface, unlike the case for spur gears where the running surface is formed on the end face. A cage cog wheel can also be used within the scope of the invention. 
         [0013]    The term “cage gear” is used interchangeably in the following for all embodiments having toothing elements with cylinders arranged adjacent to each other. The term cylinder moreover is not understood as being restricted to a circular cross-section of the means of engagement. Also, other cross-sections of the means of engagement which correspond to the cylinders and which are useful within the context of the invention are to be construed as encompassed by the term or at least considered to be equivalents. 
         [0014]    The cylinders arranged adjacent to each other form the toothing of one of the two engagement elements. The counter-toothing may be a pinion or a rack. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the counter-toothing is an element which is arranged along the circuit and which has toothing facing the cylinders. 
         [0016]    When driving the vehicle, it is therefore a positive drive, in which at least one of the engagement elements has cylinders. The use of a positive drive can achieve the desired flexibility and pitch tolerance. Both during propulsion and braking (“controlled braking”), the positive engagement ensures that no losses due to slippage of the drive arise. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment of the invention, the toothing can be provided in the form of chain pins or in the form of a chain are provided (for example as a sprocket or chain arranged along the circuit). Any chain, in particular steel link chains, which can serve as drive chains for transmitting torques, can be used within the scope of the invention. Examples include bush, roller, flyer, arc or pin chains. The term chain within the scope of the invention can also be taken to mean a toothed belt which, in the inventive transport system, can serve as rack together with a toothed belt pulley as pinion. Toothed belts have teeth of plastic that correspond to the chain links with a tooth profile shape. 
         [0018]    The vehicle in the inventive transport system is arranged, for example, above the guide device (from the perspective of a passenger properly accommodated in the vehicle). The centre of gravity of the laden or unladen vehicle is always above, albeit as close as possible to, the first and/or second guide element. Thus, a seat arrangement can be provided, wherein at least one of the rails (first and/or second guide element) is arranged between the legs of a passenger or at least one of the rails (first and/or second guide element) is arranged between two adjacent seats. 
         [0019]    The guide device can have one or at least two guide elements. The guide elements can be arranged side by side to form a dual rail circuit. Preferably, in the context of the invention, however, a single-rail circuit is provided for single-rail vehicles (“monorail”). In a monorail, one, preferably two or more guide elements are arranged below one another underneath the vehicle. In particular, instead of one guide plate employed in conventional monorails, a second pipe can be used which is either attached directly to the other carrier pipe or connected with the aid of cross members at a distance, yet rigidly thereto so as to prevent lateral tilting of the vehicle (relative to a plane formed by the guide elements). In particular, the pipes can be vertically offset from one another. 
         [0020]    The first engagement element is preferably arranged at least at the guide element or one of the guide elements. 
         [0021]    The drive system can have at least one spring damping system, which is arranged between the first and the second guide element or between the drive motor and the drive wheel. 
         [0022]    The cylinders, e.g. cage pins of a cage gear, in particular can be arranged at the second engagement element. The particular advantage of this embodiment is that the toothing, which is more complex to make, is provided at the drive wheel. The number of cylinders in the peripheral direction is limited in this regard. Replacement of the drive wheel is possible with reasonable effort. On the circuit, however, a simple counter-toothing is provided, e.g. in the form of a rack which can be produced in a rugged design once and rarely needs to be maintained or replaced. 
         [0023]    Preferably, the cylinders each have at least one rotatable element for rolling off the cylinders at the counter-toothing. This configuration does not generate any sliding friction, but rather only rolling friction during rolling off of the cylinders in the concave engaging recesses of the counter-toothing. This reduces wear, noise and energy consumption. 
         [0024]    In particular, the rotatable elements have at least one rolling bearing. By rolling bearings (as opposed to sliding bearings) is understood all bearings in which those components which are capable of movement towards each other do not make sliding contact but rather make rolling contact with each other, e.g. ball or needle bearings. The two components capable of movement towards each other may be an inner race and an outer race, which are separated by rolling elements. The friction and thus power loss and wear are low. 
         [0025]    Mainly rolling friction occurs between the inner race, outer race and the rolling elements. Therefore, with this type of toothing, a system is provided in which the cylinders roll off the tooth flank during the entire engagement. 
         [0026]    The cylinders each have especially at least one pin or a sleeve and a roller encompassing the pin or sleeve, wherein the roller is mounted rotatably at the pin or at the sleeve. The roller rolls off at the counter-toothing during engagement. The provision of a rolling bearing avoids sliding friction. 
         [0027]    The cylinders can preferably have a spring damping element which is arranged between those cylinder components which are capable of moving towards each other. The damping element can be formed as a buffer of elastomer. 
         [0028]    The cylinders can, in a further embodiment of the invention, have at least one axle and a roller that can rotate about the axle, with the axle arranged rotatably at the first engagement element or at the second engagement element by means of a bearing. 
         [0029]    The cylinders can especially in this arrangement have a spring damping element which is arranged between the axle and the roller. The spring damping element can be formed of an elastic material (elastomer, spring steel). The spring damping element can for example also perform a damping function, e.g. be configured as a rubber insert. 
         [0030]    Through the agency of the spring damping element, the cylinders are mounted such that they are damped and sprung. This not only serves to dampen impacts, etc., but also effects the most accurate rolling off possible of the wheels on the counter-toothing. The suspension also provides for a flexible adjustment of the orientation of the cylinders to the mating surface, so that line contact is always realized. This in turn improves the running properties of the toothing, and is thus tolerant of pitch and tooth alignment errors as well as axle base and axle inclination errors. Preferably, the components capable of movement towards each other are directly decoupled by the interposition of the damping between said components, i.e. before the bearing (as seen from the line of engagement). 
         [0031]    In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the cylinders, in particular rollers, are formed of a material having lower wear resistance than the counter-toothing. As a result, these elements undergo the bulk of the wear during operation. The configuration of the toothing at the drive wheel renders the toothing the “consumable part”, while the counter-toothing arranged along the circuit can be used virtually without wear. The material of the contact surfaces of the wear parts is softer than that of the mating-contact surface. In this way, it is possible to control which of the toothings are to be subject to which kind of wear. 
         [0032]    The cylinders, in particular rollers, can, for example, be formed of plastic. In any case, the contact surfaces of the rollers with the counter-toothing can be made of plastic in order to prevent rapid wear of the counter-toothing. 
         [0033]    The counter-toothing for engaging with the cylinders can preferably be formed as non-involute toothing. Overall, for mutual engagement with the drive wheel, external toothing is required. This can be provided by a rack, but also by a chain. 
         [0034]    Preferably, the counter-toothing is formed as cycloid toothing or approximately as cycloid toothing. The contour of the toothing is adapted to the rolling off of the cylinders. The optimal contour can be calculated mathematically and approximates (as opposed to conventional involute toothing) cycloid toothing. 
         [0035]    The counter-toothing for engaging with the cylinders can be a rack extending at least along sections of the circuit, whose teeth engage between the chain links/rolls of a chain of the second engagement element. This is a simple and inexpensive solution. 
         [0036]    The counter-toothing for engaging with the cylinders can, in another embodiment, comprise a chain extending at least along sections of the circuit, in particular a flyer chain formed as a silent chain. In the direction of travel, for example, a chain that is part of the first engagement element has relatively little play. This applies analogously to a chain which is part of the second engagement element and which is arranged at the circumference of a wheel, a drive wheel, disc, etc., i.e. it has little play in the circumferential direction. 
         [0037]    At least one of the engagement elements can comprise a chain which extends at least along sections of the engagement element and which has external toothing for engagement between the cylinders of the respective other engagement element, said chain being formed as a spatially twistable chain. 
         [0038]    The first engagement element is arranged along the guide element, e.g. a pipe or one of several pipes. The engagement element can be easily adapted to the three-dimensional structure of the route. The chain or the chain links can be (in some cases) fixed relative rigidly to the guide device. The connections of the chain links themselves are, however, twistable in three-dimensions. The teeth of the complementary engagement element can engage with little wear, quietly and smoothly. 
         [0039]    The inventive chain is thus formed as a joint which can rotate in at least two dimensions. Of course, for a spatially rotatable and twistable chain, three-dimensional movement of the chain links relative to one another is preferred. The chain links can be rotated against each other, for example, about an axis corresponding to the direction in which the chain extends and about the two axes perpendicular thereto. As a result, twisted sections of the circuit can be realized with lower design effort. The deviations in tooth engagement are reduced through the use of the inventive chain. 
         [0040]    The inventive chain can, despite a substantially (including three-dimensionally) twisted rail, replace a complex and accurately manufactured conventional rack or cage, etc., to effect optimal and yet cost-effective positive locking. The chain can be readily adapted to the twists in the rails. Even twists transverse to the chain direction can be easily realized. 
         [0041]    The joints are especially designed as ball joints or spherical joints. The chain has chain links, wherein in each case adjacently arranged chain links are connected by means of the ball joint. It would also be conceivable to arrange two series-arranged swivel joints for the purpose of realizing a two-dimensionally rotatable chain. 
         [0042]    The joints each have at least one spherical element which is connected to a pin or a sleeve of a first chain link, and a spherical bearing shell in which the spherical member is rotatably accommodated, said spherical bearing shell being connected to a second adjacent chain link. 
         [0043]    The chain links especially each have at least one tooth, in whose pitch circle a ball joint is arranged. 
         [0044]    The toothing of the chain has especially at least one concave section between adjacent teeth, which is designed for rolling off a cylinder. 
         [0045]    The concave section preferably has at least section-wise a cycloid flank or flank contour or an approximately cycloid flank. 
         [0046]    In general, a chain can undergo a certain degree of elongation under load. In its present application in the transport system, however, the chain is mounted to the guide device at short intervals. Unwanted strain and related pitch errors are avoided as a result. 
         [0047]    The guide device of the transport system is preferably configured as a monorail. This also achieves the object of creating a transport system that can be integrated into the landscape and, in the case of roller coaster vehicles, can heighten the thrill, as the route is less easy to anticipate. 
         [0048]    At least one or more of the guide elements may be pipe-shaped. Pipe-shaped guide elements have the advantage that they can be bent in three dimensions in a simple manner to facilitate routes with curvatures in different directions, e.g. curves, rises, twists, and combinations thereof. Instead of the pipes, pipe-like or solid rails can be used in the context of the invention to the extent that this is useful from the point of view of dimensions (e.g. in the case of a second guide element having a small diameter or smaller dimensions). Moreover, the term “pipe” is not limited to pipes of circular cross-section, but includes pipes of all possible cross-sections, e.g. oval cross-sections, rectangular cross-sections, irregular cross-sections, etc. 
         [0049]    Protection is sought for all of these features, both individually and in combinations with each other. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0050]    Further advantages and characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the description of preferred embodiments with reference to the figures. These show in 
           [0051]      FIG. 1  a perspective view of a conventional guide system for a rail passenger transport system; 
           [0052]      FIG. 2  a cross-sectional view of a conventional guide system with a vehicle; 
           [0053]      FIG. 3  a side view of a first embodiment of an inventive rail passenger transport system; 
           [0054]      FIG. 4  a cross-sectional view from  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0055]      FIG. 5  a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a guide and drive system in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0056]      FIG. 6  a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a guide and drive system in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0057]      FIG. 7  an embodiment of an inventive drive system in accordance with the invention; 
           [0058]      FIG. 8  a diagram of an inventive drive wheel; 
           [0059]      FIG. 9  a cylinder of the inventive drive wheel from  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0060]      FIG. 10  a section of a spherical twistable chain in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0061]    The embodiment described below relates to a rail passenger transport system in the private sector. The transport system can be used in any other application for which it is suitable, however. 
         [0062]      FIG. 1  shows a conventional guide system  1  according to the embodiment. The guide system  1  comprises two parallel rails  2   a  and  2   b  for guiding dual track vehicles along a circuit as well as a rack  3  arranged centrally between the rails  2   a,    2   b.    
         [0063]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the rack  3  is intended for positive drive of a vehicle  4 . In this regard, a gear wheel  6 , mounted at the vehicle  4  and drivable by means of a motor  5 , engages with the rack  3 . The motor  5  is connected to the chassis  7  of the vehicle  4 . A shaft  5 ′ of the motor drives the gear wheel  6 . The chassis  7  is guided along the circuit via rollers  8 , which make contact with the rails  2   a  and  2   b.  The drive can have a shaft and/or transmission but can also be formed as a direct drive (e.g. wheel hub motor) without shaft/transmission, or just with transmission and pinion, i.e. without shaft. An electromagnetic or hydraulic drive or a combination thereof can serve as drive motor. 
         [0064]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of an inventive transport system. This has a circuit  10  and a vehicle  20 . The vehicle  20  is movably connected thereto along the circuit  10  (velocity vector v). 
         [0065]    The circuit  10  comprises a first guide rail in the form of a first pipe  11  and a second guide rail in the form of a second pipe  12 . The first guide rail  11  and the second guide rail  12  are arranged, from the viewpoint of a passenger accommodated in the vehicle  20 , at different distances from the vehicle  20 . In particular, they are not next to each other, but rather arranged vertically beneath the passenger receptacle of the vehicle  20  or beneath one another and below the passenger receptacle. Between the guide rails  11  and  12 , which are parallel to each other and parallel to the direction of movement v of the vehicle  20 , there is provided (along the circuit) a constant distance. However, if thrill elements are formed in which the vehicle  20  (relative to the direction of movement v) is rotated laterally, the plane E defined by the guide rails  11  and  12  (see  FIG. 4 ) can be rotated, i.e. in absolute terms, the guide rails  11  and  12  can arbitrarily change their position relative to each other along the circuit  10 . The mutual distance always remains constant in this regard. The vehicle  20  also rotates laterally with a rotation of the plane E. The first guide rail  11  and second guide rail  12  are rigidly interconnected at spaced intervals by means of connecting elements  13  provided along the circuit  10 . The first guide rail  11  is always the guide rail facing the vehicle  20  (vehicle-side guide rail), while guide rail  12  is always the guide rail facing away from the vehicle  20 . 
         [0066]    The vehicle  20  has a chassis  21  and passenger receptacles connected thereto, e.g., a seat  22 . A front carriage or front wheel shield/running gear  23  is rotatably mounted in the front region of the chassis  21  about an axis d 1 , while a rear carriage or rear wheel shield/running gear  24  is rotatably mounted in the rear region of the chassis  21  about an axis d 2 . 
         [0067]    Each of the carriages  23  and  24  has a number of first rollers  25  (not shown in detail in  FIG. 3 ; see  FIG. 4 ), which make contact with the first guide rail  11  facing the vehicle  20 . As  FIG. 4  shows, for example, three positions  25   a,    25   b,    25   c  can be provided for the first rollers  25 . The three positions  25   a,    25   b,    25   c  are aligned with each other such that not only does the first guide rail  11  carry the weight of the vehicle  20 , but also lifting or movement of the vehicle  20  relative to the circuit  10  in anything other than the intended direction of movement v is prevented. The first guide rail  11  can be referred to as a carrier rail and/or retaining rail. 
         [0068]    In addition, each of the carriages  23  and  24  has a number of second rollers  26  (not shown in detail in  FIG. 3 ; see  FIG. 4 ), which make contact at the second guide rail  12  facing away from the vehicle  20 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , for example, two positions  26   a,    26   b  may be provided for the second rollers  26 . The two positions  26   a,    26   b  are aligned opposite each other relative to the second guide rail  12 . The second rollers  26  make lateral contact with the second guide rail  12 . The arrangement is chosen such that the second guide rail  12  does not have to accommodate the weight of the vehicle  20 . The second guide rail  12  serves only to prevent lateral tilting of the vehicle relative to the plane E described by the guide rail  11  and the second guide rail  12 . The second guide rail  12  thus determines the lateral orientation of the vehicle  20  perpendicular to the direction of movement v, wherein a lateral tilting of the vehicle  20  along the circuit  10  is effected by a change in the position of the plane E (which is described by the two guide rails) and the corresponding laterally acting forces are transmitted through the second rollers  26  to the guide rail  12 . The second guide rail  12  can be regarded as a rail for lateral stabilization of the vehicle  20 . Both guide rails  11  and  12  in the illustrated embodiment are pipe-shaped. 
         [0069]    Together, the two guide rails  11  and  12  accurately determine the (absolute) position of the carriage  20  at any point on the circuit. Targeted guiding of the carriage along the entire circuit is possible. By means of the inventive design, not only can simple curves or twists of the vehicle  20  be realized in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement v, but also combinations of these movements with climbs and downward sloping sections. Hence complex routes such as spiral-like twists, corkscrews, camel backs, etc. can be constructed. 
         [0070]    The inventive transport system  10  also comprises a drive system  300 . This has a drive motor  310  arranged on the chassis  21  of the vehicle  20 . Via a shaft, the drive motor is connected to a wheel disc  330  to drive it rotatably. The wheel disc has toothing, which will be described in greater detail. 
         [0071]    In addition, the drive system  300  includes a toothing element (toothing section)  340 , which is arranged at one of the rails. The toothing element is mounted in this case at the side of the lower rail  12  facing the upper rail  11  and extends along the rail  12 . 
         [0072]    An example of the inventive drive system, which is used in the previously described embodiments, is illustrated in more detail in  FIG. 5 . Accordingly, the wheel disc  330  engages by its outer gearing with the complementary engagement recesses of a toothing element  340  extending along the lower pipe  12 . The toothing element  340  comprises a longitudinal toothing  341  with chain links, rollers, sleeves or pins  342  which are spaced apart from one another along the pipe  12 . The rollers  342  are rotatably mounted. Pairs of adjacent rollers  342  are connected to each other by means of at least one connecting member  343 . An example of toothing is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0073]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , a chain  341   a  or  341   b  is attached to both sides of an elastic support  344 . The carrier  344  is attached hereto by means of one or more pins  345  which are spaced apart from each other along the pipe  12 . The carrier  344  can be formed as a rubber carrier to serve inter alia as a damping element between the chains  341   a  and  341   b  and the lower pipe  12 . 
         [0074]    A further embodiment of the drive system  300  which can be used in the inventive transport system is sketched in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0075]    Here, the drive system  300  has a wheel  350  with cylinders  351  arranged at it in the circumferential direction. The cylinders  351  have rotatable rollers, which are mounted on sleeves. In this way, the wheel  350  is formed with a special cage gear. 
         [0076]    The wheel  350  engages with the toothing element  360 . This has essentially a rack  361  (continuous or divided) which is arranged by means of threaded bolts  362  on the side of the lower guide pipe  12  facing the upper support pipe  11 . Between the lower guide pipe  12  and the rack  361  is provided a rubber carrier  363  by way of damping element. The teeth of the rack  361  engage between the cylinders  351  of the drive wheel  350 . 
         [0077]    The toothing from  FIG. 7  has a wheel with cylinders  351 , such as is also the case in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 . The cylinders  351  essentially consist of sleeves  3510  fixed at the wheel discs (not shown) and rollers  3511  rotatably arranged at these. Thus, the cylinders  351  roll off at the tooth flanks of a counter-toothing  361 ′, which is formed in this case as a flyer chain. 
         [0078]      FIG. 8  shows an inventive drive wheel  350  with toothing  351 , which is a kind of drive wheel toothing, with cylinders  351 . The drive wheel  350  has an upper drive plate  3512  and a lower drive plate  3513  (see  FIG. 9 ). The cylinders  351  are arranged adjacent to each other between the discs  3512  and  3513  in the circumferential direction. 
         [0079]      FIG. 9  shows details of a single cylinder  351  from  FIG. 8 . Each of the cylinders  351  has a sleeve  3510  connected permanently to discs  3512  and  3513  and a roller  3511  rotatably mounted at the sleeve  3510 . Sleeve (pin)  3510  acts as an axle with a rotatable roller arranged thereon  3511 . The roller  3511  is connected to the sleeve  3510  by means of a rolling bearing  3514 , so that only rolling friction occurs between the sleeve  3510  and  3511  of the roller. The rollers  3511  roll off on the flanks of the counter-toothing, so that only rolling friction occurs here. 
         [0080]      FIG. 10  shows a lateral view of a section of a spherically twistable chain  361  according to the present invention. The chain  361  has chain links  361   a,    361   b,  which are located adjacent to, and connected to, each other in a row. Each chain link, e.g.  361   b,  has a base body  3610 , in which a tooth flank  3611  is formed for engaging with a counter-toothing, here a cage pin  351 . In a connecting region of the base body  3610  is provided a ball joint  3612 . Via this, two chain links are connected rotatably both about the longitudinal axis L of the chain (as rotary axis) and axes perpendicular thereon (Q; and an axis perpendicular to the plane of the paper). The rotation angle is limited in each case, so that rotations in three dimensions are possible in a certain frame. 
         [0081]    The ball bearing  3612  has a section  3613 , which encompasses the bearing shell of the bearing  3612 . In this, a spherical body  3614  of the ball bearing  3612  is rotatably arranged. 
         [0082]    Via a pin  3616 , the spherical body  3614  of the joint  3612  is connected to the base body  3610 . The spherical body  3614  is arranged so as to rotate in three dimensions in the bearing shell of the bearing  3612 . 
         [0083]    The use of the described toothing element provides gentle, quiet running and smooth engagement of the teeth of the chain disk or the rack. In addition, a flexible route with three-dimensional changes of direction is readily achievable. The described chain can be simply adapted to the shape of a guide pipe in the event of rising/falling sections. 
         [0084]    Even with twisted routes (and combinations in three dimensions), it is possible to adjust the chain to the route. The chain attached at the (first) pipe is, in the event of a winding, i.e. lateral tilting of the vehicle, guided in such a way that its orientation relative to the second pipe at each circuit position of the drive section remains the same. Thus, in the present embodiment, the chain is always arranged on the side of the first pipe facing the second pipe, irrespective of the position of the pipes relative to each other at an arbitrary circuit position. In the a event of a twisting, the chain is guided between two circuit positions laterally along the circumference of the first pipe into another circumferential position. Its orientation describes a section of a helical screw thread in this regard.