Removable module train and trackway therefor
United States Patent 11 1 Denenburg 1 1 Apr. 29, 1975 1 REMOVABLE MODULE TRAIN AND TRACKWAY THEREFOR 211 Appl. No.: 449.985  
 [52] U.S. Cl. 104/20: 104/33: 105/178 [51] Int. Cl Bblk 1/00 [58] Field of Search 104/20. 18. 27. 28. 29.  
  104/33. 32 R. 32 A, 130. 131. 135. 120; 105/178. 329 R. 340. 366 R. 366 D; 214/38 B. 38 BA. 38 BB. 38 CE. 38 D 6D 0 o a E: III&#34; 3.61 1.945 10/1971 Euston et a1. 104/32 3.710.727 1/1973 Svensson 104/120 3.728.974 4/1973 Lashlcy 105/329 R 3.735.710 5/1973 Hickman 104/20 X Primary Etuminer-M. Henson Wood, .lr. Assistant IituminerRando1ph A. Reese {5 7] ABSTRACT A train car which rolls along a main trackway carries on its top one or more removable modules which have outwardly extensible wheels which. when extended. engage auxiliary elevated tracks at the sides of the main trackway. The auxiliary trackway inclines upwardly to lift the module off the car and. eventually. downwardly to re-deposit the module onto the train car. The opposite sides of the auxiliary trackway are joined together by a web which commences and terminates at a level higher than the highest fixed object on the train car and higher than the top of the module when the latter is engaged on its top of the train car.  
 7 Claims. 15 Drawing Figures PAY-EEHEEAFRZSHTS SHEET 3 BF 4 FIGIO FIG.&#34;  
 REMOVABLE MODULE TRAIN AND TRACKWAY THEREFOR RELATED APPLICATION Dennenburg Transportation System Ser. 286.232 filed Sept. 5. 1972.  
  Easton. et al.. U.S. Pat. No. 3.6l 1.945; Post U.S. Pat. No. 2l(l.05l; Laskby U.S. Pat No. 3.728.974.  
 OBJECTS The Easton. et al.. patent (supra l discloses an air suspension main vehicle which normally moves along an elevated main trackway. and a module having normally retracted wheels which may be extended outwardly to engage auxiliary elevated trackways on opposite sides of the elevated trackway. whereupon the main trackway declines to a lower level. leaving the module free to move along the auxiliary elevated trackways. The object now is to provide a system wherein the main vehicle normally moves along a main trackway. preferably at ground level. and the auxiliary tracltway for the module is elevated. whereby the main trackway provides for normal operation of a train car. and the elevated trackway for the modules can be routed through areas to be served by the module while the train car continues on its way.  
  While it is necessary that the auxiliary trackways be not directly connected together so long as they are at their relatively lower levels. at which they can remove or deposit a module from or onto the main car. it is intended that these auxiliary trackways be joined together by a connecting web as soon as they are sufficiently high that the web does not interfere with a main car with a module on its top. Thus. structural rigidity of the auxiliary trackway is achieved.  
  These and other objects will be apparent in the following specification and drawings. in which:  
  FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a main railway car with a module on top;  
  FlG. 2 is a diagrammatic horizontal cross section showing the module with wheels retracted inwardly.  
  FlG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2. but showing the module with wheels extended outwardly.  
 FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic vertical section showing the module on top of a train car with wheels retracted inwardly;  
  FlG. 5 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the module with wheels extended outwardly engaging auxiliary tracks on opposite sides of the main trackway;  
  FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing a main railway car with a module on top thereof. the module then with its wheels extended outwardly and engaging the elevated auxiliary trackway;  
  FIG. 7 is a view progressed from FIG. 6 showing the module starting up an inclined end of the elevated auxiliary trackway;  
  FIG. 8 is a view progressed from FIG. 7 showing the module disengaged from the main train car and progressing up the auxiliary elevated trackway while the main train car proceeds forwardly independently ofthc module and further showing the module proceeding along the level portion of the auxiliary trackway:  
  FIG. 9 is a view showing the module proceeding down an inclined end portion of the auxiliary trackway and about to be engaged by a main train car;  
  FIG. 10 is a view progressed from FIG. 9 showing the module proceeding toward the end of the auxiliary trackway and about to be engaged by the main train car;  
  FlG. ll is a view progressed from FIG. l showing the module engaged on top of the main train car and progressed beyond the end of the auxiliary trackway;  
  FlG. 12 is a diagrammatic lay-out for main lower level trackways and auxiliary elevated trackways;  
  FlG. l3 shows a main train car with two modules thereon;  
  FIG. 14 is a diagram of an alternate extensible wheel system with wheels retraced inwardly; and.  
  FIG. I is a view similar to FIG. [4. but showing the wheels extended.  
  Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals denote similar elements. there is shown a railway system designed essentially as a model railway. but whose principles of operation are adaptable to a full scale passenger railway system.  
  Referring first to FlGS. ll l, the system is comprised of a main railway car 2 which rolls along a main trackway 4 which will assume to be at ground level and of conventional configuration. Car 2 has conventional wheels 6. some or all of which are driven by motors 8. Perched on top ofthe main car 2 is a module whose rear end engages in a pocket [2 in an abutment H on the top of car 2 and whose front end engages against a stop [6 in the main railway car top.  
  In a system designed for carrying passengers. abutment 14 would contain a stairway running from the lower portion of car 2 to a door (not shown) in the front of the abutment which would register with a door on the rear of the module.  
  The shapes of the tracks and wheels permit the wheels to be moved outwardly into engagement on the tracks. and to be moved inwardly therefrom without undo mechanical interference.  
  Module 10 has extensible front and rear wheels 18 and 20. the front wheels being driven by a drive motor 22 through a differential 24 and drive axles 26. The rear axles 28 are connected by a central support 29. Both the front and rear axles have insulating sections 26A and 28A. since the wheels on the sides of the modules are to be energized via the tracks upon which they roll. Conventional current collectors. not shown, are associated with the front axles and are connected through suitable controls to the drive motors so that the module can be started. stopped and driven along the elevated trackway described hereinbelow. The extensible wheels are supported on sleeve axles 30. 32. which respectively slide over axles 26 and 28. it being understood that the drive axles 26 and sleeve axle 30 of the front wheels are splined together so that the extensible wheels 18 will rotate with the drive axles 26.  
  Mounted in the top of car 2 is a ram 34 which is normally retracted in a rearward position as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. but which may be extended to a forward position as indicated in FIG. 3. On the forward end of the ram is a cross head 36 which through links 38 and 40 is connected to a front pair of slides 42. 42 and a rear pair of slides 44. 44. In the front and rear slides are cam grooves 46 and 48 into which engage cam followers 50 and 52 on the front and rear sleeve axles. Thus.  
 when ram 34 is retracted, all of the module wheels are retracted and when ram 34 is extended (HO. 3). all of the front and rear wheels are extended. Across the bot tom of module is a bottom plate 54 which rests upon the car top when the module is engaged thereon. The module wheels have frustoconical inner portions 56 and 58 which engage against the apex and one side of rails 62 which are in the shape of isosceles triangles. and which are mounted on opposite sides of an elevated trackway 64. The elevated trackway consists of a relatively low level portion 66. an upwardly inclined portion 68. and a relatively high portion 70. The relatively low-level portion and the lower portion ofthe upwardly inclined portion of the elevated trackway has opposite sides 72 and 74 which are separate from one another in that they are not connected to one another by a cross web which would interfere with the main car. However. starting at a point indicated by the numeral 76 and for the remainder of the elevated trackway and abo\ e the opposite sides of the trackway are connected together directly by cross webs 75 which counteracts any tendency of the opposite sides of the trackway to spread apart or move togetherv All of the elevated trackway is supported by pillars or columns (not shown).  
  More than one module may be carried upon a single car. As exemplified in FIG. 13. wherein the reference numerals incorporating the suffixes A. B. etc. correspond to those previously utilized. In FIG. 13. the car 2A carries on its top two modules 10A. )8 whose rear ends are engaged against an abutment HA and whose front ends are engaged against stops 16A and l6B. In this case two rams 34A and 348 in the car tops are utilized. lt is apparent that the movement of car 2A is in one direction when module 10A is being deposited and picked up onto or from the elevated trackway. and in the opposite direction if module 10B is deposited or picked up.  
  Various mechanisms may be utilized for extending and retracting the modules wheels. such an alternate arrangement being shown by elementary diagrams in FIGS. 14 and 15. In this example. the module 10&#39; is provided with a drive motor assembly 22&#39; which may be shifted forwardly and rearwardly by rams on the main car top which directly engages beneath the drive motor. The axles 80 and 82 for the front and rear wheels are extended and retracted by the forward and rearward shifting by the drive motor 22&#39;. In this example. the rear wheels may also be driven via a rear drive shaft operating through a rear differential 24A. lntermediate drive shafts 84 in the front and 86 in the rear are drivingly connected to drive axles 80 and 82 by universal joints 88 and 90. The jointed drive shafts constitute a lever system which shifts the wheels.  
  Referring to FIG. 6. car 2 with module 10 thereon. moving in the direction of the arrow. has come to the low level portion 66 of elevated track-way 64 and the ram 34 has shifted forwardly to extend the module outwardly into engagement with the elevated tracks. ln FIG. 7. the car and module have progressed sufficiently so that the front of module 10 has cleared stop 16. and at this point the module proceeds up the inclined portions 68 of the trackway as indicated by the arrow on the module. From here on. the module proceeds on its own power until it is again lodged upon the top of car 2. In FIG. 8. car 2 is proceeding on its way without module 10 and the latter is progressing up trackway 66 until it reaches the intermediate portion 68 of the elevated trackway. It will be understood that the intermediate portion of the elevated trackway may be relatively short if it is used for getting the module to or from a single station where passengers or cargo can be boarded or discharged from it. Alternatively. the portion of the elevated trackway may be routed around a considerable portion of a downtown section and may include switches for changing the route. Eventually. module 10 is to be re-engaged onto the top of a car 2. FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate this process which is essentially the reverse of that described in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 9. module 10 is moving down the inclined portion 66. and car 2 is moving beneath it. In FIG. 10. module 10 is almost engaged onto the top of car 2. and in FIG. ll, module 10 has re-engaged onto the top of car 2. and the car with the module thereon has progressed beyond the end of the lower portion 64 of elevated trackway 14. and ram 34 has moved rearwardly so as to retract wheels 20 and 22. Note that in FIG. 10 stop 16 has been depressed at the time when the module is almost engaged onto the top of the car 2.  
  In one further modification. not illustrated. the module wheels remain extended at all times. This could be accomplished simply by utilizing the modules illus trated herein. without retracting the module wheels. While this has the advantages of mechanical simplicity. it requires more clearance at the sides of the main trackway. since the module wheels extend outwardly as far as the elevated tracks. or alternatively. the permissible width of the module would be reduced if the oppo site sides of the elevated trackway were disposed over the side edges of the car.  
  In the foregoing description and ensuing claims. the term &#34;ground level as applied to the main trackway is meant to mean that a significant portion thereof is at ground level. it being understood that other portions thereof may be elevated or depressed.  
  in the foregoing description of operation. it has been assumed that motormen on car 2 or 2A and modules 10. 10A and 108 would control their respective cars and modules and that suitable signal means would be provided for informing the motormen of the relative positions of the cars. and modules would be provided likewise. This system would include operating controls for the ram or rams so that the latter could be actuated from either the cab of the module or the cab of the car.  
 I claim:  
 I. A railway system. comprising a ground-level trackway.  
 a car having supporting wheels rollingly engaging said ground-level trackway. a module cngageable onto the top of said car. said module having supporting wheels on opposite sides thereof shiftable between inwardly retracted position wherein they lie inwardly of the sides of said car and outwardly extended position in which they project outwardly beyond the sides of the car.  
 mechanism. including a mechanical power source on said car. for shifting said module wheels between said positions.  
 an elevated trackway having at least opposite end portions overlying a portion of the ground-level trackway and spaced apart by a length representing only a portion of the length of said ground-level trackway.  
 said elevated trackway having rails extending along the length thereof. said rails being laterally spaced from one another a distance corresponding to the distance between the wheels on the opposite sides of the module when the latter are extended outwardly and being engageable by said wheels and the opposite end portions being disposed at a level to be engaged by the outwardly extended wheels on the module when the latter is engaged on the car. an intermediate portion elevated higher than the opposite end portions and substantially higher above the ground level trackway than the top of a module engaged on said car, and inclined portions connecting said opposite end portions and said intermediate portion.  
  2. A railway system as claimed in claim I, the opposite end portions of said elevated trackway having opposite sides spaced from one another so as to permit said car with a module thereon to pass therebetween.  
 the intermediate portion having opposite sides connected to one another by a cross web.  
  3. A railway system as claimed in claim 2. said car having abutment means on the top thereof spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the ear for receiving the module thcrebetween.  
  4. A railway system as claimed in claim 3. the mechanical power source of said mechanism comprising a ram disposed on the top of said car. said mechanism further including shift-able means on said module engageable by said ram. and mechanical means operated by said shiftable means for extending and retracting said module wheels in response to movement of said shit&#39;table mechanism from one position to the other.  
  5. A railway system as claimed in claim 4. said mechanical means including cams movably mounted on said car. and cam followers associated with said wheels.  
 6. A railway system as claimed in claim 5, said mechanical means including levers actuated by said shiftable means.  
 7. A railway system comprising a ground-level trackway.  
 a car ha ing supporting wheels rollingly engaging said ground-level trackway. a module having a bottom engageable onto the top of said car. wheels extending outwardly on opposite sides of said module. an elevated trackway having at least opposite end portions overlying a portion of said ground level trackway and spaced apart by a length representing only a part of the length of said ground level trackway. said elevated trackway having rails extending along opposite sides thereof along the length thereof. said rails being laterally spaced from one another to receive the wheels of said module. the opposite end portions of said elevated trackway being disposed at a level to be engaged by the wheels on the module when the bottom of the latter is at rest on the car. an intermediate portion elevated higher than the opposite end portions thereof and substantially higher above the ground level trackway than top of a module when the bottom of the module is at rest on the top of a car and an inclined portion connecting said opposite end portions and said intermediate portion the opposite sides of the elevated trackway at the opposite end portions thereof being spaced from one another so as to permit a car with a module thereon to pass therebetwecn. the opposite sides of said intermediate portion being connected to one another by cross webb.