GB2358166A - An air-levitated train or tram bogie - Google Patents

Abstract

The bogie comprises wheels 18, which can be in the form of solid rubber tyres, and may further comprise drive wheels 16, engaging the inner faces of the rails. Lifting assemblies 12 are provided which when supplied with compressed air support the bogie on the rails with the wheels 18, one quarter of an inch (6.35mm) above the railheads. The lifting assemblies may comprise a plenum block 14, housing a rigid metal skirt 15, having a ceramic strip 30. When pressure in the plenum equates with the load of the vehicle, an inlet valve 31 closes.

Description

2358166

I, GORDON SNAPE, A British Subject of Pimlico, London DO HEREBY DECLARE the invention for which 1 pray that a Patent may be granted to me, and the method to which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement:-

The present invention relates to an Air Levitated Train or Tram with horizontal drive for propulsion with the descriptive content particularly relevant to the rolling stock conveyor known as the Bogie.

Wheel drag constitutes a major proportion of the overall drag of the modern train or tram and to eradicate substantially this adverse component of motion it is proposed that a metal plenum block housing a rigid metal floating skirt is attached to the bogie frame within the track length of the bogie wheels and whereby compressed air ducted from an air receiver to the plenum chamber, the plenum block is raised sufficient to levitate the bogie wheels by 1/4" clear of the track railhead and the lifting arrangement so designed that the air supply is terminated when the aforementioned height has been reached.

To further mitigate the drag it is proposed that the normally vertical drive wheels are rotated through 90 whereso the interface of wheel to rail is horizontal and a variable dynamic tractive load is applied to the wheels by an air spring piston which will be the subject of a pending patent application and described more fully therein.

It should be noted in this instance that the normal steel rail and sleeper have been supplanted by a reinforced concrete rail/sleeper combination with the railhead comprised of an alloy channel surmounting the R.C. rails to offer a low friction surface on which the skirt and drive wheels can perform efficiently.

Sliding railways have been propositioned and tested in recent times with most using the Hovercraft inflatable skirt for lift and with jet turbine propulsion but without any form of wheel support and of bulky proportion found little favour. With a compact lifting device integral with the bogie frame and wheel support should the plenum abruptly deflate the present arrangement could prove attractive to a local authority or a major state operator and more particularly conducive to an underground system where noise suppression could have a considerable advantage.

The present proposal could be adaptive if used in town centre environ and ground based ifi suburban with a wayside rail for motive power.

In the raised condition it is proposed that a plinth is constructed at road level for the track columns in order to minimise utility disturbance and road traffic dislocation.

With a dynamic load distributed over 6ft of rail the ground based sleeper pitch is extended to 1 Oft centre thus economising on the cost of capital outlay.

Levitated systems possess good climbing potential and in some instances could obviate the need for cuttings and reduce the cost of bridgework.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig 1 Shows a Bogie in plan Fig 2 Shows an elevation Fig 3 Shows an inverted view Fig 4 Shows a trailer bogie in plan with scrap views 1 Fig 5 Shows an elevation Fig 6 Shows a plenum block in plan Fig 7 Shows a sectioned elevation on centreline -Fig 8 Shows a cross section 'X-X' Fig 9 Shows a skirt corner joint Fig 10 Shows a typical skirt section Fig 11 Shows a ground track in plan Fig 12 Shows a typical section Fig 13 Shows a capping section Fig 14 Shows an clevated.track in plan Fig 15 Shows a mainline gantry Fig 16 Shows a tramway gantry Fig 1 shows a comprehensive layout of the bogie assembly 10 and the lifting assembly 12J, The bogie is substantially a box section frame as shown in Fig 3 with an upper surface b d plate depicted in Fig 1 which gives base support for two air spring cushions 19 which fortn t 0 sc le interface with the vehicle underside.

The vertical wheels 18 are flangeless with solid rubber tyres and are free running on stu6 axll-cs 24 as shown in Fig 3.

Figs 1 to 3 refer to a power bogie with the drive wheels 16 horizontal with the rail innerf4C.. allid a variable tractive load applied by an air spring piston 28.

Fig 4 refers to a trailer version with guidance provided by pneumatic wheels 25 which rott( or a fixed spindle and arm assembly 27 and pivoted at the bogie end. A moderate load to ensgic rail contact is provided by spring loaded piston 26 which pivots at both ends.

A braking system for both versions is shown opposite the drive and guide wheels with:Rroce paid 17 operated by a spring return air piston 20 which is secured to the mainframe by br41 ot.,' The lift mechanism is exemplified in Fig 7 and more expressly in section 'XX' Fig 8.

An air inlet housing 34 made airtight by rubber seal 35 forms a chamber for control va ve [ aa. rubber scaling washer 32. The valve stem is screwed into crossbar 33 and secured by dpub.e locknut 34. The ends of the crossbar are welded to a floating metal skirt 15 which is a loos. e fit n the plenum block housing 14, but made airtight by low friction seals 36. Thus allowi n g tl Le plenum block and skirt to act independently under differential load with the skirt rernaini lg n constant rail contact. Self regulation is achieved when the plenum pressure equates wit 1 tl ú dynamic load of the vehicle and closes the valve inlet. To ensure durability and an extende A li,:e the skirt is fitted with an unbreakable ceramic strip 30 which is notched and bonded to tel ski rt frame.

Fig 9 shows a skirt corner joint, rebated with dowel fixing.

Fig 2 shows an air routing diagram for the lift and drive systems. Air @ 1001bsPI" is Metaj Aped from compressor via line 23 to receiver 24 and led to pressure controller 22 and thOix o plenum inlets using flexible tube 28 for the downcombers.

A similar arrangement is shown for the drive wheel piston 29.

Remote decompression solenoid control from the drive cab occurs at controller 22.

2 A ground plan of a 6Oft R.C. track section is shown in Fig 11 with integral sleepers and a metal capping strip 41 of equal length attached at equi-distance about the R.C. joint.

The strip is secured at each sleeper mid point by a countersunk head bolt 42 which is extended to provide support for the bracket 43 and live rail 44. The R.C. rail and sleeper have a common base thus ensuring ground support for the rail along its entire section.

To maintain a level abutment of the capping strip joint a countersunk dowel 42 and a rubber bung 45 are fixed at close proximity to the joint centreline.

An elevated mainline track of 30ft section is shown in Fig 14 and a typical gantry in Fig 15. Fig 16 shows a typical gantry for a 36ft town centre tramway with support columns 52 mounted on base plinth 54 and secured by bolted doubler plates 53.

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Claims (8)

1) A levitated train or train bogie wherein the bogie wheels are raised by approx 1/4" margin above the railhead.

2) A levitated train or tram bogie wherein the means of levitation is effectively 1, compressed air reacting in a plenum chamber mounted directly above and in alignment with the railhead wherein the plenum block is rigidly fixed to the bogie frame within the wheelbase.

3) A levitated train or train bogie as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 wherein vertical flexibility is performed by a solid rectangular floating skirt housed in channel which is cast in the plenum block.

4) A levitated train or tram bogie as claimed in Claims 2 and 3 wherein the compressed air is restrained from major escape by a D' type rubber seal housed in the skirts internal face and in minimul frictional contact with the plenum housing.

5) A levitated train or tram bogie as claimed in Claims 3 and 4 wherein the skirt is in constant railhead contact with free independence from vertical or rocking forces exerted by the vehicle whether stationery or in motion.

6) A levitated train or train bogie as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the skirts rail interface is comprised of unbreakable ceramic composite strip.

7) A levitated train or tram bogie as claimed in Claim 2 wherein air inlet chambers are positioned at approx 1/4 lengthwise from both ends of the blocks top face and metal strip intercostally connecting the skirt frame adjacent thereof for means of securing and locking a mushroom head valve whose stem protrudes through a clearance hole in the plenum block and emerges in the inlet chamber to perform a self-regulating air control function the gap between underside of valve head and top face corresponding to selected wheel clearance.

8) An air lifting block substantially as described with reference to figures 1-15 of the accompanying drawings.

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