US2198536A - Rope tramway - Google Patents

Description

April 23, 1940.

VF. JOHANSEN El' AL ROPE TRAMWAY Filed Dec. 14, 1938 a/MWW ,MNM M WJZ @5f mi@ Patented 'Atp 23, 1940 UNITED STATES ROPE TRAMWAY Fredrik Johansen and Elmer J. Lloyd, Worcester, Mass., assignors to The ,American Steel and Wire Company of New Jersey, a, corporation of New Jersey Application December 14, 1938, Serial No. 245,797

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in rope tramways and more particularly to a connection adapted to permit the passage of a carrier for an aerial tramway from a rigid overhead rail to a suspended flexible track.

An object of this invention is to permit the passage of a tramway carrier from an overhead fixed rail onto a suspended track cable in a smooth and gradual manner.

A further object of this invention is to provide a curved bearing surface having a large radius so as to secure a maximum bearing surface of the movable rail end on the exible cable.

These and other advantages will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the movable rail end assembly;

Figure 2 is a section on line II--II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on line IV--IV of Figure 1; and,

Figure 5 is a section on line V-V of Figure 1.

In the drawing, the numeral 2 represents a cast steel movable rail end which is pivotally supported at 3 to the end of a rigid overhead rail or track 4. The rail end 2 is constructed to provide a main body portion of substantially inverted U-shaped cross-section, as shown in Figure 3, to form a carrier engaging surface 5. The end of the movable rail end 2, pivoted to the rigid overhead track 4, is extended beyond the main body portion to provide integral flange members 6 positioned on each side of the rigid overhead track and held in spaced relation to the end of the rigid overhead track by means of filler blocks 1. These filler blocks are suitably secured on each side ofthe rigid. track independent of the pivotal connection between flanges 6 and the rigid track 4. The main bodyportion of the movable rail end 2 terminates in a ange 8 depending at a point substantially beyond the end of the rigid track 4. The flanges 6, which extend beyond the end of the movable rail end 2, are provided with curved surfaces 9 tapering downwardly toward the free end of the flanges and terminating at their free ends in a plane below the tread surface of the rigid track 4. The movable rail end is pivotally secured to the rigid track at a point above the plane of the flexible track IIl as clearly shown in Figure 1.

The opposite or free end of the movable rail end 2 is provided with upwardly extending flanges I2 which are in a plane below the plane of the flexible track I0, as clearly indicated in Figure 5.

(Cl. Mill- 87) In order to retain the free end in proper relationship to the flexible track IIJ, a filler block I4 is suitably secured between the flanges I2.

The movable rail end is provided, as shown in Figure 4, with a curved or arcuate-shaped bearing surface I5 which increases the bearing surface for the flexible track or cable I and decreases the bending stress in the wires of said flexible track cable. This curved bearing surface I5, in addition to providing a relatively large bearing surface for the flexible track or cable, is also curved transversely to align with the curvature of the vvarious diameters of cable capable of being used for the flexible track I0. The radius of the bearing surface depends on the diameter of the cable, size of wires and working tension.

Under such a construction, it is possible to permit agradual transfer of the carrier I6 from the rigid track 4 to the exible track I0. As the wheels Il, of the carrier I6, approach the end of the rigid track 4,. they engage, prior to the end of the track 4, the extended flanges 6 of the movable rail end 2, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. The top of these anges 6 is curved to permit a gradual transfer of the carrier wheels I'I from the rigid overhead rail 4 ontothe carrier engaging surfaces of the movable rail end 2. The carrier being supported on the surface 5 of the rail end 2 passes over said rail end until it reaches a point substantially adjacent the free end thereof, whereupon it engages the extended anges I2 prior to being transferred to the flexible track II). The flanges vI2 support the carrier wheels I'I until the tread portion of said wheels, due to the downward pressure caused by the weight of the carrier, engages the top of the exible track I0, as shown in Figure 5. The weight of the carrier I6 then depresses the flexible track Il] to a slight degree and will continue to run on the flanges I2, due to their downward taper below the plane of the flexible member I0, until the resistance of the flexible track I0 is sufficient to support the load.

The anges I2, of the movable end member 2, gradually taper downwardly toward their ends to a plane below the normal plane of the exible track I0 and, due to this curvature, assist in the gradual transfer of the carrier I6 from the movable rail end 2 onto the flexible track I0. Therefore, the carrier I6 has been transferred from the rigid track 4 to the exible track I0 in a smooth and gradual manner without any impact or jarring of the flexible track.

The wheels Il of the carrier I6 transmit their load to the flexible cable |'0 through the movable rail end 2, such load being concentrated at the bearing surface I5. The flexible track I0, which deects under the load, bends on the radius of the groove of the track cable deflecting saddle I8. The flexible track also bends at the point of contact between the flexible track Ill and the large bearing surface I5, thus increasing the bearing surface for said flexibletrack and ,decreasing the bending stress in the wires forming the flexible track. Furthermore, as the load is applied to the flexible track, the curved bearing surface I5 slides a short distance on said flexible track and when the load is removed, the 'flexible track resumes its position and the large curved bearing surface I5 slides in the opposite ldirection on the flexible track. This slow intermittent sliding action tends to Wear both the Wires of the cable forming the flexible track and the movable rail end but due to the long radius bearing surface I5 of the movable rail end,` the'unit of bearing pressure is -small and Wear of the exible track and movable rail end is minimized.

Such a smooth transfer of the carrier from the rigid track to 'the flexible track overcomes the main Vdificulties experienced in overhead transfer devices now in use. It eliminates continual pounding ofthe Wires forming the iiexible track and'lessens the danger of a rupture to the Wire constituting the iiexible track.

While We have shown and described a specific embodiment of .our invention, it will be understood that we do not Wish to be limited exactly thereto, since Various modifications maybe made Without .departing from the scope of the invention, as .dened by the lfllowing claims.

We claim:

1. lIn an overhead track construction including a rigid track and a flexible track, a movable rail having a substantially inverted U-shaped construction pivotally supported by said rigid track and interposedbetween said rigid track and "ilexible track comprising a main body portion, said main body portion including a longitudinally extending .arcuate-shaped bearing surface formed on one .end thereof which rests upon said flexible track, said arcuate-shaped bearing surface having a relatively large radius of curvature whereby the radius of the catenary formed by the flexible track When the same is'loaded .decreases and approaches the radius of curvature of the arcuate-shaped bearing surface so that the amount of bearing surface of the movable rail in contact with the'flexible track increases as the load thereon increases, and flanges on each end of said main body portion, said flanges on one end 'disposed on each side of said rigid track and the flanges onthe other `end4 disposed on each side of said flexible track, 'the top surface of said iianges approaching gradually to thevlevel of the tread surfaces of the respective 'tracks so that a carrier is transferred from said rigid track to said flexible track' iny a smooth and gradual manner and with no impact on the flexi ble track.

2. In combination with a rigid track and a flexible track, a movable rail end pivotally supported by said rigid track above the horizontal plane of the iiexible track, said movable rail end comprising a main body portion of substantially inverted U-shaped cross .section having a longitudinally extending arcuate-shaped engaging surface Which rests upon said flexible member, integral flanges extending from each end of said main body portion and disposed on each side of said rigid track and iiexible track, said arcuateshapedengaging surface having a relatively large radius of curvature Which is arranged thereon Ibetweenthe flangeson the outer end of the main body portion whereby the radius of curvature of movable rail end in Contact With said flexible.'

VYthe catenary formed by the flexible track when track .increases as the load thereon increases,

saidbearing surface curved transversely to conform to the diameter of the flexible track, the flangeson both ends of saidmain body portion having curved faces to conformwith the respective tracks, to the contourof awheel carrier, vthe top surfaces of saidflanges `approaching gradually ,..to the level of ,the tread surface of the respective tracks so Vthat a .carrier fis ,transferred fromsaid rigid trackto said flexible track in a smooth .and gradual .manner .devoid of any pounding to said exible track.

8. The combination .with .arigid track and a exible .cable track cooperating therewith, of a movable rail member interposed .between Lthe rigid track .and theflexible cable track, said movable memberhaving ythe ,inner Aend thereof pivotally connected to said rigid track above the horizontal plane of the flexible track withthe opposite outer end thereof having a longitudinally vextending .arcuateeshaped bearing Asurface arranged therewith vWhich Vrests vupon the flexible ,cable track,.the Aouter end of said.movai:1e rail .member disposed yon .said flexibletrack having. substantially an inverted U-.shaped cross-.sectionwith the arcuate-,shaped bearingsurfacearranged therewith having a relatively large radius of.,curvature and `extending throughout a .substantialv Vpart of the outer end portion of the rail member which overlies the flexible track Whereby the radius of curvature of the catenary formed by the iiexible. track when the same isloaded de` creases and approaches the .radius of curvature vof the arcuate-shaped4 bearing surface so that the amount ofY bearing surfaceof the outer end. of the movable .rail member in contact with said flexible track increases as the load, thereon increases.

` `IF'REDRIK JOI-LANSEN.

.ELMER J. LLOYD.

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