The main frame is supported by front and rear bogies which underlie the posts and which can turn about the vertical axes of the posts. Each bogie has a pair of lower wheels (green) that ride on lower tracks. Shoes of shoe assemblies (blue) on the outside of the lower wheels engage conductors (blue-green) along side walls of the guideway to supply three phase power to the vehicle. Each bogie also has a pair of grooved upper wheels (blue) that engage upper tracks (orange-red). A third or intermediate pair of grooved upper wheels (blue) also engage the upper tracks and are supported on a carriage (aqua) which is shiftable sideways and which is coupled to the front and rear bogies to turn the bogies when going through a turn. The upper wheels thereby control tracking, keeping each wheel in a vertical plane aligned with the portion of a track engaged by the wheel.
The upper wheels also control the direction of movement through Y junctions. The upper wheels on one side of the vehicle are lowered to allow the upper track on the opposite side to control the direction of travel. In addition, the upper wheels control traction and perform other important functions. See Carrier Vehicle Construction which discloses the construction of a carrier vehicle by itself, and also Carrier Vehicle in Turn Condition.
©Autran Corp. 1999, 2002,2006 Return to Main Page