A main frame (brown) includes upstanding posts with pads (yellow) at their upper ends arranged to be securely but detachably locked to connectors of uniform configuration that are provided on the undersides of all platforms, cabins and containers. Front and rear bogies support the main frame. Each bogie has a frame that includes an upper frame portion (blue) and a lower frame portion (orange).
To support the bogies, the axle housings for lower wheels (green) of each bogie are connected to the forward ends of a pair of arms that extend forwardly from rearward ends of the bogie frames. Spring and shock absorber units act between the bogie frame and forward ends of such arms to allow such limited movement of the lower wheels as may be necessary to insure proper engagement of both wheels with lower tracks.
To drive the vehicle, a three phase induction motor (orange) is coupled through a multi-speed transmission (silver) and a chain-type transfer case (blue) to a differential that is in the axle housing of the front bogie and that operates to apply equal torques to the lower wheels of the front bogie. See "Carrier Vehicle Drive Train" . To brake the vehicle, hydraulically operated disc brake units are preferably provided for all four lower wheels. Regenerative braking is also available. To slow down or to avoid increasing speed when going down inclines, the transmission can be controlled to operate the induction motor as a generator to convert kinetic energy of the vehicle to electrical energy that is supplied to utility power lines connected to conductors of the guideway.
Collector shoe structures are shown as part of the upper frame portions of the bogies and are on opposite sides of each bogie. Each shoe structure includes three shoes current conducting shoes for sliding engagement with conductors that extend along the insides of both side walls of the guideway. Although not clearly shown, each shoe structure also includes devices that are inductively coupled to conductors which extend along the side walls of the guideway and which are connected to a series of monitoring and control units along the guideway.
Each bogie frame supports a pair of upper wheel structures (violet) that include grooved wheels and hydraulic cylinder and spring units that control engagement of such wheels with upper tracks of the guideway. A carriage (medium blue) is between the bogies and includes shaft portions that slidably extend through openings in the main frame to allow sideways movement relative to the main frame. The carriage supports an intermediate pair of grooved upper wheels (violet) and includes hydraulic cylinder and spring units that control engagement of such wheels with the upper tracks. See "Carrier Vehicle Construction" for a discussion of the operation of the upper wheels in guiding the vehicle.
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