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 Title: |
US5305693:
System and method for externally controlled spacing of self propelled vehicles along a rail
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Johnson, Bruce S.; Burbank, CA
Mesko, Mark S.; Valencia, CA
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| Assignee: |
The Walt Disney Company, Burbank, CA
other patents from WALT DISNEY COMPANY (617665) (approx. 101)
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| Published / Filed: |
1994-04-26
/ 1993-05-26
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| Application Number: |
US1993000067550
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
A63G 7/00;
A63G 25/00;
B60L 15/40;
B61B 13/04;
B61L 3/18;
G05D 1/02;
Core:
B60L 15/00;
B61L 3/00;
more...
IPC-7:
B60L 15/00;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
104/299;
104/300;
104/301;
246/182.R;
246/187.R;
246/200.R;
246/206;
Original:
104/299;
104/300;
104/301;
246/187.R;
246/200.R;
246/182.R;
246/206;
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| Field of Search: |
104/295,299,300,301
246/186,187 R,200 R,182 R,206
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| Priority Number: |
| 1993-05-26 |
US1993000067550 |
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| Abstract: |
A system and method for movement of self-propelled vehicles in-line along a rail under external control is intended to ensure safe spacing between vehicles to avoid collisions. Each vehicle is driven by its own variable speed motor. The speed of the vehicles is controlled by a stationary cam extending beside the rail. The edge of the cam rises and falls in a predetermined manner and is sensed by a cam follower on each vehicle. The cam follower is coupled to a transducer which produces a control signal for varying the vehicle speed in response to the rise or fall of the cam edge. Each vehicle pulls along a tail which extends behind the vehicle and is guided for motion alongside the edge of the cam. If a rear vehicle approaches a forward vehicle sufficiently closely for the cam follower of the rear vehicle to be raised from the cam edge by contact with the tail of the forward vehicle, the transducer of the rear vehicle is thereby caused to signal its drive motor to move the rear vehicle at a speed no faster than the forward vehicle, to avoid collision with it.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Pretty, Schroeder, Brueggemann & Clark ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Oberleitner, Robert J.; Morano, S. Joseph
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
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Family Legal Status Report
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| Family: |
Show 9 known family members
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First Claim:
Show all 32 claims |
I claim:
1. A vehicular system comprising,
a rail extending in a predetermined path;
at least two vehicles contacting said rail and guided thereby for in-line motion along said path in a forward direction, said vehicles spaced in forward and rear relation to each other;
an elongate stationary cam connected to said rail extending parallel to said predetermined path, said cam having a cam edge which rises and falls in an inward and outward direction perpendicular to the length of said cam in a predetermined manner along its length between a base level and a peak level spaced a maximum distance outwardly from said base level;
each said vehicle including,
- variable speed driving means for driving said vehicle along said path at varying speed controlled by a control signal; a cam follower movably mounted on said vehicle biased into sliding contact with said cam edge;
- a transducer connected to said cam follower for providing said control signal to said driving means, said transducer varying said control signal in response to the spacing of said cam follower from said base level to cause the speed of said vehicle to be decreased in response to increase in spacing of said cam follower away from said base level and vice versa;
- an elongate tail connected to said vehicle extending rearwardly therefrom, said tail, along its length, having an outer edge spaced perpendicularly from said base level of said cam edge on the same side thereof;
a tail guide guiding each said tail for movement parallel to said base level with said outer edge of said tail positioned alongside said cam edge and with at least a projecting portion of its outer edge spaced a greater distance from said base level than the adjacent regions of said cam edge, said cam followers positioned to contact both said cam edge and said outer edges of said tails;
whereby, if said vehicles come close enough together for said cam follower of the rear said vehicle to be moved further away from said base level by the projecting portion of said outer edge of said tail of the forward said vehicle than said cam follower of the forward said vehicle resting on said cam edge, said transducer of the rear said vehicle signals the associated said driving means to move said rear vehicle at a speed no faster than the speed of the forward said vehicle.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 2 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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