Side suspension system for a monorail car

Abstract

A side suspension system for mounting guide wheels to a monorail frame. The side suspension system includes a supporting member and a pivot assembly. The supporting member itself includes at least one wheel attachment site and at least one frame attachment site. The wheel attachment site of the supporting member is adapted to receive a guide wheel, and defines a first axis of rotation about which rotates the guide wheel. The pivot assembly is adapted to engage the supporting member at the frame attachment site, and is operative to pivotably mount the supporting member to the monorail frame. The pivot assembly defines a second axis of rotation about which pivots the supporting member, the second axis of rotation being substantially parallel to the first axis of rotation. The pivot assembly may include first and second adjustment mechanisms which, when the supporting member is mounted to the monorail frame, allow for the adjustment of first and second alignment parameters, respectively, of the guide wheels. The second adjustment mechanism is independent from the first adjustment mechanism, whereby an adjustment by one of the first and second adjustment mechanisms to the respective one of the first and second alignment parameters does not affect the other one of the first and second alignment parameters.

1 . A side suspension system for mounting guide wheels to a monorail frame, said side suspension system comprising: 
 a supporting member including: 
 a) at least one wheel attachment site adapted to receive a guide wheel, said wheel attachment site defining a first axis of rotation about which rotates the guide wheel;  
 b) at least one frame attachment site;  
   a pivot assembly adapted to engage said supporting member at said frame attachment site and being operative to pivotably mount said supporting member to the monorail frame, said pivot assembly defining a second axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation and about which pivots said supporting member.    
     
     
         2 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said side suspension system her includes an adjustment mechanism which, when said supporting member is mounted to the monorail frame, allows for the adjustment of at least one alignment parameter of the guide wheels.  
     
     
         3 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said side suspension system includes: 
 a first adjustment mechanism which, when said supporting member is mounted to the monorail frame, allows for the adjustment of a first alignment parameter of the guide wheel;    a second adjustment mechanism which, when said supporting member is mounted to the monorail frame, allows for the adjustment of a second alignment parameter of the guide wheel, said second adjustment mechanism being independent from said first adjustment mechanism whereby an adjustment by one of said first and second adjustment mechanisms to the respective one of the first and second alignment parameters does not affect the other one of the first and second alignment parameters.    
     
     
         4 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said first and second adjustment mechanisms are independent, whereby an adjustment by one of said adjustment mechanisms to the respective one of the alignment parameters does not affect the other alignment parameter.  
     
     
         5 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said first adjustment mechanism is characterized by a first direction of adjustment, said second adjustment mechanism being characterized by a second direction of adjustment that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction of adjustment of said first adjustment mechanism.  
     
     
         6 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said frame attachment site includes a pair of lugs adapted to be engaged by said pivot assembly.  
     
     
         7 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said frame attachment site is a first frame attachment site and said pivot assembly is a first pivot assembly, said supporting member further including a second frame attachment site and said side suspension system further including a second pivot assembly, said first and second pivot assemblies adapted to engage said supporting member at said first and second frame attachment sites, respectively, and being operative to pivotably mount said supporting member to the monorail frame, said first and second pivot assemblies together defining said second axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation and about which pivots said supporting member.  
     
     
         8 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said first pivot assembly includes a first mounting structure and said second pivot assembly includes a second mounting structure, said first and second mounting structures operative to secure said first and second pivot assemblies, respectively, to the monorail frame, said first mounting structure including said first adjustment mechanism and said second mounting structure including said second adjustment mechanism.  
     
     
         9 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said first alignment parameter is camber and said second alignment parameter is toe.  
     
     
         10 . A side suspension system as defined  3 , wherein said first and second adjustment mechanisms are shims.  
     
     
         11 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said first and second adjustment mechanisms are bidirectional threaded screws.  
     
     
         12 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 7 , wherein each of said first and second pivot assemblies includes a fastener, each of said first and second mounting structures including a pivot bracket characterized by a spherical bearing for engagement by said fastener.  
     
     
         13 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said fastener further engages each one of said pair of lugs of said respective frame attachment site, for retaining said lugs to the respective pivot assembly  
     
     
         14 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said fastener is a bolt.  
     
     
         15 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said supporting member includes a pair of wheel attachment sites, each wheel attachment site adapted to receive a respective guide wheel.  
     
     
         16 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said wheel attachment sites are positioned on said supporting member in a substantially opposing relationship.  
     
     
         17 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the first axis of rotation defined by one of said wheel attachment sites is substantially parallel to the first axis of rotation defined by the other one of said wheel attachment sites.  
     
     
         18 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 17 , wherein both wheel attachment sites define the same first axis of rotation, about which rotate both guide wheels.  
     
     
         19 . A side suspension system for mounting guide wheels to a monorail frame, said side suspension system comprising: 
 a supporting member including: 
 a) at least one wheel attachment site adapted to receive a guide wheel, said wheel attachment site defining a first axis of rotation about which rotates the guide wheel;  
 b) at least one frame attachment site;  
   a pivot assembly adapted to engage said supporting member at said frame attachment site and being operative to pivotably mount said supporting member to the monorail frame;    a first adjustment mechanism which, when said supporting member is mounted to the monorail frame, allows for the adjustment of a first alignment parameter of the guide wheel;    a second adjustment mechanism which, when said supporting member is mounted to the monorail frame, allows for the adjustment of a second alignment parameter of the guide wheel, said second adjustment mechanism being independent from said first adjustment mechanism whereby an adjustment by one of said first and second adjustment mechanisms to the respective one of the first and second alignment parameters does not affect the other one of the first and second alignment parameters.    
     
     
         20 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said first adjustment mechanism is characterized by a first direction of adjustment, said second adjustment mechanism being characterized by a second direction of adjustment that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction of adjustment of said first adjustment mechanism.  
     
     
         21 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said first alignment parameter is camber and said second alignment parameter is toe.  
     
     
         22 . A side suspension system as defined  19 , wherein said first and second adjustment mechanisms are shims.  
     
     
         23 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said first and second adjustment mechanisms are bi-directional threaded screws.  
     
     
         24 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said Same attachment site is a first frame attachment site and said pivot assembly is a first pivot assembly, said supporting member faker including a second frame attachment site and said side suspension system further including a second pivot assembly, said first and second pivot assemblies adapted to engage said supporting member at said first and second frame attachment sites, respectively, and being operative to pivotably mount said supporting member to the monorail frame, said first and second pivot assemblies together defining a second axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation and about which pivots said supporting member.  
     
     
         25 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said first pivot assembly includes a first mounting structure and said second pivot assembly includes a second mounting structure, said first and second mounting structures operative to secure said first and second pivot assemblies, respectively, to the monorail frame, said first mounting structure including said first adjustment mechanism and said second mounting structure including said second adjustment mechanism.  
     
     
         26 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 25 , wherein each of said first and second frame attachment sites includes a pair of lugs adapted to be engaged by said first and second pivot assemblies respectively.  
     
     
         27 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 26 , wherein each of said first and second pivot assemblies includes a fastener, each of said first and second mounting structures including a pivot bracket characterized by a spherical bearing for engagement by said fastener.  
     
     
         28 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said fastener further engages each one of said pair of lugs of said respective frame attachment site, for retaining said lugs to the respective pivot assembly.  
     
     
         29 . A side suspension system as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said fastener is a bolt.  
     
     
         30 . A monorail car comprising: 
 a body having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, an upper side and an underside;    a frame connected to said underside for supporting said body on a monorail track having a pair of side surfaces;    a side suspension system including: 
 a) at least two supporting members, each supporting member being located adjacent a respective side surface of said frame, each supporting member having: 
 (1) at least one wheel attachment site adapted to receive a guide wheel, whereby the guide wheel is positioned to roll along the respective side surface of the monorail track;  
 (2) a frame attachment site;  
 
 b) at least two pivot assemblies, each pivot assembly adapted to engage a respective supporting member at said frame attachment site for pivotably mounting said respective supporting member to said frame, each pivot assembly defining an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion of the monorail car and about which pivots said respective supporting member.  
   
     
     
         31 . A monorail car comprising: 
 a body having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, an upper side and an underside;    a frame connected to said underside for supporting said body on a monorail track having a pair of side surfaces;    a side suspension system including: 
 a) a supporting member including: 
 (1) at least one wheel attachment site adapted to receive a guide wheel, said wheel attachment site defining a first axis of rotation about which rotates the guide wheel;  
 (2) at least one frame attachment site;  
 
 b) a pivot assembly adapted to engage said supporting member at said frame attachment site for pivotably mounting said supporting member to said frame;  
 c) a first adjustment mechanism which allows for the adjustment of a first alignment parameter of the guide wheel;  
 d) a second adjustment mechanism which allows for the adjustment of a second alignment parameter of the guide wheel, said second adjustment mechanism being independent from said first adjustment mechanism whereby an adjustment by one of said first and second adjustment mechanisms to the respective one of the first and second alignment parameters does not affect the other one of the first and second alignment parameters.  
   
     
     
         32 . In combination: 
 a monorail frame for supporting a vehicle body on a monorail track having a pair of side surfaces, said monorail frame defining a longitudinal axis;    a side suspension system for mounting guide wheels to said monorail frame, said side suspension system comprising: 
 a) a supporting member including: 
 (1) at least one wheel attachment site adapted to receive a guide wheel, whereby the guide wheel is positioned to roll along one of the side surfaces of the monorail track;  
 (2) at least one frame attachment site;  
 
 b) a pivot assembly adapted to engage said supporting member at said frame attachment site for pivotably mounting said supporting member to the monorail frame, said pivot assembly defining an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said monorail frame and about which pivots said supporting member.  
   
     
     
         33 . A combination as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said side suspension system further includes: 
 a first adjustment mechanism which allows for the adjustment of a first alignment parameter of the guide wheel;    a second adjustment mechanism which allows for the adjustment of a second alignment parameter of the guide wheel, said second adjustment mechanism being independent from said first adjustment mechanism whereby an adjustment by one of said first and second adjustment mechanisms to the respective one of the first and second alignment parameters does not affect the other one of the first and second alignment parameters.