Monorail frame

Abstract

The present invention relates to a monorail frame for supporting a vehicle body on a monorail track. Typically, monorail tracks are defined by a top surface and two side surfaces. The monorail frame includes a first frame portion, a second frame portion and at least one link portion. The first frame portion is adapted to be positioned adjacent one side of the monorail track and the second frame portion is adapted to be positioned adjacent the other side of the monorail track. The link portion interconnects the first and second frame portions. Each of the first frame portion and the second frame portion includes an upper surface, a lower surface and at least one single continuous beam having an elongated longitudinally extending surface. At least one of the upper and lower surfaces of each of the first and second frame portions consists of the elongated longitudinally extending surfaces.

1 . A monorail frame for supporting a vehicle body on a monorail track, the monorail track having a top surface, a first side surface and a second side surface, said monorail frame comprising: 
 a first frame portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the first side surface;    a second frame portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the second side surface, each of said first and second frame portions including: 
 a) an upper surface;  
 b) a lower surface; and  
 c) at least one single continuous beam having an elongated longitudinally extending surface;  
   at least one link portion for interconnecting said first and second frame portions;    wherein a substantial portion of at least one of said upper and lower surfaces of each of said first and second frame portions consists of said elongated longitudinally extending surface.    
     
     
         2 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first frame portion and said second frame portion are of a certain longitudinal length, the substantial portion of at least one of said upper and lower surfaces being not less than twenty five percent of the certain longitudinal length.  
     
     
         3 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the substantial portion of at least one of said upper and lower surfaces is a major portion of the certain longitudinal length.  
     
     
         4 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said upper and lower surfaces of said first and second frame portions consists of an elongated longitudinally extending surface of a single continuous beam.  
     
     
         5 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 4 , wherein each of said first and second frame portions includes an upper single continuous beam and a lower single continuous beam, each having an elongated longitudinally extending surface, said upper surface consisting of said elongated longitudinally extending surface of said upper single continuous beam and said lower surface consisting of said elongated longitudinally extending surface of said lower single continuous beam.  
     
     
         6 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said at least one link portion is connected to said upper single continuous beam of said first frame portion and said upper single continuous beam of said second frame portion.  
     
     
         7 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 5 , wherein each of said first and second frame portions includes at least one cross beam for connecting said upper single continuous beam and said lower single continuous beam together.  
     
     
         8 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 7 , wherein each of said first and second frame portions include an undercar equipment bay having boundaries defined by a first cross beam, a second cross beam and their respective upper single continuous beam and lower single continuous beam.  
     
     
         9 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 8  wherein said undercar equipment bay is operative to hold at least one undercar equipment component.  
     
     
         10 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said link portion connects said first frame portion to said second frame portion in a substantially opposing relationship.  
     
     
         11 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said link portion includes a forward beam and a rearward beam, both said forward beam and said rearward beam being attached to the upper single continuous beams of said first and second frame portions.  
     
     
         12 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said at least one cross beam is connected to each of said upper single continuous beam and lower single continuous beam of a respective frame portion at a substantially right angle.  
     
     
         13 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said monorail frame includes a mounting structure for supporting a load carrying wheel that is adapted to engage the top surface of the monorail track.  
     
     
         14 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 13 , wherein each of said first and second frame portions includes a mounting structure for supporting at least one guiding wheel for engaging a side surface of the monorail track.  
     
     
         15 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 1 , having a forward end portion and a rearward end portion, said monorail frame further including an anti-climb structure attached to one of said forward and rearward end portions.  
     
     
         16 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said upper continuous beam and said lower continuous beam have a polygonal cross section.  
     
     
         17 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said upper continuous beam and said lower continuous beam have a U-shaped cross section.  
     
     
         18 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second frame portions is defined by a single continuous beam.  
     
     
         19 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 18  wherein said single continuous beam has an upper elongated longitudinally extending surface and a lower elongated longitudinally extending surface, said upper surface consisting of said upper elongated longitudinally extending surface and said lower surface consisting of said lower elongated longitudinally extending surface.  
     
     
         20 . 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, the monorail track having a top surface and two side surfaces, said frame comprising: 
 a) a first frame portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the first side surface;  
 b) a second frame portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the second side surface, each of said first and second frame portions including upper surface, a lower surface and at least one single continuous beam having an elongated longitudinally extending surface;  
   at least one link portion for interconnecting said first and second frame portions;    wherein a substantial portion of at least one of said upper and lower surfaces of each of said first and second frame portions consists of said elongated longitudinally extending surface.    
     
     
         21 . A monorail frame for supporting a vehicle body on a monorail track, the monorail track having a top surface, a first side surface and a second side surface, said monorail frame comprising: 
 a first frame portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the first side surface;    a second frame portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the second side surface, each of said first and second frame portions including: 
 a) an upper surface;  
 b) a lower surface;  
 c) a first side adapted for facing the monorail track;  
 d) a second side adapted for facing away from the monorail track;  
 e) an undercar equipment bay positioned between said upper surface and said lower surface, said undercar equipment bay defining a void area that extends from said first side to said second side of said frame portion;  
   at least one link portion for interconnecting said first and second frame portions.    
     
     
         22 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 21 , comprising an undercar equipment component mounted in said undercar equipment bay.  
     
     
         23 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said undercar equipment component is a component selected from the list of an electrical box, a gear boxes, an air conditioning unit, a battery box, electrical equipment, an air compressor.  
     
     
         24 . A monorail fame as defined in  claim 22 , wherein each frame portion further includes: 
 an upper single continuous beam having an elongated longitudinally extending surface defining said upper surface;    a lower single continuous beam having an elongated longitudinally extending surface defining said lower surface;    at least two cross beams for interconnecting said upper single continuous beam;    wherein said upper single continuous beam, said lower single continuous beam and said at least two cross beams define the boundaries of said undercar equipment bay.    
     
     
         25 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said upper single continuous beam and said lower single continuous beam have a polygonal cross section.  
     
     
         26 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said upper continuous beam and said lower continuous beam have a U-shaped cross section.  
     
     
         27 . A monorail frame as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said undercar equipment bay is substantially rectangular in shape.