Monorail system for movement of vehicles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a monorail system having a monorail rail car having a suspended load platform which can be raised and lowered from the rail car. The load platform is adapted to load a vehicle thereon with or without passengers and then be raised and towed to a destination location. The loaded platform can then be lowered and unloaded when it reaches its destination.

1 . A monorail system for movement of vehicles comprising:
 an elongated overhead rail having an electric power line passing therealong;   a motorized wheeled rail car having a plurality of wheels movably supported on some overhead rail, said motorized wheeled rail car having a wheel electric motor coupled to said electric power line and to at least one of said plurality of wheels to drive said motorized wheeled rail car on said rail;   a lifting electric motor mounted in said motorized wheeled rail car and coupled to a lifting reel supporting at least one lifting cable; and   a vehicle supporting platform attached to said at least one lifting cable for raising and lowering said vehicle supporting platform responsive to operation of said lifting electric motor, said vehicle supporting platform having a ramp for moving a vehicle onto said platform;   whereby a monorail system motorized rail car can lift and transport a vehicle thereon.   
     
     
         2 . The monorail system for movement of vehicles in accordance with  claim 1  in which said lifting reel supports two lifting cables. 
     
     
         3 . The monorail system for movement of vehicles in accordance with  claim 2  in which said vehicle supporting platform has two ramps for moving a vehicle onto and off of said platform. 
     
     
         4 . The monorail system for movement of vehicles in accordance with  claim 3  in which said vehicle supporting platform has a plurality of sides for holding a vehicle on said platform. 
     
     
         5 . The monorail system for movement of vehicles in accordance with  claim 4  in which said vehicle supporting platform has vehicle blocking means for holding a loaded vehicle on said platform. 
     
     
         6 . The monorail system for movement of vehicles in accordance with  claim 5  in which said vehicle supporting platform has a plurality of chock blocks for holding a loaded vehicle on said platform. 
     
     
         7 . The monorail system for movement of vehicles in accordance with  claim 4  in which said vehicle supporting platform has two sides, one on either side of said platform. 
     
     
         8 . A process for transporting a vehicle on a monorail system comprising the steps of:
 selecting a motorized wheeled rail car riding on a monorail and having a platform suspended therefrom on at least one cable, said motorized wheeled rail car having a lifting electric motor mounted therein coupled to a lifting reel supporting said at least one lifting cable, and said vehicle supporting platform being attached to said at least one lifting cable for raising and lowering said vehicle supporting platform responsive to operation of said lifting electric motor;   lowering said platform with said lifting electric motor onto a generally flat surface;   driving a motorized vehicle onto said lowered platform;   raising said platform loaded with said motorized vehicle with said lifting electric motor; and   moving said motorized wheeled rail car to transport said loaded vehicle on said monorail system;   whereby a vehicle can be transported on a monorail system.   
     
     
         9 . The process for transporting a vehicle on a monorail system in accordance with  claim 8  in which said selected motorized wheeled rail car has a wheel electric motor powering said wheeled rail car to drive said motorized wheeled rail car on said rail to transport said vehicle on said platform. 
     
     
         10 . The process for transporting a vehicle on a monorail system in accordance with  claim 9  in which said selected motorized wheeled rail car vehicle supporting platform has a ramp on one end thereof for driving a vehicle onto said platform. 
     
     
         11 . The process for transporting a vehicle on a monorail system in accordance with  claim 10  in which said selected motorized wheeled rail car vehicle supporting platform has a ramp on each end thereof for driving a vehicle onto and off of said platform.