Fail safe feature null of the raceway type traffic

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fail-safe mechanism attaining complete safety and a simpler and lighter constitution than that of a mechanical steering device if abnormality occurs in a steering system in a vehicle which travels along a predetermined track.;SOLUTION: A protective track 3 is provided on the track of a vehicle 1. At least one of protective wheels 22, 23 engaged with the protective track in a non-contact state is provided on the lower sides of front and rear parts of the vehicle. The protective wheels are interlocked with an actuator 6a for steering so as to face in the same direction as the steering direction of the front wheels 4a or the rear wheels 4b during traveling of the vehicle 1. The gap between the protective wheels 22, 23 and the protective track 3 is set smaller than permissible limit sizes in which the vehicle runs out from the track. Thus, if abnormality occurs in the steering mechanism, the protective wheels contact with the protective track, so that the vehicle is mechanically steered by the protective wheels.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI