Suspended monorail vehicle and suspended monorail transportation system

Abstract

To make it possible to realize a smooth movement of a user with small up-downs, and reduce costs and occupied spaces for station houses.SOLUTION: A suspension type monorail vehicle comprises: a truck capable of traveling on a track beam; a vehicle body having a cabin; a connection device for connecting the vehicle body to the truck so that the vehicle body is suspended from the truck, and allowing both lowering of the vehicle body separating from the truck from the track beam toward the ground and rising of the vehicle body approaching the truck from the ground toward the track beam; and a drive device for driving the connection device and making the vehicle body rise from the ground toward the track beam.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a suspended monorail vehicle, a suspended monorail transportation system, a traffic management server, and a traffic management method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a suspended monorail. In a monorail, the track girder on which the trains run is placed in the air. Therefore, there is only an area on the ground where the supports supporting the track girder can be installed, and there are few limitations on the location. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-82136 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, because the track girders are placed in the air, elevated station buildings must be constructed at the boarding and disembarking points of users. This forces users to make inconvenient journeys with many ups and downs to board and disembark vehicles, and the cost and space required to construct station buildings are required. Furthermore, because monorails basically stop at every station, it takes a long time to arrive at the destination and congestion can occur. Furthermore, because monorails operate according to a timetable, users may have to wait long periods of time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A suspended monorail vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention is a suspended monorail vehicle suspended from a track girder arranged in the air above the ground, and includes a bogie capable of running on the track girder, a car body having a passenger compartment, a connection device connecting the car body to the bogie so that the car body is suspended from the bogie, the connection device allowing the car body to descend from the track girder towards the ground and away from the bogie, and the car body to ascend from the ground towards the track girder and towards the bogie, and a drive device that drives the connection device to raise the car body from the ground towards the track girder.

[0006] According to the above configuration, the vehicle can travel in the air with the car body close to the track girder, and the car body descends from the track girder to the ground, allowing users to board and disembark from the car body at ground level, eliminating the need for elevated station buildings. This allows users to travel smoothly with fewer ups and downs, and also significantly reduces the cost and space required for station buildings.

[0007] A suspended monorail transportation system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a track girder supported by columns and disposed in the air above the ground, a plurality of vehicles suspended from the lower part of the track girder and capable of running on the track girder, and a station provided on the ground where users get on and off the vehicles. The vehicles include a bogie capable of running on the track girder, a car body having a passenger compartment, and a connection device connecting the bogie and the car body, the connection device allowing the car body to descend from the track girder toward the station so that the car body is suspended from the bogie, and allowing the car body to ascend from the station toward the track girder.

[0008] According to the above configuration, the vehicle can travel in the air with the car body close to the track girder, and the car body descends from the track girder to the ground, allowing users to board and disembark from the car body at ground level, eliminating the need for elevated station buildings. This allows users to travel smoothly with fewer ups and downs, and also significantly reduces the cost and space required for station buildings.

[0009] A traffic management server according to one aspect of the present invention is a traffic management server used in the suspended monorail transportation system, the at least one vehicle includes a plurality of vehicles, and the server includes a memory storing a traffic management program for managing the operation of the plurality of vehicles, and a processor for performing arithmetic processing according to the traffic management program. The processor is configured to execute the following operations based on the traffic management program: receive position information of the plurality of vehicles; receive a boarding request signal including a boarding point from an information processing terminal operated by a user; determine a target vehicle to be moved from among the plurality of vehicles to the boarding point of the boarding request signal based on the position information of the plurality of vehicles; and transmit a dispatch signal to move the determined target vehicle to the boarding point. The processor may further be configured to execute the following operations based on the traffic management program: receive a disembarking request signal including a disembarking point; and transmit a driving signal to move the target vehicle to the disembarking point.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the vehicle heads to the boarding point in response to a user request, thereby improving user convenience compared to a monorail that operates according to a timetable.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for managing a suspended monorail transportation system, wherein the at least one vehicle includes a plurality of vehicles, the method comprising the steps of: receiving position information of the plurality of vehicles; receiving a boarding request signal including a boarding point corresponding to one of the plurality of sub-tracks; receiving an alighting request signal including a disembarking point corresponding to one of the plurality of sub-tracks; determining a target vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles to be moved toward the boarding point of the boarding request signal based on the position information of the plurality of vehicles; moving the target vehicle forward and from the main track to a boarding sub-track among the plurality of sub-tracks corresponding to the boarding point; stopping the target vehicle on the boarding sub-track; the vehicle body of the stopped target vehicle being lowered to the ground; after a user boards the vehicle body from the ground whose descent has been completed, raising the vehicle body from the ground; moving the target vehicle whose body has been raised forward and moving it from the boarding sub-track to the main track; moving the target vehicle forward and moving it from the main track to a disembarking sub-track among the multiple sub-tracks which corresponds to the disembarking point; stopping the target vehicle on the disembarking sub-track; after a user disembarks from the vehicle body whose descent has been completed to the ground, raising the vehicle body from the ground; moving the target vehicle whose body has been raised forward and moving it from the disembarking sub-track to the main track.

[0012] According to the above method, the cost and the space required for station buildings can be significantly reduced, and convenience for users can be improved. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, users can travel smoothly with fewer ups and downs, and the cost and space required for station buildings can be significantly reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1]Fig. 1(A) is a plan view of a track girder of a suspended monorail transportation system according to an embodiment. Fig. 1(B) is a plan view of a terminal station of the system of Fig. 1(A). [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of a vehicle used in the system of FIG. 1 in a lowered state. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of the vehicle in FIG. 2 in a vehicle body locked state. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned plan view of the power switching mechanism of the vehicle of FIG. [Diagram 5] Fig. 5(A) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the locking device of the vehicle in Fig. 2 in an unlocked state, and Fig. 5(B) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the locking device in Fig. 5(A) in a locked state. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a station device provided at a station in the system of FIG. 1 and its vicinity. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified version of the station device of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the system of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows a signal format of a reservation signal transmitted from the mobile terminal in FIG. 8 to the fleet management server. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation process of the system of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a continuation of the flowchart in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a continuation of the flowchart in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a continuation of the flowchart in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] Fig. 1(A) is a plan view of a track girder of a suspended monorail transportation system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1(A), the suspended monorail transportation system 1 includes a track girder 2 disposed in the air above the ground, a support column 7 (see Fig. 6) protruding above the ground and supporting the track girder 2 from below, and a plurality of vehicles 3 suspended from the track girder 2 and traveling in one direction on the track girder 2.

[0017] The track girder 2 has a main track 10 and a plurality of sub-tracks 11. The main track 10 has a closed loop shape so that the vehicles 3 can travel in a circular manner. Each of the sub-tracks 11 branches off from the main track 10 so as to be parallel to a part of the main track 10 and merges with the main track 10. The sub-tracks 11 are arranged in the air corresponding to each of a plurality of stations X on the ground.

[0018] A remotely operable entrance turnout 12 is provided at a point upstream of the sub-track 11 where the sub-track 11 branches off from the main track 10 (i.e., at the entrance of the sub-track). The entrance turnout 12 is configured to be switchable between a first position where the main track 10 is configured not to be connected to the sub-track 11, and a second position where the vehicle 3 is allowed to enter the sub-track 11 from the main track 10.

[0019] A remotely operable exit turnout 13 is provided downstream of the sub-track 11 at a point where the sub-track 11 joins the main track 10 (i.e., at the exit of the sub-track). The exit turnout 13 is configured to be switchable between a first position where the main track 10 is configured not to be connected to the sub-track 11, and a second position where the vehicle 3 is allowed to enter the main track 10 from the sub-track 11.

[0020] When a user gets on or off the vehicle 3 at station X, the vehicle 3 enters the secondary track 11 from the main track 10 and stops there, allowing the following vehicle 3 to overtake the stopped vehicle 3 by traveling on the main track 10. This allows for quick arrival at the destination and reduces congestion.

[0021] Fig. 1(B) is a plan view of a terminal station T of the system 1 of Fig. 1(A). The track girder 2 is provided with a terminal station T for storing a plurality of vehicles 3 on a part of a closed-loop main track 10. The terminal station may be provided at a dead end branching off from the closed loop instead of being a part of the closed loop.

[0022] The terminal station T has a stationary track 10a that is a part of the main track 10, and multiple sub-tracks 11A-C. The multiple sub-tracks 11A-C include a basic sub-track 11A that branches off from the main track 10 and merges with the main track 10 so as to be parallel to the stationary track 10a, and additional sub-tracks 11B-C that branch off from the main track 10 and merge with the main track 10 so as to be parallel to the basic sub-track 11A. Switches are provided at the branching and merging points of the sub-tracks 11A-11C.

[0023] At the terminal station T, the stationary track 10a of the main track 10 and the multiple sub-tracks 11A-C are parallel to each other, so that users can simultaneously board and disembark the multiple vehicles 3 that have entered the stationary track 10a and the sub-tracks 11A-C, thereby alleviating congestion. In addition, by allocating the vehicles 3 to the tracks 10a, 11A-C according to their destinations, it is possible to improve the convenience of users when sharing a ride. Note that the sub-track 11 at an intermediate point other than the terminal station T may be configured to have a basic sub-track and an additional sub-track.

[0024] Fig. 2 is a side view of the vehicle 3 used in the system 1 of Fig. 1 in a lowered state. As shown in Fig. 2, the vehicle 3 includes a bogie 20, a car body 21, a connecting device 22, a linkage 23, a locking device 24, and the like.

[0025] The bogie 20 has a bogie frame 30, a plurality of guide rollers 31, a plurality of wheels 32, and a main motor 33 (drive device). The guide rollers 31 are supported by the bogie frame 30, and are disposed so as to be able to roll on the track girder 2 while sandwiching the track girder 2 from the left and right. The wheels 32 are supported by the bogie frame 30, and are driven to roll on the track girder 2.

[0026] The main motor 33 is supported by the bogie frame 30. The main motor 33 may be operated by power from a battery mounted on the vehicle 3, or may be operated by power obtained from a power supply line (e.g., an overhead line, a power supply rail, etc.) provided on the track girder 2. The main motor 33 is a motor-generator capable of functioning as an electric motor and as a generator. The main motor 33 is capable of driving the wheels 32, and is also capable of driving a drum 34 of the connection device 22 described below.

[0027] The vehicle body 21 has a cabin body 37, a door 38, a shock absorbing body 39, and a lockable body 40. The cabin body 37 has a door opening 37a and defines a passenger compartment in which seats and the like are arranged. The door 38 is provided in the cabin body 37 so that the door opening 37a can be opened and closed. The door 38 is configured to be opened and closed by being driven by a door motor 63 (see FIG. 8).

[0028] The shock absorbing body 39 is provided on the underside of the cabin body 37. Even if an impact acts on the cabin body 37 from below, the shock absorbing body 39 reduces the transmission of the impact to the passenger compartment. The locked body 40 protrudes upward from the cabin body 37 so as to be locked by the locking device 24.

[0029] The connection device 22 connects the car body 21 to the bogie 20 so that the car body 21 is suspended from the bogie 20. The connection device 22 allows the car body 21 to descend from the bogie 20 toward the ground and to ascend from the ground toward the bogie 20. Specifically, the connection device 22 has a drum 34 and a wire 35. The drum 34 is supported on the bogie frame 30 so as to be freely rotatable.

[0030] The wire 35 is wound around the drum 34, and its tip is connected to the car body 21. That is, the car body 21 is suspended from the bogie 20 by the wire 35. The connection device 22 allows the car body 21 to be raised and lowered relative to the bogie 20 by the rotation of the drum 34. This allows the car body 21 to be raised and lowered significantly relative to the bogie 20 while keeping the connection device 22 compact.

[0031] The main motor 33 is capable of driving the drum 34 of the connection device 22 by switching the power transmission path by the power switching device 36. In other words, the main motor 33 serves both as a traction motor that rotates the wheels 32 and as a lift motor that rotates the drum 34 so as to lift the vehicle body 21.

[0032] The linkage 23 connects the car body 21 to the bogie 20 so as to be displaceable relative to the bogie 20 in the up-down direction. Specifically, the linkage 23 has a first arm 51 and a second arm 52. An upper end of the first arm 51 is connected to the bogie frame 30 so as to be rotatable about a left-right axis. A lower end of the second arm 52 is connected to the cabin body 37 so as to be rotatable about a left-right axis. The lower end of the first arm 51 and the upper end of the second arm 52 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable about a left-right axis.

[0033] The linkage 23 is foldable in the vertical direction, thereby allowing the car body 21 to rise and fall relative to the cart 20. Even in a configuration in which the car body 21 is suspended from the cart 20 by the wires 35, the linkage 23 having rigidity reduces shaking of the car body 21.

[0034] Fig. 3 is a side view of the car body 3 in Fig. 2 in the car body locked state. As shown in Fig. 3, when the drum 34 rotates and the wire 35 is wound up, the car body 21 rises vertically. Then, with the car body 21 in close proximity to the bogie 20, the locked body 40 of the car body 21 is inserted into the locking device 24 of the bogie 20 from below, and the locking device 24 locks the locked body 40. This allows the car 3 to travel stably with the car body 21 locked to the bogie 20, and the locking device 24 can be unlocked to allow the car body 21 to move away from the bogie 20 and descend.

[0035] As described above, the vehicle 3 can travel in the air with the car body 21 close to the bogie 20 (see FIG. 3), while the car body 21 descends from the bogie 20 toward the ground, allowing users to board and disembark from the car body 21 on the ground (see FIG. 2). This eliminates the need to provide an elevated station building for users to board and disembark. This allows users to travel smoothly with fewer ups and downs, and also significantly reduces the cost and space required for station buildings.

[0036] Fig. 4 is a partially cross-sectional plan view of the power switching device 36 of the vehicle 3 in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the power switching device 36 is configured to be switchable between a first state in which the main motor 33 transmits power to the wheels 32 and a second state in which the main motor 33 transmits power to the drum 34. The switching mechanism of the power switching device 36 can take various forms. For example, the power switching device 36 includes a planetary gear mechanism 41.

[0037] The planetary gear mechanism 41 has a sun gear 42, planetary gears 43, an internal gear 44, and a planetary carrier 45. The sun gear 42 is driven to rotate by the drive shaft 33a of the main motor 33. The rotation of the internal gear 44 is transmitted to the axle 32a of the wheels 32 via a first power transmission mechanism 46. The rotation of the planetary carrier 45 is transmitted to the drum 34 via a second power transmission mechanism 47. The axle 32a and the drum 34 are arranged concentrically, and the axle 32a passes through the drum 34 so as to be relatively rotatable.

[0038] The first power transmission mechanism 46 and the second power transmission mechanism 47 may take various forms (for example, a gear mechanism, a belt-pulley mechanism, a chain-sprocket mechanism). For example, the first power transmission mechanism 46 has a pulley fixed to the wheel 32 and a belt that transmits the rotation of the internal gear 44 to the pulley. The second power transmission mechanism 47 has a gear train that transmits the rotation of the planetary carrier 45 to the drum 34.

[0039] The rotation of the planetary carrier 45 can be stopped by a planetary carrier stopping device 48. The rotation of the internal gear 44 can be stopped by an internal gear stopping device 49. Each of the planetary carrier stopping device 48 and the internal gear stopping device 49 can take various forms, for example, a configuration in which a brake shoe is pressed against the carrier by a power switching actuator (not shown) to stop the carrier, or a configuration in which a dog clutch is engaged by a power switching actuator (not shown) to stop the carrier.

[0040] When the vehicle 3 is traveling, the planetary carrier stopping device 48 forcibly stops the planetary carrier 45, so that the driving force of the main motor 33 is transmitted to the wheels 32 via the internal gear 44 and the first power transmission mechanism 46 (first state). When the vehicle body 21 is rising, the internal gear stopping device 49 forcibly stops the internal gear 44, so that the driving force of the main motor 33 is transmitted to the drum 34 via the planetary carrier 45 and the second power transmission mechanism 47 (second state). According to such a power switching device 36, the main motor 33 serves both as the vehicle traveling driving source and the vehicle body lifting driving source, so that the vehicle 3 can be made compact.

[0041] Fig. 5(A) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the locking device 24 of the vehicle 3 of Fig. 2 in an unlocked state. Fig. 5(B) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the locking device 24 of Fig. 5(A) in a locked state. As shown in Figs. 5(A) and (B), the locking device 24 is configured to releasably lock a locked body 40 of the vehicle 3 (see Fig. 2). The locked body 40 has a shaft portion 40b protruding upward from the cabin body 37 (see Fig. 2) and a latched portion 40a provided on the upper end side of the shaft portion 40b.

[0042] The wire 35 penetrates the locked body 40 so as to be relatively displaceable in the vertical direction. The wire 35 also penetrates the locking device 24 so as to be relatively displaceable in the vertical direction. This makes it easier for the locked body 40 to be guided by the wire 35 to be aligned horizontally with respect to the locking device 24, and also contributes to space saving.

[0043] The locking device 24 includes a base 53 , a plurality of hooks 54 , a plurality of hook biasing springs 55 , a retainer 56 , a retainer biasing spring 57 , a retainer release tool 58 , and a release tool biasing spring 59 .

[0044] The base 53 protrudes downward from the carriage frame 30. The hooks 54 are pivotally supported on the base 53 so as to be able to swing freely. The hooks 54 (for example, four) are arranged at equal intervals around the wire 35. The hooks 54 have a force point portion 54b located on one side (upper and inner) of the swing fulcrum, and a locking portion 54a located on the other side (lower and outer) of the swing fulcrum. The locking portion 54a has a shape that allows it to be locked to the locked portion 40a of the locked body 40. The force point portion 54b is arranged to face the upper end surface of the locked body 40 in the vertical direction.

[0045] The hook biasing spring 55 is disposed between the base 53 and the hook 54. The hook biasing spring 55 biases the force point 54b of the hook 54 so that the locking portions 54a are positioned in the unlocked position (so that the locking portions 54a of the hooks 54 are separated from each other). The retainer 56 is guided by the base 53 so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction. The retainer biasing spring 57 biases the retainer 56 downward. The retainer 56 is supported from below by the force point 54b of the hook 54 when the locking device 24 is in the unlocked state.

[0046] The retainer release tool 58 is configured to be able to push the retainer 56 upward against the retainer biasing spring 57 by an unlocking actuator (not shown). For example, the unlocking actuator may be configured to drive a link 60 connected to the retainer release tool 58 to raise the retainer release tool 58. The retainer release tool 58 is biased downward by a release tool biasing spring 59. The retainer release tool 58 is arranged so that when it descends, it pushes the engaging portion 54a of the unlocked hook 54 downward to guide it to the locked position.

[0047] When the car body 21 rises from the ground and approaches the bogie 20, the upper end surface of the locked body 40 pushes up the force point portions 54b of the hooks 54. This pushes the retainer 56 upward, and the hooks 54 swing so that the locking portions 54a move toward the locked position. When the locking portions 54a finally lock with the locked portions 40a of the locked body 40, the gap between the force point portions 54b of the hooks 54 becomes larger than the lower end portions of the retainers 56.

[0048] Therefore, the weight of the retainer 56 and the biasing force of the retainer biasing spring 57 cause the lower end of the retainer 56 to enter the gap between the force points 54b, and the hook 54 is held in the locked state (FIG. 5(B)). At that time, the retainer release tool 58 is lowered by the weight of the retainer release tool 58 and the biasing force of the release tool biasing spring 59.

[0049] To release the lock of the locking device 24, the lock release actuator raises the retainer release tool 58, which then lifts the retainer 56. When the lower end of the retainer 56 is retracted above the force point 54b of the hook 54, the force point 54b of the hook 54 is no longer restrained by the retainer 56. This causes the hook 54 to swing due to the hook biasing spring 55, releasing the engagement of the engaging part 54a with the engaged part 40a, and the hook 54 enters an unlocked state (FIG. 5(A)).

[0050] The configuration of the locking device 24 is not limited to this, and various known locking mechanisms may be used. In addition, the locking device 24 and the locked body 40 are configured such that the wire 35 passes vertically through them, but the locking device 24 and the wire 35 may be disposed at separate positions.

[0051] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a station device 4 and its vicinity provided at station X of the system 1 in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 6, station X (boarding and disembarking area) directly below the sub-track 11 is provided, for example, at the side of road R on which cars travel. Station X is provided with station device 4. Station device 4 includes a barrier 71, a door 72, a reader 73, a display 74, an input operation device 75, an entry detection sensor 76, etc.

[0052] The barrier 71 is installed at the station X on the ground so as to surround from the sides the vehicle body 21 that has been lowered from the trolley 20 to the ground. A transparent plate is used for a portion of the barrier 71. The barrier 71 has a user entrance / exit 71a and a vehicle body entrance / exit 71b. The user entrance / exit 71a opens to the side (sidewalk), and a user can enter and exit the barrier 71 through the user entrance / exit 71a. The vehicle body entrance / exit 71b opens upward, and the vehicle body 21 can enter and exit the barrier 71 through the vehicle body entrance / exit 71b. This prevents unintended people or objects from entering the station X.

[0053] The door 72 is opened and closed by a door motor (not shown). The reader 73 is configured to read an authentication code (e.g., a QR code (registered trademark)) from a mobile terminal 6 (information processing terminal) carried by a user. The display 74 can display information to the user, and the input operation device 75 allows the user to input information. The display 74 and the input operation device 75 are, for example, touch panels.

[0054] The reader 73, the display 74, and the input operation device 75 are disposed near a user entrance / exit 71a of the barrier 71. The entry detection sensor 76 is configured to be able to detect the entry of a person or object into the station X, and is provided on the barrier 71 or in its vicinity. For example, an infrared sensor, an image sensor, or the like can be used as the entry detection sensor 76. The barrier 71 may be omitted.

[0055] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified version of the station device of Fig. 6. Note that components common to Fig. 6 are given the same reference numerals and will not be described. As shown in Fig. 7, the modified station device 104 includes a lifter 110. The lifter 110 is installed at station X and is configured to be able to lift the car body 21 from the ground toward the bogie 20.

[0056] The lifter 110 may have various configurations. For example, the lifter 110 has a guide member 111, a fork 112, and an actuator 113. The guide member 111 extends upward from the ground. The fork 112 is capable of supporting the vehicle body 21 from below, and is configured to be able to move up and down along the guide member 111. The actuator 113 raises and lowers the fork 112 via a power transmission mechanism (e.g., a chain sprocket mechanism, etc.) not shown. The fork 112 rises with the vehicle body 21 placed on it, thereby assisting in the lifting of the vehicle body 21.

[0057] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the system 1 of FIG. 1. It should be noted that the functions of the elements disclosed herein can be performed using circuits or processing circuits, including general purpose processors, special purpose processors, integrated circuits, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), conventional circuits, and / or combinations thereof, configured or programmed to perform the disclosed functions. A processor is considered a processing circuit or circuit because it includes transistors and other circuits. In this disclosure, a circuit, unit, or means is hardware that performs the recited functions or hardware that is programmed to perform the recited functions. The hardware may be hardware disclosed herein or other known hardware that is programmed or configured to perform the recited functions. When the hardware is a processor, which is considered a type of circuit, the circuit, means, or unit is a combination of hardware and software, and the software is used to configure the hardware and / or the processor.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 8, in the suspended monorail transportation system 1, a vehicle 3, a station device 4, an operation management server 5, a mobile terminal 6, each switch 12, 13, etc. are communicatively connected via a network N. The network N is an external network including, for example, the Internet, a mobile phone network, and / or a satellite communication line. The vehicle 3 is equipped with a controller 61. The controller 61 has a processor and a memory in which a predetermined vehicle control program is stored. The processor is, for example, a CPU. The memory may include a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk and / or a flash memory, and a volatile memory such as a RAM.

[0059] The vehicle 3 includes a communication interface 62, a main motor 33, a power switching device 36, a locking device 24, a door motor 63, an input operation device 64, an on-board unit 65, a vehicle speed sensor 66, a height sensor 67, a door lock switch 68, a vehicle body lock switch 69, a reader 70, etc., which are electrically connected to the controller 61. The vehicle 3 is equipped with a battery (not shown).

[0060] The communication interface 62 is communicatively connected to the network N. The main motor 33 may be controlled by the controller 61. The power switching device 36 (the power switching motor of the planetary carrier stop device 48 and the internal gear stop device 49) may be controlled by the controller 61. The locking device 24 (the unlocking actuator) may be controlled by the controller 61. The door motor 63 may be controlled by the controller 61.

[0061] The input operation device 64 can be operated by a user to input information such as the boarding point and the disembarking point. The on-board terminal 65 can wirelessly communicate with a plurality of ground terminals installed at intervals in the traveling direction on the track girder 2. Based on the position information received by the on-board terminal 65 from the ground terminals, the controller 61 can grasp the current position of the vehicle 3. That is, the on-board terminal 65 serves as a sensor that detects the position information of the vehicle 3. The sensor that detects the position information of the vehicle 3 may be another sensor such as a satellite positioning sensor (e.g., a GPS sensor). The vehicle speed sensor 66 is configured to be able to detect the traveling speed of the vehicle 3, and can be, for example, a sensor that detects the number of rotations of the wheels.

[0062] The height sensor 67 is configured to be able to detect the height of the car body 21 from the ground, and may be, for example, a sensor that detects the number of rotations of the drum 34, or a laser sensor that measures the distance from the ground. The door lock switch 68 is a type of sensor that can detect that the door 38 is closed. The car body lock switch 69 is a type of sensor that can detect that the car body 21 is locked to the dolly 20 (i.e., that the locking device 24 is in a locked state). The reader 70 is configured to be able to read an authentication code (for example, a QR code (registered trademark)) from the mobile terminal 6.

[0063] The station device 4 includes, as an information processing device, a reader 73, a display 74, an input operation device 75, an entrance detection sensor 76, a processor 77, a main memory 78, a storage 79, a communication interface 80, etc. The reader 73 is configured to be able to read an authentication code (e.g., a QR code (registered trademark)) from the mobile terminal 6. The display 74, the input operation device 75, and the entrance detection sensor 76 are as described above with reference to FIG. 6.

[0064] The processor 77 is, for example, a CPU. The main memory 78 is, for example, a volatile memory such as a RAM. The storage 79 is, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk, a flash memory, etc. A station program P1 is stored in the storage 79. The processor 77 performs arithmetic processing according to the station program P1. The communication interface 80 is communicatively connected to the network N.

[0065] The fleet management server 5 includes a processor 81, a main memory 82, a storage 83, a communication interface 84, etc. The processor 81 is, for example, a CPU. The main memory 82 is, for example, a volatile memory such as a RAM. The storage 83 is a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk, a flash memory, etc. A fleet management program P2 is stored in the storage 83. The processor 81 performs arithmetic processing in accordance with the fleet management program P2. The communication interface 84 is communicatively connected to a network N.

[0066] The mobile terminal 6 is, for example, an information processing terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The mobile terminal 6 includes a processor 91, a main memory 92, a storage 93, a communication interface 94, an input operation device 95, a display device 96, a positioning sensor 97, and the like. The processor 91 is, for example, a CPU. The main memory 92 is, for example, a volatile memory such as a RAM. The storage 93 is, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk or a flash memory.

[0067] The storage 93 stores a user program P3 (application software) together with system software (OS). The user program P3 is uploaded to a server (recording medium) not shown that is connected to the network N, and is downloaded to the mobile terminal 6 and then stored in the storage 93. The processor 91 performs arithmetic processing in accordance with the fleet management program P2.

[0068] The communication interface 94 is communicatively connected to the network N. The input operation device 95 is configured to allow the user to input information. The display device 96 is configured to allow the user to display information. The input operation device 95 and the display device 96 are, for example, touch panels. The positioning sensor 97 is, for example, a satellite positioning sensor, and is configured to acquire position information of the mobile terminal 6.

[0069] 10 to 13 are flow charts for explaining the operation process of the system 1 in FIG. 8. The following will explain the flow of FIG. 10 to 13 with reference to FIG. 1 to 9 as appropriate. The mobile terminal 6 starts the user program P3 by user operation and communicates with the traffic management server 5 via the network N. The user program P3 causes the display 92 of the mobile terminal 6 to display a boarding reservation screen by user operation. The traffic management server 5 causes a plurality of boarding point candidates corresponding to the plurality of sub-rail tracks 11, respectively, and a plurality of disembarking point candidates corresponding to the plurality of sub-rail tracks 11, respectively, to be presented on the boarding reservation screen. The boarding reservation screen is configured so that the planned boarding time can also be input. The mobile terminal 6 may display the boarding point candidates and disembarking point candidates by the user program P3 without communicating with the traffic management server 5.

[0070] On the mobile terminal 6, the user selects one of a plurality of candidate boarding points as the boarding point, selects one of a plurality of candidate disembarking points as the disembarking point, and inputs the planned boarding time. When the user confirms the boarding reservation, the mobile terminal 6 transmits a reservation signal 99 to the traffic management server 5 (step S1). As shown in FIG. 9, the reservation signal 99 includes destination information indicating the traffic management server 5, ID information indicating the user who possesses the mobile terminal 6, information on the boarding point, the planned boarding time, and information on the disembarking point. In other words, the reservation signal 99 serves both as a boarding request signal including the boarding point and the boarding time, and as a disembarking request signal including the disembarking point.

[0071] The reservation signal may be a boarding request signal that does not include a drop-off point. In that case, after making a reservation, the user may input a drop-off point into the mobile terminal 6, the station device 4 (the input operation unit 75), or the vehicle 3 (the input operation unit 64), and a drop-off request signal including the input drop-off point may be transmitted to the traffic management server 5.

[0072] The traffic management server 5 receives the reservation signal (step S2). The traffic management server 5 performs a predetermined reservation process based on the reservation signal (step S3). In the reservation process, for example, a user is identified based on ID information included in the reservation signal 99, and the boarding point, boarding time, disembarking point, etc. are recorded as virtual ticket information in association with the identified user, and an authentication code (QR code (registered trademark)) associated with this virtual ticket information is generated. The traffic management server 5 transmits this authentication code to the mobile terminal 6 corresponding to the ID information (step S4).

[0073] When a user purchases a physical ticket at a ticket machine using cash or a card (for example, an IC card or a prepaid card with a payment function), the user may input the boarding point and disembarking point at the ticket machine, and the ticket machine may issue a physical ticket with an authentication code. Also, the user may specify the disembarking point and perform payment processing at the information processing terminal of the station device 4 or the vehicle 3, without making a reservation in advance at the mobile terminal 6 or purchasing a physical ticket at the ticket machine.

[0074] The mobile terminal 6 receives the authentication code (step S5). When the user arrives at the bus stop device 4 at the boarding point, the user presents the authentication code received by the mobile terminal 6 to the reader 73 of the bus stop device 4 (step S6). When the reader 73 of the bus stop device 4 reads the authentication code (step S7), the authentication code is transmitted to the traffic management server 5 and received by the traffic management server 5 (step S8).

[0075] The traffic management server 5 performs an authentication process to check whether the received authentication code matches the authentication code generated in the reservation process (step S9). Once the authentication is complete, a predetermined vehicle dispatch process is performed (step S10). In the vehicle dispatch process, based on the position information of the multiple vehicles 3 on the track girder 2, an empty vehicle that can arrive earliest (closest) to the boarding sub-track 11 corresponding to the boarding point is determined as the target vehicle 3 to be moved to the boarding point. In the vehicle dispatch process, the travel route of the target vehicle 3 is determined according to the drop-off point of the reservation signal 99.

[0076] In addition, when a user is to share a vehicle that is not empty, a vehicle in which another user is riding and which has an empty seat may be selected as the target vehicle. Also, a vehicle in which another user who is planning to get off at the boarding point of the present user is riding may be selected as the target vehicle.

[0077] The traffic management server 5 transmits a dispatch signal to the target vehicle 3 determined by the dispatch process to move it to the boarding sub-track 11 corresponding to the boarding point (step S11). When the target vehicle 3 receives the dispatch signal (step S12), it travels forward on the track girder 2 (step S13). Since the vehicle 3 travels to the boarding point in response to a user request, user convenience is improved compared to a monorail that operates according to a timetable.

[0078] The traffic management server 5 may continuously receive location information indicating the user's location from the mobile terminal 6 before the user arrives at the stop X, and dispatch the vehicle 3 to the boarding point when the user's location indicated by the location information approaches the boarding point. This enables efficient operation and dispatch according to the user's location. For example, if the arrival time of the user at stop X is predicted from the user's movement status, a target vehicle is determined, and a dispatch signal is transmitted, the waiting time of the user at stop X can be shortened.

[0079] When the target vehicle 3 passes the branch notice point immediately before the entrance switch 12 of the boarding sub-track 11, the traffic management server 5 receives a branch notice point passing signal (step S14) and transmits a deceleration signal to the target vehicle 3 (step S15). The target vehicle 3 that has received the deceleration signal decelerates to travel at a speed less than a predetermined speed (step S16).

[0080] The traffic management server 5 issues a switch command to the entrance switch 12 at the entrance of the boarding sub-track 11 to connect its downstream end to the boarding sub-track 11 (step S18). When the target vehicle 3 passes the entrance switch 12, the traffic management server 5 receives an entrance switch passing signal (step S19) and issues a return command to the entrance switch 12 to connect its downstream end to the main track 10 (step S20).

[0081] The target vehicle 3 that has entered the boarding sub-track 11 stops when it is detected by communication with the ground coil that it has reached the boarding point (directly above station X) (step S21). When the vehicle speed sensor 66 or the like confirms that the target vehicle 3 has stopped, the power switching device 36 switches from a first state in which the wheels 32 are linked to the main motor 33 to a second state in which the drum 34 is linked to the main motor 33.

[0082] Thereafter, the controller 61 causes the locking device 24 to release the lock, and the car body 21 is lowered from the bogie 20 by its own weight (step S22). At this time, the wire 35 is pulled out from the drum 34, and the main motor 33 operates as a generator in conjunction with the rotating drum 34, and the regenerative power is charged to the battery. This makes it possible to recover the descent energy of the car body 21 as electric power, while suppressing the descent speed of the car body 21 by regenerative braking during power generation.

[0083] When the car body 21 descends, the controller 61 controls the main motor 33 to increase regenerative braking as the car body 21 approaches the ground (station X) based on the signal from the height sensor 67. This makes it possible to smoothly stop the descent of the car body 21 while preventing the time required for the descent of the car body 21 from becoming too long.

[0084] When the intrusion detection sensor 76 detects the intrusion of a person or object into the station X while the car body 21 is descending toward the station X, the station device 4 generates an emergency stop signal to stop the descent of the car body 21. When the vehicle 3 receiving the emergency stop signal via the network N or directly during the descent of the car body 21, the controller 61 performs an emergency stop of the main motor 33. This prevents the car body 21 from descending into the station X with a person or object entering the station X.

[0085] When the descent of the vehicle body 21 is completed and the vehicle body 21 stops at the station X (step S23), the vehicle 3 transmits a boarding / alighting preparation completion signal to the traffic management server 5 (step S24) and opens the door 38 (step S25). When the traffic management server 5 receives the boarding / alighting preparation completion signal (step S26), it transmits a door open signal to the station device 4 (step S27). When the station device 4 receives the door open signal (step S28), it opens the door 72 (step S29).

[0086] The user enters the station X through the user entrance 71a and gets into the passenger compartment of the vehicle body 21 through the door opening 37a. The user presents the authentication code held by the mobile terminal 6 to the reader 70 of the target vehicle 3 (step S30). When the reader 70 of the target vehicle 3 reads the authentication code (step S31), the authentication code is transmitted to the traffic management server 5 (step S32) and is received by the traffic management server 5 (step S33). Then, the traffic management server 5 performs a boarding process to record the completion of boarding (step S34). The traffic management server 5 transmits a boarding completion signal to the target vehicle 3 and the station device 4 (step S35). When the station device 4 receives the boarding completion signal (step S36), it closes the door 72 (step S37). When the target vehicle 3 receives the boarding completion signal (step S38), it closes the door 38 (step S39).

[0087] In the target vehicle 3, when the door lock switch 68 detects that the door 38 is locked, the controller 61 drives the main motor 33 to rotate the drum 34 and wind up the wire 35, thereby raising the car body 21 (step S40). When the car body lock switch 69 detects that the car body 21 approaches the bogie 20 and the locked body 40 is locked by the locking device 24 (FIG. 5(B)) (step S41), the target vehicle 3 transmits a travel preparation completion signal to the fleet management server 5 (step S42).

[0088] When the traffic management server 5 receives the travel preparation completion signal (step S43), it issues a switch command to the exit switch 13 at the exit of the boarding sub-track 11 to connect its upstream end to the boarding sub-track 11 (step S45). When the target vehicle 3 passes the exit switch 13, the traffic management server 5 receives an exit switch passing signal (step S46) and issues a return command to the exit switch 13 to connect its upstream end to the main track 10 (step S47).

[0089] When the target vehicle 3 passes the branch notice beacon immediately before the entrance turnout 12 of the alighting sub-track 11 corresponding to the alighting point, the traffic management server 5 receives the branch notice point passing signal (step S48). After that, steps S49 to S63 are the same as steps S15 to S29, so detailed description will be omitted.

[0090] The user presents the authentication code received by the mobile terminal 6 to the reader 70 of the target vehicle 3 (step S64), and when the reader 70 reads the authentication code (step S65), the user disembarks. The authentication code read by the reader 70 is transmitted to the fleet management server 5 (step S66), and is received by the fleet management server 5 (step S67). The fleet management server 5 then performs disembarking processing to record the completion of disembarking (step S68). In the disembarking processing, a billing process is performed.

[0091] The traffic management server 5 transmits a disembarking completion signal to the target vehicle 3 and the station device 4 (step S69). When the station device 4 receives the disembarking completion signal (step S70), it closes the door 72 (step S71). When the target vehicle 3 receives the disembarking completion signal (step S72), it closes the door 38 (step S73). Thereafter, the vehicle 3 returns to the main track 10 in the same procedure as steps S40 to S47.

[0092] The above-mentioned operation process is also applicable to boarding and disembarking at the terminal station T. However, since multiple vehicles 3 are often waiting at the terminal station T, the vehicle dispatch process may be unnecessary.

[0093] As described above, the above embodiment has been described as an example of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, replacements, additions, omissions, etc. are appropriately performed. In addition, it is also possible to combine the components described in the above embodiment to form a new embodiment. In addition, among the components described in the attached drawings and detailed description, not only components essential for solving the problem but also components that are not essential for solving the problem in order to exemplify the technology may be included. Therefore, the fact that these non-essential components are described in the attached drawings and detailed description should not immediately be taken to mean that these non-essential components are essential. [Explanation of symbols]

[0094] 1. Suspended monorail transport system 2 Track beam 3. Vehicle 5. Traffic management server 6. Mobile terminals (information processing terminals) 10 Main orbit 11A Basic sub-orbit 11B,11C Additional suborbits 11 Suborbital 12 Entrance switch 13 Exit switch 20 Carts 21 Body 22 Connection device 23 Linkage 24 Locking device 32 wheels 33 Main motor (drive unit) 36 Power switching device 61 Controller 71 Barrier 71a User Entrance 71b Car entrance / exit 72 Doors 81 Processor 82 Main memory (memory) 83 Storage (Memory) 99 Reservation signal (boarding request signal, alighting request signal) 110 Lifter P2 Traffic Management Program X stop

Claims

1. A suspended monorail vehicle suspended from a track girder disposed in the air above the ground, A bogie capable of traveling on the track girder; A car body having a passenger compartment; a connection device that connects the car body to the bogie so that the car body is suspended from the bogie, the connection device allowing the car body to descend due to its own weight from the track girder towards the ground and away from the bogie, and the car body to ascend from the ground towards the track girder and towards the bogie; a drive device that drives the connection device to raise the car body from the ground toward the track girder, the drive device is a motor generator, The drive device drives the connection device to raise the car body, and generates electricity by the movement of the connection device linked to the descent of the car body due to its own weight.

2. A suspended monorail vehicle suspended from a track girder disposed in the air above the ground, A bogie capable of traveling on the track girder; A car body having a passenger compartment; a connection device that connects the car body to the bogie so that the car body is suspended from the bogie, the connection device allowing the car body to descend from the track girder toward the ground and away from the bogie, and the car body to ascend from the ground toward the track girder and toward the bogie; a drive device that drives the connection device to raise the car body from the ground toward the track girder, The drive device is provided on the carriage, The cart is A wheel capable of rolling on the track girder; A suspended monorail vehicle having a power switching device that can be switched between a first state in which the drive device transmits power to the wheels and a second state in which the drive device transmits power to the connection device.

3. A controller for controlling the driving device is further provided. The suspended monorail vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the drive device to increase regenerative braking as the vehicle body approaches the ground during a self-weight descent of the vehicle body.

4. The connection device includes: A wire connected to the vehicle body; a drum provided on the carriage and around which the wire is wound; 4. The suspended monorail vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the weight of the car body causes the wire to be unwound from the drum, lowering the car body, and the drive device rotates the drum to wind the wire and raise the car body.

5. The suspended monorail vehicle according to claim 4 , further comprising a linkage that connects the car body to the bogie so as to be displaceable relative to the car body in the up and down direction.

6. The vehicle body is A cabin body defining the passenger compartment; 6. The suspended monorail vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a shock absorbing body provided on a lower side of the cabin body.

7. A track girder supported by a support and disposed in the air above the ground; At least one vehicle suspended from the track girder and capable of traveling on the track girder; At least one station located on the ground where users board and disembark from the vehicle; A barrier installed at the station, the barrier having a vehicle body entrance opening upward and a user entrance opening sideways; a door for opening and closing the user entrance; The vehicle is A bogie capable of traveling on the track girder; A car body having a passenger compartment; a connection device that connects the bogie and the car body, the connection device allowing the car body to descend from the track girder toward the station so as to be suspended from the bogie, and the car body to ascend from the station toward the track girder.

8. A track girder supported by a support and disposed in the air above the ground; At least one vehicle suspended from the track girder and capable of traveling on the track girder; At least one station provided on the ground where users get on and off the vehicle; The vehicle is A bogie capable of traveling on the track girder; A car body having a passenger compartment; a connection device that connects the bogie and the car body, the connection device allowing the car body to descend from the track girder toward the station so as to be suspended from the bogie, and the car body to ascend from the station toward the track girder, The at least one vehicle includes a plurality of vehicles, and the at least one station includes a plurality of stations; The track girder is The main track and a plurality of sub-rails arranged in the air corresponding to the plurality of stations, the sub-rails branching off from the main rail in parallel with the main rail and joining the main rail; a plurality of inlet turnouts respectively corresponding to the plurality of sub-tracks; a plurality of exit switches respectively corresponding to the plurality of sub-tracks; each of the plurality of sub-rails is configured to branch off from the main rail via a corresponding one of the plurality of inlet turnouts and to merge with the main rail via a corresponding one of the plurality of outlet turnouts; The plurality of sub-tracks include: a basic secondary track branching off from the main track in parallel with the main track and joining the main track; an additional sub-track branching off from the main track in parallel with the basic sub-track and merging with the main track.

9. The suspended monorail transportation system according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising a lifter installed on the ground and capable of lifting the car body from the ground toward the bogie.

Images