Importance

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Abstract

A device for adjusting the position of a track mounted car from a first position where the car is initially spotted by conventional braking means to a second predetermined position on the track which must be reached within close tolerances. An arm which may be pivoted in a vertical arc parallel to the track is pivotally attached to the car at its one end and at its other end it has preferably cone-shaped feeler means which engages a protrusion fixed adjacent to the track. A preferably vertical gravity based reference position is selected for the arm, and a sensing means for producting a direct current output signal proportional in magnitude to angular displacement of the arm from this position and corresponding in polarity to direction of displacement is provided. This signal is inputed to a control means for a dual directional, variable speed hydraulic traction drive means for the car so it will move in the direction of its predetermined final position at an instantaneous velocity which is proportional to its distance from that position. In another embodiment of this invention, a protrusion is engaged by a horizontal arm which swings in a horizontal arc and interacts with a pivoting vertical arm which swings in a vertical arc parallel to the track. The sensing means is mounted on the vertical arm, and, as the horizontal arm is moved in becoming aligned with the protrusion, it displaces the vertical arm from its gravity based reference position so as to produce a signal to control the car's drive means.

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First Claim