TBone: An Interactive WaveGuide Brass Instrument Synthesis Workbench for the NeXT Machine

The disclosed system is based on a guideway track or "monorail" of deep channel or W configuration having an upraised carriage supporting rib or rail in the bottom of the channel with troughs or gutters on either side to collect water, dirt, etc. This track is cast in sections, straight or curved, and aligned sections are usually set into the ground with coping and flexible cover or closure means at the top, generally located at ground level. The carriage frame is supported on a vertical spine comprising a main upright plate which carries traction drive wheels on forks pivoted to the end of the plate. The plate also carries vertical axled side rollers contacting the guideway side walls to support the carriage laterally. An endless heavy Vee belt, driven by electric motor, drives the traction wheels and serves also as a cushion between them and the track rib insuring good traction even on steep slopes. The wheel-carrying forks are directionally controlled by feeler rollers which ride against the channel side walls to detect curves or switching points and, through control linkage, to "program" the direction of movement. Power is supplied through electric conductors built inside the closed channel and major control functions, such as switching, speed, spacing between successive vehicles, etc., are fed to conductors or bus bars within the guideway; preferably, only simple start, stop and turn controls are built into the carriages themselves, simplifying passenger control, subject to overall system control programmed into the channel-track. The vault-like channel structure of the guideway affords electrical safety and forms a conduit for supply of heated or cooled air, from supply plants along the line, to keep the track free of ice in winter and to keep passengers in carriages warm or cool as needed. Conditioned air is scooped from the guideway into the passenger compartment. Applications to golf courses, ski lifts and to various municipal or industrial complexes of moderately dense personal transport requirements are described.