Abstract: A switch track for switching a girder type track between a plurality of stationary tracks comprises a movable track girder including a drive girder and at least one driven girder. One end of the driven girder is rotatably supported at a predetermined point located on the ground, and the other end of the driven girder is connected to the drive girder. The drive girder is driven by a drive arrangement to pivot at one side thereof adjacent to the driven girder, around an imaginary center common to both of its ends, in order to enable it is move between connecting points of respective main tracks. The driven girder is moved only by driving the drive girder, such that the movable track girder is switched between connecting paths to the respective main tracks.

Abstract: A switch for connecting a main track girder selectively to any of a plurality of branch track girders includes a plurality of movable girders with articulations between adjacent movable track girders and between the main track girder and one of the movable track girders adjacent thereto, forming a stepped curve. The track girders have main rails fixedly secured thereon, respectively, for guiding a vehicle and for forming the stepped curve according to the arrangement of the main track girder and the movable track girders. A short intermedial rail is provided between the adjacent main rails. The short intermedial rails have both ends connected to the main rails on adjacent main track girders and adjacent movable track girders with relatively variable angles.

Abstract: A switch track apparatus for a girder type track comprises a movable girder composed of at least one girder portion shiftable between a plurality of positions on a fixed supporting member and of at least one drive device for driving the movable girder. The drive device is supported on a side surface of the movable girder substantially within a thickness of the movable girder.

Abstract: A current collecting apparatus for a transport vehicle such as a linear motor car comprises a mounting member for mounting said apparatus for a truck body of a transport vehicle through an insulator. A supporting member is provided on the mounting member such that the supporting member can be moved in a transverse direction of the transport vehicle by a couple of mount arms rotatably supported to the mounting member. Collecting shoes are supported at the lower end of each of the support arms, respectively, for receiving electric power supplied by a trolley rail. Each of the support arms comprises a couple of joint arms forming a parallelogram linkage for maintaining good contact between the trolley rail and the collector shoes. When the transport vehicle travels along curved tracks, the support arms incline in the transverse direction of the transport vehicle against an elastic force of a contracting spring so as to keep contact between the collecting shoes and the trolley rail.

Abstract: A centering and fixing apparatus for a movable element includes a swing arm that is pivoted on a fixed base member for movement in a vertical plane. A fixing arrangement is mounted on the swing arm. The movable element includes a centering arrangement adapted to engage the fixing arrangement. The centering arrangement includes a pair of centering rollers spaced apart a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the swinging plane of the swing arm. The fixing arrangement includes a single roller with a diameter larger than the distance between the centering rollers. The single roller is supported on the swing arm via a spherical bearing arrangement, and is positioned to simultaneously contact the centering rollers.

Abstract: A connecting system for trolley rails at a shunt where tracks for a transport vehicle such as a magnetic levitation type linear motor car are turned off. A first trolley rail is supported on a stationary track girder and a second troley rail is supported on a movable track girder. A movable track girder can be moved from a position where one end thereof is aligned to a first stationary track girder to a position where the end thereof is aligned to a second stationary track girder. A third trolley rail is movably supported in a longitudinal direction thereof on a supporting member which is rotatably supported at one end thereof to a base portion of one end of the first trolley rail. A first slant surface is formed on each of end portions of the first and second trolley rails at an acute angle. Both end portions of the third trolley rail are formed with slant surfaces inclined at obtuse angles with the top peripheral edge of the third trolley rail.

Abstract: A levitation-magnetic-force generating apparatus for linear motor cars including a plurality of electromagnets having a one and single core. The core comprises two plate-like side iron cores arranged in parallel with each other and separated from each other by a gap and a plurality of center iron cores located between the two side iron cores and separated with each other by another gap. Both side edges of each center iron core are fixed to the side iron cores by welding. Each of the center iron cores has a magnetic coil wound around the periphery thereof. The core is mounted in a truck body of a body of the linear motor car so that the longitudinal axis of the core is directed in parallel to the moving direction of the car's body.