Abstract: A transportation system including a vehicle support structure (21), a vehicle (22) supported thereon, and elongated semi-rigid fin (44) attached to the vehicle (22) and a plurality of drive assemblies (45) positioned along the support structure (21) to frictionally engage and drive the fin (44). The fin (44) is sufficiently rigid for support of compressive loads, for example, in braking and acceleration, without lateral buckling, and moreover, the fin (44) is sufficiently rigid to assist in steering of the vehicle (22). The fin (44) preferably is not a continuous or endless member, but extends several vehicle lengths in front of the vehicle (22) for steering and most preferably several vehicle lengths behind the vehicle (22) for propulsion and braking. A flexible traction belt (86) optionally can be coupled in tandem with the fin (44) to provide an endless loop propulsion system.

Abstract: A conveying or transportation system having a haul rope (22) mounted for movement along a path, and a carrier unit (27) coupled to the haul rope (22). The carrier unit (27) is coupled to the haul rope (22) by a rope coupling assembly (51), which preferably includes a tension sensing device (139) and a screw jack tension adjustment assembly (141,142,143,144) formed to respond to sensed tension in the haul rope (22) to adjust the same at the terminals (31). The screw jack tension adjustment assembly (53) preferably includes two screw members (141,142) which are movably mounted in collar assemblies (143,144) and driven by a motor (162) to tension or relax the haul rope (22). A method of automatically maintaining and adjusting the tensioning of the haul rope (22) also is provided.

Abstract: A transit system including a vehicle (21), an elongated flexible traction belt (22) coupled to the vehicle (21) to apply a traction force sufficient to propel the vehicle along a transit path (23), and a drive assembly (24) coupled to displace the traction belt (22). The traction belt (22) is oriented with sides (33) in a substantially vertical plane so that the vehicle (21) can be coupled to one edge (38) of the belt and the other edge (39) used to guide the vertical position of the belt. Intermediate the edges ( 38,39 ) drive assemblies (36,37) can be periodically provided along the length of the transit path (23) to frictionally engage and drive the traction belt without interference from either the guiding surfaces (56,57,58) or the vehicle coupling assembly (51). A method of propelling a vehicle (21) and a traction member-based transit system is provided including a step of applying a traction force to the vehicle ( 21 ) through a traction belt ( 22 ) while the belt is vertically oriented.

Abstract: A conveying or transportation system having a haul rope (22) mounted for movement along a path, a terminal (31) positioned along the path and having a docking surface (52), and a carrier unit (27) coupled to the haul rope (22). The carrier unit (27) is coupled to the haul rope (22) by a rope coupling assembly (51), preferably in the form of a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly (53) and fluid circuit (54), formed to create and maintain tension in the haul rope (22) during transport of the carrier unit (27) and formed for yieldable displacement of the haul rope (22) relative to the carrier unit (27) upon engagement of the carrier unit (27) with the docking surface (52) at the terminal (31).