Abstract: A transportation system for transporting a load into and out of a serviced area. The transportation system comprises near and far support lines and a cross support line suspended from the near and far support lines. A trolley assembly traverses the cross support line, and the trolley assembly is adapted to carry the load from the area to harvested. A transfer track may be used to allow the trolley to traverse the near and/or far support lines.

Abstract: A pair of rail members have upward wheel supporting surfaces and inward roller guide surfaces, respectively. A fixed path includes linear path portions and a branching-and-joining path portion. Linear-side guide members extending along the linear path portions and a branching-and-joining-side guide member extending along the branching-and-joining path portion are provided in a branching-and-joining section. A moving body is provided with wheels and side guide rollers supported and guided on a wheel supporting surface and a roller guide surface, respectively. A direction restricting member guided by sideward guide sections of the guide members is driven by a lateral-movement unit to move freely in a lateral direction between a location corresponding to the linear-side guide member and a location corresponding to the branching-and-joining-side guide member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for securing and/or controlling the final position of a tongue rail (14) that can be adjusted in relation to a rigid rail (12). A catch element extends from said tongue rail and interacts with a lever element in such a manner that in the respective final position of the tongue rail the latter is supported and the position of the tongue rail is measured.

Abstract: A distributed control system for a track network includes a local controller connected to a plurality of switch machines and a central office. The local controller receives from each switch machine a switch position signal and outputs to at least one switch machine a switch control signal related to a desired state of a track switch associated with the at least one switch machine in one of a plurality of positions. The local controller further outputs to the central office a first communication signal including switch position data corresponding to the switch position signal output by the at least one switch machine and receives from the central office, as a function of the first communication signal and a desired movement of one or more vehicles on the track network, a second communication signal which includes switch control data corresponding to the switch control data output to the at least one switch machine.

Abstract: A switcher track apparatus comprising four switch units having precisely supported turntables at the intersections of the rails of two tracks, with switch sections of the track on the turntables movable into alternate switching positions in alignment with the two tracks and with magnet assemblies for establishing and releasably holding precise alignment. A dolly or sled for riding on the tracks has four wheel assemblies at its corners each comprising two rows of four roller wheels in a V-shaped arrangement for engagement with curved rail surfaces. The wheel assemblies are carried on sprockets that are tied to a driver sprocket on a T-bar for operation in unison.

Abstract: A guide rail switch for a robotic track system is provided, the robotic track system comprising at least one horizontal guide rail, at least one vertical guide rail, and at least one robot that can move along the guide rails. The switch comprises a frame coupled to the horizontal guide rail and the vertical guide rail, and a moving joint coupled to the frame, wherein the moving joint can move between a first and second position. A first rail section is coupled to the moving joint, wherein the first track section connects to the horizontal guide rail when the moving joint is in the first position. A second rail section coupled to the moving joint, wherein the second track section connects to the vertical guide rail when the moving joint is in the second position. This switch allows the robot to move between the vertical and horizontal rail depending on which position the switch is in.

Abstract: A railway turnout includes conventional rail components (10) which are mounted to cross ties (12) having a top plate (20). Stirrups (22) depend downwardly from the top plate (20). Continuous tubular elements pass through the stirrups (22) and these elements are pumped with concrete to form continuous longitudinal beams which support the components (10).

Abstract: An automatic track switching stem is provided for a movable wall system having multiple wall panels (22) supported by and movable along multiple paths defined by multiple track sections (26-32) to predetermined configurations. The track switching system is operable by manually pushing each of the wall panels (22) along the track sections. Multiple switch assemblies (50, 70, 80) automatically direct each wall panel to an appropriate position based upon diverter means (115 et al.) associated with the trolley assemblies (85 et al.) for each wall panel. The switch assemblies include an array of vertically oriented plates (e.g., 255, 256, 257) that are each offset at different lateral distances from the track path. The diverter means for each trolley assembly includes a vertical pin (e.g., 123) that is situated at a predetermined lateral distance to engage a selected one of the switching plates.

Abstract: This invention relates to a switch lock for switch tongues (2, 3) having at least one locking piece (6, 7) for attaching to a stock rail (4, 5), having at least one switch tongue attachment (8, 9) for attaching to a switch tongue (2, 3) and having a slide rod (10), wherein the adjustment distance of the slide rod (10) is greater than the switch tongue impact (Z) of the switch tongues (2, 3), and in its end position, the switch tongue (2, 3) is locked on the stock rail (4, 5), wherein at least one bearing roller (17, 18) is provided on the locking piece, and wherein the slide rod (10) can be moved relative to the locking piece (6, 7) by means of the bearing rollers (17, 18) to adjust the switch tongue (2, 3).

Abstract: A driving wheel is displaced downward by running off a traveling wheel when a vehicle passes through a diverging part and a detection value of an encoder provided in the driving wheel becomes incorrect by spinning free of the driving wheel. A track 20 is equipped with a pair of the right and left traveling rails 40, 40 for traveling a traveling wheel 23 equipped with a vehicle 13, a slit 60a formed to pass a traveling vehicle body 21 between the traveling rails 40, 40 and a traveling face 43 provided over the traveling rails 40, 40, and the vehicle 13 is provided with a pressure means 35 for contacting a drive wheel 25 with a traveling face 143.

Abstract: There is provided a transportation system for transporting content from a first specified address to a second specified address. The transportation system comprises a transport channel, a plurality of containers, an operator, a propeller operatively connected to said container and in operative communication with said operator, and a central controller remote from said containers and in operative communication with said operator. The controller is configured for receiving orders for transport between the first and second addresses. In operation, the controller communicates instructions to the operator, and the operator further communicates the instructions to the propeller, causing the propeller to propel the cargo from the first address to the second address.

Abstract: A trolley for track systems with essentially right-angled intersections is equipped with raisable and lowerable rollers which can be lowered to engage with, and raised to disengage with, one of the pairs of tracks. A common actuator (76,78) simultaneously lowers, in relation to the trolley, the rollers associated with one pair of tracks and raises the rollers associated with the intersecting pair of tracks.

Abstract: A rail-mounted transport device for ultra-heavy loads, in particular for changing steel mill converters includes a vehicle which accepts the load independently and is guided on tracks to a delivery station via a turning station where the transport direction is changed, in particular by 90°. The vehicle frame has an annular component for accepting the load, at least three turning wheels provided at the periphery of the annular component, and transport wheels arranged on the vehicle frame, wherein the transport wheels and/or the turning wheels are adjustable in height by means of adjusting elements. The adjusting elements are connected to actuators which can be brought into a position above the vehicle frame in which the transport wheels are raised from the rails during turning. Motors drive the turning wheels to rotate the vehicle frame from the previous transport direction into the desired transport direction.

Abstract: A conveyor switch for a conveyor track comprising a tubular linear induction motor as the switch drive. A switch tongue is adapted to be pivoted between first and second positions on the conveyor track and has a driving arm extending from one end thereof. The switch drive is operatively connected to the driving arm for driving the switch tongue, wherein the switch tongue is adapted to direct a moving conveyor component between first and second paths of travel on the conveyor track. Various means are provided to account for the linear movement of the switch drive in relation to the arcuate movement of the switch tongue. The switch assembly is especially adapted for switches in power and free conveyor systems.

Abstract: A track-alternating arrangement for magnetic-levitation roadways, in which one of a series of mutually aligned bearers in each roadway establishes a first junction to join the roadways together. The bearer is inflectable to form the first junction. Each bearer, in an inflected state in one roadway, is aligned with another bearer in an adjacent roadway. An abutting one of the bearers adjacent the inflectable bearer is shiftable out beyond a free base of a car traveling over the roadway to provide sufficient space for the car to pass the junction. The abutting bearers are inflected to establish a different second junction. The inflectable bearers are shiftable out beyond a free cross-section of the car when the abutting bearers establish the different second junction.

Abstract: A system (1) for transferring a movable load (2) for an installation (3) for conveying the load (2), and to transfer the load (2) from an arrival track (8) where the load (2) is conveyed along an entry conveying path (C), to at least first (9) and second (10) exit tracks where the load (2) is conveyed, the system (1) including a movable track section (11) adjustable for position, where the load (2) is conveyed along an intermediate conveying path, in which the section (11) includes at least two end to end track segments (16) mounted pivotally with respect to each other by a device (17) close to a junction (18) between segments (16) so that the entry, intermediate and exit conveying paths form, end to end, a conveying path whose tangent has continuous variation.

Abstract: A diverter for a suspended conveying apparatus in which conveyable-article carriers provided with running rollers are guided on running rails. A diverter tongue is connected to a running-rail section via an articulated arrangement so as to be pivotable between two diverter positions. The articulated arrangement includes a bridging element that connects the running profile of the running-rail section to the running profile of the diverter tongue and is mounted to be pivoted about an axis on the running-rail section as well as about an axis on the diverter tongue. In a transition region between the running-rail section and the bridging element, in each case one running-roller guide surface of the running-roller section and one running-roller guide surface of the bridging element run one beside the other in the conveying direction to respectively support a running roller of a conveyable-article carrier.

Abstract: A cross-over between tracks (1, 2) for track-gripping, track-bound vehicles consists of two parallel adjacent movable track elements (3) coupled to each other by several connection elements (4) of constant length. The track elements (3) can take two or three defined positions and allow changing from ne track to another without altering the track gauge. The connecting elements can be actuated by a common driving unit.

Abstract: An in-vehicle switch mechanism for guiding a vehicle along a guideway at converging and diverging points of the guide rails in a guided vehicle system includes a support frame; a pivot assembly; a switch arm assembly pivotably mounted at its proximate end to the pivot assembly; a switch wheel rotatably mounted to the switch arm assembly at its distal end; an actuator for moving the switch arm between a deployed position in which the switch wheel engages a guide rail and a stowed position in which the switch wheel is free of the guide rail; and a biasing device interconnected between the support frame and pivot assembly for pre-loading the switch wheel against the guide rail when the switch wheel is deployed as the vehicle approaches the point of divergence; and an in-vehicle switch system which uses such in-vehicle switch mechanisms.

Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for actuating a switch guide beam swinging laterally between two or more fixed guide beam ends, in order to make a route selection for a beam guided vehicle. The moving guide beam pivots distantly of the primary fixed guide beam end to create a gap spanned by an intermediate suspended channel plate guide segment that provides substantially two equal lateral deflections to the moving vehicle for a route diversion in a storage yard or repair shop area. The mechanism for high speed or main line operation has two additional channel plate guide segments slidably guided at each end of the guide segment centrally affixed on the straddle beam and pivoted at the primary beam fixed end and the merge point on the radially moving swing guide beam to provide four substantially equal lateral deflections to the moving vehicle when a route diversion is required.

Abstract: A system for switching rails that rotates in a horizontal plane about a pivot to direct a vehicle traversing a system of rails along alternate paths is provided. The rail switching system also has a main line connector for providing one vehicle path between two segments of a main line. The rail switching system has a branch line connector for providing an alternate vehicle path between a segment of the main line and a branch line segment. The main line connector and branch line connector are fixed relative to one another and rotate about the pivot as a single unit.

Abstract: A transportation system, generically known as Personal Rapid Transit, employs conventional electric or hybrid automobiles (18) underwhich are mounted electro-mechanical adaptors (24) which permits them to operate autonomously on an elevated guideway (16) which is part of the PRT system. An electronic guidance sensor system (45), and other functional components built into the adaptors, permits the vehicles to track unique rf signals emitted from a guidance wire (36) centrally embedded in the guideway, and to exit and enter the guideway to and from off-line stations (10), and to select various platforms and storage areas within these stations.

Abstract: A switching device adapted to be used with a model railroad track which has a track switch. The switching device has a slide member connected to a pivot assembly. The pivot assembly is spring connected to a link member which moves a throw bar to move the track switch between a first position and a second position. The switching device may be operated manually and may be remotely operated electrically.

Abstract: Transport system with a transport track (1) along which one or more transport elements (2) (cabins) are moveable, said track (1) running over a substantial horizontal distance, and at least two horizontally spaced stations, for loading and unloading persons and/or goods from the cabin, said stations being at a different vertical level of at least several meters, and the transport track brigdes the said level difference through a relatively steep course and preferably the transport track (1) and/or the cabin are mutually adapted such that the passenger comfort is secured along the part of the track where the level difference is bridged.

Abstract: A system is provided that uses small carrier vehicles that operate along electrified guideways and use standardized connections to automatically carry load-carriers to desired destinations. The load-carriers may be passenger cabins, freight loads or automobile platforms and in each case are loaded and unloaded at separate loading and loading regions. Loading regions are preceded by queue portions of branch paths and may include a group of regions which may be a series of cabin loading regions along a branch path or may be automobile loading regions in side-by-side lanes. Passenger station arrangements are provided for rapid and efficient movement of passengers and for transfer operations when desired. Platform constructions and loading arrangements are provided for rapid loading and unloading and safe transport of automobiles.