A cable transportation system without a hauling cable and comprising: a plurality of transporting units; two supporting cables for supporting the transporting units in a suspended configuration; a plurality of trolleys, wherein each trolley supports a transporting unit in a suspended configuration and comprises rolls configured for resting and rolling on the supporting cables and at least one electric motor configured for moving the trolley along the supporting cables.

A station for a hyperloop transportation system includes a tube comprising a low-pressure environment, a plurality of tracks within the tube, each track adapted to carry a hyperloop capsule, and a turntable joined to an end of the tube, adapted to rotate a capsule one hundred and eighty degrees. The station also includes a platform disposed on a side of the tube, adapted to hold a plurality of people, and a plurality of gates disposed in one side of the tube. Each gate includes a door forming a barrier between the low-pressure environment of the tube and an exterior of the tube, and a sealing mechanism adapted to form a seal with a hyperloop capsule.

The invention provides in some aspects a transport system comprising a guideway having a plurality of regions in which one or more vehicles are propelled, where each such vehicle includes a magnet. Disposed along each region are a plurality of propulsion coils, each comprising one or more turns that are disposed about a common axis, such that the respective common axes of the plurality of coils in that region are (i) substantially aligned with one another, and (ii) orthogonal to a direction in which the vehicles are to be propelled in that region. The plurality of coils of at least one such region are disposed on opposing sides of the magnets of vehicles being propelled along that region so as to exert a propulsive force of substance on those magnets. In at least one other region, the plurality of coils disposed on only a single side of the magnets of vehicles being propelled in that region exert a propulsive force of substance thereonregardless of whether the plurality of coils in that region are disposed on a single or multiple (e.g., opposing sides) of those magnets.

Drive coils in sections of a linear motor track that are normally used to electromagnetically propel movers along the track when such movers are nearby can be used to generate a mid-bus voltage for the section when not being used to propel movers. Such drive coils not being used to propel movers are considered idle and available for mid-bus voltage generation. The mid-bus voltage, and a full-bus voltage from which the mid-bus voltage is derived, in turn, can be applied across other drive coils that are near movers with varying polarities and magnitudes to propel movers along the track. Track sensors can be positioned along the track to detect presences or absences of movers with respect to drive coils for determining propulsion of such movers or generation of the mid-bus voltage. Accordingly, power supplies can be used more efficiently by not requiring them to generate mid-bus voltages in addition to full-bus voltages and DC references.

Drive coils in sections of a linear motor track that are normally used to electromagnetically propel movers along the track when such movers are nearby can be used to generate a mid-bus voltage for the section when not being used to propel movers. Such drive coils not being used to propel movers are considered idle and available for mid-bus voltage generation. The mid-bus voltage, and a full-bus voltage from which the mid-bus voltage is derived, in turn, can be applied across other drive coils that are near movers with varying polarities and magnitudes to propel movers along the track. Track sensors can be positioned along the track to detect presences or absences of movers with respect to drive coils for determining propulsion of such movers or generation of the mid-bus voltage. Accordingly, power supplies can be used more efficiently by not requiring them to generate mid-bus voltages in addition to full-bus voltages and DC references.

An overhead transport system includes a suspended railway and a motorized carrier configured to travel along the suspended railway. The motorized carrier includes a motorized trolley configured to move the motorized carrier along the suspended railway, chassis/beam configured to carry an object below the motorized trolley, and a bumper and deflection system configured to prevent the object from contacting another object.

An auxiliary power supply device includes: a resonance-type inverter circuit to convert DC power input from a DC power supply to AC power, a primary coil for input of AC power from the inverter circuit, a transformer for output of AC power from a secondary coil insulated from the primary coil, a converter circuit for conversion of AC power from the transformer to DC power, a filter condenser for smoothing of DC voltage from the converter circuit, and an inverter controller for output of a gate signal for causing operation of switching elements of the inverter circuit. The inverter controller, in a charging mode for charging the filter condenser, makes pulse width of the gate signal smaller than when in a running mode for running of electric rolling stock, and gradually increases the pulse width in accordance with an elapsed time under control in the charging mode.

An auxiliary power supply device includes: a resonance-type inverter circuit to convert DC power input from a DC power supply to AC power, a primary coil for input of AC power from the inverter circuit, a transformer for output of AC power from a secondary coil insulated from the primary coil, a converter circuit for conversion of AC power from the transformer to DC power, a filter condenser for smoothing of DC voltage from the converter circuit, and an inverter controller for output of a gate signal for causing operation of switching elements of the inverter circuit. The inverter controller, in a charging mode for charging the filter condenser, makes pulse width of the gate signal smaller than when in a running mode for running of electric rolling stock, and gradually increases the pulse width in accordance with an elapsed time under control in the charging mode.

A conveying system includes a plurality of carriers and circuitry. The plurality of carriers has a power source generating thrust in accordance with supply of power and moves along a conveying path. The circuitry is configured to execute detection of a collision between the carriers based on an increase in the thrust in the carriers.

A conveying system includes a plurality of carriers and circuitry. The plurality of carriers has a power source generating thrust in accordance with supply of power and moves along a conveying path. The circuitry is configured to execute detection of a collision between the carriers based on an increase in the thrust in the carriers.