A monorail vehicle includes a chassis supporting a vehicle body, that includes a passenger floor and at least one side wall, and an electrical motor supported by the chassis. A drive wheel is coupled to a rotor of the electric motor with a rotation axis of the drive wheel substantially coaxial with an axis of the rotor. Portions of the drive wheel and the electric motor are positioned on both sides of an imaginary plane extension of the passenger floor. The drive wheel and the electric motor are covered by a shell that is integral to one side of the vehicle body and which defines a space between the other side of the vehicle body.

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 thereon-regardless of whether the plurality of coils in that region are disposed on a single or multiple (e.g., opposing sides) of those magnets.

A drive device for a railway vehicle operates by receiving power supply from an alternating-current overhead contact line or a three-phase generator. The drive device for a railway vehicle is configured such that a voltage output from a main transformer is applied to alternating-current input ends in a converter circuit via a first switch. A first phase voltage among voltages output from the three-phase generator is applied to an alternating-current input end in a first leg of a brake chopper circuit via a second switch. Second and third phase voltages among the voltages output from the three-phase generator are applied to the alternating-current input ends, respectively, via the second switch.

A system may include a controller with one or more processors. The controller may determine the wheel size of a wheel of a vehicle during a trip. The one or more processors may communicate a message associated with the wheel size to an off-board device when the wheel size is below a threshold size.

A system may include a controller with one or more processors. The controller may determine the wheel size of a wheel of a vehicle during a trip. The one or more processors may communicate a message associated with the wheel size to an off-board device when the wheel size is below a threshold size.

A monorail vehicle includes a chassis supporting a vehicle body that includes a passenger floor, a first side wall, and a second side wall and first and second propulsion systems. Each propulsion system includes an electric motor and a drive wheel coupled to a rotor of the electric motor. Each electric motor and the drive wheel coupled to the rotor of the electric motor are positioned on both sides of an imaginary plane extension of the passenger floor. First and second shells cover portions of the first and second propulsion system. The first shell is positioned proximate to the first side wall and defines a first space between the second side wall. The second shell is positioned proximate to the second side wall and defines a second space between the first side wall.

A monorail vehicle includes a chassis supporting a vehicle body that includes a passenger floor, a first side wall, and a second side wall and first and second propulsion systems. Each propulsion system includes an electric motor and a drive wheel coupled to a rotor of the electric motor. Each electric motor and the drive wheel coupled to the rotor of the electric motor are positioned on both sides of an imaginary plane extension of the passenger floor. First and second shells cover portions of the first and second propulsion system. The first shell is positioned proximate to the first side wall and defines a first space between the second side wall. The second shell is positioned proximate to the second side wall and defines a second space between the first side wall.

A drive for a vehicle which is track-guided on a track section, the vehicle being supported on the track section by track rollers when at a standstill or when moving slowly. Lift-causing elements are mounted on the vehicle and lift the vehicle off the track section during fast travel, and drive rollers of the vehicle act laterally on the track section.

A conveying system includes at least one guide unit and a carrier. The guide unit includes a traveling surface, at least one guide rail, and a magnetic member formed of a soft magnetic material and including a plurality of salient poles aligned along a conveying path. The carrier includes at least one roller coming in contact with the guide rail from a side direction, at least one wheel coming in contact with the traveling surface, and a plurality of coils provided to overlap with the magnetic member in plan view, and configured to generate thrust along the conveying path and attraction toward the magnetic member by generating a moving magnetic field acting on the magnetic member in accordance with supply of power.

A passenger transportation system having at least one rail extending along a path; at least one trolley movable along the rail; an actuating device having a linear electric motor, in turn having at least one slide fitted to the trolley, and a linear stator extending at least partly along the path, and having an elongated body, and a quantity of power windings embedded in the elongated body; and a quantity of sensors configured to control the position of the trolley, the sensors being fitted to the elongated body and so positioned as to minimize noise generated by the power windings on the sensors.