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.

The invention provides in some aspects a transport system comprising a guideway with a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled. One or more vehicles are disposed on the guideway, each including a magnetic flux source. The guideway has one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide. Each vehicle can have a septum portion of narrowed cross-section that is coupled to one or more body portions of the vehicle. The guideway includes a diverge region that has a flipper and an extension of the running surface at a vertex of the diverge. The flipper initiates switching of vehicle direction at a diverge by exerting a laterally directed force thereon. The extension continues switching of vehicle direction at the diverge by contacting the septum. Still other aspects of the invention provide a transport system, e.g., as described above, that includes a merge region with a flipper and a broadened region of the running surface. The flipper applies a lateral force to the vehicle to alter an angle thereof as the vehicle enters the merge region, and the broadened region continues the merge by contacting the septum of the vehicle, thereby, providing further guidance or channeling for the merge. The flipper, which can be equipped for full or partial deployment, is partially deployed in order to effect alteration of the vehicle angle as the vehicle enters the merge.

According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises an interior wall and guard strips magnetically coupled to the interior wall. Each of the guard strips comprises a cushioning material for absorbing impact. The guard strips are configured to prevent an object loaded in the railcar from contacting the interior wall. The railcar further comprises protected magnetic fastening systems coupling each of the guard strips to the interior wall. Each of the protected magnetic fastening systems comprises a magnet and a rod comprising a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled to the magnet, and the second end extends through the guard strip. The protected magnetic fastening system may further comprise a cup washer coupled to the second end of the rod and secured with a fastener. The cup washer partially surrounds the fastener to restrict objects larger than the cup washer from contacting the fastener.

A switch is presented for a magnetically suspended or at least guided vehicle. The switch comprises a fork from a first track segment to a second and third track segment. An elongate conductive module, for example a conductive wire is provided along at least the first track segment and optionally along the second and third track segment. The conductive module comprises conductor segments that guide a current with a directional component substantially parallel the length of the track, at a first surface of the track. With an electromagnet provided on a carriage having a pole directed to the first surface of the track, a Lorentz force may be provided for urging the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the length of the track. This allows a carriage moving along the first track segment to be urged towards the second or third track segment at the other side of the fork.

A method for producing, especially configuring, a system is provided, including a contact wire and an apparatus, and device for carrying out the method. The apparatus is able to be supplied with energy with the aid of the contact wire, and information is transmittable from and/or receivable by the apparatus via the contact wire. The contact wire has at least a first, second, fourth and fifth contact conductor that are connected to one respective connector element of the apparatus. The first and second contact conductors have one respective phase of the AC voltage supplying the apparatus. The fourth contact conductor is provided for transmitting information and the fifth contact conductor is provided for receiving information. One of the phases, thus especially the phase acting as signaling phase, is connected electrically to a first connector element, in particular, the first connector element is provided with a corresponding marking or identification when producing the apparatus. A controllable switch, particularly a semiconductor switch, of the apparatus electrically connects the first connector element for periods of time to the connector element connected to the fourth contact conductor, or breaks this connection.

A method for producing, especially configuring, a system is provided, including a contact wire and an apparatus, and device for carrying out the method. The apparatus is able to be supplied with energy with the aid of the contact wire, and information is transmittable from and/or receivable by the apparatus via the contact wire. The contact wire has at least a first, second, fourth and fifth contact conductor that are connected to one respective connector element of the apparatus. The first and second contact conductors have one respective phase of the AC voltage supplying the apparatus. The fourth contact conductor is provided for transmitting information and the fifth contact conductor is provided for receiving information. One of the phases, thus especially the phase acting as signaling phase, is connected electrically to a first connector element, in particular, the first connector element is provided with a corresponding marking or identification when producing the apparatus. A controllable switch, particularly a semiconductor switch, of the apparatus electrically connects the first connector element for periods of time to the connector element connected to the fourth contact conductor, or breaks this connection.

A monorail vehicle includes two bogie assemblies supporting different ends of a chassis. Each bogie assembly includes guide wheels rotatably connected to a bogie frame, a wheel assembly for rolling along a top of a guide beam, and a drive unit. The drive unit includes an electric motor attached to the bogie frame via a mounting flange that is located within a first lateral half of the body, a brake unit, and a planetary gear assembly coupled to a rotor of the electric motor. The planetary gear assembly is located on a first side of the electric motor and the wheel assembly is mounted to an output of the planetary gear assembly. The drive unit is attached whereupon the wheel assembly may be dismounted from the drive unit in a direction of a second lateral half of the body without dismounting the drive unit from the bogie frame.

A monorail vehicle includes two bogie assemblies supporting different ends of a chassis. Each bogie assembly includes guide wheels rotatably connected to a bogie frame, a wheel assembly for rolling along a top of a guide beam, and a drive unit. The drive unit includes an electric motor attached to the bogie frame via a mounting flange that is located within a first lateral half of the body, a brake unit, and a planetary gear assembly coupled to a rotor of the electric motor. The planetary gear assembly is located on a first side of the electric motor and the wheel assembly is mounted to an output of the planetary gear assembly. The drive unit is attached whereupon the wheel assembly may be dismounted from the drive unit in a direction of a second lateral half of the body without dismounting the drive unit from the bogie frame.

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.