The invention concerns a rail crossing device designed for crossing a first rail embedded in a road surface with a guide rail, embedded in the road surface. It comprises at least one extensible portion provided in the guide rail and at least one mechanism designed for lengthwise extension and contraction of the extensible portion. This mechanism is designed to extend and contract the extensible portion in a lengthwise direction, defining a contracted position in which one end of the guide rail is separated from the first rail to allow a vehicle or any other movable device to travel along this rail, and an extended position in which said end of the guide rail is moved towards the first rail in order to guide a vehicle onto the guide rail.

The invention concerns a rail crossing device designed for crossing a first rail embedded in a road surface with a guide rail, embedded in the road surface. It comprises at least one extensible portion provided in the guide rail and at least one mechanism designed for lengthwise extension and contraction of the extensible portion. This mechanism is designed to extend and contract the extensible portion in a lengthwise direction, defining a contracted position in which one end of the guide rail is separated from the first rail to allow a vehicle or any other movable device to travel along this rail, and an extended position in which said end of the guide rail is moved towards the first rail in order to guide a vehicle onto the guide rail.

A dual-mode, adjustable wheel-span vehicle includes at least two pairs of rail wheels for use on rails, wherein some or all of the at least two pairs of rail wheels are adjustable in a distance between a pair of the rail wheels such that the at least two pairs of rail wheels can work with different rail gauges; a mechanism for adjusting a span of the at least two pairs of rail wheels; and at least two pairs of tire wheels for regular roadways. A transportation system for the vehicles includes a rail freeway network having electric power supply lines, sensors to get local information, signals to show system status, and a central computer for system controls; and a plurality of entry and exit ramps for the vehicles to enter or exit the rail freeway network, wherein the entry and exit ramps includes an overhead and/or underneath ramp.

A dual-mode, adjustable wheel-span vehicle includes at least two pairs of rail wheels for use on rails, wherein some or all of the at least two pairs of rail wheels are adjustable in a distance between a pair of the rail wheels such that the at least two pairs of rail wheels can work with different rail gauges; a mechanism for adjusting a span of the at least two pairs of rail wheels; and at least two pairs of tire wheels for regular roadways. A transportation system for the vehicles includes a rail freeway network having electric power supply lines, sensors to get local information, signals to show system status, and a central computer for system controls; and a plurality of entry and exit ramps for the vehicles to enter or exit the rail freeway network, wherein the entry and exit ramps includes an overhead and/or underneath ramp.

An intersecting track includes: two main tracks; a pair of first guide portions disposed in the main tracks and guide a pair of first guide wheels of the vehicle; a pair of crossover tracks disposed over the main tracks to intersect each other; a second guide portion disposed inside each of the pair of crossover tracks and guides a second guide wheel; a switching portion that switches a direction of the vehicle to a direction along the main tracks and a direction along the crossover track; and a switching device disposed in an intersecting area of the second guide portions in the pair of crossover tracks, selectively switches a direction to a direction along one of the second guide portions and a direction along the other of the second guide portions, and guides the second guide wheel in any one of the directions.

A monitoring system having a track; a cart carrying at least one monitoring device and a power supply; and a propulsion system for moving the cart along the track. the monitoring system scanning an area alongside the track.

Rail conveyor element which can be displaced on a rail system with intersecting rails, includes a base and a wheel-bearing cassette which supports the base and in which at least one wheel is accommodated to rest on a rail, the wheel-bearing cassette is rotatably mounted around a vertical axis relative to the base and the rail conveyor element includes a pressure ram with actuator which extends downward on or below the base and can be displaced between a raised unloaded position which coincides with the transport position of the rail conveyor and a lowered loaded position to unload the wheel-bearing cassette relative to the rail.

Rail conveyor element which can be displaced on a rail system with intersecting rails, includes a base and a wheel-bearing cassette which supports the base and in which at least one wheel is accommodated to rest on a rail, the wheel-bearing cassette is rotatably mounted around a vertical axis relative to the base and the rail conveyor element includes a pressure ram with actuator which extends downward on or below the base and can be displaced between a raised unloaded position which coincides with the transport position of the rail conveyor and a lowered loaded position to unload the wheel-bearing cassette relative to the rail.

A support (2) of a track floor conveyor (1), including a hollow profile (3), of which at least one hollow space (4) is enclosed by a wall (5), in which the wall (5), on the side adjoining the track (11), has at least one groove-shaped depression in which the axle or the axle bearing (9) of one or more wheels (8) can be accommodated, and the wall (5) has a recess (7) for at least a part of a wheel (8).

A guided vehicle includes a guidance unit having first and second V-mounted guide pulleys resting on first and second running surfaces of a guide rail. The running surfaces are on sides of a median longitudinal plane of the guide rail and each pulley has a flange for freely gripping the guide rail. A device and method protecting against loss of vehicle guidance include a section with longitudinal height fixed along its length to a guide rail part, between running surfaces, the section having a cross-section guiding the unit during derailment or loss of guidance thereof with the section fixed to the guide rail part. The cross-section geometry holds the first pulley flange on the side of the median plane including the first pulley running surface and the second pulley flange on the side including the second pulley running surface. A device fixes the section to the guide rail.