A connection device for suspending a monorail beam includes a top anchor integrated with or attachable to a roof bolt and a clamping device for connection to the monorail beam. The clamping device has a housing attachable to the monorail beam. The housing includes a central recess with an opening configured such that the top anchor is movable into and out of the central recess along a first axis through the opening. The clamping device has a plurality of locking members radially movable into and out of the central recess with respect to the first axis between an inner locking position in which the locking members prevent the top anchor from moving out of the central recess, and an outer open position in which the top anchor is free to move past the locking members, each respective locking member being provided in a respective radial guide recess of the housing.

A transport system includes a main cable, a track assembly, and a conveyance assembly, wherein the track assembly is suspended from the main cable to allow unimpeded translational movement of the conveyance assembly along the track assembly. In another aspect according to the present invention, the track assembly has a track changing assembly that includes a track changing section rotatably coupled to a primary track section for selective alignment of the track changing section to any one of a plurality of exit track sections. A method of conveyance along a suspended track includes suspending a main cable between natural or artificial support structures, suspending a track assembly from the main cable, and mounting a conveyance assembly on the suspended track assembly to provide unimpeded translational movement of the conveyance assembly along the track assembly.

A transport system includes a main cable, a track assembly, and a conveyance assembly, wherein the track assembly is suspended from the main cable to allow unimpeded translational movement of the conveyance assembly along the track assembly. In another aspect according to the present invention, the track assembly has a track changing assembly that includes a track changing section rotatably coupled to a primary track section for selective alignment of the track changing section to any one of a plurality of exit track sections. A method of conveyance along a suspended track includes suspending a main cable between natural or artificial support structures, suspending a track assembly from the main cable, and mounting a conveyance assembly on the suspended track assembly to provide unimpeded translational movement of the conveyance assembly along the track assembly.

An arrangement of two rail segments, consisting of at least one mounting element disposed at each rail segment, and of at least one connector in contact with the mounting elements, by means of which the rail segments can be connected to each other at the end faces thereof, wherein each mounting element is attached to the corresponding rail segment by means of a welding seam. At least one end of the welding seam ends in a region on the rail segment outside of the mounting element.

An arrangement of two rail segments, consisting of at least one mounting element disposed at each rail segment, and of at least one connector in contact with the mounting elements, by means of which the rail segments can be connected to each other at the end faces thereof, wherein each mounting element is attached to the corresponding rail segment by means of a welding seam. At least one end of the welding seam ends in a region on the rail segment outside of the mounting element.

A running rail (1) for a conveyor system, the running rail (1) having a cross-sectional profile comprising at least three interconnected profiled portions which comprise a first profiled portion (2), laterally open to the outside, for receiving first rollers (32) of a carriage (30), a second profiled portion (3), laterally open to the outside, for receiving second rollers (33) of a carriage (30), a third profiled portion (4), open in the vertical direction, for receiving third rollers (34) of a carriage (1), wherein the first (2) and the second profiled portion (3) are mirror symmetrical to a vertical central plane (40) of the running rail (1).

A running rail (1) for a conveyor system, the running rail (1) having a cross-sectional profile comprising at least three interconnected profiled portions which comprise a first profiled portion (2), laterally open to the outside, for receiving first rollers (32) of a carriage (30), a second profiled portion (3), laterally open to the outside, for receiving second rollers (33) of a carriage (30), a third profiled portion (4), open in the vertical direction, for receiving third rollers (34) of a carriage (1), wherein the first (2) and the second profiled portion (3) are mirror symmetrical to a vertical central plane (40) of the running rail (1).

A method and apparatus for enabling elevated trains for travel both above as well as below a vertically tiered pair of tracks by having wheels both in the upper and lower area of the train with the ability to switch, at the end of the line, from traveling on the upper tracks using lower wheels to traveling on the lower track using upper wheels. The method and apparatus of switching between upper and lower tracks enables trains to be moved between multiple levels serving as passing loops as well as vertical depots.

A method and apparatus for enabling elevated trains for travel both above as well as below a vertically tiered pair of tracks by having wheels both in the upper and lower area of the train with the ability to switch, at the end of the line, from traveling on the upper tracks using lower wheels to traveling on the lower track using upper wheels. The method and apparatus of switching between upper and lower tracks enables trains to be moved between multiple levels serving as passing loops as well as vertical depots.

A carriage (11) has a carriage body (12) to extend across the top face of a track. A fixed bearing arrangement (14) includes a bearing (15a, 15b) to engage a first side of the track and having a rotational axis located in a fixed position on the carriage body. A self-adjusting bearing arrangement (19) includes a movable bearing (20) to engage a second side of the track and mounted on a pivot arm (21) having a pivotal connection (24, 25) with the carriage body. A bias spring is arranged to act on the pivot arm such as to maintain contact between the movable bearing and the second side of the track. The movable bearing (20) is not driven. The movable bearing (20) and the pivotal connection (24, 25) of the pivot arm (21) are both located at a first end of the pivot arm. The bias spring is spaced from the pivotal connection (24, 25) in a first direction. The movable bearing (20) rotates about an axis which is offset from the pivot axis of the pivot arm in a second direction which is transverse to the first direction. Such spacing in the first direction is between five and twenty times the spacing in the second direction.