A method 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 from traveling on the upper tracks using lower wheels to traveling on the lower track using upper wheels, where the said method 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 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 from traveling on the upper tracks using lower wheels to traveling on the lower track using upper wheels, where the said method 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 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.

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 continuous serpentine concrete beamway forming system and method for creating a hollow continuous serpentine concrete beamway are disclosed. The continuous serpentine concrete beamway forming system and method utilizes a flexible form material that has the ability to conform to curves, angles, and slopes of a target beamway system as intended. The flexible form material is used to form an armature that embodies a precise pathway of the target beamway system. The armature is contiguous throughout a plurality of connected beamway segments that collectively make up the target beamway system and that are precisely aligned to conform to the curves, angles, and slopes of the target beamway system. A part of the armature creates grooves on the surfaces of the connected beamway segments. The grooves are subsequently used to guide machinery that grinds the running surfaces to precise tolerances. Precise alignment is achieved as a result of the grooves being formed in a continuous fashion, thereby allowing the grinding machines to cross from one beamway segment to the next.

A continuous serpentine concrete beamway forming system and method for creating a hollow continuous serpentine concrete beamway are disclosed. The continuous serpentine concrete beamway forming system and method utilizes a flexible form material that has the ability to conform to curves, angles, and slopes of a target beamway system as intended. The flexible form material is used to form an armature that embodies a precise pathway of the target beamway system. The armature is contiguous throughout a plurality of connected beamway segments that collectively make up the target beamway system and that are precisely aligned to conform to the curves, angles, and slopes of the target beamway system. A part of the armature creates grooves on the surfaces of the connected beamway segments. The grooves are subsequently used to guide machinery that grinds the running surfaces to precise tolerances. Precise alignment is achieved as a result of the grooves being formed in a continuous fashion, thereby allowing the grinding machines to cross from one beamway segment to the next.

An overhead conveyor for conveying heavy loads such as lorry frame components, lorry trailers or the like, the overhead conveyor having passive travelling mechanisms guided on rails for receiving the heavy load, wherein at least two passive travelling mechanisms are connected via a load-bearing crossmember to form a passive carrier, and the load-bearing crossmember is designed to receive the heavy load, extends substantially along the conveying direction, and is mounted underneath the passive travelling mechanism, and at least one stationary drive device for introducing a driving force into the passive carrier, wherein the drive device has a friction wheel-counter wheel arrangement and a contact device, the friction wheel being mounted on one side of the load-bearing crossmember in order to transmit the driving force to the load-bearing crossmember, and the counter wheel being mounted, transverse to the conveying direction, on the side of the load-bearing crossmember opposite said first side in order to transmit a transverse force to the load-bearing crossmember and/or to absorb a transverse force from the load-bearing crossmember, wherein a contact force is exerted by means of the contact device via the counter wheel and/or via the friction wheel in the direction of the load-bearing crossmember. The drive device has a preloading device designed to apply an additional preloading force to the contact device.

An overhead conveyor for conveying heavy loads such as lorry frame components, lorry trailers or the like, the overhead conveyor having passive travelling mechanisms guided on rails for receiving the heavy load, wherein at least two passive travelling mechanisms are connected via a load-bearing crossmember to form a passive carrier, and the load-bearing crossmember is designed to receive the heavy load, extends substantially along the conveying direction, and is mounted underneath the passive travelling mechanism, and at least one stationary drive device for introducing a driving force into the passive carrier, wherein the drive device has a friction wheel-counter wheel arrangement and a contact device, the friction wheel being mounted on one side of the load-bearing crossmember in order to transmit the driving force to the load-bearing crossmember, and the counter wheel being mounted, transverse to the conveying direction, on the side of the load-bearing crossmember opposite said first side in order to transmit a transverse force to the load-bearing crossmember and/or to absorb a transverse force from the load-bearing crossmember, wherein a contact force is exerted by means of the contact device via the counter wheel and/or via the friction wheel in the direction of the load-bearing crossmember. The drive device has a preloading device designed to apply an additional preloading force to the contact device.