The present invention discloses an apparatus for freight transportation. The apparatus comprising an electrified rail network, and a freight carrier mounted on the electrified rail network. The freight carrier is adjustable in length and comprises locking pins at opposing sides of the freight carrier. The freight carrier adjusts a location of the locking pins to match a length of the container. An attachment device receives and raises the container towards the carrier so that a connection holes at a top of the container connects to the locking pins under the freight carrier. A drive wheel assembly disposed at the freight carrier provides drive required to facilitate movement of the freight carrier along the rail network. A computing device in communication with the freight carrier is configured to send signal to the freight carrier to navigate the freight carrier to a destination point, thereby automatically delivering containers to the destination point.

The present invention discloses an apparatus for freight transportation. The apparatus comprising an electrified rail network, and a freight carrier mounted on the electrified rail network. The freight carrier is adjustable in length and comprises locking pins at opposing sides of the freight carrier. The freight carrier adjusts a location of the locking pins to match a length of the container. An attachment device receives and raises the container towards the carrier so that a connection holes at a top of the container connects to the locking pins under the freight carrier. A drive wheel assembly disposed at the freight carrier provides drive required to facilitate movement of the freight carrier along the rail network. A computing device in communication with the freight carrier is configured to send signal to the freight carrier to navigate the freight carrier to a destination point, thereby automatically delivering containers to the destination point.

A switch system for rail-guided vehicle-based transport systems includes a turntable provided with a single straight rail and a single curved rail integral with said turntable, said turntable being rotatable about a rotating shaft, said rotating shaft being arranged such that it is shifted with respect to said straight rail and said curved rail. The switch system is simple and economical and prevents vehicles from stopping as they approach the switch system when the switch system changes its position, and allows the free passage of the vehicle, without the rails hindering the passage of the wheels of the vehicle.

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 turnout apparatus for an overhead monorail includes a frame, an input fixed rail docking an input rail, output fixed rails each docking an output rail, and movable rails disposed between the input fixed rail and the output fixed rails. The input fixed rail is disposed at one end of the frame. The output fixed rails include a first output fixed rail and a second output fixed rail disposed at the other end of the frame. The movable rails include a first movable rail docking the input fixed rail and the first output fixed rail, and a second movable rail docking the input fixed rail and the second output fixed rail. The first and second movable rails are fixed and rotatable about a horizontal line as an axis. Directions toward which upper rail surfaces of the first movable rail and the second movable rail face differ by 180 degrees.

A turnout apparatus for an overhead monorail includes a frame, an input fixed rail docking an input rail, output fixed rails each docking an output rail, and movable rails disposed between the input fixed rail and the output fixed rails. The input fixed rail is disposed at one end of the frame. The output fixed rails include a first output fixed rail and a second output fixed rail disposed at the other end of the frame. The movable rails include a first movable rail docking the input fixed rail and the first output fixed rail, and a second movable rail docking the input fixed rail and the second output fixed rail. The first and second movable rails are fixed and rotatable about a horizontal line as an axis. Directions toward which upper rail surfaces of the first movable rail and the second movable rail face differ by 180 degrees.

A method for enabling elevated trains to 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 tipper 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 control system performs pre-urging to control a guide wheel driver to urge a guide wheel from a first position toward a second position when the guide wheel in a first width direction in a first guide section is in contact with a first side surface of a guide rail before entering an unguided section. The control system continuously performing the pre-urging allows the guide wheel to pass through the unguided section to move the guide wheel from the first position to the second position in the unguided section, and places the guide wheel in a second width direction in a second guide section into contact with a second side surface of the guide rail.

A control system performs pre-urging to control a guide wheel driver to urge a guide wheel from a first position toward a second position when the guide wheel in a first width direction in a first guide section is in contact with a first side surface of a guide rail before entering an unguided section. The control system continuously performing the pre-urging allows the guide wheel to pass through the unguided section to move the guide wheel from the first position to the second position in the unguided section, and places the guide wheel in a second width direction in a second guide section into contact with a second side surface of the guide rail.