A conveying-path rotary switching unit that is a conveying path switching device includes a base, stators arranged along conveying paths for branching for a conveying carriage, a first conveying path provided on the base, and a second conveying path that is provided on the base and is different from the first conveying path. As for a conveying path on which the conveying carriage travels, the first conveying path and the second conveying path are switchable by rotation. The stators are used for both the first conveying path and the second conveying path in a shared manner.

A conveying-path rotary switching unit that is a conveying path switching device includes a base, stators arranged along conveying paths for branching for a conveying carriage, a first conveying path provided on the base, and a second conveying path that is provided on the base and is different from the first conveying path. As for a conveying path on which the conveying carriage travels, the first conveying path and the second conveying path are switchable by rotation. The stators are used for both the first conveying path and the second conveying path in a shared manner.

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.

In a long stator linear motor, in order to implement a transfer position in which a transport unit (Tn) is magnetically steered in order to be redirected from a first transport section (Am) to a second transport section (An) and in order that the forward movement of the transport unit (Tn) remains as unaffected as possible by the transfer, it is provided that at the transfer position (U) on at least one side of the transport unit (Tn), the stator current (i.sub.A) of at least one driving coil (7, 8) interacting with an excitation magnet (4, 5) of the transport unit (Tn) is supplied as a current vector with a propulsive force-forming current component (i.sub.Aq) and a lateral force-forming current component (i.sub.Ad), and the stator current (i.sub.A) generates a propulsive force-forming electromagnetic force (F.sub.EMV) and/or lateral force-forming electromagnetic force component (F.sub.EMS) which is superimposed on the propulsive force (F.sub.V) acting on the transport unit (Tn) for production of a steering effect (L).

The invention relates to a switch (1) of a transport system for a movable transport element (T), where the switch (1) comprises a main track (3) and a secondary track (4) branching off. where the movable transport element (T) can be guided from a transition region (2), in which the secondary track (4) branches off from the main track (3), optionally along the main track (3) or transferred into the secondary track (4), where one or more linear motor sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) are respectively provided at the main track (3) and the secondary track (4) for moving the movable transport element (T), where a normal force is present between the movable transport element (T) and the adjacent linear motor section or the adjacent linear motor sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), characterized in that devices for altering the normal force are provided in the transition region. The invention also relates to a transport system comprising such a switch and a transport element for such a transport system.

The invention relates to a switch (1) of a transport system for a movable transport element (T), where the switch (1) comprises a main track (3) and a secondary track (4) branching off. where the movable transport element (T) can be guided from a transition region (2), in which the secondary track (4) branches off from the main track (3), optionally along the main track (3) or transferred into the secondary track (4), where one or more linear motor sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) are respectively provided at the main track (3) and the secondary track (4) for moving the movable transport element (T), where a normal force is present between the movable transport element (T) and the adjacent linear motor section or the adjacent linear motor sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), characterized in that devices for altering the normal force are provided in the transition region. The invention also relates to a transport system comprising such a switch and a transport element for such a transport system.

The invention provides, in some aspects, a magnetic levitation transport system with a guideway having rails with propulsion windings extending therealong and defining first and second diverging paths. A vehicle disposed on the guideway has T-shaped propulsion pods extending toward to the guideway. Arms of the propulsion pods extend laterally from stems and include permanent magnets and control coils. These are disposed adjacent respective rails/windings. The propulsion pods and rails propel, switch, suspend, and guide a vehicle on the guideway.

The invention provides, in some aspects, a magnetic levitation transport system with a guideway having rails with propulsion windings extending therealong and defining first and second diverging paths. A vehicle disposed on the guideway has T-shaped propulsion pods extending toward to the guideway. Arms of the propulsion pods extend laterally from stems and include permanent magnets and control coils. These are disposed adjacent respective rails/windings. The propulsion pods and rails propel, switch, suspend, and guide a vehicle on the guideway.

A track switch for a magnetic levitation transport system includes a trunk segment of track, an upper branch segment of track, a lower branch segment of track, and a divergent zone. The divergent zone has coextensive spaced rails extending from the trunk segment and splitting into upper rails extending to the upper branch segment, and lower rails extending to the lower branch segment, so that a vehicle engaging the rails and entering the switch at the trunk segment is guided and magnetically levitated to a selected one of either the upper branch segment or the lower branch segment.

A track switch for a magnetic levitation transport system includes a trunk segment of track, an upper branch segment of track, a lower branch segment of track, and a divergent zone. The divergent zone has coextensive spaced rails extending from the trunk segment and splitting into upper rails extending to the upper branch segment, and lower rails extending to the lower branch segment, so that a vehicle engaging the rails and entering the switch at the trunk segment is guided and magnetically levitated to a selected one of either the upper branch segment or the lower branch segment.