For a long stator linear motor comprising a switch and secure guidance of the transport vehicles in the direction of movement along the transport track, it is provided that the transport vehicle (Tn) is force-guided, at least in sections, in the direction of movement (x) outside the switch (W), and at least one one-sided track section (2d) is provided on the transport track (2), along which a vehicle guide element (7) only on one side of the transport track (2) interacts with the track guide element (6) on the assigned side of the transport track (2) for the mechanical forced guidance in the direction of movement (x), and the forced guidance in the direction of movement (x) in the transverse direction (y) is canceled in the region of the switch (W).

A track switching arrangement for a track-based guided transportation system, wherein the track switching arrangement forms diverging pathways and enables vehicle-side switching of a vehicle in the guided transportation system. The track switching arrangement includes an upstream pathway; two downstream pathways; and a path switching transition region having the diverging pathways between the upstream pathway and the two downstream pathways. Each of the pathways includes track elements configured to interact with one or more respective bearings of the vehicle to provide levitation to the vehicle and/or guidance for the vehicle.

Method for transferring a transport unit of a long stator linear motor at a transfer position from a first transport section to a second transport section. On each side of the transport unit, excitation magnets are arranged to interact with driving coils, and on both sides of the transport unit, excitation-magnetic lateral forces are acting on the transport unit by an interaction of the excitation magnets with ferromagnetic components of the guide structure. Method includes supplying on at least one side of the transport unit a stator current n a driving coil to generate a lateral force-forming electromagnetic force that acts on the transport unit, so that a resulting lateral force, as a sum of the acting excitation-magnetic lateral force and of the lateral force-forming electromagnetic force, on each side of the transport unit is different to produce a steering effect on the transport unit at the transfer position.

A switch for a track of a maglev train is provided. The switch comprises a front main track beam and a rear switching track beam. The rear switching track beam comprises a central fixed track beam and a middle mobile track beam; the front main track beam can switch between a straight track and a bent track by bending; the central fixed track beam is a fixed track beam; and the middle mobile track beam can move parallelly between the straight track and the bent track. The imposed deformation length and driving weight of the switch is minimised by providing the middle mobile track beam, and the required track switching time is shortened.

A switch for a track of a maglev train is provided. The switch comprises a front main track beam and a rear switching track beam. The rear switching track beam comprises a central fixed track beam and a middle mobile track beam; the front main track beam can switch between a straight track and a bent track by bending; the central fixed track beam is a fixed track beam; and the middle mobile track beam can move parallelly between the straight track and the bent track. The imposed deformation length and driving weight of the switch is minimised by providing the middle mobile track beam, and the required track switching time is shortened.

A method of interchange for an evacuated tube transport system includes tubes for enabling capsule movement within the tubes. The tubes are evacuated and the capsules magnetically levitated within the tubes. The tubes have an interchanges having diverging and converging tubes, respectively. A control system includes divergence force elements having permanent magnets that are selectively orientable polarity to enable capsule control, or electro magnets with polarity selectively switchable to enable capsule path control. The method selectively energizes the force elements to enable the capsule to diverge or converge in an interchange. An interrupter also regulates the force elements. The method activates the force elements and disables deactivation of the force elements before the capsule diverges in the interchange. The method balances divergence forces through center of gravity and through center of lift on receiving a request for divergence. The control system regulates capsule speed, spacing between capsules, and divergence timing.

A method of interchange for an evacuated tube transport system includes tubes for enabling capsule movement within the tubes. The tubes are evacuated and the capsules magnetically levitated within the tubes. The tubes have an interchanges having diverging and converging tubes, respectively. A control system includes divergence force elements having permanent magnets that are selectively orientable polarity to enable capsule control, or electro magnets with polarity selectively switchable to enable capsule path control. The method selectively energizes the force elements to enable the capsule to diverge or converge in an interchange. An interrupter also regulates the force elements. The method activates the force elements and disables deactivation of the force elements before the capsule diverges in the interchange. The method balances divergence forces through center of gravity and through center of lift on receiving a request for divergence. The control system regulates capsule speed, spacing between capsules, and divergence timing.

The invention provides in some aspects a transport system comprising a guideway with a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled. One or more vehicles are disposed on the guideway, each including a magnetic flux source. The guideway has one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide. Each vehicle can have a septum portion of narrowed cross-section that is coupled to one or more body portions of the vehicle. The guideway includes a diverge region that has a flipper and an extension of the running surface at a vertex of the diverge. The flipper initiates switching of vehicle direction at a diverge by exerting a laterally directed force thereon. The extension continues switching of vehicle direction at the diverge by contacting the septum. Still other aspects of the invention provide a transport system, e.g., as described above, that includes a merge region with a flipper and a broadened region of the running surface. The flipper applies a lateral force to the vehicle to alter an angle thereof as the vehicle enters the merge region, and the broadened region continues the merge by contacting the septum of the vehicle, thereby, providing further guidance or channeling for the merge. The flipper, which can be equipped for full or partial deployment, is partially deployed in order to effect alteration of the vehicle angle as the vehicle enters the merge.

The invention provides in some aspects a transport system comprising a guideway with a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled. One or more vehicles are disposed on the guideway, each including a magnetic flux source. The guideway has one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide. Each vehicle can have a septum portion of narrowed cross-section that is coupled to one or more body portions of the vehicle. The guideway includes a diverge region that has a flipper and an extension of the running surface at a vertex of the diverge. The flipper initiates switching of vehicle direction at a diverge by exerting a laterally directed force thereon. The extension continues switching of vehicle direction at the diverge by contacting the septum. Still other aspects of the invention provide a transport system, e.g., as described above, that includes a merge region with a flipper and a broadened region of the running surface. The flipper applies a lateral force to the vehicle to alter an angle thereof as the vehicle enters the merge region, and the broadened region continues the merge by contacting the septum of the vehicle, thereby, providing further guidance or channeling for the merge. The flipper, which can be equipped for full or partial deployment, is partially deployed in order to effect alteration of the vehicle angle as the vehicle enters the merge.

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.