The invention provides in some aspects a transport system comprising a guideway having a plurality of regions in which one or more vehicles are propelled, where each such vehicle includes a magnet. Disposed along each region are a plurality of propulsion coils, each comprising one or more turns that are disposed about a common axis, such that the respective common axes of the plurality of coils in that region are (i) substantially aligned with one another, and (ii) orthogonal to a direction in which the vehicles are to be propelled in that region. The plurality of coils of at least one such region are disposed on opposing sides of the magnets of vehicles being propelled along that region so as to exert a propulsive force of substance on those magnets. In at least one other region, the plurality of coils disposed on only a single side of the magnets of vehicles being propelled in that region exert a propulsive force of substance thereon-regardless of whether the plurality of coils in that region are disposed on a single or multiple (e.g., opposing sides) of those magnets.

Vehicle guidance system that includes a first guidance bogie selectively positionable in a first position for travel and a second position for direction change and a second guidance bogie selectively positionable in a third position for travel and a fourth position for direction change. At a common crossing, one of: the first guidance bogie is selectively positioned into the second position, or the second guidance bogie is selectively positioned into the fourth position.

Magnetic levitation can be used for transportation purposes. In various embodiments, the vehicle utilizing magnetic levitation can be enclosed within a tube or a tunnel or outside of an enclosed environment. Various cross-sections of vehicles and tubes can be utilized. In various embodiments, the vehicles can be used for personal or mass transportation use. The vehicle can travel in at least two directions with a window at each end of the vehicle.

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 transportation system comprising a network of rails (10) connecting a plurality of spaced apart locations (12, 14), plural vehicles running on the network of rails, and plural rail switches (22). Each rail switch (22) guides a vehicle of the plural vehicles from one section (16, 18, 20) of the network of rails to a selected one of at least two further sections (16, 18, 20) of the network of rails or from a selected one of at least two sections (16, 18, 20) of the network of rails to another section (16, 18, 20) of the network of rails, said selection depending on a position of the rail switch. The transportation system further comprises at least one controller (24) configured to control switching of the plural rail switches (22) whereby each of the plural vehicles travels from one of the plurality of spaced apart locations (12, 14) to a selected one of the other of the plurality of spaced apart locations (12, 14). Each of the plural vehicles comprises one of a primary and a secondary of a linear motor. The network of rails (10) comprises the other of the primary and the secondary of the linear motor. The other of the primary and the secondary is distributed in the network of rails (10) whereby the other of the primary and the secondary extends along sections (16, 18, 20) of the network of rails. The one of the primary and the secondary of each vehicle is disposed relative to the other of the primary and the secondary when the vehicle is on the network of rails (10) such that the vehicle is propelled relative to the other of the primary and the secondary when the primary is energised to thereby propel the vehicle through the network of rails.

A high-speed transportation system, the system including at least one transportation tube having at least one track, at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube between stations, a propulsion system for the at least one capsule; and a levitation system for levitating the capsule in the tube.

Various propulsion motor topologies are provided. In particular, a propulsion motor is provided which includes: at least one ferromagnetic core having opposite ends joined by a body forming a magnetic flux pathway between the opposite ends; a magnetic flux inducing device to induce a first magnetic flux in the at least one ferromagnetic core along the magnetic flux pathway; and armature coils to induce a varying second magnetic flux in the at least one ferromagnetic core perpendicular to the magnetic flux pathway, to assist inducing a propulsion force perpendicular to the magnetic flux pathway. The at least one ferromagnetic core is shaped to form one or more total forces perpendicular to the propulsion force due to the first magnetic flux.

Various topologies to reduce force ripple for propulsion motors are provided. A propulsion motor comprises: ferro-magnetic cores arranged along a movement axis, the ferromagnetic cores including one or more end ferromagnetic cores located at an end of the movement axis, the one or more end ferromagnetic cores shaped to provide one or more of increasing magnetic permeance or decreasing magnetic reluctance from the end of the movement axis towards a center of the movement axis; armature coils located around the ferromagnetic cores; and at least one field coil around one or more of the armature coils and the ferromagnetic cores.

A vehicle with offset propulsion motors is provided. The vehicle comprises: a body; and a plurality of propulsion motors at a side of the body, arranged in a line about parallel to a movement axis of the body. Displacements between adjacent propulsion motors along the movement axis are selected according to an electrical period of poles of the plurality of propulsion motors, and an offset distance. The offset distance is determined by dividing the electrical period into the offset distance to determine a remainder. The electrical period divided by the remainder is about equal to a number of the plurality of propulsion motors divided by a given integer value that is less than the number of the plurality of propulsion motors, and produces a largest common divider between the given integer value and the number of the plurality of propulsion motors of 1.

A transport system with a transport track with at least one passive track switch, which includes a main track and first and second diverging side tracks of the transport track, and at least one transport element with a response element with at least one permanent magnet and/or non-switching electromagnet. The transport track has fixed first and second guide rails in the area of the passive track switch as well as linear motor strings that are arranged in parallel to the first and second guide rail. The response element of the transport element is engaged within a gap between the first and the second linear motor string.