A monorail vehicle includes a chassis supporting a vehicle body that includes a passenger floor, a first side wall, and a second side wall and first and second propulsion systems. Each propulsion system includes an electric motor and a drive wheel coupled to a rotor of the electric motor. Each electric motor and the drive wheel coupled to the rotor of the electric motor are positioned on both sides of an imaginary plane extension of the passenger floor. First and second shells cover portions of the first and second propulsion system. The first shell is positioned proximate to the first side wall and defines a first space between the second side wall. The second shell is positioned proximate to the second side wall and defines a second space between the first side wall.

An article transport facility includes an article transport vehicle, a storage rack configured to store articles, and a for-rack transport device. The article transport vehicle is configured to travel along one or more rails suspended from, and supported by, a ceiling. The storage rack is suspended from, and supported by, the ceiling. The for-rack transport device is located on an opposite side from the one or more rails with respect to the storage rack. With at least one level of the plurality of levels in at least one of the one or more vertical rows of storage locations being each designated as a carrying-in-or-out level in a corresponding vertical row, and with at least one level of the plurality of levels in at least one of the one or more vertical rows that is not a carrying-in-or-out level being each designated as a storage level in a corresponding vertical row, the article transport vehicle is configured to be capable of transferring an article to any storage location at any carrying-in-or-out level in any of the one or more vertical rows, and is configured to be incapable of transferring an article to any storage location at any storage level in any of the one or more vertical rows.

An overhead conveying vehicle in which a main body part holding a conveyed object is suspended and supported by a traveling part includes a base unit suspended by the traveling part, a horizontal shaft integrally provided with the base unit and extending in a horizontal direction, and a support part provided on the main body part and supporting the horizontal shaft via a rubber bush.

An overhead conveying vehicle in which a main body part holding a conveyed object is suspended and supported by a traveling part includes a base unit suspended by the traveling part, a horizontal shaft integrally provided with the base unit and extending in a horizontal direction, and a support part provided on the main body part and supporting the horizontal shaft via a rubber bush.

A monorail vehicle includes a chassis supporting a vehicle body, that includes a passenger floor and at least one side wall, and an electrical motor supported by the chassis. A drive wheel is coupled to a rotor of the electric motor with a rotation axis of the drive wheel substantially coaxial with an axis of the rotor. Portions of the drive wheel and the electric motor are positioned on both sides of an imaginary plane extension of the passenger floor. The drive wheel and the electric motor are covered by a shell that is integral to one side of the vehicle body and which defines a space between the other side of the vehicle body.

In one aspect, a track structure usable by a wheeled vehicle for hauling a payload up an inclined enclosed passageway comprises a hollow rigid center rail member configured to act as both a center rail for the wheeled vehicle and as a ventilation duct. Opposite lateral faces of the hollow center rail member have respective wheel contact surfaces grippable by an opposed pair of inwardly-biased drive wheels of the wheeled vehicle. Rail support structure depends from the hollow center rail member. An elevated pair of rails is attached to the rail support structure, the rails being on opposite sides of and substantially parallel to the hollow center rail member. Each rail is supported by the rail support structure so as to provide an upper, lower, and lateral surface suitable for rolling engagement by a weight-bearing wheel, undermount wheel, and guide wheel, respectively, of the wheeled vehicle.

In one aspect, a track structure usable by a wheeled vehicle for hauling a payload up an inclined enclosed passageway comprises a hollow rigid center rail member configured to act as both a center rail for the wheeled vehicle and as a ventilation duct. Opposite lateral faces of the hollow center rail member have respective wheel contact surfaces grippable by an opposed pair of inwardly-biased drive wheels of the wheeled vehicle. Rail support structure depends from the hollow center rail member. An elevated pair of rails is attached to the rail support structure, the rails being on opposite sides of and substantially parallel to the hollow center rail member. Each rail is supported by the rail support structure so as to provide an upper, lower, and lateral surface suitable for rolling engagement by a weight-bearing wheel, undermount wheel, and guide wheel, respectively, of the wheeled vehicle.

An overhead conveying vehicle in which a main body part holding a conveyed object is suspended and supported by a traveling part includes a base unit suspended by the traveling part, a horizontal shaft integrally provided with the base unit and extending in a horizontal direction, and a support part provided on the main body part and supporting the horizontal shaft via a rubber bush.

An overhead conveying vehicle in which a main body part holding a conveyed object is suspended and supported by a traveling part includes a base unit suspended by the traveling part, a horizontal shaft integrally provided with the base unit and extending in a horizontal direction, and a support part provided on the main body part and supporting the horizontal shaft via a rubber bush.

Personal transportation system includes plurality of personal transportation vehicles (PTVs) driven on a track network with series of track sections. PTV main section has lateral width adapted to contain single occupant. PTV driving mechanism propels PTV and includes track engaging element protruding downwards from main section and having narrow lateral width such that main section is prone to fall over when PTV is at rest. The space between lateral width of main section and track engaging element can be occupied by public infrastructure. Each track section includes a ground portion, minimally adapted to accommodate track engaging element lateral width, and an empty space above ground portion, free of non-transient obstacles and minimally adapted to accommodate main section lateral width. A guidance mechanism guides PTV along track network and prevents PTV deviating from track sections. A stabilization mechanism stabilizes PTV along track network and prevents PTV from falling over when turning/merging/diverging.