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 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.

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.

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.

The invention relates to a vehicle for transporting a biological sample, the vehicle being movable on a circuit, the circuit comprising: —an input path, a first output path and a second output path, —a turn-off enabling the vehicle travelling on the input path to be redirected to the first output path or the second output path, —a first guide path extending along the input path, the turn-off and the first output path, —a guide device which can be configured in: —a first configuration in which the guide device cooperates with the first guide path so as to direct the vehicle to the first output path when the vehicle passes through the turn-off, —a second configuration in which the guide device does not cooperate with the first guide path, enabling the vehicle to reach the second output path.

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.

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.

A station for a hyperloop transportation system includes a tube comprising a low-pressure environment, a plurality of tracks within the tube, each track adapted to carry a hyperloop capsule, and a turntable joined to an end of the tube, adapted to rotate a capsule one hundred and eighty degrees. The station also includes a platform disposed on a side of the tube, adapted to hold a plurality of people, and a plurality of gates disposed in one side of the tube. Each gate includes a door forming a barrier between the low-pressure environment of the tube and an exterior of the tube, and a sealing mechanism adapted to form a seal with a hyperloop capsule.

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.

Transport apparatus having at least one levitation generator and at least one drive generator. The at least one levitation generator configured to generate a levitating magnetic flux, move within a corresponding at least one lifting member, and elevate above a rest position relative to the at least one lifting member in response to the levitating magnetic flux. The at least one drive generator configured to generate a driving magnetic flux, move within a corresponding at least one drive member, and laterally move relative to the at least one drive member in response to the driving magnetic flux. At least a portion of the at least one levitation generator is movable relative to the at least one drive generator.