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.

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.

A disclosed method extends a support system for a maglev vehicle, the support system having at least a first landing gear assembly and a second landing gear assembly. The method includes the steps of determining a weight-on-wheels status for each of the first and the second landing gear assemblies and determining a distance from each of the first and second landing gear assemblies to a support surface. First and second extension speeds are determined for each of the first and second landing gear assemblies, respectively. The first landing gear assembly is extended at the first extension speed until the first landing gear assembly reaches a weight-on-wheels condition, and the second landing gear assembly is extended at the second extension speed until the second landing gear assembly reaches the weight-on-wheels condition.

A disclosed method extends a support system for a maglev vehicle, the support system having at least a first landing gear assembly and a second landing gear assembly. The method includes the steps of determining a weight-on-wheels status for each of the first and the second landing gear assemblies and determining a distance from each of the first and second landing gear assemblies to a support surface. First and second extension speeds are determined for each of the first and second landing gear assemblies, respectively. The first landing gear assembly is extended at the first extension speed until the first landing gear assembly reaches a weight-on-wheels condition, and the second landing gear assembly is extended at the second extension speed until the second landing gear assembly reaches the weight-on-wheels condition.

A system and method are disclosed enabling the use of electromagnetic engines to traverse a wheeled bogie assembly across a plurality of rails. The electromagnetic engines may be used within a rail assembly comprising four rails and a frog assembly. Further, the electromagnetic engines may be used to traverse between a straight path and a turnout path at a non-moving rail switch having a frog assembly. In one aspect, an algorithm for powering various coils is disclosed wherein the algorithm controls the power level to switch tracks connected to the frog assembly.

The invention relates to a method for controlling an operating characteristic (for example ground clearance or acceleration) of a vehicle (100) resting on a contact surface (200) by means of at least one landing gear (150) comprising means of actuating (160) adapted to vary a behaviour of the landing gear when the latter is in contact with the contact surface, whereby the said method makes the operating characteristic of the vehicle dependent upon a given set-point by generating a command intended for the means of actuating as a function of a difference (ε) between the operating characteristic and the set-point. According to the invention, the control system comprises the use of an estimation (P.sub.est) of a load (P) seen by the landing gear to generate a modification of the command so as to minimise a variation in the deviation caused by a variation in the load.

A railway vehicle with an aerodynamic lift control device is disclosed. An equipment compartment is formed between a vehicle body bottom plate at the bottom of a vehicle body and a passenger room floor, and the aerodynamic lift control device is provided in the equipment compartment the aerodynamic lift control device comprises an aerodynamic lift regulation fan and aerodynamic lift air ducts, and an aerodynamic lift regulation air port located within the aerodynamic lift control range is formed in the vehicle body bottom plate; one end of each aerodynamic lift regulating air duct communicates with the aerodynamic lift regulation air port, and the other end communicates with the aerodynamic lift regulating fan; and the aerodynamic lift regulation fan changes the pressure distribution form of the bottom of the train by blowing positive pressure airflow or sucking negative pressure airflow.

A railway vehicle with an aerodynamic lift control device is disclosed. An equipment compartment is formed between a vehicle body bottom plate at the bottom of a vehicle body and a passenger room floor, and the aerodynamic lift control device is provided in the equipment compartment the aerodynamic lift control device comprises an aerodynamic lift regulation fan and aerodynamic lift air ducts, and an aerodynamic lift regulation air port located within the aerodynamic lift control range is formed in the vehicle body bottom plate; one end of each aerodynamic lift regulating air duct communicates with the aerodynamic lift regulation air port, and the other end communicates with the aerodynamic lift regulating fan; and the aerodynamic lift regulation fan changes the pressure distribution form of the bottom of the train by blowing positive pressure airflow or sucking negative pressure airflow.

A high-speed transportation system comprises an evacuated travel conduit divided into a plurality of segments by closable gates, and associated with corresponding segment pumps that maintain operating vacuums within the segments when vehicles are present. When a segment is unoccupied, energy is saved by closing the adjoining gates and deactivating the associated segment pump, thereby deactivating the segment and allowing the segment's internal pressure to rise due to leakage. As a vehicle approaches, the segment pump is reactivated, lowering the internal pressure to the operating vacuum, and the gates are opened. Embodiments include a boom-tank system that can accelerate re-evacuation of a segment having an increased internal pressure by establishing fluid communication with at least one recently deactivated segment having a lower internal pressure. As a vehicle transits the conduit, a rolling, contiguous group of activated segments surrounding and in advance of the vehicle can be maintained.

A high-speed transportation system comprises an evacuated travel conduit divided into a plurality of segments by closable gates, and associated with corresponding segment pumps that maintain operating vacuums within the segments when vehicles are present. When a segment is unoccupied, energy is saved by closing the adjoining gates and deactivating the associated segment pump, thereby deactivating the segment and allowing the segment's internal pressure to rise due to leakage. As a vehicle approaches, the segment pump is reactivated, lowering the internal pressure to the operating vacuum, and the gates are opened. Embodiments include a boom-tank system that can accelerate re-evacuation of a segment having an increased internal pressure by establishing fluid communication with at least one recently deactivated segment having a lower internal pressure. As a vehicle transits the conduit, a rolling, contiguous group of activated segments surrounding and in advance of the vehicle can be maintained.