Vehicle-based guided switching

Abstract

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.

1 . A track switching arrangement for a track-based guided transportation system, the track switching arrangement forming diverging pathways and enabling vehicle-side switching of a vehicle in the guided transportation system, the track switching arrangement comprising:
 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,   wherein each of the pathways comprises 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, and   wherein the track elements form an overhung track arrangement having an overhead bearing surface.   
     
     
         2 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the track elements comprise four rails. 
     
     
         3 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the track elements are each in the same plane. 
     
     
         4 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the track elements are arranged in respective guideways configured to accommodate respective bearings of the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein at the upstream pathway, the respective guideways have a first width such that the rails arranged therein are each arranged to interact with a respective bearing of the vehicle, and wherein at a beginning portion of the path switching transition region, the respective guideways increase in width from the first width such that such that only some of the rails arranged therein are each arranged to directly interact with a respective bearing of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein at a further portion of the path switching transition region downstream from the beginning portion, the respective guideways further increases in width to accommodate additional track elements of the diverging pathways. 
     
     
         7 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a cross-over region. 
     
     
         8 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one guideway and at least one track element arranged in the at least one guideway. 
     
     
         9 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one guideway has a cross section structured to allow a vehicle guidance apparatus of the vehicle to suspend substantially beneath the track element, which is connected to an overhang ceiling of the at least one guideway, such that the at least one bearing of the vehicle guidance apparatus is engaged with the at least one track, such that the track exerts forces on the bearing, including a lateral force and a vertical force. 
     
     
         10 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one guideway comprises a substantially rectangular cross-section with a gap in a top wall configured to accommodate the bearing to provide levitation to suspend substantially below an overhang ceiling of the guideway while the bearing is connected to the vehicle substantially outside the guideway. 
     
     
         11 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the track elements comprise four tracks configured for respective selective interaction with four combined out-of-plane and in-plane bearings of the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the track elements comprise four tracks configured for respective selective interaction with two largely out-of-plane bearings and two largely in-plane bearings of the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the track elements comprise three tracks configured for respective selective interaction with one out-of-plane bearing, two in-plane bearings of the vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the track elements comprise four tracks configured for respective selective interaction with two out-of-plane bearings and two in-plane bearings of the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the track elements comprise four rails on a single plane configured for respective selective interaction with four in-plane bearings of the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the track elements comprise two rails on a single plane and multiple largely guidance rails. 
     
     
         17 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the track elements comprise two rails on a single plane with a plurality of off-set and angled rails producing both levitation and guidance 
     
     
         18 . The track switching arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the track elements comprise one rail with one out-of-plane bearing and two rails with in-plane bearings. 
     
     
         19 . A method of operating the switching system of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 controlling activation and/or magnitude of operation of one or more respective bearings on the vehicle during travel through the path switching transition region having the diverging pathways between the upstream pathway and the two downstream pathways, to selectively interact with some of the track elements to provide guidance for the vehicle to one of the two downstream pathways.   
     
     
         20 . A method of operating the switching system of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 controlling activation and/or magnitude of operation of one or more respective bearings on the vehicle during travel through a path switching transition region having converging pathways between two upstream pathways and a downstream pathway, to selectively interact with some of the track elements to provide guidance for the vehicle from one of the two upstream pathways.