Branching device, and center guide-type guideway transportation system

Abstract

The branching device has: a first main line movable guide and a second main line movable guide that are movable between a main line guide position where a vehicle is guided from a first main line guideway to a second main line guideway and a main line retraction position not guiding the vehicle from the first main line guideway to the second main line guideway; a first branch movable guide and a second branch movable guide which are movable between a branch guide position where the vehicle is guided from the first main line guideway to a branch track and a branch retraction position not guiding the vehicle from the first main line guideway to the branch track; and a movable equipment causing the first main line movable guide, the second main line movable guide, the first branch movable guide, and the second branch movable guide to be movable.

1 . A branching device disposed in a turnout switch area between a main line guideway and a turnout switch guideway, the branching device comprising:
 a first main line movable guide and a second main line movable guide that are movable between a main line guide position where a vehicle is able to be guided from a first main line guideway to a second main line guideway, and a main line retract position where the vehicle is not able to be guided from the first main line guideway to the second main line guideway;   a first turnout switch movable guide and a second turnout switch movable guide that are movable between a turnout switch guide position where the vehicle is able to be guided from the first main line guideway to the turnout switch guideway, and a turnout switch retract position where the vehicle is not able to be guided from the first main line guideway to the turnout switch guideway; and   a movable device that moves the first main line movable guide, the second main line movable guide, the first turnout switch movable guide, and the second turnout switch movable guide.   
     
     
         2 . The branching device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first main line movable guide and the second main line movable guide are formed to extend on a first virtual center line at the main line guide position, and   the first turnout switch movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide are formed to extend on a second virtual center line at the turnout switch guide position.   
     
     
         3 . The branching device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the first main line movable guide and the second main line movable guide are rotatable with one end portion disposed on the first virtual center line as a rotation center, the other end portion is disposed on the first virtual center line, at the main line guide position, and the other end portion is disposed at a position deviated from the first virtual center line, at the main line retract position, and   the first turnout switch movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide are rotatable with one end portion disposed on the second virtual center line as a rotation center, the other end portion is disposed on the second virtual center line, at the turnout switch guide position, and the other end portion is disposed at a position deviated from the second virtual center line, at the turnout switch retract position.   
     
     
         4 . The branching device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a main line fixing guide disposed between the first main line movable guide and the second main line movable guide to guide the vehicle, and   a turnout switch fixing guide disposed between the first turnout switch movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide to guide the vehicle.   
     
     
         5 . The branching device according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a main line fixing guide that is disposed between the first main line movable guide and the second main line movable guide and guides the vehicle; and   a turnout switch fixing guide that is disposed between the first turnout switch movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide and guides the vehicle, wherein   the main line fixing guide is formed to extend on the first virtual center line, and comes into contact with at least one of the first main line movable guide or the second main line movable guide, in a state where the first main line movable guide and the second main line movable guide are positioned at the main line guide position, and   the turnout switch fixing guide is formed to extend on the second virtual center line, and comes into contact with at least one of the first turnout switch movable guide or the second turnout switch movable guide, in a state where the first turnout switch movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide are positioned at the turnout switch guide position.   
     
     
         6 . The branching device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the movable device moves the first main line movable guide and the second main line movable guide between the main line guide position and the main line retract position and is able to fix positions of the first main line movable guide and the second main line movable guide at the main line guide position and the main line retract position, respectively, and moves the first turnout switch movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide between the turnout switch guide position and the turnout switch retract position and is able to fix positions of the first turnout switch movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide at the turnout switch guide position and the turnout switch retract position, respectively.   
     
     
         7 . The branching device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the movable device simultaneously moves the first main line movable guide, the second main line movable guide, the first turnout switch movable guide, and the second turnout switch movable guide.   
     
     
         8 . The branching device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the movable device includes
 a lever body whose one end is rotatably supported with respect to the main line guideway 
   a first rod that connects the first main line movable guide and the first turnout switch movable guide to the lever body, and rotates the first main line movable guide and the first turnout switch movable guide, as the lever body rotates,
 a second rod that connects the second main line movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide to the lever body, and rotates the second main line movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide, as the lever body rotates, and 
 a lever drive unit that presses the lever body and rotates the lever body, 
   the lever drive unit rotates the lever body between a first position and a second position deviated from the first position,   at the first position, the first main line movable guide and the second main line movable guide are disposed at the main line guide position and the first turnout switch movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide are disposed at the turnout switch retract position, and   at the second position, the first main line movable guide and the second main line movable guide are disposed at the main line retract position and the first turnout switch movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide are disposed at the turnout switch guide position.   
     
     
         9 . The branching device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the movable device includes a slide body that is movable in parallel to the main line guideway a first rod that connects the first main line movable guide and the first turnout switch movable guide to the slide body, and rotates the first main line movable guide and the first turnout switch movable guide, as the slide body moves, a second rod that connects the second main line movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide to the slide body, and rotates the second main line movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide, as the slide body moves, and a slide drive unit that moves the slide body, the slide drive unit moves the slide body in parallel between a first position and a second position deviated from the first position, at the first position, the first main line movable guide and the second main line movable guide are disposed at the main line guide position, and the first turnout switch movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide are disposed at the turnout switch retract position, and at the second position, the first main line movable guide and the second main line movable guide are disposed at the main line retract position, and the first turnout switch movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide are disposed at the turnout switch guide position.   
     
     
         10 . The branching device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the movable device has
 a first movable device that simultaneously moves the first main line movable guide and the first turnout switch movable guide; and 
 a second movable device that is derivable independently from the first movable device, and simultaneously moves the second main line movable guide and the second turnout switch movable guide. 
   
     
     
         11 . The branching device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the movable device has a switch.   
     
     
         12 . A center guide-type guideway transportation system comprising:
 the branching device according to  claim 1 ;   the main line guideway that has a main line running path having a running surface contactable with the running wheels of the vehicle and extending in a first direction, and a main line guide disposed on a first virtual center line positioned at a center of the main line running path in a width direction to guide the vehicle; and   the turnout switch guideway that has a turnout switch running path extending in a second direction different from the first direction and having the running surface so as to turnout off from the main line running path, and a turnout switch guide disposed on a second virtual center line positioned at a center of the turnout switch running path in the width direction to guide the vehicle.