Monorail switch using a gravity-assisted actuating mechanism

A monorail switch for a monorail guideway, the monorail switch comprising:

• a moveable guide beam, said moveable guide beam having a first end and a second end, said second end being adapted to be connected to the guideway, said moveable guide beam having lateral running surfaces on its left and right sides;
• and
• an actuating mechanism, said actuating mechanism having a body and a counterweight, said actuating mechanism body operatively connecting said moveable guide beam to said counterweight so as to move said moveable guide beam from a tangent position to a turnout position,
• wherein potential energy stored in said counterweight is released and at least partially stored in the form of elastic potential energy in said lateral running surfaces when said moveable guide beam is moved from said tangent position to said turnout position;
• and
• wherein said elastic potential energy stored in said lateral running surfaces is released and at least partially stored in the form of potential energy by said counterweight when said moveable guide beam is moved from said turnout position to said tangent position.