Short block linear synchronous motors and switching mechanisms

A transport system comprising:

• one or more vehicles, each vehicle having magnets disposed on both lateral sides thereof;
• a track system on which the vehicles are disposed, the track system having first regions in which propulsion coils are disposed on only one side of the vehicles, and a merge or diverge region in which propulsion coils are disposed on both sides of the vehicles, the vehicles being, in operation, propelled to roll or slide along the track system by the propulsion coils;
• the merge or diverge region comprising a non-movable switching member that interacts with the vehicles in the merge or diverge region to cause the vehicles to take a desired direction along the track system;
• position sensors that, in operation, sense positions of the vehicles;
• and
• wherein movement of the vehicles along the first and diverge regions is controlled individually by control of power applied to the coils.

A transport method comprising:

• disposing vehicles on a track system, each vehicle having magnets disposed on both lateral sides thereof, the track system having first regions in which propulsion coils are disposed on only one side of the vehicles, and a diverge region in which propulsion coils are disposed on both sides of the vehicles, the vehicles being, in operation, propelled to roll or slide along the track system by the propulsion coils;
• activating a diverge magnetic switching member in the diverge region to interact with the vehicles in the diverge region to cause the vehicles to take one of two alternative paths along the track system;
• sensing positions of the vehicles for control of the vehicles along the track system;
• and
• wherein movement of the vehicles along the first and diverge regions is controlled individually by control of power applied to the coils.