In-vehicle switch mechanism

An in-vehicle switch system for guiding a vehicle along a guideway at converging and diverging points of the guide rails in a guided vehicle system, the switch mechanism comprising:

• first and second switch mechanisms each including:
• a support frame;
• a pivot assembly;
• a switch am assembly pivotably mounted at its proximate end to said pivot assembly;
• a switch wheel rotatably mounted to said switch arm assembly at its distal end;
• an actuator for moving said switch arm between a deployed position in which said switch wheel engages a said guide rail and a stowed position in which said switch wheel is free of a said guide rail;
• a biasing device interconnected between said support frame and pivot assembly for preloading said switch wheel against a said guide rail when the switch wheel is deployed as the vehicle approaches a point of divergence;
• and
• a biased lateral guide wheel rotatably mounted to said support frame for opposing a said switch wheel when said switch wheel is deployed.

An in-vehicle switch mechanism for guiding a vehicle along a guideway at converging and diverging points of the guide rails in a guided vehicle system, the switch mechanism comprising:

• a support frame;
• first and second pivot assemblies;
• first and second switch arm assemblies, said first switch arm assembly pivotably mounted at its proximate end to the first pivot assembly, and said second switch arm assembly mounted at its proximate end to the second pivot assembly;
• first and second switch wheels, said first switch wheel rotatably mounted to the first switch arm assembly at the distal end, and said second switch wheel mounted to the second switch arm assembly at the distal end;
• first and second actuators for moving said switch arm assemblies between a deployed position in which the said first switch wheel engages a said guide rail and a stowed position in which the said second switch wheel is free of a said guide rail;
• first and second biasing devices interconnected between said support frame and said pivot assemblies for preloading a said switch wheel against a said guide rail when a said switch wheel is deployed as the vehicle approaches a point of divergence;
• first and second biased lateral guide wheels rotatably mounted to said support frame for opposing a said switch wheel when said switch wheel is deployed;
• and
• a lateral limit link between said first and second biased lateral guide wheels.