Transport system powered by short block linear synchronous motors and switching mechanism

A guideway module defining any of a merge region and a diverge region for use in a transport system, the guideway module altering a course of a vehicle passing thereover, comprising:

• A. a plurality of coreless propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles that include magnetic flux sources are to be propelled,
• B. electronic power and control circuitry that excites one or more of the plurality of propulsion coils independently of one or more other propulsion coils in any of
• (a) the guideway module, and
• (b) a guideway in which that guideway module is incorporated, so as to independently propel one or more vehicles passing over the guideway module
• C. any of the merge region and the diverge region defining a first path and a second path over the guideway module, wherein a first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the first path to propel the vehicle along the first path and a second plurality of propulsion coils adjacent to the first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the second path to propel the vehicle along the second path, wherein each plurality of propulsion coils is operable to propel the one or more vehicles along their respective paths.

A transport system, comprising

• A. a guideway including a plurality of coreless propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled, the region defining a first path and a second path on the guideway, wherein a first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the first path to propel the one or more vehicles along the first path and a second plurality of propulsion coils adjacent to the first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the second path to propel the one or more vehicles along the second path, wherein each plurality of propulsion coils is operable to propel the one or more vehicles along their respective paths,
• B. one or more vehicles disposed on the guideway, each containing a magnetic flux source,
• C. electronic power and control circuitry that excites one or more of the plurality of propulsion coils independently of one or more other propulsion coils so as to propel the one or more vehicles along the guideway,
• D. the one or more vehicles being slidingly disposed on any of a rail, ledge, recess, or flange of the guideway.

A guideway module for use in a transport system, the guideway module comprising

• A. a plurality of coreless propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles that include magnetic flux sources are to be propelled, the region defining a first path and a second path on the guideway, wherein a first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the first path to propel the one or more vehicles along the first path and a second plurality of propulsion coils adjacent to the first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the second path to propel the one or more vehicles along the second path, wherein each plurality of propulsion coils is operable to propel the one or more vehicles along their respective paths,
• B. electronic power and control circuitry that excites one or more of the plurality of propulsion coils independently of one or more other propulsion coils in any of
• (a) the guideway module, and
• (b) a guideway in which that guideway module is incorporated, so as to control movement of one or more vehicles passing over the guideway module,
• C. any of a rail, ledge, recess, or flange adapted for sliding motion of the one or more vehicles thereon.