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

A transport system, comprising;

• A. a guideway including a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled, the guideway having one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide, the guideway further having one or more guidance surfaces that constrain motion the vehicles laterally,
• B. one or more vehicles disposed on the guideway, each including a magnetic flux source,
• C. each vehicle having a septum portion is coupled to one or more body portions of the vehicle, wherein the septum portion is of narrowed cross-section, and wherein one or more of the body portions include one or more surfaces for contacting the guidance surface of the guideway,
• D. the guideway including a diverge region that comprises a flipper,
• E. the flipper initiating switching of vehicle direction at a diverge region by exerting a lateral force on the vehicle, and wherein an extension of the running surfaces at a vertex of the diverge region continues the switching of vehicle direction, and wherein further guidance for the switching of vehicle direction is provided by a portion of the guidance surface within the diverge region.

A transport system, comprising;

• A. a guideway including a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled, the guideway having one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide,
• B. one or more vehicles disposed on the guideway, each including a magnetic flux source,
• C. wherein one or more of the vehicles each has one or more pins extending from the vehicle near where the vehicle rolls or slides along the running surfaces of the guideway,
• D. the guideway including a diverge region that comprises a flipper,
• E. wherein the one or more pins interact with the flipper to control direction of motion of the vehicle at the diverge region.

A transport system, comprising;

• A. a guideway including a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled, the guideway having one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide,
• B. one or more vehicles disposed on the guideway, each including a magnetic flux source,
• C. each vehicle having a septum portion is coupled to one or more body portions of the vehicle, wherein the septum portion is of narrowed cross-section,
• D. the guideway including a merge region that comprises a flipper and a broadened region of the running surface, wherein the flipper applies a lateral force to the vehicle to alter an angle thereof as the vehicle enters the merge region, and wherein the broadened region continues the merge by contacting the septum of the vehicle, thereby, providing further guidance or channeling for the merge.