Patent ID: 6834595
Filing Date: 2004-12-28
Classification: B61B

Abstract:
A transport system, comprising:a pair of laterally spaced-apart guideways, each having an upward facing track surface and a longitudinal axis; a pair of rail surfaces mounted to one of the guideways above the track surface, one of the rail surfaces facing laterally outward and the other facing laterally inward relative to the longitudinal axis, the rail surfaces extending longitudinally along the guideway; a vehicle having a plurality of lateral supports that cooperate with the track surfaces of the guideways to convey the vehicle along the guideways; a follower assembly mounted to the vehicle, having a pair of follower members, one having a flat face that faces laterally outward and the other having a flat face that faces laterally inward for juxtaposition with the rail surfaces; a steering mechanism cooperatively engaged with the follower assembly for steering the vehicle in response to lateral movement of the follower assembly as the vehicle moves along the guideways; and a lifting mechanism mounted to the vehicle for selectively raising the follower assembly relative to the vehicle into cooperative engagement with the rail surfaces and lowering the follower assembly out of cooperative engagement with the rail surfaces.