Patent ID: 8141496

Claim:
A device for clearing objects and debris along a guide rail for either an unidirectional or a bidirectional vehicle guided by at least one guide rail ( 5 ) and for detecting risk of derailment, the device being placed at an extremity of at least one guide assembly ( 2 , 3 ) moving along the guide rail ( 5 ), for either the unidirectional vehicle or the bidirectional vehicle, wherein the detection and clearance device comprises: a sliding body ( 25 ) moving on and along the guide rail ( 5 ) is attached to a front of the at least one guide assembly ( 2 , 3 ) in a direction of movement of the guided vehicle, the sliding body ( 25 ) is articulated to a support for the at least one guide assembly ( 2 , 3 ) by a connecting rod ( 26 ), the sliding body ( 25 ) has at least one free surface of the guide rail ( 5 ) facing a device for lifting and clearing objects and debris; at least one element for electrical contact with the guide rail ( 5 ) is either integral with or removable from the sliding body ( 25 ), the electrical contact element is located in at least one electrical circuit, either an open or a closed state of the electrical circuit is detected by a transport vehicle control system such that failure of the electrical contact element, to contact the guide rail ( 5 ), causes the state of the electrical circuit used to identify existence of a risk of derailment; and the connecting rod ( 26 ) being predisposed to break beyond a point at which a certain predetermined force is exerted on the sliding body ( 25 ).