Switch, especially for magnetically and pneumatically floating vehicles

Claim 2

A switch, especially for magnetically and pneumatically floating vehicles, which includes: horizontally displaceable switch means comprising a plurality of individual switch sections arranged one behind the other in the direction in which a vehicle is to be driven over said switch, said switch means including a plurality of track sections movable selectively to a position for forming a curved track to guide a vehicle through a curve and also movable selectively to a position to form a substantially straight track to guide a vehicle along a straight path, actuating means operatively connected to said track sections for selectively moving the same to the desired positions for forming a curved track and a straight track respectively, supporting means supporting said actuating means, said supporting means including a base surface common to and adapted to support all of said switch sections, and auxiliary means associated with said supporting means and operatively connected to said switch sections for selectively lifting the same off and causing the same to be supported by said base surface in a contact-free manner.

Claim 3

A switch according to claim 1, in which said supporting means includes a base surface common to and adapted to support all of said switch sections.

Claim 4

A switch according to claim 1, which includes abutment means arranged on said supporting means on opposite sides of said switch means for engaging the same in said first mentioned and second mentioned positions of said track sections.

Claim 5

A switch according to claim 1, which includes guiding means associated with said track sections for controlling the movement of the latter relative to said supporting means during the movement of said switch means from one position to another position and vice versa.

Claim 6

A switch according to claim 4, in which said guiding means include groove means in said supporting means and also include guiding pin means on said switch sections for engaging said groove means and guiding said switch sections so as to move with regard to said straight track sections of said switch sections.

Claim 7

A switch according to claim 5, in which all of said groove means are formed by coaxial grooves arranged in spaced relationship to each other.

Claim 8

A switch according to claim 1, in which each of said switch sections comprises a straight track section, and in which all of said straight track sections on said switch sections when moved substantially at right angles into position for forming a curved track define a polygon.

Claim 9

A switch according to claim 7, which includes a plurality of linking means adjacent straight track sections together, said linking means being arranged on that side of said straight track sections which faces toward the center of curvature of said curved track adapted to be formed by said straight track sections.

Claim 10

A switch according to claim 1, which includes protective cover means extending in the direction of movement of said actuating means while projecting rigidly from said track sections beyond opposite sides thereof over adjacent portions of said supporting means.

Claim 11

A switch, especially for magnetically and pneumatically floating vehicles, which includes: horizontally displaceable switch means comprising a plurality of individual switch sections arranged one behind the other in the direction in which a vehicle is to be driven over said switch, said switch means including a plurality of track sections movable selectively to a position for forming a curved track to guide a vehicle through a curve and also movable selectively to a position to form a substantially straight track to guide a vehicle along a straight path, actuating means operatively connected to said track sections for selectively moving the same to the desired positions for forming a curved track and a straight track respectively, supporting means supporting said actuating means, said supporting means including a base surface common to and adapted to support all of said switch sections, and auxiliary means associated with said switch sections for selectively lifting said switch sections off said base surface and causing said switch sections to be supported by said base surface in a contact-free manner.

Claim 12

A switch, especially for magnetically and pneumatically floating vehicles, which includes: horizontally displaceable switch means comprising a plurality of individual switch sections arranged one behind the other in the direction in which a vehicle is to be driven over said switch, said switch means including a plurality of track sections movable selectively to a position for forming a curved track to guide a vehicle through a curve and also movable selectively to a position to form a substantially straight track to guide a vehicle along a straight path, actuating means operatively connected to said track sections for selectively moving the same to the desired positions for forming a curved track and a straight track respectively, supporting means supporting said actuating means, said supporting means including a base surface common to and adapted to support all of said switch sections, and auxiliary means associated with said switch sections for selectively lifting said switch sections off said base surface and causing said switch sections to be supported by said base surface in a contact-free manner.

Claim 13

A switch according to claim 10, which includes heating means arranged within the region of the contacting surfaces of said switch sections.

Claim 14

A switch, especially for magnetically and pneumatically floating vehicles, which includes: horizontally displaceable switch means comprising a plurality of individual switch sections arranged one behind the other in the direction in which a vehicle is to be driven over said switch, said switch means including a plurality of track sections movable selectively to a position for forming a curved track to guide a vehicle through a curve and also movable selectively to a position to form a substantially straight track to guide a vehicle along a straight path, actuating means operatively connected to said track sections for selectively moving the same to the desired positions for forming a curved track and a straight track respectively, supporting means supporting said actuating means, said supporting means including a base surface common to and adapted to support all of said switch sections, said supporting means including auxiliary means for selectively lifting said switch sections off and causing the same to be supported by said base surface, said auxiliary means including magnetic means respectively associated with said switch sections and said base surface, said magnetic means being so arranged that the magnetic means of said switch sections are located opposite magnetic means on said base surface, and means for varying the intensity and the polarity of the magnetic means located opposite each other on said switch sections and said base surface.

Claim 15

A switch, especially for magnetically and pneumatically floating vehicles, which includes: horizontally displaceable switch means comprising a plurality of individual switch sections arranged one behind the other in the direction in which a vehicle is to be driven over said switch, said switch means including a plurality of track sections movable selectively to a position for forming a curved track to guide a vehicle through a curve and also movable selectively to a position to form a substantially straight track to guide a vehicle along a straight path, actuating means operatively connected to said track sections for selectively moving the same to the desired positions for forming a curved track and a straight track respectively, supporting means supporting said actuating means, said supporting means including a base surface common to and adapted to support all of said switch sections, said supporting means including auxiliary means for selectively lifting said switch sections off and causing the same to be supported by said base surface, said auxiliary means including magnetic means respectively associated with said switch sections and said base surface, said magnetic means being so arranged that the magnetic means of said switch sections are located opposite magnetic means on said base surface, and means for varying the intensity and the polarity of the magnetic means located opposite each other on said switch sections and said base surface.

Claim 16

A switch, especially for magnetically and pneumatically floating vehicles, which includes: horizontally displaceable switch means comprising a plurality of individual switch sections arranged one behind the other in the direction in which a vehicle is to be driven over said switch, said switch means including a plurality of track sections movable selectively to a position for forming a curved track to guide a vehicle through a curve and also movable selectively to a position to form a substantially straight track to guide a vehicle along a straight path, actuating means operatively connected to said track sections for selectively moving the same to the desired positions for forming a curved track and a straight track respectively, and supporting means supporting said actuating means, said switch sections being elastically deformable and uninterrupted at their butting areas and when viewed in the longitudinal direction thereof being fastened only at their central areas.

Claim 17

A switch, especially for magnetically and pneumatically floating vehicles, which includes: horizontally displaceable switch means comprising a plurality of individual switch sections arranged one behind the other in the direction in which a vehicle is to be driven over said switch, said switch means including a plurality of track sections movable selectively to a position for forming a curved track to guide a vehicle through a curve and also movable selectively to a position to form a substantially straight track to guide a vehicle along a straight path, actuating means operatively connected to said track sections for selectively moving the same to the desired positions for forming a curved track and a straight track respectively, and supporting means supporting said actuating means, said switch sections being elastically deformable and uninterrupted at their butting areas and when viewed in the longitudinal direction thereof being fastened only at their central areas.