Each load, whether in the form of an auto platform, a passenger cabin or a freight container, includes a pair of connectors on its underside that can be releasably but securely locked to pads on the posts that extend upwardly from each carrier vehicle. The connectors can also be locked to pads that are similar to those of the carrier vehicles but that are at storage location.
Transfer mechanisms are provided that can control locking actions between connectors and pads and that can move a load between a carrier vehicle on a guideway and a storage or servicing location alongside the guideway or between a carrier vehicle on one guideway and a carrier vehicle on a parallel guideway.
The transfers may be made for various purposes. A vehicle used for carrying platforms or cabins during the day may be used at night for carrying freight containers by transferring a platform or cabin from the vehicle to a storage location, then moving the vehicle to a position opposite a stored freight container and then transferring the stored freight container to the vehicle. A platform, cabin or container that is due for a servicing operation, or that may have been detected as being a problem load, may be transferred to a servicing location. The arrangement also allows operation of separate systems in different states or regions. A platform, cabin or container may start out being carried by a vehicle in one state or region and be carried until reaching a boundary with a second state or region, to be then transferred to a carrier vehicle operated in the second region or state.
Details as to the construction and operation of the connectors and transfer mechanisms may be obtained by sending an email to vm.lund@att.net Van Metre Lund .
©Autran Corp.1999, 2002, 2006