| 摘要 |
A transit system including a vehicle (21), an elongated flexible traction belt (22) coupled to the vehicle (21) to apply a traction force sufficient to propel the vehicle along a transit path (23), and a drive assembly (24) coupled to displace the traction belt (22). The traction belt (22) is oriented with sides (33) in a substantially vertical plane so that the vehicle (21) can be coupled to one edge (38) of the belt and the other edge (39) used to guide the vertical position of the belt. Intermediate the edges (38, 39) drive assemblies (36, 37) can be periodically provided along the length of the transit path (23) to frictionally engage and drive the traction belt without interference from either the guiding surfaces (56, 57, 58) or the vehicle coupling assembly (51). A method of propelling a vehicle (21) and a traction member-based transit system is provided including a step of applying a traction force to the vehicle (21) through a traction belt (22) while the belt is vertically oriented.
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