VEHICLE MOUNTED BISTABLE SWITCHING MECHANISM

摘要

A switching mechanism (30) for use in a transit system employing vehicles (10) traveling on a guideway (12), the switching mechanism includes forward and rearward switching subassemblies each having upper (32) and lower (36) switch arms. The upper switch arms include switching wheels (34) which selectively engage switch channels (42) positioned on opposite sides of the guideway (12). The lower switch arms, which are slaved to the upper switch arms, improve lateral stability by engaging lower channels (72) if the vehicle begins to tip while traversing a switch. A stabilizer mechanism (90) for biasing the switch arms into operating position is provided in order to avoid the unstable condition when neither switching wheel is engaged.