VEHICLE GUIDEWAY SWITCHING MECHANISM

This disclosure relates to a guideway switch for self-guided vehicles having at least two selectable routes of travel. The switch includes at least two movable guide beams each having one end pivotally connected with the stationary guide rails of a roadway having a horizontal supporting surface on each side of the guide rails. A plurality of wheeled carriers are disposed below the horizontal supporting surfaces and are guided by a trackway. Each wheeled carrier includes a vertically adjustable support which has one end rigidly connected to the movable guide beams and which has the other end rotatably and slidably connected to the wheeled carrier. An actuating means includes an electric motor which drives a ball bearing screw drive mechanism. The screw drive mechanism moves the wheeled carriers and, in turn, shifts the movable beams to selected positions to establish the desired route of travel over the roadway for the self-guided vehicles.