A transporting apparatus in which a series of platforms are driven in a closed-loop, the loop including two similar main segments in adjacent horizontal planes, the upper main segment comprising at least a low speed zone, a curved speed-change zone and a high speed zone and the lower main segment comprising a platform return zone. The apparatus may further include a second curved speed-change zone and second low speed zone. Drive means in the low speed zones are by rotary screws in the high speed zones by powered wheels engaging the platforms and in the speed-change zones by linear motors. The apparatus may be used as a loading or unloading station for a high speed conveyor belt.

A variable speed handrail for a conveyor in which a series of relatively slidable overlapping elements provides a load bearing surface in the edge regions. The elements may slide transversely or slide in other directions simultaneously with a change of inclination. The handrail may follow a curved or straight path and a constant depth handrail is provided. The relative sliding is controlled by guide means and drive means are provided as well as positive means for maintaining the elements in mutual contact, of which the following is a specification.

A high mass flow transportation system wherein one or several interconnecting track loops guide corresponding endless chains of car carriers past a series of fixed stations; each carrier being adapted to receive a removable passenger car, there being distributed sets of carriers in each chain precoded to receive only those cars destined for delivery to corresponding stations; and further, each station includes conveyors which remove and decelerate passenger cars destined for that station to permit unloading and loading of passengers, then accelerate the cars for return to empty carriers coded for other selected stations. The transportation system is also capable of accomodating cargo containers, or passenger vehicles interspersed with the passenger cars for delivery to selected stations and capable of removal from the system, in which case the vehicles may be self-propelled for use separate from the system.

A variable speed passenger conveyor comprising a multiplicity of rhomboid shaped platforms mounted in slidable relation to each other along their contiguous sides.

A system for the continuous conveyance of passengers and/or goods, consisting of at least one continuous belt having portions moving at different speeds, more particularly at least two end portions moving at a very low speed for the getting on and off of passengers and at least one intermediate portion moving at constant and high speed, or a plurality of high speed portions separated by low speed portions. The changes in speed may be obtained by changing the system width, and then the loading plane of the belt consists of strips connected at their ends to vertical pins so that said strips and the direction of motion may have different relative slopes, or the changes in speed may be obtained by changing the thickness of the system, which is supported by guided articulations moving along guides at variable distance. The system may also comprise a second continuous belt moving at constant and high speed, which is flanked along the whole or part of its run by said first belt, which forms a system for getting on and off said second belt.