초록 ▼

Disclosed is a multiple carrier transportation system. The system employs a plurality of linear induction motors positioned along a track. A plurality of carrier units are used for moving work pieces along the track. Each carrier is mounted with a reaction plate or secondary. The reaction plate pass

Disclosed is a multiple carrier transportation system. The system employs a plurality of linear induction motors positioned along a track. A plurality of carrier units are used for moving work pieces along the track. Each carrier is mounted with a reaction plate or secondary. The reaction plate passes over the linear induction motors and reacts with the electromagnetic field generated therein. The electromagnetic energy induced from the linear induction motors into the secondary produces a mechanical thrust which propels the carrier along the track. A control system utilizing a series of feedback loops and a computer is used to monitor and coordinate the movement of the carriers in the system. Attached to each carrier is a position indicator. The indicator relays position information to position sensors. The sensors relay position information to a control module or computer which determines the velocity and acceleration of the carrier. These values are then compared to a set of velocity and acceleration curves stored in memory. Deviations between the actual and desired speeds are corrected for by varying the power input to the linear induction motors. The control modules or computers are interconnected and receive information and instruction from a central data computer. The position, velocity, and acceleration of each carrier in the system is thus monitored and controlled.

대표청구항 ▼

A multiple carrier transportation system for moving units over a predetermined course, comprising: an underground track which spans the course; a plurality of carriers engaging the track for movement along the course, each of said carriers having means for carrying at least one of the units to be mo

A multiple carrier transportation system for moving units over a predetermined course, comprising: an underground track which spans the course; a plurality of carriers engaging the track for movement along the course, each of said carriers having means for carrying at least one of the units to be moved along the course; and a control loop associated with each of said carriers, each of said control loops including an elongated reaction plate attached to the carrier such that the reaction plate generally spans the length of the carrier; a linear induction motor fixed in position along the track for generating the thrust necessary to propel the carrier along a portion of the track, the thrust being produced by the interaction between the reaction plate of the carrier and the electromagnetic field generated by linear induction motor adjacent to the carrier reaction plate; a position sensor fixed in position along the track; a plurality of position indicators mounted in alignment along the length of the carrier such that the position indicators will pass by the position sensor during movement of the carrier along the track and cause the position sensor to produce a feedback signal indicative of the position of the carrier; a control module for controlling the movement of the carrier in response to the feedback signal from the position sensor, computer means being associated with the control module for determining the velocity and acceleration of the carrier, for comparing these velocity and acceleration values to a set of velocity and acceleration curves stored in the memory of the computer means, and for generating a control signal for controlling the voltage supplied to the linear induction motor from a power supply source, said control module including firing means for regulating the magnitude of the electrical power supplied to the linear induction motor and switching means for controlling the transmission and sense of the electrical power to the linear induction motor such that the linear induction motor is capable of generating both forward and reverse thrust.