Travel vehicle and travel control method for the travel vehicle

• US 20070253800A1
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Original Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Inventors: Murakami, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,600,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/277
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/072 Travelling gear therefor

Abstract

The height of the center of gravity of a stacker crane is determined in consideration of a height position of an elevation frame and the inertial force is determined from the travel acceleration and deceleration. Wheel pressures applied to front and rear drive wheels are determined based on the height of the center of gravity, the inertial force, and horizontal distances from the center of gravity to the front and rear drive wheels. Torques are allocated in proportion to the determined wheel pressures.

Claims

1. A travel vehicle having a plurality of drive wheels along a travel direction, the travel vehicle comprising:

wheel pressure detection means for determining a proportion of wheel pressures applied to each of the drive wheels; and

torque allocation means for allocating torques required for traveling, to each of the drive wheels in correspondence with the proportion of wheel pressures determined by the wheel pressure detection means.

2. The travel vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the wheel pressure detection means determines the proportion of the wheel pressures applied to each of the drive wheels based on a height of a center of gravity of the travel vehicle, horizontal distances from the center of gravity to each of the drive wheels, and a travel acceleration and deceleration.

3. The travel vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a mast and an elevation frame which is elevated and lowered along the mast;

wherein the wheel pressure detection means includes means for correcting the height of the center of gravity in correspondence with a height position of the elevation frame.

4. A travel control method for a travel vehicle having a plurality of drive wheels along a travel direction, the method comprising steps of:

determining a proportion of wheel pressures applied to each of the drive wheels; and

allocating torques required for traveling, to each of the drive wheels in correspondence with the determined proportion of the wheel pressures.