ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD IN CONNECTION WITH A TRANSPORT SYSTEM

• US 20120010751A1
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Inventors: Kallioniemi, Antti, Aulanko, Esko
• Granted Patent: US 8,575,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/275
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/302 for energy saving

Abstract

A transport system includes a motor for moving the transport appliance and a power supply circuit of the motor. The power supply circuit is connected between the motor and a power source that is limited (P_lim) in its dimensioning. An energy storage that is limited (E_lim) in its capacity is fitted in connection with the power supply circuit of the motor. The control arrangement includes a determination of the charging status (EQ) of the energy storage; a determination of the movement reference of the transport appliance; and a control of the movement of the transport appliance as a response to the determined movement reference of the transport appliance. The movement reference of the transport appliance is determined on the basis of the amount of energy that can be discharged from the energy storage and/or on the basis of the amount of energy that can be charged into the energy storage as well as on the basis of the travel distance of the transport appliance.

Claims

1. A control arrangement of a transport system, which transport system comprises:

a motor for moving the transport appliance;

a power supply circuit of the motor connected between the motor and a power source that is limited (P_lim) in its dimensioning;

an energy storage, limited (E_lim) in its capacity, fitted in connection with the power supply circuit of the motor, for supplying power between the energy storage and the power supply circuit of the motor;

a determination of the charging status (E_Q) of the energy storage;

a determination of the movement reference of the transport appliance; and

a control of the movement of the transport appliance as a response to the determined movement reference of the transport appliance.

wherein the movement reference of the transport appliance is determined on the basis of the amount of energy that can be discharged from the energy storage and/or on the basis of the amount of energy that can be charged into the energy storage as well as on the basis of the travel distance of the transport appliance.

2. The control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the movement reference of the transport appliance is determined on the basis of the loading and of the drive direction of the transport appliance.

3. The control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transport appliance is fitted to move in such a limited area in the horizontal direction and/or vertical direction, in which at least one distance between the starting points and stopping points of the transport appliance is defined in advance, and in that the movement reference of the transport appliance is in this case determined on the basis of the destination call of the of the transport appliance.

4. The control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a limit value is set for the travel distance of the transport appliance, and the movement reference for the transport appliance is fitted to limit the movement of the transport appliance in its maximum value when the travel distance exceeds the aforementioned limit value.

5. The control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage is fitted, on the one hand, to give up energy for the operating need of the motor that moves the transport appliance and, on the other hand, to receive the energy released from operation of the motor that moves the transport appliance as well as the energy supplied from the power source during a standstill of the transport system.

9. The control arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the transport appliance is fitted to move in such a limited area in the horizontal direction and/or vertical direction, in which at least one distance between the starting points and stopping points of the transport appliance is defined in advance, and the movement reference of the transport appliance is in this case determined on the basis of the destination call of the of the transport appliance.

10. The control arrangement according to claim 2, wherein a limit value is set for the travel distance of the transport appliance, and the movement reference for the transport appliance is fitted to limit the movement of the transport appliance in its maximum value when the travel distance exceeds the aforementioned limit value.

11. The control arrangement according to claim 3, wherein a limit value is set for the travel distance of the transport appliance, and the movement reference for the transport appliance is fitted to limit the movement of the transport appliance in its maximum value when the travel distance exceeds the aforementioned limit value.

12. The control arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the energy storage is fitted, on the one hand, to give up energy for the operating need of the motor that moves the transport appliance and, on the other hand, to receive the energy released from operation of the motor that moves the transport appliance as well as the energy supplied from the power source during a standstill of the transport system.

13. The control arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the energy storage is fitted, on the one hand, to give up energy for the operating need of the motor that moves the transport appliance and, on the other hand, to receive the energy released from operation of the motor that moves the transport appliance as well as the energy supplied from the power source during a standstill of the transport system.

14. The control arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the energy storage is fitted, on the one hand, to give up energy for the operating need of the motor that moves the transport appliance and, on the other hand, to receive the energy released from operation of the motor that moves the transport appliance as well as the energy supplied from the power source during a standstill of the transport system.

6. A method in connection with a transport system, said method comprising the steps of:

fitting a motor to the transport system for moving a transport appliance;

connecting the power supply circuit of the motor between the motor and a power source that is limited (P_lim) in its dimensioning;

fitting an energy storage that is limited (E_lim) in its capacity in connection with the power supply circuit of the motor, for supplying power between the power supply circuit of the motor and the energy storage;

determining the charging status (E_Q) of the energy storage;

determining the movement reference of the transport appliance;

controlling the motion of the transport appliance as a response to the determined movement reference of the transport appliance; and

determining the movement reference of the transport appliance on the basis of the amount of energy that can be discharged from the energy storage and/or on the basis of the amount of energy that can be charged into the energy storage as well as on the basis of the travel distance of the transport appliance.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of determining a movement reference of the transport appliance on the basis of the loading and of the travel direction of the transport appliance.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

determining a limit value for the travel distance of the transport appliance; and

fitting the movement reference of the transport appliance to limit the movement of the transport appliance in its maximum value when the travel distance exceeds the aforementioned limit value.

15. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

determining a limit value for the travel distance of the transport appliance; and

fitting the movement reference of the transport appliance to limit the movement of the transport appliance in its maximum value when the travel distance exceeds the aforementioned limit value.