LINEAR MOTOR TRANSPORT FOR PACKAGING AND OTHER USES

• US 20150083018A1
• Filed: 09/19/2014
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Magnemotion Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clark, Tracy M., Webber, Todd, Bottasso, Michael, Mosher, Robert, King, Nathan
• Granted Patent: US 9,802,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 104/282
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 13/003 Crossings; Points
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 13/03 Electric propulsion by linear motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 13/10 Combination of electric propulsion and magnetic suspension or levitation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/005 for control of propulsion for vehicles propelled by linear motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Abstract

The invention provides in some aspects a transport system comprising a guideway having a plurality of regions in which one or more vehicles are propelled, where each such vehicle includes a magnet. Disposed along each region are a plurality of propulsion coils, each comprising one or more turns that are disposed about a common axis, such that the respective common axes of the plurality of coils in that region are (i) substantially aligned with one another, and (ii) orthogonal to a direction in which the vehicles are to be propelled in that region. The plurality of coils of at least one such region are disposed on opposing sides of the magnets of vehicles being propelled along that region so as to exert a propulsive force of substance on those magnets. In at least one other region, the plurality of coils disposed on only a single side of the magnets of vehicles being propelled in that region exert a propulsive force of substance thereon—regardless of whether the plurality of coils in that region are disposed on a single or multiple (e.g., opposing sides) of those magnets.

Claims

1. A linear synchronous motor-based transport system comprising

A. a guideway having a plurality of regions in which one or more vehicles are propelled, where each such vehicle includes a magnet,

B. a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along each region, and

C. each coil comprising one or more turns that are disposed about a common axis, such that the respective common axes of the plurality of coils in that region are (i) substantially aligned with one another, and (ii) orthogonal to a direction in which the vehicles are to be propelled in that region.

2. The transport system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of coils of at least one said region are disposed on opposing sides of the magnets of the one or more vehicles propelled thereon, and wherein at least the coils on one of those sides exert a propulsive force of substance on those magnets.

3. The transport system of claim 2, wherein the coils on the opposing sides of the vehicles exert propulsive forces of substance on the magnets.

4. The transport system of claim 1, wherein working ones of the plurality of coils of at least one said region are disposed on a single side of the magnets of the one or more vehicles propelled thereon, and wherein those working coils exert a propulsive force of substance on those magnets.

5. The transport system of claim 1, wherein

A. working ones of the plurality of coils of at least one said region are disposed

(i) on a single side of the magnets of the one or more vehicles propelled thereon over at least a portion of the guideway,

(ii) on opposing sides of the magnets of the one or more vehicles propelled thereon over at least another portion of the guideway, and

B. wherein the working coils on at least one side of the vehicles exert a propulsive force of substance on those magnets.

6. The transport system of claim 5, wherein the magnets are disposed on at least one side of the respective vehicles.

7. The transport system of claim 6, wherein the magnets are disposed on a same single side of the respective vehicles as the plurality of working coils of said at least one region.

8. The transport system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the regions is curved and wherein the respective common axes of the plurality of coils in that curved region are radially aligned with one another.

9. The transport system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the regions is a straight-away and wherein the respective common axes of the plurality of coils in that region are linearly aligned with one another.

10. The transport system of claim 1, wherein the guideway is arranged to propel vehicles along one or more planes, including any of a horizontal plane and a vertical plane.

11. The transport system of claim 10, wherein the guideway is arranged to propel vehicles at two or more heights.

12. The transport system of claim 11, where those two or more heights include any of a floor height, tabletop height and an overhead height, ceiling height.

34. The vehicle of claim 32 for use with a transport system of any of claims 1, 13 and 31.

13. In a transport system of the type having a linear synchronous motor (LSM) guideway having one or more regions in which one or more vehicles are propelled, where each such vehicle includes a magnet, the improvement wherein:

A. the guideway comprises one or more modules, each comprising one or more propulsion coils, and

B. each of the coils in at least one region of the guideway comprising one or more turns that are disposed about a common axis, such that the respective common axes of the plurality of coils in that region are (i) substantially aligned with one another, and (ii) orthogonal to a direction in which the vehicles are to be propelled in that region.

14. In the transport system of claim 13, the further improvement wherein the modules include any of straight-aways, curves, and inclines.

15. In the transport system of claim 13, the further improvement wherein

A. the plurality of coils of at least one said region are disposed

(i) on a single side of the magnets of the one or more vehicles propelled thereon over at least portion of the guideway,

(ii) on opposing sides of the magnets of the one or more vehicles propelled thereon over at least another portion of the guideway, and

B. the coils on at least one side of the vehicles exert a propulsive force of substance on those magnets.

16. In the transport system of claim 13, the further improvement wherein at least one of the regions is curved and wherein the respective common axes of the plurality of coils in that curved region are radially aligned with one another.

17. In the transport system of claim 13, the further improvement wherein at least one of the regions is a straight-away and wherein the respective common axes of the plurality of coils in that region are linearly aligned with one another.

18. In the transport system of claim 13, the further improvement wherein the guideway is arranged to propel vehicles along one or more planes, including any of a horizontal plane and a vertical plane.

19. In the transport system of claim 18, the further improvement wherein the guideway is arranged to propel vehicles at two or more heights.

20. In the transport system of claim 13, the further improvement wherein those two or more heights include any of a floor height, tabletop height and an overhead height.

21. A linear synchronous motor-based transport system comprising

A. a guideway having one or more regions in which one or more vehicles are propelled, where each such vehicle includes a magnet,

B. a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along each region,

C. each coil comprising one or more turns that are disposed about a common axis, such that the respective common axes of the plurality of coils in that region are

(i) substantially aligned with one another, and (ii) orthogonal to a direction in which the vehicles are to be propelled in that region,

D. where at least one of the regions is a diverge region that any of

i) directs a vehicle from a common upstream portion of a diverge to any of two or more branches in a downstream portion of the diverge,

ii) directs a vehicle from any of two or more branches in the downstream portion of the diverge to the common upstream portion of the diverge.

22. The transport system of claim 21, comprising one or more diverge regions in a vertical plane of motion.

23. The transport system of claim 21, comprising one or more diverge regions in multiple respective planes of motion.

24. The transport system of claim 21, wherein the diverge region comprises any of a left-right, up-down or other diverge in a plane of motion defined by the diverge region.

25. The transport system of claim 21, wherein the diverge region includes a plurality of working coils on only one side of the guideway in the upstream portion of the diverge.

26. The transport system of claim 25, wherein the diverge region includes a plurality of working coils on both sides of the guideway in at least one branch of the diverge disposed in a downstream portion of the diverge.

27. The transport system of claim 21, wherein the diverge region includes a plurality of coils on both sides of the guideway.

28. The transport system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of coils on only one side of the guideway in the upstream portion of the diverge region are activated in order to apply a lateral force to propel a vehicle to a selected one of the branches.

29. The transport system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of coils on both sides of the guideway are activated in at least the selected branch of the diverge disposed in the downstream portion of the diverge region.

30. The transport system of claim 21, wherein the magnets are disposed on at least one side of the respective vehicles.

31. The transport system of claim 30, wherein the magnets are disposed on a same single side of the respective vehicles as the side on which the plurality of coils are disposed in said at least one region.

32. A vehicle for use with a linear synchronous motor transport system, the vehicle comprising

A. a centrally disposed magnet to magnetically couple propulsion coils in a guideway,

B. the vehicle engaging, distal to said magnet, running surfaces of the guideway, where such engagement is any of direct and indirect.

33. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the vehicle includes any of wheels, bearings, slides to facilitate such indirect engagement.

35. The vehicle of claim 32 comprising a generally planar central portion on which said magnet is disposed.

36. The vehicle of claim 35 comprising one or more flange on one or more end portions distal to said central portion.

37. The vehicle of claim 36, comprising any of wheels, bearings, slides disposed on one or more of the end portions.