Transporter systems
First Claim
1. Tracked transporter apparatus comprising,a plurality of cars each having a plurality of wheels mounted to swivel about an upright axis,a power unit drivingly connected to at least one of said wheels,steering means operable for imparting swivelling movement to said wheels to cause the car selectively to follow a predetermined track course,means for detecting the proximity, in any direction, of another car, said detecting means comprising an electronic transmitter and receiver means operated alternately as a transmitter and as a receiver,a plurality of antenna plates, one at each side of the car,and switching means being controlled by said steering means of the car for selectively connecting one of said plates to said receiver means to serve as a receiving plate, concurrent control means for connecting said receiver means to said antenna plate to serve as a receiver and said other plates being connected by said switching means to said transmitter means to serve as transmitting plates, and means controlling said transmitter and receiver means to operate alternately.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to the invention, a car, for a transporter system, is provided, as means for detecting the close proximity of another car, with a device operated alternately as a signal transmitter and as a receiver and a plurality of plates at sides of the car, at least one plate, for example that of the leading side, being connected to the said device to serve as a receiving plate when the device is operating as a receiver and at least one plate being so connected to serve as a transmitting plate when the said device is operating as transmitter. Advantageously, switch means automatically changes over the connections of the plates to the said device in dependence upon the direction of travel. The output of the device when operating as a receiver may interrupt the driving of the car upon the detection of another car within a predetermined proximity.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. Tracked transporter apparatus comprising,
a plurality of cars each having a plurality of wheels mounted to swivel about an upright axis, a power unit drivingly connected to at least one of said wheels, steering means operable for imparting swivelling movement to said wheels to cause the car selectively to follow a predetermined track course, means for detecting the proximity, in any direction, of another car, said detecting means comprising an electronic transmitter and receiver means operated alternately as a transmitter and as a receiver, a plurality of antenna plates, one at each side of the car, and switching means being controlled by said steering means of the car for selectively connecting one of said plates to said receiver means to serve as a receiving plate, concurrent control means for connecting said receiver means to said antenna plate to serve as a receiver and said other plates being connected by said switching means to said transmitter means to serve as transmitting plates, and means controlling said transmitter and receiver means to operate alternately.
Specification