Unmanned material handling system for servicing a multi-level structure

• US 4,279,563 A
• Filed: 07/05/1979
• Issued: 07/21/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saifer, Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US06/055,055
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 414/277, 414/279, 414/284, 414/611, 180/2 R, 180/65 B, 180/165, 191/2
• US Class Current: 414/611
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/302 for energy saving
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 11/006 Applications of loading and unloading equipment for lifts associated with buildings of general application B65G; for paternoster lifts B65G17/00; for mine lifts B66B17/14
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0225 involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay parking aids B62D15/027
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0244 using reflecting strips
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0265 using buried wires

Abstract

An unmanned material handling system for servicing a plurality of vertically spaced levels of a structure is provided. This system includes an unmanned, selfpropelled vehicle driven by an electromechanical device such as an electric motor. The vehicle includes an energy storage device, such as a flywheel, for storing energy and for supplying that energy to the electro-mechanical device. The vehicle can be moved from one level to another within the structure by an elevator. One half of a split transformer is embedded in the floor of the elevator and, when the vehicle is disposed thereover, that half of the split transformer is energized and becomes electromagnetically coupled with a second half of the split transformer which is disposed within the vehicle. This coupling provides electrical energy to drive a motor/generator which, in turn, causes the flywheel to rotate and store energy. When the elevator reaches the desired level, the mechanical energy stored by the rotating flywheel is converted to electrical energy by the motor/generator for transmission to an electro-mechanical propulsion device thereby propelling the vehicle.

Claims

1. A material handling system for servicing a plurality of vertically spaced levels of a structure, said system comprising:

an unmanned vehicle adapted to transport cargo between said vertically spaced levels;

electro-mechanical drive means for propelling said vehicle along a surface of a selected one of said levels;

means disposed within said vehicle for storing energy and for imparting said stored energy to said electro-mechanical drive means;

means for vertically moving said vehicle to each of said spaced levels; and

means coupling said vehicle and said vertical moving means while said vehicle is supported by said vertical moving means for transmitting energy from an external source to said energy storage means, said energy transmission means being deployed within and movable with said vertical moving means, and being operable while said vertical moving means is moving vertically;

said vertical moving means being free of interior obstructions to safe occupancy and movement by passenger personnel and thereby being adaptable, without modification, for transporting said passenger personnel between said vertically spaced levels.

2. A material handling system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

said energy storage means includes a flywheel which is operably connected to said electro-mechanical drive means.

3. A material handling system as recited in claim 2 wherein:

said electro-mechanical drive means includes a motor/generator having a shaft operably connected to said flywheel.

4. A material handling system as recited in claim 3 wherein:

said energy transmission means comprises a split transformer, one half of which is carried by said vertical moving means and is energized by an external source, and the other half of which is disposed in said vehicle and transmits energy induced therein to the motor portion of said motor/generator for charging said flywheel.

5. A material handling system as recited in claim 1 which further comprises:

means for positioning said vehicle with respect to said vertical moving means to accomplish said coupling therebetween.

6. A material handling system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

said energy storage and imparting means includes means for accepting energy generated by said electro-mechanical drive means during periods of deceleration of said vehicle.

7. An unmanned, self propelled vehicle used in conjunction with an elevator car, having a first half of a split transformer embedded in its floor, for servicing various vertical levels in a multi-story building, the vehicle comprising:

a flywheel;

a dynamo electric machine, connected to said flywheel, operable as a motor for charging said flywheel and as a generator for accepting power from said flywheel;

a plurality of wheels supporting the vehicle;

electrical drive means connected between said dynamo electric machine and at least one of said plurality of wheels for driving the vehicle with power from said dynamo electric machine when the vehicle makes excursions from the elevator car;

a second half of the split transformer disposed on the vehicle to be positioned in close proximity to and inductively coupled with the first half of the split transformer when the vehicle is in the elevator car;

charging means connected between said second half of the split transformer and said dynamo electric machine for supplying power to said dynamo electric machine when the vehicle is in the elevator car; and

control means for operating said dynamo electric machine as a motor when the vehicle is disposed in the elevator car and for operating said dynamo electric machine as a generator when the vehicle makes excursions from the elevator car.