Rail-guided transport system with transport vehicles

• US 6,213,025 B1
• Filed: 08/04/1998
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Zorn, Michael, Sauerwein, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCarry, Jr., Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US09/029,331
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 104/48, 104/281, 104/282, 104/283, 104/121
• US Class Current: 104/121
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0414 provided with satellite cars adapted to travel in storage racks
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0492 with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles

Abstract

A track (rail)-guided transport system has at least one track of bearing and rail-guiding members on which is run at least one transport vehicle which has means for self-automated continuous movement along the track and to which energy is transmitted contactlessly from a primary circuit laid down along the track. The transport vehicle is designed as a carrier vehicle (2) for at least one satellite vehicle (3,9) used to transport goods and has a satellite track section for positioning and parking the satellite vehicle (3,9). The satellite track section can be brought into alignment by positioning the carrier vehicle (2) flush to satellite tracks arranged along its track, perpendicular thereto. Energy from a primary circuit laid down along the satellite tracks (7,8) is transmitted contactlessly to the satellite vehicle (3,9) equipped with means for automated locomotion. The satellite vehicle (3,9) and the carrier vehicle (2) have processor capacity and means for wireless transmission of information between them and/or with a central processing unit.

Claims

1. A track-guided transportation system with at least one travel path of carrying and track-guiding elements, with at least one transportation vehicle that comprises at least one self-activated powered motor providing movement along the travel path, and to which power is transmitted in a contactless manner from a primary circuit laid along the travel path, wherein:

the transport vehicle is designed as a carrier vehicle (2) for at least one satellite vehicle (3, 9) for the transportation of goods, and has a satellite travel section for positioning and parking the satellite vehicle (3, 9);

the satellite travel section can be oriented flush by positioning the carrier vehicle (2) crosswise along its travel path;

the satellite vehicle (3, 9), which comprises at least one self-activated powered motor providing movement, receives power in a contactless manner from a primary circuit laid along the satellite travel paths (7, 8); and

at least one satellite vehicle (3, 9) and the carrier vehicle (2) include processing capabilities and transmitters for the wireless transmission of information between themselves and/or to a central unit which enable the satellite vehicle (3,9) and the carrier vehicle to move in a flexible manner directed by a transporting program.

2. A transportation system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least two travel paths are provided for the carrier vehicle in two superimposed planes with corresponding crosswise satellite travel paths, and an elevator is provided at least at one end of the travel paths.

3. A transportation system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that at least one satellite vehicle is designed for receiving, transporting and unloading pallets.

4. A transportation system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one satellite vehicle is designed for receiving, transporting and unloading pallets.

5. A track-guided transportation system with at least one travel path of carrying and track-guiding elements, with at least one transportation vehicle that comprises at least one self-activated powered motor providing movement along the travel path, and to which power is transmitted in a contactless manner from a primary circuit laid along the travel path, wherein:

the transport vehicle is designed as a carrier vehicle (2) for at least one satellite vehicle (3, 9) for the transportation of goods, and has a satellite travel section for positioning and parking the satellite vehicle (3, 9);

the satellite travel section can be oriented flush by positioning the carrier vehicle (2) crosswise along its travel path;

the satellite vehicle (3, 9), which comprises at least one self-activated powered motor providing movement, receives power in a contactless manner from a primary circuit laid along the satellite travel paths (7, 8); and

at least one satellite vehicle (3, 9) and the carrier vehicle (2) include processing capabilities and transmitters for the wireless transmission of information between themselves and/or to a central unit which enable the satellite vehicle (3,9) and the carrier vehicle to move in a flexible manner directed by a transporting program,

characterized in that at least two travel paths are provided for the carrier vehicle in two superimposed planes with corresponding crosswise satellite travel paths, and an elevator is provided at least at one end of the travel paths, and characterized in that at least one satellite vehicle is designed for receiving, transporting and unloading pallets, and also characterized in that the power is electromagnetically transmitted at a frequency from the primary circuit to the carrier vehicle (2) and to the satellite vehicles (3, 9).

6. A transportation system as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the primary circuit is designed respectively as a long line arrangement, it is connected to the frequency source and is arranged along the travel path (1) of the carrier vehicle (2) and along the satellite travel paths (7, 8), that a ferrite transformer head (15) each is located on the carrier vehicle (2) and the satellite vehicles (3, 9), and a secondary winding encloses the ferrite core and is inductively coupled to the primary circuit.

7. A track-guided transportation system with at least one travel path of carrying and track-guiding elements, with at least one transportation vehicle that comprises at least one self-activated powered motor providing movement along the travel path, and to which power is transmitted in a contactless manner from a primary circuit laid along the travel path, wherein:

the transport vehicle is designed as a carrier vehicle (2) for at least one satellite vehicle (3, 9) for the transportation of goods, and has a satellite travel section for positioning and parking the satellite vehicle (3, 9);

the satellite travel section can be oriented flush by positioning the carrier vehicle (2) crosswise along its travel path;

the satellite vehicle (3, 9), which comprises at least one self-activated powered motor providing movement, receives power in a contactless manner from a primary circuit laid along the satellite travel paths (7, 8); and

at least one satellite vehicle (3, 9) and the carrier vehicle (2) include processing capabilities and transmitters for the wireless transmission of information between themselves and/or to a central unit which enable the satellite vehicle (3,9) and the carrier vehicle to move in a flexible manner directed by a transporting program,

characterized in that the power is electromagnetically transmitted at a middle frequency from the primary circuit to the carrier vehicle (2) and to the satellite vehicles (3, 9).

8. A track-guided transportation system with at least one travel path of carrying and track-guiding elements, with at least one transportation vehicle that comprises at least one self-activated powered motor providing movement along the travel path, and to which power is transmitted in a contactless manner from a primary circuit laid along the travel path, wherein:

the transport vehicle is designed as a carrier vehicle (2) for at least one satellite vehicle (3, 9) for the transportation of goods, and has a satellite travel section for positioning and parking the satellite vehicle (3, 9);

the satellite travel section can be oriented flush by positioning the carrier vehicle (2) crosswise along its travel path;

the satellite vehicle (3, 9), which comprises at least one self-activated powered motor providing movement, receives power in a contactless manner from a primary circuit laid along the satellite travel paths (7, 8); and

at least one satellite vehicle (3, 9) and the carrier vehicle (2) include processing capabilities and transmitters for the wireless transmission of information between themselves and/or to a central unit which enable the satellite vehicle (3,9) and the carrier vehicle to move in a flexible manner directed by a transporting program,

characterized in that the primary circuit is designed as a long line arrangement, it is connected to a frequency source and is arranged along the travel path (1) of the carrier vehicle (2) and along the satellite travel paths (7, 8), that a ferrite transformer head (15) is located on the carrier vehicle (2) and the satellite vehicles (3, 9), and a secondary winding encloses the ferrite core and is inductively coupled to the primary circuit.