Non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle

• US 6,848,547 B1
• Filed: 10/23/1998
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Odachi, Yasuharu, Morita, Katsuyuki, Takasan, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US09/177,807
• Time in Patent Office: 2,293 Days
• Field of Search: 104/35, 104/45, 104/48, 104/49, 104/96, 104/99, 104/102, 104/130.03, 104/130.06, 191/3, 191/6, 191/9, 191/10, 191/22.R, 191/12.R, 310/12, 310/13, 336/115, 336/125, 336/129
• US Class Current: 191/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line

Abstract

A non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle includes a main line having fixed rails for guiding the vehicle. A movable rail body is provided for changing the course of the vehicle moving along the main line. A first high frequency power supply apparatus supplies electric power to the main line along an electric feed line. A second high frequency power supply apparatus supplies electric power to the movable rail body along an electric feed line. Portions of the electric feed line on the movable rail body may be fixed in place.

Claims

1. A non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle, comprising:

a main line comprising fixed rails for guiding the vehicle;

a movable rail body for changing the course of the vehicle moving along the main line;

a first high frequency power supply apparatus;

a first electric feed line for supplying electric power from the first high frequency power supply apparatus to the main line;

a second high frequency power supply apparatus; and

a second electric feed line for supplying electronic power from the second high frequency power supply apparatus to the movable rail body;

wherein portions of the second electric feed line for the movable rail body are fixed in place.

2. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transformer along the second electric feed line, between the second high-frequency power supply apparatus and the movable rail body, the transformer comprising a fixed-side core, wherein a portion of the second electric feed line from the second high-frequency power supply apparatus is wound around the fixed-side core, and a movable-side core, wherein a portion of the second electric feed line from the movable rail body is wound around the movable-side core, the movable-side core being capable of relative movement with respect to the fixed-side core while maintaining a fixed distance from the fixed-side core;

the fixed-side core of the transformer adapted to be secured to an immovable structure; and

the movable-side core adapted to be secured to the movable rail body.

3. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

the portion of the second electric feed line from the movable rail body is wound around a respective one of the cores of the transformer, a plurality of turns.

4. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 2, wherein:

said fixed-side core has an E-shaped cross-sectional profile including three protrusions and said movable-side core has an E-shaped cross-sectional profile including three protrusions, wherein the protrusions of the fixed-side core face the protrusions of the movable-side core with a gap therebetween and the portion of the second electric feed line from the movable rail body is wound around a central protrusion of a respective one of the cores;

the fixed-side core comprising an elongated dimension having a length corresponding to an extent of displacement of the moveable rail body; and

the movable-side core being capable of displacement along the elongated dimension thereof.

5. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the immovable structure is a building.

6. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transformer along an electric feed line between a commercial power source and the second high frequency power supply apparatus, the transformer comprising a fixed-side core, wherein the electric feed line from the commercial power source is wound around the fixed-side core, and a movable-side core, wherein an electric feed line from said second high-frequency power supply apparatus is wound around the movable side core, the movable-side core being capable of relative movement with respect to the fixed-side core while maintaining a fixed distance from the fixed-side core;

the fixed-side core of the transformer adapted to be secured to an immovable physical structure;

the movable-side core of the transformer adapted to be secured to the movable rail body; and

the second high-frequency power supply apparatus acted to be secured to the movable rail body.

7. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 6, wherein:

said fixed side core is a circular concave fixed-side core comprising protrusions at a center and a perimeter thereof, and said movable side core is a circular concave movable-side core comprising protrusions at a center and a perimeter thereof, wherein the protrusions of the fixed-side core face the protrusions of the movable-side core,

wherein said electric feed line from said second high-frequency power apparatus is wound around the center protrusion of a respective one of the cores;

the transformer being capable of rotating so that central rotational axes of the fixed-side core and the movable-side core coincide.

8. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said movable rail body is a lateral table displaceable horizontally or vertically in a straight line parallel to a guiding surface of a rail.

9. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the movable rail body comprises a turntable displaceable rotationally to a guiding surface of the movable rail body.

10. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the immovable structure is a building.

11. A non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle, comprising:

a main line comprising fixed rails for guiding the vehicle;

a movable rail body for changing the course of the vehicle moving along the main line;

an electric feed line for supplying electric power to the main line;

a first high frequency power supply apparatus connected to the electric feed line and for supplying electric power to the main line; and

a second high frequency power supply apparatus, separate from the first high frequency power supply apparatus, for supplying electric power to the movable rail body.

12. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 11, further comprising:

a transformer along a second electric feed line, connected between the second high-frequency power supply apparatus and the movable rail body, the transformer comprising a fixed-side core, wherein a portion of the second electric feed line from the second high-frequency power supply apparatus is wound around the fixed-side core, and a movable-side core, wherein a portion of the second electric feed line from the movable rail body is wound around the movable-side core, the movable side core being capable of relative movement with respect to the fixed-side core while maintaining a fixed distance from the fixed-side core;

wherein the fixed-side core of the transformer is adapted to be secured to an immovable structure; and

the movable-side core of the transformer is adapted to be secured to the movable rail body.

13. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 12, wherein:

the second electric feed line is wound around respective cores of the transformer, a plurality of turns.

14. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 11, further comprising:

a transformer along an electric feed line between a commercial power source and the second high frequency power supply apparatus, the transformer comprising;

a fixed-side core, wherein an electric feed line from the commercial power source is wound around the fixed-side core, the fixed-side core adapted to be secured to an immovable physical structure; and

a movable-side core, wherein an electric feed line from the second high-frequency power supply apparatus is wound around the movable-side core, the movable-side core being capable of relative movement with respect to the fixed-side core while maintaining a fixed distance from the fixed-side core, the movable-side core adapted to be secured to the movable rail body; and

wherein the second high-frequency power supply apparatus is adapted to be secured to the movable rail body.

15. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 11, wherein;

said movable rail body is a lateral table displaceable horizontally or vertically in a straight line.

16. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 15, further comprising:

a transformer including a fixed-side core with an E-shaped cross-sectional profile including three protrusions and a movable-side core with an E-shaped cross-sectional profile including three protrusions, where the protrusions of the fixed-side core face the protrusions of the movable-side core with a gap therebetween, and a electric feed line for the movable rail body is wound around central protrusions of the respective ones of the cores;

the fixed-side core comprising an elongated dimension having a length corresponding to an extent of displacement of the lateral table; and

the movable-side core being capable of displacement along the elongated dimension of the fixed-side core.

17. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 11, wherein:

the movable rail body comprises a turntable displaceable rotationally.

18. The non-contact electric power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle according to claim 17, further comprising:

a transformer including a circular concave fixed-side core comprising protrusions at a center and a perimeter thereof, and a circular concave movable-side core comprising protrusions at a center and a perimeter thereof;

the protrusions of the fixed-side core face the protrusions of the movable-side core;

an electric feed line for the turntable of the movable rail body is wound around the center protrusions of respective ones of the cores; and

the transformer is capable of rotating so that central rotational axes of the fixed-side core and the movable-side core coincide.