Linear synchronous motor power control system and methods

• US 8,074,578 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Magnemotion Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thornton, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, IV, Joe
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCARRY JR, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US11/770,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20080006172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• Field of Search: 104/281, 104/282, 104/284, 104/286, 246/187.R, 246/187.B, 318/38, 318/135
• US Class Current: 104/281
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 13/03 Electric propulsion by linear motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/38 with automatic control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 11/0407 actuated by an electrical linear motor in the counterweight B66B17/12

Abstract

A system is disclosed that controls the power flow to Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) stators for a vehicle transport system. This invention allows multiple vehicles to operate in close proximity in a guideway without requiring an excessive number of separate controllers. It can be used in conjunction with schemes now in use and is particularly useful in elevator hoistways or for automated people movers near stations.

Claims

1. A power scheme for an LSM propulsion system containing

A. a multiplicity of stator segments, or sub-blocks,

B. a multiplicity of multi-way switches with the outputs connected to the sub-blocks, where each of the multi-way switches has a plurality of inputs for selecting among a plurality of inverters for powering the sub-blocks,

C. inverters connected to each of the switch inputs, and

D. control signals that actuate the switches and determine which inverter is connected to which sub-block.

2. The combination of the power scheme of claim 1 and conventional switching schemes that do not have multi-way switches connected to sub-blocks.

3. In a linear synchronous motor (LSM) propulsion system of the type used with a guideway that is made up of a plurality of blocks, each comprising a stator segment, the improvement comprising

A. a plurality of inverters that are switchably coupled to a common region of the guideway, where that region comprises a block or portion thereof,

B. a plurality of switches, each of which has (i) an output coupled to a respective subregion of the common region of the guideway and (ii) a plurality of inputs that provide electrical coupling to the plurality of inverters, wherein each switch determines which one of the plurality of inverters is coupled to the respective subregion.

4. In the linear synchronous motor (LSM) propulsion system of claim 3, the improvement wherein the plurality of switches are configured to propel multiple respective vehicles within the block.

5. In the linear synchronous motor (LSM) propulsion system of claim 3, the improvement wherein the plurality of switches are configured to propel multiple respective vehicles within the common region, where each such vehicle comprises a secondary of the LSM.

6. In the linear synchronous motor (LSM) propulsion system of claim 3, the improvement wherein each of the plurality of inverters comprises a power source and a controller that includes position sensing.

7. A guideway operated vehicle transport system comprising

A. a guideway that is made up of a plurality of blocks, each comprising a stator segment, wherein the plurality of blocks include at least first and second blocks that are adjacent to one another,

B. first and second inverters that are at least switchably coupled to respective ones of first and second blocks of the guideway, and

C. a plurality of switches, each of which has (i) an output coupled to a common region of at least the first block and (ii) first and second inputs that provide electrical coupling to respective first and second inverters, wherein each switch determines which inverter is coupled to the common region of at least the first block.

8. The guideway operated vehicle transport system of claim 7, wherein the common region of the first block is disposed substantially adjacent to the second block.

9. The guideway operated vehicle transport system of claim 8, wherein first and second vehicles that are concurrently disposed with the first block are concurrently propelled by the first and second inverters, respectively, wherein the first and second vehicles comprise secondaries of the LSM.

10. The guideway operated vehicle transport system of claim 8, wherein the first, second and/or other inverters are coupled to regions of the guideway other than the aforesaid common region, for propelling vehicles thereon in accord with any of simple block and sub-block switching schemes.