Transport system powered by short block linear synchronous motors and switching mechanism
First Claim
1. A transport system, comprising:
- A. a guideway that guides one or more vehicles and that includes at least one of a merge region and a diverge region,B. one or more vehicles disposed on the guideway, each containing a magnetic flux source,C. electronic power and control circuitry that excites a plurality of propulsion coils so as to propel the one or more vehicles independently of one another along the guideway,D. each of the merge region and diverge region defining first and second pathways on the guideway, wherein the merge region and the diverge region comprise a first plurality of propulsion coils extending continuously along the first pathway to propel the one or more vehicles along the first pathway and a second plurality of propulsion coils adjacent to the first plurality of propulsion coils and extending continuously along the second pathway to propel the one or more vehicles along the second pathway, wherein each plurality of propulsion coils is operable to propel the one or more vehicles along their respective pathways.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of the invention provide a transport system powered by short block Linear Synchronous Motors (LSMs). The use of short blocks allows vehicles to move under precise control even when they are in close proximity to each other. The design allows the vehicles to be propelled and guided while negotiating sharp turns and negotiating merge and diverge switches. A coreless LSM can be used to create propulsive force without attractive force so as to allow a relatively high drag vehicle suspension, such as a vehicle sliding on a smooth surface. Further aspects of the invention provide a switching member that is selectively moveable relative to a guideway in order to change a magnetic force acting on the vehicle transverse to a direction of motion of the vehicle.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A transport system, comprising:
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A. a guideway that guides one or more vehicles and that includes at least one of a merge region and a diverge region, B. one or more vehicles disposed on the guideway, each containing a magnetic flux source, C. electronic power and control circuitry that excites a plurality of propulsion coils so as to propel the one or more vehicles independently of one another along the guideway, D. each of the merge region and diverge region defining first and second pathways on the guideway, wherein the merge region and the diverge region comprise a first plurality of propulsion coils extending continuously along the first pathway to propel the one or more vehicles along the first pathway and a second plurality of propulsion coils adjacent to the first plurality of propulsion coils and extending continuously along the second pathway to propel the one or more vehicles along the second pathway, wherein each plurality of propulsion coils is operable to propel the one or more vehicles along their respective pathways. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A guideway module defining any of a merge region and a diverge region for use in a transport system, the guideway module altering a course of a vehicle passing thereover, comprising:
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A. a plurality of coreless propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles that include magnetic flux sources are to be propelled, B. electronic power and control circuitry that excites one or more of the plurality of propulsion coils independently of one or more other propulsion coils in any of (a) the guideway module, and (b) a guideway in which that guideway module is incorporated, so as to independently propel one or more vehicles passing over the guideway module C. any of the merge region and the diverge region defining a first path and a second path over the guideway module, wherein a first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the first path to propel the vehicle along the first path and a second plurality of propulsion coils adjacent to the first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the second path to propel the vehicle along the second path, wherein each plurality of propulsion coils is operable to propel the one or more vehicles along their respective paths. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A vehicle for use in a transport system, comprising a flux source and adapted to be propelled along a guideway comprising:
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A. a plurality of coreless propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles that include magnetic flux sources are to be propelled, the region defining a first path and a second path on the guideway, wherein a first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the first path to propel the vehicle along the first path and a second plurality of propulsion coils adjacent to the first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the second path to propel the vehicle along the second path, wherein each plurality of propulsion coils is operable to propel the one or more vehicles along their respective paths, B. electronic power and control circuitry that excites one or more of the plurality of propulsion coils independently of one or more other propulsion coils so as to propel the vehicle, C. any of a rail, ledge, recess, or flange that comprises a running surface that is adapted for sliding motion of the vehicle along the guideway. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A transport system, comprising
A. a guideway including a plurality of coreless propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled, the region defining a first path and a second path on the guideway, wherein a first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the first path to propel the one or more vehicles along the first path and a second plurality of propulsion coils adjacent to the first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the second path to propel the one or more vehicles along the second path, wherein each plurality of propulsion coils is operable to propel the one or more vehicles along their respective paths, B. one or more vehicles disposed on the guideway, each containing a magnetic flux source, C. electronic power and control circuitry that excites one or more of the plurality of propulsion coils independently of one or more other propulsion coils so as to propel the one or more vehicles along the guideway, D. the one or more vehicles being slidingly disposed on any of a rail, ledge, recess, or flange of the guideway.
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27. A guideway module for use in a transport system, the guideway module comprising
A. a plurality of coreless propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles that include magnetic flux sources are to be propelled, the region defining a first path and a second path on the guideway, wherein a first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the first path to propel the one or more vehicles along the first path and a second plurality of propulsion coils adjacent to the first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the second path to propel the one or more vehicles along the second path, wherein each plurality of propulsion coils is operable to propel the one or more vehicles along their respective paths, B. electronic power and control circuitry that excites one or more of the plurality of propulsion coils independently of one or more other propulsion coils in any of (a) the guideway module, and (b) a guideway in which that guideway module is incorporated, so as to control movement of one or more vehicles passing over the guideway module, C. any of a rail, ledge, recess, or flange adapted for sliding motion of the one or more vehicles thereon.
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30. A transport system, comprising:
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A. a guideway that includes a plurality of propulsion coils and a switching region defining a first path and a second path on the guideway, and B. a vehicle that moves along the guideway and that includes a magnetic flux source, wherein a first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the first path to propel the vehicle along the first path and a second plurality of propulsion coils adjacent to the first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the second path to propel the vehicle along the second path, wherein each plurality of propulsion coils is operable to propel the vehicle along their respective paths. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of switching a vehicle, comprising:
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providing a vehicle including a magnetic flux source; moving the vehicle along a pathway defined by a guideway, the guideway defining a first path and a second path having a plurality of propulsion coils disposed thereon such that a first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the first path to propel the vehicle along the first path and a second plurality of propulsion coils adjacent to the first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the second path to propel the vehicle along the second path, wherein each plurality of propulsion coils is operable to propel the vehicle along their respective paths. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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- 39. A guideway module for use in a transport system, comprising a plurality of propulsion coils configured to propel a vehicle disposed on the guideway, the guideway defining a first path and a second path, wherein a first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the first path to propel the vehicle along the first path and a second plurality of propulsion coils adjacent to the first plurality of propulsion coils extends continuously along the second path to propel the vehicle along the second path, wherein each plurality of propulsion coils is operable to propel the vehicle along their respective paths.
Specification