Short block linear synchronous motors and switching mechanisms

• US 9,771,000 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2015
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magnemotion Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Magnemotion Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: King, Nathanael N., Perreault, Brian M., Clark, Tracy M., Thornton, Richard D., Young, Jason, Bottasso, Michael W., Mendenhall, Jesse
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCARRY JR, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US14/688,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20150360581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 13/003 Crossings; Points
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 13/03 Electric propulsion by linear motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 13/10 Combination of electric propulsion and magnetic suspension or levitation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/005 for control of propulsion for vehicles propelled by linear motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 25/34 Switches; Frogs; Crossings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Abstract

The invention provides in some aspects a transport system comprising a guideway with a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled. One or more vehicles are disposed on the guideway, each including a magnetic flux source. The guideway has one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide. Each vehicle can have a septum portion of narrowed cross-section that is coupled to one or more body portions of the vehicle. The guideway includes a diverge region that has a flipper and an extension of the running surface at a vertex of the diverge. The flipper initiates switching of vehicle direction at a diverge by exerting a laterally directed force thereon. The extension continues switching of vehicle direction at the diverge by contacting the septum. Still other aspects of the invention provide a transport system, e.g., as described above, that includes a merge region with a flipper and a broadened region of the running surface. The flipper applies a lateral force to the vehicle to alter an angle thereof as the vehicle enters the merge region, and the broadened region continues the merge by contacting the septum of the vehicle, thereby, providing further guidance or channeling for the merge. The flipper, which can be equipped for full or partial deployment, is partially deployed in order to effect alteration of the vehicle angle as the vehicle enters the merge.

Claims

1. A vehicle for use in a transport system, comprising:

a magnetic flux source; and

a septum portion coupled to one or more body portions of the vehicle, wherein the septum portion is of narrowed cross-section with respect to the other body portion(s);

wherein the transport system includes

A. a guideway including a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled, the guideway having one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide;

B. a diverge region that comprises a flipper and an extension of the running surface at a vertex of the diverge, wherein the flipper initiates switching of vehicle direction at a diverge by exerting a laterally directed force thereon, and wherein the extension continues switching of vehicle direction at the diverge by contacting the septum of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

A. a first constituent and a second constituent, each constituent including

i. a magnetic flux source;

ii. a septum portion coupled to one or more body portions of the constituent, wherein the septum portion is of narrowed cross-section with respect to the other body portions(s),

B. a platform coupling the first constituent and the second constituent.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the platform is pivotably coupled to at least one of the constituents.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle has a generally rectangular cross-section.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle has a cross-section that is generally a pointed oval.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein

A. the vehicle is between about 52 mm and about 200 mm wide, has a length between one and two times that width, and has a loaded mass of between about 0.2 kg and about 4 kg;

B. the vehicle moves on the guideway at speeds in excess of about 2 m/s; and

C. the flipper of the transport system initiates switching of the vehicle by moving less than about 2 cm.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the one or more body portions of the vehicle include one or more surfaces for contacting one or more guidance surfaces on the guideway that constrain motion of the vehicle laterally.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein further guidance for switching of vehicle direction is provided by a portion of the one or more guidance surfaces within the diverge region.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the one or more surfaces of the vehicle for contacting one or more guidance surfaces on the guideway include one or more first regions for contacting the guidance surfaces of the guideway at some portions of the guideway and one or more second regions for contacting the guidance surfaces of the guideway at other portions of the guideway.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the one or more first regions contact the guidance surfaces of the guideway in straightaways, and wherein the one or more second regions contact the guidance surfaces of the guideway in curves.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the flipper initiates switching of vehicle direction at a diverge by contacting one or more of the second regions.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein one or more of the second regions are curved.

13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein one or more of the first regions are peripheral regions of the vehicle having tangents that are parallel to tangents of those of adjacent surfaces of the guideway when the vehicle is disposed on a straightaway.

14. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein one or more of the second regions are peripheral regions of the vehicle having tangents that are parallel to tangents of those of adjacent surfaces of the guideway when the vehicle is disposed on a curve.

15. A vehicle for use in a transport system, comprising:

a magnetic flux source; and

one or more pins extending from near one or more running surfaces of the vehicle;

wherein the transport system includes

A. a guideway including a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which the vehicle is to be propelled, the guideway having one or more running surfaces that support the vehicle and along which the vehicle rolls or slides;

B. a diverge region along the guideway that comprises a flipper;

wherein the one or more pins of the vehicle interact with the flipper to control direction of motion of the vehicle at the diverge region.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the one or more pins extend from corners of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the vehicle is configured to slide along the guideway.

18. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the magnetic flux source of the vehicle includes one or more magnets.

19. A vehicle for use in a transport system, comprising:

a magnetic flux source; and

a septum portion that is coupled to one or more body portions of the vehicle, wherein the septum portion is of narrowed cross-section;

wherein the transport system includes

A. a guideway including a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which the vehicle is to be propelled, the guideway having one or more running surfaces that support the vehicle and along which it rolls or slides;

B. a merge region that comprises a flipper and a broadened region of the running surface, wherein the flipper applies a lateral force to the vehicle to alter an angle thereof as the vehicle enters the merge region, and wherein the broadened region continues the merge by contacting the septum of the vehicle, thereby, providing further guidance or channeling for the merge.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, further comprising:

A. a first constituent and a second constituent, each constituent including

i. a magnetic flux source;

ii. a septum portion coupled to one or more body portions of the constituent, wherein the septum portion is of narrowed cross-section with respect to the other body portions(s),

B. a platform coupling the first constituent and the second constituent.