Power-charging system for transporter cart

• US 5,323,098 A
• Filed: 08/15/1991
• Issued: 06/21/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daifuku Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Daifuku Company Limited
• Inventors: Nishihara, Shigeyoshi, Hamaguchi, Hideo, Tanizawa, Hideichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US07/745,522
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 191/2, 191/4, 191/10, 191/23 R, 191/29 R, 191/30, 246/187 R
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0261 using magnetic plots
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0263 using magnetic strips
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0276 using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A power-charging system for a transporter cart is disclosed. The system includes a power-supplying electrode disposed along and at a predetermined section of a travelling passage along which the transporter cart automatically runs by power from a battery mounted thereon and a power-receiving electrode attached to the transporter cart and a slide-contactable with the power-supplying electrode during the automatic run of the cart.

Claims

1. A transporter system comprising a transporter cart having a battery mounted thereon and powering said transporter cart, a travelling passage along which said transporter cart automatically runs, and a power-charging system for said transporter cart, the power-charging system including a power-supplying electrode disposed along and at a predetermined section of said travelling passage, said power-supplying electrode being a power-supplying rail embedded in said travelling passage;

and

a power-receiving electrode attached to said transporter cart, coupled to said battery, and slide-contactable with said power-supplying electrode during the automatic run of said cart, said power-receiving electrode being a collector member projectable from and retractable to a bottom portion of said cart, wherein said travelling passage includes a guide line and said cart includes a sensor for sensing said guide line so that said cart automatically travels along said guide line based on the detection of said sensor.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said guide line comprises a magnetic member having opposed poles in its front and rear sides, said magnetic member being fixedly covered with epoxy resin so as to form a surface flush with the travelling passage.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein marks are provided at a starting end and a terminal end of said predetermined section so that said cart detects said starting and terminal ends.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein each said mark comprises a magnetic member having opposed poles in its front and rear sides.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said transporter cart includes, at a forward position thereof, a driving/steering wheel driven for transporter cart drive by a propelling motor drive device through a propelling motor drive device and steered by a steering motor, and includes at rear positions thereof, a pair of right and left driven wheels, and a mark sensor for detecting said mark.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said collector member is attached through an elastic member to a frame which in turn is attached to said transporter cart with said collector member being moved up and down by a motor and a screw-feed mechanism.

8. A system according to claim 3, wherein said transporter cart includes, at a forward position thereof, a driving/steering wheel driven for transporter cart drive by a propelling motor through a propelling motor drive device and steered by a steering motor, and includes at rear positions thereof, a pair of right and left driven wheels, and a mark sensor for detecting said mark.

7. A transporter system comprising a transporter cart having a battery mounted thereon and powering said transporter cart, a travelling passage along which said transporter cart automatically runs, and a power-charging system for said transporter cart, the power-charging system including a power-supplying electrode disposed along and at a predetermined section of said travelling passage, said power-supplying electrode being a power-supplying rail embedded in said travelling passage;

and

a power-receiving electrode attached to said transporter cart, coupled to said battery, and slide-contactable with said power-supplying electrode during the automatic run of said cart, said power-receiving electrode being a collector member projectable from and retractable to a bottom portion of said cart, wherein said power-supplying electrode is impressed with an alternate-current voltage, while said cart mounts a battery charger for stepping down the alternate-current voltage collected through said power-receiving electrode and also for rectifying this stepped-down alternate-current voltage into a direct current low voltage.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein said collector member is attached through an elastic member to a support table of a frame which in turn is attached to said cart with said frame being vertically moved by a motor and a screw-feed mechanism.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said support table is pivotably supported to a relay table through a vertical axis and is urged to a center of a pivotal range by an elastic member;

a pair of guide rollers being provided at vertical centers of said support table.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said guide rollers are placed in contact with an inner side of a pit cover covering said power-supply rail.

12. A system according to claim 7, wherein said direct current low voltage obtained through said battery charger is set slightly higher than a voltage of said battery.