Patents Assigned to Wampfler GmbH
  • Publication number: 20140292263
    Abstract: A device for the inductive transfer of electric energy from a stationary unit having a current supply device and a primary inductance to a vehicle that is adjacent the unit and has a secondary inductance. The vehicle has a secondary control element for adjusting the secondary power taken from the secondary inductance and comprises a control device enabling the withdrawn secondary power to be modified in steps. The stationary unit comprises a primary control element for adjusting the primary power and a first measuring device enabling an operational parameter, influenced by the secondary power, of the current supply device to be measured. The primary control element adjusts the primary power which can be injected in accordance with modifications of the operational parameter. The secondary power can be switched by the switching device and has in one of the steps, a value which is at least approximately zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: CONDUCTIX-WAMPFLER GMBH
    Inventor: Pascal Asselin
  • Publication number: 20140292091
    Abstract: A device for the inductive transmission of electrical energy having a coil which can be inductively coupled to another coil for energy transmission; a power electronic unit for drawing electrical power from the coil or for outputting electrical power into the coil; and a feedline connecting the coil to the power electronic unit. The feedline includes at least two multi-conductor cables with conductors which are insulated from one another and the connection of each terminal of the coil to a respectively assigned terminal of the power electronic unit includes a plurality of conductors of the multi-conductor cables. Each terminal of the coil is preferably connected to the respectively assigned terminal of the power electronic unit by conductors of at least two different cables and the same number of conductors of each individual cable connect each terminal of the coil to the respectively assigned terminal of the power electronic unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: CONDUCTIX-WAMPFLER GMBH
    Inventors: Mathias Wechlin, Pascal Asselin
  • Publication number: 20140191715
    Abstract: In a method for detecting an electrically conductive foreign body at a device for inductively transmitting electrical energy from a stationary unit having an electrical power supply unit and a primary inductor to a mobile unit having a secondary inductor and an electric load, electrical power is initially fed from the electrical power supply unit into the primary inductor and the feed-in is interrupted. The curve over time of the resulting decay of an electrical operating variable of the primary inductor is measured and at least one parameter of the measured curve is compared with a corresponding parameter of a reference curve in the event of an interruption of the power feed-in into the primary inductor without the presence of an electrically conductive foreign body. The comparison is used to determine whether an electrically conductive foreign body is present in the region of the magnetic field produced by the primary inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: CONDUCTIX-WAMPFLER GMBH
    Inventors: Mathias Wechlin, Pascal Asselin
  • Publication number: 20140159968
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mounting for a data conductor on a conductor strand of a conductor line. The invention further relates to an energy transmission system for transmitting electrical energy between a conductor line and an electrical consumer that can be moved along the conductor line and has at least one data conductor guided along the conductor line and at least one antenna arranged on the consumer, and to a data transmission system for contactless local data transmission between at least one data conductor guided along a conductor line and at least one antenna arranged on an electrical consumer that can be moved along the conductor line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: CONDUCTIX-WAMPFLER GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Maier, Frank Pietschmann
  • Publication number: 20130313895
    Abstract: A device for the inductive transfer of electric energy from a stationary unit having a current supply device and a primary inductance connected thereto, to a vehicle which is adjacent to the stationary unit and has a secondary inductance. The vehicle has an emitter device for sending a data signal in the secondary inductance and the stationary unit includes a capturing device for capturing a data signal emitted by the primary inductance. The current supply device is activated by the capturing device in accordance with the content of the captured data signal for injecting the primary inductance. The emitting device includes a memory with a vehicle-specific code and the data signal which it produces contains the code. The capturing device includes a memory with an authorisation code and a comparison device such that the activation of the current supply device is triggered only if the comparison device identifies the authorisation code in the captured data signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Pascal Asselin, Andrew Green
  • Patent number: 8419450
    Abstract: The invention relates to: a conductor line (2) for powering at least one device (11) that can travel along the conductor line (2), comprising a first elongated conductor lane (5b) and at least one other, second elongated conductor lane (6b), wherein the first (5b) and second (6b) conductor lanes comprise a first (5f) and a second (60f) contact opening, respectively, running along the length of the respective lane, for holding a part (15a; 16a) of a first (15) and a second (16) respective conductor contact of a collector (14) of the device (11); a collector (3) comprising at least one first conductor contact (15) provided for engaging into a first contact opening (5f) running along the length of a first conductor lane (5b) of the conductor line (2) and for electrically connecting to the first conductor lane (5b); and a conductor line system (1) formed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Schmiedle, Matthias Wenk, Frank Schirmeier
  • Patent number: 8398000
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connection element for running rails of a suspended track for receiving the running rails (2, 2?) and a securing device for securing the running rails (2, 2?) against being pulled out of the cavity (H, H?) and a running rail system having multiple running rails (2, 2?), which can be connected by connection elements (1; 11). The invention solves the problem of allowing simple and rapid tool-free mounting with a simultaneous secure connection of running rails of the running rail system in that the securing device of the connection element has at least one spring-elastic first connection claw (8; 12; 15), which projects diagonally in an insertion direction (E) of a first running rail (2) into the cavity (H) in the relaxed state, and/or by a running rail system having connection elements (1; 11) implemented in this way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Gramatte
  • Patent number: 5711228
    Abstract: A driven trolley for suspension from and travel on a rail comprised of a pair of co-axial supporting wheels carried on shafts, one of the supporting wheels being disposed for location on each side of the rail, a driving motor having a driving shaft parallel with the supporting wheel shafts, and the ends of the motor driving shaft being connected by first and second belt drive apparatus to the supporting wheel shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Itzin, Heiko Bollow
  • Patent number: 5203437
    Abstract: A trolley brush for sliding electrical connection with a live rail, which is of simple construction and maintains precise alignment of the sliding contact with the live rail with relative change of position between the live rail and the base of the trolley brush. The trolley brush is comprised of a base, an arm attached thereto which can be turned about a first axis which is almost at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the arm and a sliding contact support attached to the arm which can be turned about a second axis which is almost perpendicular to the first axis and to the longitudinal axis. The base has a slot-like recess whose plane extends in the plane formed by the first axis and the longitudinal axis, the recess having a limiting first wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Wampfler GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Bormann
  • Patent number: 5104040
    Abstract: Apparataus for butt joining hanging conveyor supports having a C-shaped rail section in which conveying hangers can travel back and forth along the rail section. The supports each have a hollow section above the rail section and trolley wires running along at least one vertical side of the supports. Connecting parts are disposed between ends of adjacent supports, the hollow section having at least one profiled section in the shape of a square standing on a point. A square tube connects the ends and bridges the connecting parts and are inserted into the profiled sections at the ends of adjacent supports. Tie rods connect the ends of the adjacent supoorts. At least one L-shaped angle iron is disposed on each of the top sides of the ends of adjacent supports. The angle irons are connected to one another via at least one screw bolt and act, on both vertical sides of the ends of adjacent supports, on the tie rods which connect the ends together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Bormann, Dieter Goerner
  • Patent number: 5051546
    Abstract: A trolley carriage comprising rollers for carrying the trolley carriage along a bearing rail. The rollers are supported by at least one roller support of the trolley carriage. The bearing rail has live rails which are insulated from one another extending along the bearing rail, and the trolley carriage has sliding contacts which are in flexible contact with the live rails. A common housing part which is connected to at least one roller support via a detachable quick coupling supports the sliding contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Bormann, Dieter Goerner
  • Patent number: 5012746
    Abstract: A conveying system comprised of a rail and at least one transport hanger which can travel back and forth along the rail on rollers, the rollers having horizontal axes of rotation, the rail having horizontal conveyer support projections which are located at the bottom of the rail and along which the rollers are positioned for travel back and forth along the rail carrying the transport hanger with them, trolley wires which are insulated from one another being located on the rail to the side of the path of motion of the transport hanger, the rail having guideways for rollers of a trolley carriage at the side of the path of motion of the transport hanger for facilitating support and movement of the trolley carriage back and forth at the side of the transport hanger and independently thereof, the trolley carriage having sliding contacts for engagement of the trolley wires for powering a tool that may be carried by the trolley carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Bormann, Ekkehard Matzko, Dieter Gorner
  • Patent number: 4343384
    Abstract: An improved mechanical-electrical connector apparatus (3) is disclosed which is particularly suited for joining electrical current carrying rail segments (1, 2) having an axially slotted (5, 6) tube configuration within which a sliding contact can ride. Each end of each rail segment is provided with a circumferentially extending notch (4, 6) opening into the slot (5, 6) on opposite sides. A short connector section of slotted tube (3) is provided with a resilient tongue (7, 8) extending radially within the tube section (3) at each end so that the tongues (7, 8) fit into the notches (4, 6) when the rail segments (1, 2) are inserted into the connector section (3). The rails may be used for guiding and supplying current to a trolley or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1982
    Assignee: Wampfler GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Mutter
  • Patent number: 4221282
    Abstract: An assembly for attaching a conductive shoe to a trolley or like vehicle, wherein a pair of elastic rods function to bias the conductive shoe into gliding, electrical contact with a conducting rail in spite of changing distances therebetween, with the elastic rods also providing electrical insulation between the conductive shoe and the trolley, effectively reducing the overall weight of the shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1980
    Assignee: Wampfler GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Wampfler
  • Patent number: 4220229
    Abstract: Support assembly for joining and insulating a plurality of electrically-charged rails adaptable for transmitting electrical current to a trolley or like vehicle and comprising an insulative member surrounding each of the conductive rails, with adjacent rails and corresponding insulative members being joined at spaced junction hoods for ensuring complete insulation of the rails at all operating temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1980
    Assignee: Wampfler GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Wampfler
  • Patent number: 4215770
    Abstract: A guide rail assembly for transmitting electrical current to a trolley or like vehicle and comprising a pair of non-linear support rail assemblies attached to one another and formed of light-weight metallic alloys, with each support rail including a band of highly wear-resistant metal for engaging and transmitting electrical current to the trolley. At least one of the support rail assemblies further including a plurality of fin-like projections for dissipating excess heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1980
    Assignee: Wampfler GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Bormann