Abstract: An inductive power transfer apparatus is provided which is especially useful for a semiconductor wafer handling system or other similar type of materials transport system in which one or more cars are moveable along a track. The system includes a plurality of elongated primary coils each disposed at an intended position along the track. Each of the moveable cars has one or more pick-up or secondary coils which are coupled to the primary coil when the car comes into position along the track. A secondary coil or coils on the car provides power to a battery charging circuit for so long as the secondary is in coupling relationship with the primary or for so long as needed to provide an intended charge to the on board batteries. A drive circuit for the primary coil may be located near the primary coil or alternatively, a single drive circuit can be at a central location to provide drive signals to a plurality of primary coils.

Abstract: An energy transmission device allows several consumers to be supplied with energy independent of one another and provides contactless transmission of energy from a primary current line, through which alternating current flows, to a number of secondary, resident load circuits with at least one coil, each of which draws energy from the electromagnetic field of the current lead. An auxiliary line runs parallel to the current lead and it is connected with the current lead via several connecting points in order to conduct current from a first connecting point via the auxiliary line to a second connecting point. In at least one section of the line, between two connecting points, an adjustable impedance is provided in the auxiliary line which is controlled by a monitoring device in order to prevent blocking of the line by a disconnected consumer.

Abstract: A power supply system for a long-stator drive having at least two independent tracks, which each have at least one long-stator section and which can be connected to one another using at least one track-changing device, the long-stator sections being split into a plurality of drive regions, using which each vehicle can be independently driven, and at least one track-changing device having at least one electrical contact which is positively guided by the track-changing device in such a manner that an electrical connection can be produced or eliminated between various long-stator sections.

Abstract: In a non-contacting power supply system for a rail-guided vehicle which can move along a plurality of power supply lines connected to respective power sources and receive a supply of electric power required for moving from the plurality of power supply lines, the rail-guided vehicle comprises a plurality of power receiving cores for receiving a supply of electric power from the plurality of power supply lines. The gaps between the plurality of power supply lines in the portions between the power supply lines are set to be equal to or longer than the length of each of the power receiving cores in the direction of the power supply lines, thereby eliminating the bad influence on the non-contacting power supply system due to the difference between the phases or frequencies of the power sources of the power supply lines.

Abstract: A transport system has a track provided along a transport route forming a main route and at least one branch route connected to the main route at a branch point. A first power supply line is provided along the main route; a second power supply line is provided along the branch route and a transport vehicle moves along the track. There is a drive unit for driving the transport vehicle along the track with the drive unit being attached to the transport vehicle, a route selector for selecting a branch route at the branch point and a power receiver for receiving electric power from the first and second power supply lines to supply electric power to the drive unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding electric power to a movable body in a non-contact manner. Power lines on which electric power is transmitted are laid on a guide rail. The movable body is powered by the electric power from the power lines. A plurality of pick-up coils are positioned in the movable body for generating induced electromotive force as a drive voltage according to the electric power. The plurality of coils generate different voltages. A motor and a controller are connected to the coils. A motor is driven by a high voltage while the controller is driven by a low voltage.

Abstract: A track-guided transport system with power and data transmission and used for conveying goods. The transport system is provided with a transport element having drive and track-guide elements; storage, input and output units for goods; and a data processing and transmission unit. The transport element is provided with a transmission head as a secondary element for transferring power from a primary circuit laid along the track, the transmission head is mounted on the vehicle comprising a ferrite core and a secondary winding surrounding the core and magnetically is coupled to the primary circuit. An adjustable and controllable drive unit may be provided for forward motion; and a device may be provided for the forward motion for low-friction compensation of gravity and to ensure low-friction sliding along a track, as well as track-guide elements.

Abstract: A rail is arranged along a predetermined route of a movable body. The movable body is moved by electric power fed through an electric cable wired along the rail. The rail is constituted by a plurality of rail segments. Each segment includes a body having a predetermined length and a channel-like cross section and an electric cable segment supported by the body extending in the axial direction of the body. The electric cable segment is one of a plurality of segments obtained by dividing the electric cable.

Abstract: A feeder is disposed along a guide rail that guides an electrically powered vehicle. The electrically powered vehicle has an electric power receiving unit that accommodates the feeder. Electric power is supplied from the feeder to the electrically powered vehicle through the electric power receiving unit on a non-contact basis. The distance between the guide rail and the feeder in a straight portion of the guide rail is different from the distance between the guide rail and the feeder in a curved portion of the guide rail.

Abstract: A non-contact power supply system for supplying electric current from a power supply unit to a carriage that travels along a rail. A pair of cables, which are used to convey electric current that drives the carriage, extend along the rail. Each cable has a first end connected to the first end of the other cable and a second end connected to the power supply unit. A plurality of brackets are located on the rail to support both cables. Each bracket has a pair of hangers projecting horizontally. The hangers each have distal ends for supporting the corresponding cables. A first type of bracket supports the first ends of both cables, and a second type of bracket supports the second ends of both cables. A jumper strap electrically connects the first ends to each other. The jumper strap extends between the distal ends of both hangers and conforms to the shape of a portion of the first bracket that lies in its path. The jumper strap is a thin belt.

Abstract: A system for communication between a fixed station and a carriage, which travels along a rail. The system employs a cable used to supply the carriage with electric power and carries out communication by superimposing communication signals on the electric power flowing through the cable. The communication system includes electric power sources and cables. The cables are each connected to one of the power sources and each cable extends along the rail. A single communication antenna is used by at least two of the cables.

Abstract: A carriage conveying system having a conveyance control device, which outputs communication signals for supplying a carriage with electric power by a feeder cable arranged along a guide rail to move the carriage along the guide rail and for controlling operation of the carriage. A control device transmits the communication signals to the carriage by the feeder cables. The carriage has a driving device for driving the carriage in accordance with the electric power. A controller controls the driving device in accordance with the communication signals. A communicating device receives the communication signals from the feeder cable for conveyance to the controller. The communicating device is located in the vicinity of the feeder cable.

Abstract: An inductively coupled power distribution system for moving vehicles, in which resonating primary circuits to distribute power for resonating secondary circuits to collect and use in an optimized manner. In order to have all circuits resonating at substantially the same frequency, devices which detect and adjust resonating components are used, such as a frequency drift compensator in which the present frequency is compared to a reference voltage and causes a driver to be ON or OFF accordingly. Switches are driven CLOSED or OPEN respectively and when CLOSED, supplementary capacitors are included with a main capacitor in a primary resonant circuit. Dithering or pulsed control provides a continuous control of resonance, as the system takes some milliseconds to respond.

Abstract: A feeder is disposed along a guide rail that guides an electrically powered vehicle. The electrically powered vehicle has an electric power receiving unit that surrounds the feeder on a non-contact basis. Electric power is supplied from the feeder to the electrically powered vehicle through electric power receiving units. The number of electric power receiving units is two. Each of the electric power receiving units has a mechanism that causes the electric power receiving unit to be inclined in the tangent direction of the feeder at a curved portion of the guide rail in such a manner that the distance between the feeder and the electric power receiving unit is kept so that optimum power can be obtained.

Abstract: A hydraulic source(20) comprises a hydraulic pump(62) driven by a motor(61), which operates based on the power and control data from a non-contact power feeding apparatus(30); a hydraulic tank(63); a solenoid valve(64); a relief valve(65); a hydraulic pressure gauge(66); a pilot check valve(67) for clamping and a pilot check valve(68) for unlocking that are interposed between the solenoid valve(64) and hydraulic cylinders(41a to 41d); a pressure switch(69) for clamping which is inserted into a piping for connecting the pilot valve(67) and the hydraulic cylinders(41a to 41d); and an pressure switch(70) for unclamping which is inserted into a piping for connecting the pilot check valve(68) and the hydraudic cylinders(41a to 41d). This hydraulic source is combined with a hydraulic machine for applications where jig or jigs move freely to promote automation of machining, assembly and inspection of workpieces on a moving body.

Abstract: A system for supplying electric power to an electrically powered vehicle includes a feeder disposed along a structural member as a guide rail that guides the vehicle. The vehicle has an electric power receiving unit that receives electric power from the feeder on a non-contact basis. The electric power receiving unit has a ferrite core with a coil. A ferrite sheet is disposed on a surface of the structural member in such a manner that the ferrite sheet is opposite to the electric power receiving unit. The feeder is surrounded by the ferrite core and the ferrite sheet. When an AC current is supplied to the feeder, a magnetic flux that penetrates the ferrite core and the ferrite sheet varies, thereby causing electromotive force to occur in the coil.

Abstract: This inductive power transfer system provides a capacitor (15) having a pickup coil (14) in series between the windings of the pickup coil and the electrical load (16, 17, 18). A power-factor compensating capacitor (19) may be used at the feed to a loop of one or a few turns of primary inductor cable (11,12), so that a reasonable supply-mains current can maintain the primary inductor current. The length of the cable, and hence the impedance, of primary cable may be varied in order to match the primary inductor to the voltage of the supply mains.

Abstract: A primary inductive path to which a high-frequency current is supplied from a power supply is laid along a guide rail for carrying car bodies and secondary electric power receiving circuit for receiving electric power from the primary inductive path in a contactless mode are disposed in the car bodies. Inductance in the primary inductive path is adjusted by disposing, in the power supply, a dummy inductor which is composed by overlapping a plurality of planar ferrite cores with gaps reserved so as to form a plurality of ferrite blocks and combining these ferrite blocks so as to form at centers thereof a run-through slot for passing the primary inductive path.

Abstract: A device for contactlessly supplying power to a moving body (2) such as a pallet being transported in a predetermined transport passage and carrying a device to be supplied with power while supplying power to the last-mentioned device. An induction wire (14) is laid along the transport passage (1) and a high frequency sine wave current is passed through the induction wire (14). The moving body (2) is provided with a coil (16) in which an electromotive force is produced by the action of the magnetic flux produced by the induction wire (14), a capacitor (31) cooperating with the coil (16) to form a resonance circuit adapted to resonate at the frequency of the current flowing through the induction wire (14), and a power switch circuit connected to the resonance circuit and supply power to the device to be supplied with power.

Abstract: A roadway-powered electric vehicle system includes: (1) an all-electric vehicle; and (2) a roadway network over which the vehicle travels. The all-electric vehicle has one or more onboard energy storage elements or devices that can be rapidly charged or energized with energy obtained from an electrical current, such as a network of electromechanical batteries. The electric vehicle further includes an on-board controller that extracts energy from the energy storage elements, as needed, and converts such extracted energy to electrical energy used to propel the electric vehicle. The energy storage elements may be charged while the vehicle is in operation. The charging occurs through a network of power coupling elements, e.g., coils, embedded in the roadway. As the vehicle passes over such power coupling elements as it is driven on the roadway network, electrical current is inductively coupled to corresponding onboard power coupling elements, e.g., coils, and used to charge the onboard energy storage devices.

Abstract: A primary inductive track or path 450 for a resonant inductive power distribution system is made up from a number of modules 453, each supplied as a pre-built and substantially pre-tuned segment of the track. These modules have more than one capacitor 456, 457 and more than one inductance 458, 459 (generally, the inductance is the intrinsic inductance of the length of track) and each capacitor and adjacent inductor is capable of resonating at its own native frequency. A zero-inductance cable 452, carrying a small fraction of the circulating resonant current (comprising a mis-match or an error current), directly connects the capacitors at poles having equal polarity and tends to constrain the system limiting possible frequencies of resonance.

Abstract: In an electrically powered vehicle having an inductive pick-up configured to couple electrical power from a series of aligned and spaced-apart charging pads associated with a road surface, methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling the lateral positioning of the pick-up as well as the gap between the pick-up and the charging pads as the vehicle moves along a road surface. Control of the lateral positioning and gap may be provided either separately or in combination. In the preferred embodiment, the pick-up is pivotally connected to the vehicle through an extension arm, the pivotal connection including a first position wherein vertical positioning of the pick-up is power controlled toward and away from the road surface, and a second position wherein airflow past the pick-up maintains the positioning of the pick-up relative to the road surface.

Abstract: A roadway-powered electric vehicle (RPEV) system includes: (1) an all-electric vehicle; and (2) a roadway network over which the vehicle travels. The all-electric vehicle has one or more onboard energy storage elements or devices that can be rapidly charged or energized with energy obtained from an electrical current, such as a network of electromechanical batteries. The electric vehicle further includes an on-board controller that extracts energy from the energy storage elements, as needed, and converts such extracted energy to electrical power used to propel the electric vehicle. The energy storage elements may be charged while the vehicle is in operation. The charging occurs through a network of power coupling elements, e.g., coils, embedded in the roadway.

Abstract: An automated warehouse system a plurality of car passages, and a plurality of transport units, each disposed in a car passage containing parallel rails with vertical webbings, each of the transport units have a car, wheels for running on the rails, a drive for moving the car on the rails, the drive having a linear motor body attached to the car and facing a secondary conductor secured to a rail, a power supplying system for the drive, mounted from one side of the car, and having two parallel induction wires secured to and along a rail, at least one induction coil attached to the car and disposed between the induction wires, the warehouse system further includes the induction wires of each of the transport units being connected in series to one or more common panels.

Abstract: A track-guided transport vehicle system for transporting high loads along a travel path contains for the drive a synchronous linear drive with a long stator along the travel path and an exciter winding on the vehicle. The long stator generates a travelling field that cooperates with a static magnetic field generated by an exciter winding on the vehicle so as to propel the vehicle. In order to supply electric drive energy to the compressor unit serving to generate compressed air for the air cushions, a higher frequency alternating current is superimposed on the current supplied to the windings along the track, with the higher frequency alternating current being coupled by a transformer effect into the winding on the vehicle. The energy can be coupled out there by means of a rectifier and be made available for feeding the electric motor of the compressor unit.

Abstract: A loosely coupled inductive power transfer system suitable for transferring power to a mobile conveyer platform or a vehicle has pick-up coils wound on flux concentrator(s). One or more large flat horizontal ferrite cores 607, 608 are used to concentrate the horizontal component of magnetic flux from an extended volume into one or more secondary or pick-up coils 613. Each shock-resistant core comprises an array of many individual strips of ferrite held in close contact. One, more usually two, or perhaps more resonant pick-up windings are wound about each core and each winding has a shorting switch (within 602, 603 . . . ) placed across it. A controller 601 connects a controlled output voltage on to an output bus 605, 606 from the best-placed pick-up winding on any one core at any moment, while holding the others in a shorted hence inactive state.

Abstract: An inductive guidance arrangement for non-track-bound vehicles on a vehicle supporting surface. Guidance conductors laid alongside the supporting surface carry an alternating current which generates an alternating magnetic field. The actual transverse position of the vehicle relative to the alternating magnetic field is continuously detected by aerial crossed coils arranged on the vehicle at a defined distance above the supporting surface. A controller and steering apparatus arranged on the vehicle detect the actual transverse position of the vehicle relative to a desired position, and generate a steering instruction, which eliminates transversal positional deviation. The guidance conductors are arranged parallel to one another at the same vertical position, with a mutual transverse spacing of approximately 50% of the vertical height of the aerial crossed coils above the supporting surface.

Abstract: A magnetic levitation transport system includes magnetic levitation vehicles each driven by a linear motor to run along a track. Induction lines extend through predetermined blocks of the running track to transmit a high frequency sine-wave current. Each vehicle includes electromagnets to attract levitating magnetic members extending along the running track, a pickup coil resonant with a frequency of the induction lines to generate an electromotive force, and a battery chargeable by the pickup coil. The electromagnets receive power from the pickup coil and/or the battery.

Abstract: Motors 14 and 17 are mounted on a moving member 9 disposed on an upper surface of a track plate 8. The motors 14 and 17 are adapted to move and drive the moving member 9 along the track plate surface. Primary coils 33 and 34 are disposed below the track plate surface. Secondary coils 52c and 55 are mounted on the moving member 9. The secondary coils 52c and 55 are adapted to receive electric power from the primary coils 33 and 34.

Abstract: An electric vehicle having a non-metallic body portion and equipped with an inductive charging coil for charging the vehicle's battery while the electric vehicle is moving includes a magnetic flux barrier attached to the non-metallic body portion and encompassing a passenger compartment of the electric vehicle for resisting penetration of magnetic flux into the passenger compartment. The inductive charging coil may be formed of wire wound around the body of the electric vehicle or, alternatively, may be formed of stripes etched on the body surface or of flexible adhesive conductors.

Abstract: A vehicle has a rotary magnetic field member which is rotatably supported at a position near the surface of a roadway along which the vehicle runs and rotatingly driven by a driving device. The rotary magnetic field member has magnetic poles of different polarities alternately arranged around its circumference. The vehicle also has an electrical power collector for receiving electrical power from an electrical power supply associated with the roadway. The received electrical power is supplied under the control of a controller to the driving device thereby rotatably driving the rotary magnetic field member. The rotary magnetic field member when rotated relative to the roadway made of an electrically conductive non-magnetic material, forms a varying magnetic field in cooperation with the roadway, thereby generating propulsion force for propelling the vehicle and force for suspending the vehicle, so that the vehicle is propelled in a floating state.

Abstract: A battery of an electric vehicle is inductively charged while the electrical vehicle is moving, using a magnetic field along different portions of an extended linear distance and an inductive coil mounted on an electric vehicle, by having the electric vehicle, as it traverses the different portions of the extended linear distance, move within the influence of the magnetic field. An apparatus senses progress of the electric vehicle along the extended linear distance. The apparatus produces the magnetic field by a power switch bank connected to an array of inductive coils.

Abstract: An inductive energization system for moving vehicles includes wayside inductors under the roadway and pickup inductor circuits in electrically powered vehicles. A pickup power controller has a switching circuit, including a zero-crossing trigger circuit, a current limiting inductor, and a bleed resistor. The controller provides for fast switching, desirable for closed loop control of the inductive energy transfer system, as well as low harmonic distortion of waveforms, low acoustic noise, and low maintenance requirements. The pickup inductor of the preferred embodiment has rigid metal conductors bonded together into a single member, allowing this element to serve as both a current carrying element as well as a primary structural member of the pickup inductor. The roadway inductor is split into many segments.

Abstract: A power collection system for a transportation system with a vehicle and a guideway includes a stator winding disposed in the guideway for generating a traveling magnetic field which propagates in the guideway and a rotating magnetic rotor disposed in the vehicle including a plurality of magnetic poles which couple with the traveling magnetic field and synchronize the local field of the rotor adjacent the stator winding with the traveling magnetic field.

Abstract: An electrical modular roadway system adapted for transmitting power to and controlling inductively coupled vehicles traveling thereon. The system comprises a plurality of elongated, electrically connected inductor modules arranged in an aligned end to end spaced apart order to form a continuous vehicle path. Each module has a magnetic core and power windings which generate a magnetic field extending above the road surface. Controllable relays are connected between modules for allowing operating electric current to either activate or bypass selected modules. Sensing windings in modules are activated by the presence of a vehicle on one module to provide control signals to relays for other modules.

Abstract: A constant voltage inductive power coupling for magnetically transferring electrical power from a power source through an air gap to a load comprising a first electromagnetic inductor connected to a power source to generate a shaped alternating magnetic field, a said inductor with a saturable core separated by an air gap from the first inductor and magnetically coupled thereto to receive the shaped magnetic field, the core being responsive to the field to enter a state of magnetic saturation. A coil is electromagnetically coupled to the saturable core and has output leads connected to the load. A capacitor is in electrical communication with the coil to form a tuned circuit that is below resonance at the coupling operating frequency. The magnetic field induced by the first inductor to the second inductor causes voltage in the coil, whose magnitude is determined by the amount of magnetic flux in the core.

Abstract: This invention relates to an elevator signal transmitting equipment characterized in that a shielding body of a magnetic shielding material envelops a transmitting line laid along a shaft through which a cage travels and a portion of a coupling device extending toward said transmitting line, the transmission and reception of signals being realized through the magnetic coupling between said transmitting line and said coupling device to control the operation of said cage, a path through which a part of said coupling device travels being left not enveloped.

Abstract: An electromagnetic energization system is disclosed wherein a stray alternating magnetic field is generated by conducting a current through a discrete (i.e., indefinite) length of wire or rod instead of a fine wire winding. A permanent magnet rotor is disposed so that it intersects the stray field in an appropriate manner to effect rotation of the rotor, which rotation is usable to energize or propel an object located in the vicinity of the conductor. The conductor, usable with toy vehicles and multiple track segments, is of single continuous length or is series connectable by means of quick disconnect electrical connectors. The permanent magnet rotor can be incorporated in a planetary gear system to achieve speed reduction between the spinning rotor and a drive mechanism for a mobile object.

Abstract: A combination of a track formed from sections which are joined one to another with articles such as toy vehicles for movement therealong is provided in which the power for movement of the articles is transmitted onto a magnet in the article from an electric magnetic field supplied to the track. The articles thus are moved without any electrical or mechanical contact with the track. Additional magnets are provided in the articles to provide steering and different speeds of movement of the articles and different frequencies may be induced simultaneously into the track separately to control different articles.

Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle having suitable batteries to drive the vehicle on conventional roads and a pickup receiver thereon for receiving power for a drive motor from a conductor embedded in a prepared roadway for driving the vehicle and for charging the batteries. The pickup receiver is supported on the vehicle so that it establishes a small air gap with the conductor for operation on a specially prepared roadway. On some vehicles the pickup receiver may be lowered to the proper position for operation on the special roadway and then raised to provide sufficient clearance to accommodate normal obstacles, such as driveway gutters, when the vehicle is driven on conventional roads.

Abstract: A defective object such as a vehicle normally movable on a lane, assembly ne, or track is detected by a receiver on another object travelling behind the defective object, to avoid rear end collisions with the defective vehicle. For this purpose the vehicles are equipped with a signal receiver and with a signal damping member. The signal is transmitted in a transmission line extending along the lane, assembly line, or track. When a defect occurs, the damping member is moved into a position relative to the transmission line in which the damping member sufficiently dampens the signal so that the next following vehicle fails to receive the signal whereby a warning may be provided that the path ahead is not free or that it is blocked.

Abstract: Data and speech are transmitted along an elongate member from a transmitter to a receiver. Toroids are used to effect a low frequency coupling between the transceivers and the elongate member. The toroids are segmented and their windings are such as to form part of a resonant circuit as well as being arranged around the segments such that external fields are cancelled. Protective shrouds are arranged around at least part of the toroids.

Abstract: Magnets are mounted on the undercarriage of a railroad vehicle and produce a magnetic field. Coils are mounted between the rails of a railroad track and extend in the same direction as the rails. The coils are positioned in the magnetic field generated by the magnets, so that as the magnetic field moves along the coils, it produces electrical energy in said coils. An electrically conductive output is electrically connected to the coils for deriving the electrical energy produced in the coils.

Abstract: A roadway having at least one lane for traffic moving in one direction and at least one lane for traffic moving in the opposite direction is provided with power conductors for inductively coupling power to vehicles moving along the roadway. The conductors are embedded in the lanes and extend in the direction of vehicular movement. Power sources are provided along the roadway and the conductors are arranged so as to minimize the lengths thereof which are not directly employed for the inductive coupling of power to vehicles.