Inductive drive infrastructure

Abstract

A transportation system 10 comprises a route 12 extending between at least two points 14, 16. At least one self-propelled vehicle / payload carrier / haul truck 18 is moveable on route 12. An external

Description

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of raw materials handling. More particularly, the present invention relates to inductive drive infrastructure and an associated system, typically used during hauling, such as raw material handling, aimed at improving system-level energy efficiencies. Increased focus on energy efficiency and environmental impact, also in the mining and construction industries, calls for efficiency improvements in excavation and raw materials handling processes. To this end, focus is shifting towards smaller, lighter and / or more efficient haul trucks (lighter in this case facilitates implementation of more energy efficient technologies, greater autonomy and, in some cases, renewable energy). Drivetrains of current haul trucks represent a non-negligible proportion of the overall haul truck weight. Drivetrains need to be sized to allow haul trucks, when fully loaded, to ascend steep inclines. Suitable drivetrains are therefore relatively large and heavy (compared to the overall system weight). Furthermore, implementation of electrically powered drivetrains, which is in line with the objective of implementing more energy efficient and / or environmentally friendly drivetrain solutions, require large on-board batteries which, again, negatively impacts the system weight. It is believed that a reduction in the overall weight of the haul truck could play a vital role in reducing a system-level environmental impact associated with raw material hauling. This may be achieved by an overall reduction in the energy expended during hauling, but furthermore, by bringing the total weight into an order more suitable for use of alternative, environmentally efficient and / or renewable energy resources. It is an object of the present invention to provide inductive drive infrastructure with which the weight of on-board infrastructure could potentially be reduced without a reduction in overall system performance. It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a transportation system, a vehicle used with such a system and a method of transporting a payload using the system that will, at least partially, address the above disadvantages. It is also an object of the invention to provide a transportation system, a vehicle used with such a system and a method of transporting a payload using the system which will be a useful alternative to existing systems, vehicles and methods. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a transportation system including: a route extending between a first and second point; at least a first self-propelled vehicle operatively propelled along the route to carry a payload between the first and second points; an external drive system located along a predetermined portion of the route and configured to interact with the first self-propelled vehicle when same is propelled proximate the predetermined portion. The external drive system may comprise an inductive drive system, which may include an elongate and flexible conductor extending along the route between coupling and decoupling locations of the external drive system. Typically, the conductor has first and second ends fixed and / or retained relative to the coupling / threading and decoupling / unthreading locations respectively. In some example embodiments, the conductor may comprise a cable, optionally in the form of a Litz cable. The conductor may be connected to an electrical supply source, which may supply the conductor with an alternating electrical current at a predetermined frequency. The first self-propelled vehicle may be configured to facilitate interaction with the conductor when the first self-propelled vehicle is located in or along the predetermined portion. The first vehicle may be provided with one or more stators. In use, the conductor may be arranged proximate the one or more stators, facilitating interaction with the conductor. The one or more stators may comprise coils of conductive material in which a current is inductively generated in use. The stators may be connected electrically to one or more onboard electrical motors forming part of a drive system of the first vehicle. The first vehicle may comprise a threading / feeding mechanism with which the conductor may operatively be threaded to extend along an induction route within the first vehicle. The one or more stators may be located along the induction route. The threading mechanism may be configured to receive an end of the conductor or an intermediate portion of the conductor. Each stator may comprise an axial opening through which the conductor extends in use. Each stator may comprise a first and second stator portion which are displaceable between an inoperative open configuration, in which lateral access to the axial opening is provided, and an operative closed configuration. The stator may comprise a clamshell construction. The first and second stator portions may comprise substantially semi-cylindrical portions. The first and second stator portions may be pivotably displaceable relative to each other. The threading mechanism may comprise a guide arrangement for receiving the conductor and guiding the conductor towards the induction route. The induction route may be defined between pulleys or bushes over which the conductor operatively extends. In some cases, the induction route may comprise one or more runs, each associated with a separate but interconnected stator. Further in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the external drive system may comprise at least one makeup system located at one or both of the coupling and decoupling locations. At least one of the makeup systems may comprise a reeling mechanism for at least partially reeling the conductor onto the reeling mechanism. Yet further in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the external drive system may comprise a main conductor. Now a plurality of elongate and flexible conductors may located successively along the route, each elongate and flexible conductor connected electrically to the main conductor. In another embodiment which forms part of the first aspect of the invention, the conductor may be carried by a linked assembly. More than one length of the conductor may be received in side-by-side fashion within the linked assembly. The predetermined portion may comprise an inclining segment of the route or a relatively horizontally extending segment of the route. The external drive system may be connected to an external power source. Wheels or tracks of the first self-propelled vehicle may be provided in contact with a road surface of the route during interaction with the external drive system. The external drive system may comprise a first external drive system, the predetermined portion may comprise a first predetermined portion and the system may include a plurality of external drive systems, each associated with a distinct one of a plurality of predetermined portions. The system may in some implementations form part of a mining operation. The vehicle may be a mining haul vehicle and the first and second points may be raw material loading and unloading points. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle for use in a transportation system according to the first aspect of the invention, comprising: a main structure; an on-board drivetrain for operatively propelling the vehicle along a route; load compartment for operatively carrying a payload; one or more stators provided for interacting with a conductor of an external drive system of the transportation system. The one or more stators may comprise coils of conductive material in which a current is inductively generated in use. The one or more stators may be connected electrically to one or more onboard electrical motors forming part of the on-board drivetrain. An induction route may be defined along which the one or more stators are located. The vehicle may further comprise a threading / feeding mechanism with which the conductor may operatively be threaded to extend along the induction route. The threading mechanism may be configured to receive an end of the conductor or an intermediate portion of the conductor. Each stator may comprise or define an axial opening through which the conductor may extend in use. Each stator may comprise a first and second stator portion which may be displaceable between an inoperative open configuration, in which lateral access to the axial opening is provided, and an operative closed configuration. Each stator may have a clamshell construction or configuration. The first and second stator portions may comprise substantially semi-cylindrical portions. The first and second stator portions may be pivotably displaceable relative to each other operatively to close around the conductor. The threading mechanism may comprise a guide arrangement for receiving the conductor and guiding the conductor towards the induction route. The induction route may be defined between pulleys or bushes over which the conductor operatively extends. The induction route may comprise one or more runs, each associated with a separate but interconnected stator. In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of transporting a payload along a route extending between a first and second point, the method comprising: s1) providing a transportation system according to the first aspect of the invention; s2) loading the payload onto at least a first self-propelled vehicle at the first point; s3) propelling the at least first vehicle towards the second point; s4) upon reaching a predetermined portion of the route, configuring the at least first vehicle to interact with an external drive system; s5) utilising the external drive system comprising an elongate and flexible conductor to drive the at least first vehicle, at least partially, along the predetermined portion; and s6) unloading the payload from the at least first vehicle at the second point. Step s4) may comprise at least some of the sub-steps of: s4.1) utilising a threading / feeding mechanism of the at least first vehicle to thread the conductor along an induction route of the at least first vehicle; and s4.2) arranging the conductor relative to stators of the at least first vehicle. Sub-step s4.1) may comprise the further sub-step of receiving one of an end of the conductor and an intermediate portion of the conductor with the threading / feeding mechanism. Sub-step step s4.2) may comprise at least some of the further sub-steps of: s4.2.1) displacing a first and second stator portion to an inoperative open configuration, in which lateral access to an axial opening of the stator is provided; s4.2.2) receiving the conductor into the axial opening; and s4.2.3) displacing the first and second stator portions to an operative closed configuration to close around the conductor. Step s5) may comprise at least some of the sub-steps of: s5.1) providing alternating electrical current at a predetermined frequency to the conductor; s5.2) inducing an electrical current in conductive coils of one or more stators of the at least first vehicle; and s5.3) utilising the induced current to drive onboard electrical motors of a drivetrain of the at least first vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a transportation system in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of a first example embodiment of an external drive system with a number of self-propelled vehicles spaced there along, both of which forming part of the transportation system of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of a first example embodiment of an external drive system with a number of self-propelled vehicles spaced there along, both of which forming part of the transportation system of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a partial perspective view of an example embodiment of a linked assembly forming part of the system of Figure 1; and Figure 5 shows a side view of the example embodiment of the linked assembly of Figure 6, in a rolled-up or spooled configuration. DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted", "connected", "engaged" and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings and are thus intended to include direct connections between two members without any other members interposed therebetween and indirect connections between members in which one or more other members are interposed therebetween. Further, "connected" and "engaged" are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. Additionally, the words "lower", "upper", "upward", "down" and "downward" designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words or similar import. It is noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the," and any singular use of any word, include plural referents unless expressly and unequivocally limited to one referent. As used herein, the term “include” and its grammatical variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that can be substituted or added to the listed items. Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like features, a non-limiting example of a transportation system (or just “system”), in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The system 10 comprises a route 12 between a first point 14 and a second point 16. It will be appreciated that the system 10 can take various forms and that the type of route 12 and the type of first and second points (14, 16), will take different forms depending on the type of system 10. The present disclosure is not limited in terms of the type of system 10. It will also be appreciated that the system may comprise more than a first and second point, and that the route may comprise various routes with intersections and the like. For the purpose of the present example only, the system 10 as described hereinafter will be taken to be located at a mining operation where the system is used to transport raw material between a loading point, being the first point 14 and an unloading point, being the second point 16. It will be appreciated that the system may alternatively be used to transport a wide variety of payloads. The system 10 includes at least a first self-propelled vehicle 18 which, in the present example, takes the form of a haul truck. The vehicle 18 comprises a main structure 20, such as a chassis or frame and an on-board drivetrain 22 with which wheels 24 are driven in use. The drivetrain 22 typically includes one or more electric motors with batteries and other electrical components. In some cases, the wheels 24 may be replaced by tracks. The vehicle 18 is considered a “self-propelled” vehicle in that the onboard drivetrain 22 allows the vehicle 18 to be propelled by internal means along the route 12. The vehicle 18 also includes a load compartment 26 for carrying or transporting a payload (not shown), such as raw material in the form of excavated ore. In the present example, the first point 14 comprises a raw material loading station (not shown) such as a loading chute, surge loader, excavator or the like, while the second point 16 comprises an unloading station (not shown). The system 10 furthermore comprises at least a first external drive system 30 or external energy transmission system. As will become apparent from what follows, the external drive system 30 does not extend along a whole length of the route 12. Instead, the external drive system 30 is a discrete subsystem of the system 10 which extends for a limited distance along the route 12. The external drive system 30 is strategically placed or installed (as discussed more fully below) at a predetermined portion 32 along the route 12. As will be discussed more fully below, the external drive system 30 or energy transmission system may take various forms. In general terms, the external drive system 30 is configured to interact with the vehicle 18 when same is propelled proximate or relative to the predetermined location 32. Therefore, during a discrete portion of the route 12, the external drive system 30 interacts with the vehicle 18. As more fully discussed below, the interaction between the external drive system 30 and the vehicle 18 provides the vehicle 18 with electrical power with which electrical motors (not shown) forming part of the drivetrain 22 are driven. The external drive system therefore provides the vehicle 18 with electrical power from an external source, to replace or supplement the need for onboard storage in the form of onboard batteries or the like. The use of the external drive system 30, particularly in strategic locations along the route, reduces the required capacity, and therefore size, of onboard batteries of the vehicle 18. Additionally, or alternatively, onboard batteries may be charged using the external drive system 30. It is foreseen that individual external drive systems 30 may be provided along the route in portions where relatively high amounts of power would be required to propel the vehicle 18. This may include inclining portions, flat portions or portions where the vehicle 18 typically needs to accelerate. By providing external drive systems 30 which are configured to supplement drive provided to the vehicle 18 whilst traversing specific portions of the route, on-board power requirements of the drivetrain 22 of the vehicle 18 may be reduced. Such a reduced on-board power requirement is associated with a physically smaller batteries which are relatively lighter than the batteries typically required to drive vehicles not provided as part of a system 10 including external drive systems 30. By reducing an overall weight of the vehicle 18, same may be more effective and overall energy consumption requirements may be reduced. The external drive system 30 takes the form of an inductive drive system, which includes an elongate and flexible conductor 34 extending along the predetermined portion 32 between a coupling location 36 and a decoupling location 38. The conductor 34 has first and second ends retained relative to the coupling and decoupling locations (36, 38) respectively. “Coupling” and “decoupling” in this context refers to the vehicle 18 operatively becoming coupled or decoupled to or from the conductor 34 as discussed more fully below. Generally, and as illustrated in the figures, the conductor 34 comprises a cable. That said, provision is made for the conductor 34 to take various other forms without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The conductor 34 is provided to an external electrical supply source (not shown) which operatively supplies electrical power, and more particularly, alternating current at a predetermined frequency (typically, a relatively high frequency). The supply source may take the form of a mobile substation or generator, a direct or indirect connection to a larger power distribution infrastructure or grid, or the like. In cases where the conductor takes the form of a cable, same may more particularly take the form of a Litz cable, which is a cable comprising individually enamelled or insulated strands which are braided together to reduce or minimize skin effect and high-frequency resistance or loss. The vehicle 18 is configured to facilitate interaction with the conductor 34 while the vehicle 18 is propelled along the predetermined portion 32. For this purpose, the vehicle is provided with at least one, but typically a number of, stators 40. In use, the conductor 32 extends proximate the stators 40 allowing interaction therebetween. Typically, an air gap of about 25mm or less is maintained between the conductor and inner surfaces of the stator. That said, air gaps of up to about 60mm could potentially be feasible. Typically, the stator (or “inductive shoe”) is spaced from the conductor by a relatively small gap, which could be maintained by roller guides or an aircushion, such that inductive coupling between the conductor and the stator is maximised. The stators 40 comprise coils (not shown) of a conductive material in which a current is inductively generated in use. In cases where more than one stator 40 is provided, the coils of the stators 40 are electrically interconnected. In this way, an effective length of the stator 40 and therefore also the coils, is increased, increasing the interaction between the conductor 32 and the stator 40. The coils of the stators 40 are, directly or indirectly, connected to the onboard electrical motors of the vehicle 18. As mentioned, the conductor extends between coupling and decoupling locations (36, 38). In practice, the vehicle 18 is self-propelled along the route 12 and reaches the coupling location 36, where the vehicle 18 becomes coupled with the drive system 30, and more particularly, the conductor 34. As the vehicle is propelled along the predetermined portion 32, the drive system 30 provides external drive to the vehicle 18 as discussed before. Upon reaching the decoupling location 38 the vehicle 18 is decoupled from the conductor 34. A threading or feeding mechanism (not shown) is provided for the purpose of coupling the vehicle 18 to the conductor 34. More particularly, the threading or feeding mechanism comprises a guide arrangement (not shown) with which an end or an intermediate portion of the conductor 34 is picked up and guided towards the vehicle 18. The vehicle defines an induction route (generally referred to herein by reference numeral 42, with suffixes in figure 1 denoting different embodiments of the induction route). As shown in figure 1, the stators 40 are spaced or located along the induction route. The induction route is typically defined between pulleys 44 or bushes over which the conductor 34 extends when same is received within or along the induction route 42. The induction route 42 may have various configurations, such as a simple inverted “U” shape comprising a single run 46, as shown in the first example 42.1 or a more complex configuration, as shown in the second example 42.2 comprising various runs 46. The stators 40 comprise axially extending openings through which the conductor 34 extends, in use. To facilitate receiving an intermediate portion of the conductor 34 and treading same into the induction route 42, the stators comprise first and second stator portions (not shown) which are displaceable (typically pivotably) relative to each other between an inoperative or open configuration in which a lateral entry for the conductor 34 into the axially extending opening of the stator is provided, and an operative closed configuration. Upon receiving the conductor 34 within the axially extending opening of the first and second conductor portions may be configured towards the operative closed configuration to close around the conductor 34. In use, various vehicles 18 may be received between the first and second points (14, 16) of the route 12, at any given point. Furthermore, in some cases, more than one vehicle 18 may be located along the predetermined portion 32 at a particular point in time. To facilitate this, the external drive system 30 may take various forms, two of which are shown in figures 2 and 3 respectively, In figure 2, a number of vehicles 18 are simultaneously coupled to a single conductor 34 extending between a single coupling location 36 and a single decoupling location 38. It will be appreciated that a certain free length of conductor 34 is required to allow coupling to each vehicle (due, for example, to the length of conductor 34 required to be coupled along the induction route 42). This means a free length of conductor 34 is required at the coupling location 36 for each vehicle 18. It further means that a length equal to the free length is deposited at the decoupling location 38 each time a vehicle decouples from the conductor 34 and leaves the predetermined portion 32. The deposited free length results in slack in the conductor 34. To provide sufficient slack and free length at the coupling location 36, and to take up the slack at the decoupling location 38, the coupling and decoupling locations (36, 38) may be provided with conductor makeup arrangements 48. As best shown in figure 1, the makeup arrangements 48 may comprise coils or spools 50 around which the conductor may be wound. It is feasible for the coil or spool 50 of the makeup arrangement 48 located at the coupling location 36 to be driven, so as to reel in deposited slack thereby allowing further vehicles 18 to be provided with free length of conductor, facilitating coupling thereof at the coupling location 36. In such cases, the conductor 34 will be reeled in relative to the various vehicles 18 in use. In some cases, some of the pulleys 40 of the vehicles 18 may be driven to reduce tension in the conductor 34 whilst being reeled in. In figure 3, the external drive system 30 comprises a main conductor 52 which spans the whole length of the predetermined portion. A number of conductors 34 are successively connected to the main conductor 52, along its length. Each such conductor 34 is associated with a coupling location 36 and a decoupling location. Typically, the various conductors 34 are coupled to the main conductor 52 in parallel. By providing more than one conductor, fewer vehicles 18, or even only a single vehicle, is coupled to the conductor at any given moment, reducing complexities surrounding the handling and management of free length and slack in the conductor 34. It will be appreciated that the system 10 could comprise more than one external drive systems 30 located at more than one predetermined portions 32 between the first and second points (12, 14). Since the wheels 24 of the vehicle 18 are provided in contact with a road surface 54 and driven by normal on-board electrical motors of the vehicle 18, inclinations along which the vehicle 18 can be driven and speeds and accelerations of the vehicle 18 are comparable to those of conventional vehicles. However, due to the external power supplied to the vehicles, the size and capacities of on-board batteries of the vehicles 18 may significantly be reduced. Alternatively, or in addition, a range of the vehicles may be significantly increased. It will be appreciated that the above description only provides an example embodiment of the invention and that there may be many variations without departing from the spirit and / or the scope of the invention. For example, it will be appreciated that if sufficient transmission can be achieved with the cable remaining relatively stationary and physically on the ground (for example, by providing hardware which carries the stator and ensures same can be maintained in close proximity with the conductor), the need for threading the cable (and associated hardware) may be eliminated, reducing complexity of the system. Furthermore, in another example shown in figures 4 and 5, the elongate flexible conductor (in the form of a cable or embedded inductive coils) may be carried by a chain-type linked assembly 60. The linked assembly 60 typically has a depth of 10-20cm to facilitate carrying the inductive conductor. Due to the width of the linked assembly 60, a number of runs or lengths of the conductor 34 are received in side-by-side fashion within the linked assembly, which increases the surface area of the conductor 34 exposed to the vehicle 18 (or rather the stators), thereby improving interaction between the stators and the conductor. In this way, the length of the induction route 42 may be reduced, potentially to the point where the need for the vehicle to pick up and thread the conductor 34 may be eliminated. Since the conductor 34 is carried by the linked assembly 60, the conductor may still be spooled, reeled or rolled up. This facilitates quick, easy and cost-effective deployment, disassembly or redeployment throughout the mining environment (especially during route changes and expansion of the mining operations). It is believed the linked assembly 60 may be provided in sections spanning between 50 m and 100 m lengths. Various lengths may be coupled together as the need dictates. It will easily be understood from the present description that the particular features of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged and designed according to a wide variety of different configurations. In this way, the description of the present invention and the related figures are not provided to limit the scope of the invention but simply represent selected embodiments. For example, the system 10 may find application outside of mining environments and may theoretically be deployed in a wide range of industries. For example, the route may be a train track and the additive or supplementary drive may be supplied to a train when ascending inclines or when accelerating. The skilled person will understand that the technical characteristics of a given embodiment can in fact be combined with characteristics of another embodiment, unless otherwise expressed or it is evident that these characteristics are incompatible. Also, the technical characteristics described one embodiment can be isolated from the other characteristics of this embodiment unless otherwise expressed.

Claims

1) A transportation system including:a route extending between a first and second point;at least a first self-propelled vehicle operatively propelled along the route to carry a payload between the first and second points;an external drive system located along a predetermined portion of the route and configured to interact with the first self-propelled vehicle when same is propelled proximate the predetermined portion.2) The transportation system according to claim 1, wherein the external drive system comprises an inductive drive system.3) The transportation system according to claim 2, wherein the inductive drive system includes an elongate and flexible conductor extending along the route between coupling and decoupling locations of the external drive system.4) The transportation system according to claim 3, wherein the conductor has first and second ends fixed and / or retained relative to the coupling / threading and decoupling / unthreading locations respectively.5) The transportation system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the conductor comprises a cable, optionally in the form of a Litz cable.6) The transportation system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the conductor is connected to an electrical supply source.7) The transportation system according to claim 6, wherein the electrical supply source supplies the conductor with alternating current at a predetermined frequency.8) The transportation system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first self-propelled vehicle is configured to facilitate interaction with the conductor when the first self-propelled vehicle is located in or along the predetermined portion.9) The transportation system according to claim 8, wherein the first vehicle is provided with one or more stators and wherein, in use, the conductor is arranged proximate the one or more stators, facilitating interaction with the conductor.10) The transportation system according to claim 9, wherein the one or more stators comprise coils of conductive material in which a current is inductively generated in use.11) The transportation system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the stators are connected electrically to one or more onboard electrical motors forming part of a drive system of the first vehicle.12) The transportation system according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the first vehicle comprises a threading / feeding mechanism with which the conductor is operatively threadedto extend along an induction route within the first vehicle, wherein the one or more stators are located along the induction route.13) The transportation system according to claim 12, wherein the threading mechanism is configured to receive one of an end of the conductor and an intermediate portion of the conductor.14) The transportation system according to claim 12 or 13, wherein each stator comprises an axial opening through which the conductor extends in use.15) The transportation system according to claim 14, wherein each stator comprises a first and second stator portion which are displaceable between an inoperative open configuration, in which lateral access to the axial opening is provided, and an operative closed configuration.16) The transportation system according to claim 15, wherein the first and second stator portions comprise substantially semi-cylindrical portions.17) The transportation system according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the first and second stator portions are pivotably displaceable relative to each other.18) The transportation system according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the threading mechanism comprises a guide arrangement for receiving the conductor and guiding the conductor towards the induction route.19) The transportation system according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the induction route is defined between pulleys or bushes over which the conductor operatively extends.20) The transportation system according to any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein the induction route comprises one or more runs, each associated with a separate but interconnected stator.21) The transportation system according to any one of claims 3 to 20, wherein the external drive system comprises at least one makeup system located at one or both of the coupling and decoupling locations.22) The transportation system according to claim 21, wherein at least one of the makeup systems comprises a reeling mechanism for at least partially reeling the conductor onto the reeling mechanism.23) The transportation system according to any one of claims 3 to 22, wherein the external drive system comprises a main conductor and wherein a plurality of elongate and flexible conductors are located successively along the route, each elongate and flexible conductor connected electrically to the main conductor.24) The transportation system according to any one of claims 3 to 11, wherein the conductor is carried by a linked assembly.25) The transportation system according to claim 24, wherein more than one length of the conductor is received in side-by-side fashion within the linked assembly.26) The transportation system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined portion comprises one of an inclining segment of the route and a relatively horizontally extending segment of the route.27) The transportation system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external drive system is connected to an external power source.28) The transportation system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein wheels or tracks of the first self-propelled vehicle are provided in contact with a road surface of the route during interaction with the external drive system.29) The transportation system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external drive system comprises a first external drive system, wherein the predetermined portion comprises a first predetermined portion and wherein the system includes a plurality of external drive systems, each associated with a distinct one of a plurality of predetermined portions.30) The transportation system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system forms part of a mining operation, wherein the vehicle is a mining haul vehicle and wherein the first and second points are raw material loading and unloading points.31) A vehicle for use in a transportation system according to any one of claims 1 to 30, comprising:a main structure;an on-board drivetrain for operatively propelling the vehicle along a route;load compartment for operatively carrying a payload;one or more stators provided for interacting with a conductor of an external drive system of the transportation system.32) The vehicle according to claim 31, wherein the one or more stators comprise coils of conductive material in which a current is inductively generated in use.33) The vehicle according to claim 31 or 32, wherein the one or more stators are connected electrically to one or more onboard electrical motors forming part of the on-board drivetrain.34) The vehicle according to one of claims 31 to 33, defining an induction route along which the one or more stators are located and further comprising a threading / feeding mechanism with which the conductor is operatively threaded to extend along the induction route.35) The vehicle according to claim 34, wherein the threading mechanism is configured to receive one of an end of the conductor and an intermediate portion of the conductor.36) The vehicle according to claim 34 or 35, wherein each stator comprises or defines an axial opening through which the conductor extends in use.37) The vehicle according to claim 36, wherein each stator comprises a first and second stator portion which are displaceable between an inoperative open configuration, in which lateral access to the axial opening is provided, and an operative closed configuration.38) The vehicle according to claim 37, wherein the first and second stator portions comprise substantially semi-cylindrical portions.39) The vehicle according to claim 37 or 38, wherein the first and second stator portions are pivotably displaceable relative to each other operatively to close around the conductor.40) The vehicle according to any one of claims 34 to 39, wherein the threading mechanism comprises a guide arrangement for receiving the conductor and guiding the conductor towards the induction route.41) The vehicle according to any one of claims 34 to 40, wherein the induction route is defined between pulleys or bushes over which the conductor operatively extends.42) The vehicle according to any one of claims 34 to 41, wherein the induction route comprises one or more runs, each associated with a separate but interconnected stator.43) A method of transporting a payload along a route extending between a first and second point, the method comprising:s1) providing a transportation system according to any one of claims 1 to 30;s2) loading the payload onto at least a first self-propelled vehicle at the first point;s3) propelling the at least first vehicle towards the second point;s4) upon reaching a predetermined portion of the route, configuring the at least firstvehicle to interact with an external drive system;s5) utilising the external drive system comprising an elongate and flexible conductor to drive the at least first vehicle, at least partially, along the predetermined portion; and s6) unloading the payload from the at least first vehicle at the second point.44) The method according to claim 43, wherein step s4) comprises at least some of the substeps of:s4.1) utilising a threading / feeding mechanism of the at least first vehicle to thread the conductor along an induction route of the at least first vehicle; ands4.2) arranging the conductor relative to stators of the at least first vehicle.45) The method according to claim 44, wherein sub-step s4.1) comprises the further sub-step of receiving one of an end of the conductor and an intermediate portion of the conductor with the threading / feeding mechanism.46) The method according to claim 44 or 45, wherein sub-step step s4.2) comprises at least some of the further sub-steps of:s4.2.1) displacing a first and second stator portion to an inoperative open configuration, in which lateral access to an axial opening of the stator is provided;s4.2.2) receiving the conductor into the axial opening; ands4.2.3) displacing the first and second stator portions to an operative closed configuration to close around the conductor.47) The method according to any one of claims 43 to 46, wherein step s5) comprises at least some of the sub-steps of:s5.1) providing alternating electrical current at a predetermined frequency to the conductor;5 s5.2) inducing an electrical current in conductive coils of one or more stators of the atleast first vehicle; ands5.3) utilising the induced current to drive onboard electrical motors of a drivetrain of the at least first vehicle.

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