Contactless power supply equipment

Abstract

To construct a non-contact power supply facility having a plurality of power supply lines that is configured by a simpler system than a conventional system while reducing an interference power generated between adjacent power supply lines.SOLUTION: A non-contact power feeding facility including a plurality of power supply lines includes a coupling unit 5 that is disposed between an adjacent first power supply line 3p and a second power supply line 3s and holds the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s in a first section 31 and a second section 32 in which the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s are disposed in parallel. The first supply line 3p and the second supply line 3s are arranged in the coupling unit 5 such that the direction of a current Is flowing through the first section 31 of the second supply line 3s with respect to the direction of the current Ip flowing through the first section 31 of the first supply line 3p and the direction of the current Is flowing through the second section 32 of the second supply line 3s with respect to the direction of the current Ip flowing through the second section 32 of the first supply line 3p are opposite to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to non-contact power supply equipment.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-67747 discloses a power supply device (non-contact power supply device) that supplies power to a moving body (V) non-contact by arranging a plurality of induction lines (47) as power supply lines through which an alternating current flows along the moving path of the moving body (V). (In the background art, the reference numerals in parentheses are those of the cited documents.) A power supply device (inverter (M)) is connected to each of the plurality of induction lines (47) to supply power to each induction line (47). The moving body (V) provided with a power receiving device (pickup coil (5)) travels while receiving power non-contact from each induction line (47) while switching over the plurality of induction lines (47). In order for the moving body (V) to travel smoothly, it is preferable that power is stably supplied even in the switching section of the induction line (47). Further, if a phase difference occurs in the phases of the currents flowing through the adjacent induction lines (47) in the switching section, power (interference power) may be transmitted between the induction lines (47), which may lower or raise the voltage of one of them. If the voltage drops, there is a risk that power cannot be properly supplied to the moving body (V), and if the voltage rises, there is also a risk of causing an abnormality exceeding the rating of the power supply device (inverter (M)). Therefore, it is important that the alternating currents of the adjacent induction lines (V) are synchronized, and this power supply device is provided with a synchronization system.

[0003] In this power supply system, an optical transmission device (51) is connected to each power supply unit (inverter (M)). A clock pulse signal, which specifies the electrical characteristics such as the frequency of the alternating current supplied from a specific inverter (M) to the induction line (47), is output from the optical transmission device (51) connected to that inverter (M). This clock pulse signal is transmitted in parallel to the other inverters (M) via the optical transmission devices (51) connected to each of the other inverters (M). Based on the transmitted clock pulse signal, each of the other inverters (M) outputs an alternating current synchronized with the alternating current output by the specific inverter (M) that output the clock pulse signal to the induction line (47) connected to their respective inverters (M). As a result, the alternating currents flowing through the multiple induction lines (47) are synchronized, allowing the mobile unit (V) to be stably powered while moving between the multiple induction lines (47), and enabling the mobile unit (V) to travel smoothly. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-67747 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] As described above, when a synchronization system is installed, a synchronization control circuit is required to maintain synchronization. In large-scale facilities with many induction lines, a large number of synchronization control circuits are naturally required, increasing both the circuit size and the installation space. Furthermore, the clock pulse signal for synchronization is transmitted by optical transmission equipment or wired LAN (Local Area Network) equipment as in the example above, but the total length of optical cables and LAN cables also increases, increasing both cable costs and the space required for cable installation. Therefore, it is preferable that the power supply equipment be configured with a balance between cost and performance. As described above, the problems in transfer sections include power supply to the mobile unit and interference power. Regarding power supply to the mobile unit, it is possible to address this by installing multiple power receiving circuits on the mobile unit, separated into front and rear in the direction of travel, or by equipping the mobile unit with batteries or capacitors that can absorb temporary voltage drops. However, interference power is unavoidable when there is a phase difference in the current.

[0006] In light of the above background, it is desirable to reduce interference power generated between adjacent power lines and to configure contactless power supply equipment with multiple power lines using a simpler system than conventional methods. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In view of the above, the contactless power supply equipment comprises a plurality of power lines arranged in a line along the movement path of a mobile body equipped with a power receiving device, and a power supply device connected to each of the plurality of power lines and supplying alternating current to the connected power lines, and is a contactless power supply equipment that supplies power to the power receiving device without contact, comprising a first power line which is one of the plurality of power lines, and a second power line which is a power line adjacent to the first power line along the movement path, and a connecting unit which holds the first power line and the second power line. The connecting unit holds the first power supply line and the second power supply line in the first and second sections of the power supply line in which the first power supply line and the second power supply line are arranged in parallel, and the first power supply line and the second power supply line are arranged in the connecting unit such that the direction of the current flowing through the first section of the second power supply line is opposite to the direction of the current flowing through the first section of the first power supply line, and the direction of the current flowing through the second section of the second power supply line is opposite to the direction of the current flowing through the second section of the first power supply line.

[0008] With this configuration, even if the phase of the AC current flowing through the first power supply line is out of phase with the phase of the AC current flowing through the second power supply line, interference power can be kept to a minimum by the induced electromotive force generated between the first and second power supply lines, which are arranged in parallel in the connecting unit. This reduces the possibility of malfunctions occurring in the power supply devices connected to each power supply line. Therefore, with this configuration, the need to synchronize the phase of the AC current flowing through the first power supply line with the phase of the AC current flowing through the second power supply line is reduced, and it becomes possible to configure contactless power supply equipment without providing a synchronization system. In other words, with this configuration, interference power generated between adjacent power supply lines is reduced, and contactless power supply equipment with multiple power supply lines can be configured with a simpler system than conventional systems. Therefore, it is easier to simplify and reduce the cost of contactless power supply equipment.

[0009] Further features and advantages of the contactless power supply system will become clear from the following description of exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, which will be illustrated with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Plan view of an item handling system equipped with contactless power supply equipment. [Figure 2] Front view of a goods transport vehicle [Figure 3] A schematic block diagram showing the system configuration of a contactless power supply system. [Figure 4] This diagram shows an example of the arrangement of the first and second power supply lines in a typical connecting unit. [Figure 5] Equivalent circuit diagram showing the electromagnetic coupling between the first and second power supply lines in the arrangement shown in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Vector diagram of interference voltage when synchronized. [Figure 7] Vector diagram of interference voltage at 90-degree phase differences in current. [Figure 8] This figure shows a first example of the arrangement of the first and second power supply lines in the connecting unit. [Figure 9] Equivalent circuit diagram showing the electromagnetic coupling between the first and second power supply lines in the arrangement shown in Figure 8. [Figure 10] A diagram showing a second example of the arrangement of the first and second power supply lines. [Figure 11] A diagram showing a third example of the arrangement of the first and second power supply lines. [Figure 12] Top view of the second section in the second and third examples. [Figure 13] A diagram showing a fourth example of the arrangement of the first and second power supply lines. [Figure 14] A diagram showing a fifth example of the arrangement of the first and second power supply lines. [Figure 15] A diagram showing a sixth example of the arrangement of the first and second power supply lines. [Figure 16] This figure shows the seventh example of the arrangement of the first and second power supply lines. [Figure 17] A diagram showing an example of power supply line wiring in a connecting unit. [Figure 18] A vector diagram showing an example of basic output voltage and mutual induction voltage due to differences in the method of adjusting the power supply circuit impedance by the power supply unit. [Figure 19]A diagram showing an example of transforming a transformer-type coupling circuit into a modified T-type circuit via a T-type circuit

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, taking a power supply facility that supplies power to a moving body that conveys articles in an article conveyance facility as an example, embodiments of a non-contact power supply facility will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, etc., a traveling rail 20 suspended from the ceiling of a building is used as a moving path 10, and an article conveyance vehicle 30 that moves along the traveling rail 20 to convey articles will be described as an example of a moving body. The article conveyance vehicle as a moving body is not limited to a ceiling conveyance vehicle that travels on the ceiling side like this. It may be other article conveyance vehicles such as a floor conveyance vehicle or a stacker crane that uses a rail installed on the floor surface as the moving path 10 and moves along the rail to convey articles. Further, when these article conveyance vehicles are configured to be divided into a plurality of parts such as a traveling part and a main body part, not only the entire article conveyance vehicle but also a part thereof, for example, only the traveling part, may be considered to correspond to the moving body. For example, in the case where the article conveyance vehicle is a ceiling conveyance vehicle as in this embodiment, it may be considered that the traveling part 12 described later corresponds to the moving body. Also, in the case of a stacker crane, it may be considered that the traveling carriage that mounts and supports the crane part corresponds to the moving body.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the article conveyance facility 200 according to this embodiment includes a traveling rail 20 arranged along the moving path 10, which is the traveling path of the article conveyance vehicle 30, and an article conveyance vehicle 30 guided by the traveling rail 20 and traveling along the moving path 10. In this embodiment, the articles to be conveyed by the article conveyance vehicle 30 are, for example, FOUPs (Front Opening Unified Pods) that house semiconductor substrates, glass substrates that are materials for displays, and the like. The article conveyance facility 200 also includes a storage (not shown) that houses semiconductor substrates and an article processing unit P that performs various processes for forming circuits and the like on the semiconductor substrates.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 2, in the present embodiment, the article carrier 30 includes a traveling unit 12 guided by a pair of traveling rails 20 suspended and supported from the ceiling along a movement path 10 and traveling along the movement path 10, a main body unit 13 located below the traveling rails 20 and suspended and supported by the traveling unit 12, and a power receiving device 4 that receives driving power in a non-contact manner from a power supply line 3 disposed along the movement path 10. In the present embodiment, a pair of power supply lines 3 are arranged along the pair of traveling rails 20 in a state of forming a closed circuit as shown in Fig. 3. Although illustration and detailed description are omitted, the main body unit 13 is provided with an article support unit that is provided on the main body unit 13 so as to be able to move up and down and supports an article in a suspended state. As described above, although the article carrier 30 corresponds to a moving body, it can also be said that only the traveling unit 12 corresponds to the moving body in a narrow sense.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 2, the traveling unit 12 is provided with a pair of traveling wheels 15 that are rotationally driven by an electric driving motor 14. The traveling wheels 15 roll on the traveling surfaces formed on the respective upper surfaces of the traveling rails 20. Further, the traveling unit 12 is provided with a pair of guide wheels 16 that freely rotate around an axis along the vertical direction Z (around the vertical axis) in a state of abutting against the inner surfaces of the pair of traveling rails 20. Further, the traveling unit 12 is configured to include a driving motor 14 for traveling and its driving circuit, etc., and causes the article carrier 30 to travel along the traveling rails 20. The main body unit 13 is provided with an actuator for raising and lowering the article support unit, an actuator for driving a gripping unit for gripping an article, etc., and their driving circuits, etc. These driving motors 14, actuators, driving circuits, etc. correspond to the electrical loads in the article carrier 30.

[0015] The article conveying facility 200 is provided with a facility controller (not shown), which issues a conveyance command to each article carrier 30 to convey articles. The article carrier 30 autonomously travels based on the conveyance command, for example, performs the delivery of articles between the article processing unit P and the article carrier 30, and conveys articles between the above-described storage (not shown) and the article processing unit P.

[0016] Power to the drive motor 14, various actuators, and the drive circuits that drive them is supplied to the power receiving device 4 via the power supply line 3 in a non-contact manner. As described above, the power supply line 3, which supplies power for driving the goods transport vehicle 30 via the power receiving device 4, is arranged along the movement path 10. In this embodiment, the power supply line 3 is arranged on both sides of the power receiving device 4 in the path width direction H (here, a direction perpendicular to both the path direction L and the vertical direction Z), which is perpendicular to the path direction L, which is the direction along the movement path 10.

[0017] The power receiving device 4 comprises a pair of pickup coils 40 (see Figure 2) positioned on the material transport vehicle 30 facing the power supply line 3, and a power receiving circuit formed on a wiring board inside the material transport vehicle 30. As will be described later, the power supply device 2 flows a high-frequency current through the power supply line 3, which is an induction line, and generates a magnetic field around the power supply line 3. The pickup coils 40 generate an induced electromotive force due to the alternating current flowing through the power supply line 3. The power receiving circuit is electrically connected to these pickup coils 40, and an electrical load is connected to the power receiving circuit.

[0018] Although not shown in the diagrams and detailed explanation, the power receiving circuit includes, for example, a part of a resonant circuit configured together with the pickup coil 40, a rectifier circuit, and a power adjustment circuit such as a chopper circuit or a regulator circuit. The rectifier circuit is connected to the pickup coil 40 (connected to the resonant circuit) and rectifies the AC current and AC voltage induced in the pickup coil 40 into DC current and DC voltage. In addition, at least one of the output section from the rectifier circuit and the output section from the power adjustment circuit is provided with a smoothing capacitor to smooth out pulsating components.

[0019] The contactless power supply equipment 100 of this embodiment supplies driving power to the electrical load of the goods transport vehicle 30 using wireless power supply technology. As shown in Figure 3, the contactless power supply equipment 100 comprises a power supply line 3 and a power supply device 2 connected to the power supply line 3 and supplying alternating current to the power supply line 3. Although not shown in the illustrations and detailed description, the power supply device 2 is connected to a power source such as a commercial power supply and is configured to include a power conversion circuit such as a converter or inverter and a power adjustment circuit. The power supply device 2 supplies power to the power supply line 3 by adjusting its output according to the electrical load (including the consumption in the goods transport vehicle 30 and the consumption (loss) in the power transmission line) that receives power via the power supply line 3. Within the range of the adjustment capability of the power supply device 2, a constant voltage of power is stably supplied to the power supply line 3. The power supply device 2 flows a high-frequency current through the power supply line 3, which is an induction line, and generates a magnetic field around the power supply line 3. The goods transport equipment 200 of this embodiment is a relatively large-scale facility, as illustrated in Figure 1. Therefore, in order to prevent a decrease in power transmission efficiency and the complete shutdown of the equipment in the event of a failure, the power supply system 1, which includes the power supply line 3 and the power supply unit 2, is provided in multiple systems, not just one, as shown in Figure 3. Each power supply system 1 then supplies power to multiple goods transport vehicles 30.

[0020] The goods transport vehicle 30 travels within the goods transport facility 200 by continuously receiving power by switching between multiple power supply systems 1. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a connecting unit 5 is provided in the transfer sections of the power supply systems 1, i.e., the power supply lines 3. The connecting unit 5 holds the power supply lines 3 so as to maintain a constant distance between the power supply lines 3 of adjacent power supply systems 1. In addition, the power supply lines 3 form a closed circuit together with the power supply device 2 in one power supply system 1. For this reason, in one power supply system 1, the power supply lines 3 are arranged so that a pair of power supply lines 3, consisting of a forward power supply line 3 and a return power supply line 3, are located on both sides of the path width direction H of the travel path 10. In order for this pair of power supply lines 3 to form a closed circuit, it is necessary to traverse the travel path 10 along the path width direction H. As shown in Figure 4, the connecting unit 5 holds the power supply lines 3 while arranging them along the path width direction H so as not to obstruct the movement of the goods transport vehicle 30.

[0021] In other words, the connecting unit 5 holds the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s so that a pair of power supply lines 3 (referred to as the first power supply line 3p) that form a closed circuit in one power supply system 1 cross between a pair of running rails 20 and are in close proximity to the power supply line 3 (referred to as the second power supply line 3s) of an adjacent power supply system 1. As shown in Figure 4, the connecting unit 5 comprises a first unit section 5p that holds the first power supply line 3p and a second unit section 5s that holds the second power supply line 3s. The first unit section 5p and the second unit section 5s are provided in close proximity so that the power supply line 3 is not interrupted when the goods transport vehicle 30 switches power supply systems 1.

[0022] For the goods transport vehicle 30 to run smoothly, it is preferable that power is supplied stably even in the transfer sections of the power supply system 1, that is, the power supply line 3. For example, by adjusting the phases of the alternating currents of multiple power supply systems 1 to match, the goods transport vehicle 30 can autonomously travel within the goods transport facility 200 while receiving power continuously from multiple power supply systems 1. In the configuration illustrated in Figure 4, it is desirable that the phases of the current flowing through the first power supply line 3p (first current Ip) and the current flowing through the second power supply line 3s (second current Is) match. That is, it is desirable that the first current Ip and the second current Is are synchronized.

[0023] The equivalent circuit shown in Figure 5 schematically illustrates the electromagnetic coupling in the connecting unit 5 between the first feed line 3p and the second feed line 3s when the first current Ip and the second current Is are synchronized. As shown in Figure 4, the first current Ip and the second current Is in the feed line 3 along the movement path 10 are synchronized so that the currents flow in the same direction and their phases match. Therefore, in the connecting unit 5, the first current Ip and the second current Is are in opposite phases to each other. In this state, the voltage on the first feed line 3p side (first induced voltage Vp) caused by electromagnetic coupling is given by the following equation (1), where "M" is the mutual inductance between the first feed line 3p and the second feed line 3s in the connecting unit 5. Note that equation (1) is derived from a modified T-type circuit (bottom of Figure 19), which is a modified T-type circuit (middle of Figure 19) representing a general equivalent circuit (top of Figure 19) corresponding to the equivalent circuit in Figure 5, as will be supplemented later with reference to Figure 19. As will be described later with reference to Figure 19, “V1” corresponds to the voltage due to the self-inductance of the first power supply line 3p in the connecting unit 5 (self-induced voltage), and “V2” corresponds to the voltage due to the mutual inductance “M” in the connecting unit 5 (mutual induced voltage).

[0024]

number

[0025] As shown in the vector diagram of Figure 6, the self-induced voltage V1 is the phase of the first current Ip advanced by 90 degrees, and the mutual-induced voltage V2 is the phase of the second current Is advanced by 90 degrees. When the first current Ip and the second current Is are synchronized, the direction of the currents in the connecting unit 5 is opposite, and their phases differ by 180 degrees. Therefore, the self-induced voltage V1 and the mutual-induced voltage V2 also differ in phase by 180 degrees, and as shown in Figure 6, the vectors of the self-induced voltage V1 and the mutual-induced voltage V2 are in opposite directions and cancel each other out.

[0026] In the vector diagram of Figure 6, "Vinv" represents the output voltage (basic output voltage) of the power supply unit 2 that supplies power to the first power supply line 3p. Since the self-induced voltage V1 and the mutual-induced voltage V2 cancel each other out, these induced voltages do not affect the basic output voltage Vinv. Similarly, although not shown in the diagram, they do not affect (interfere with) the basic output voltage of the power supply unit 2 that supplies power to the second power supply line 3s.

[0027] Here, we consider the influence of the first induced voltage Vp, and especially the mutual induced voltage V2, on the fundamental output voltage, including the case where the first current Ip and the second current Is are not synchronized. Figure 7 shows vector diagrams for cases where the phase of the second current Is differs by 90 degrees, with the phase of the second current Is being synchronous (synchronization phase) as the reference. Here, in order to consider the influence of the mutual induced voltage V2 on the fundamental output voltage, we will include the self-induced voltage V1 in the fundamental output voltage Vinv of power supply unit 2. That is, the fundamental output voltage Vinv in Figure 7 is equivalent to the combined vector of the fundamental output voltage Vinv vector and the self-induced voltage V1 in Figure 6. In this case, the mutual induced voltage V2 based on the mutual inductance "M" can be said to be an interference voltage that affects the fundamental output voltage Vinv (power supply unit 2 of the first power supply line 3p). "Vinv2" shown in Figure 7 shows the output voltage after the interference voltage has been compensated by power supply unit 2 (compensated output voltage).

[0028] In Figure 7, “Is:±0” represents a vector diagram of the state where the phase difference between the synchronous phase and the second current Is is zero, that is, the state in which the first current Ip and the second current Is are synchronized, which is the same state as described above with reference to Figure 6. When the first current Ip and the second current Is are synchronized, the mutual induction voltage V2 lags the first current Ip by 90 degrees. Therefore, the mutual induction voltage V2 acts as a capacitive load with respect to the basic output voltage Vinv (power supply unit 2 for the first power supply line 3p). Consequently, power supply unit 2 compensates for the interference voltage so that the output voltage becomes a compensated output voltage Vinv2 which is higher than the basic output voltage Vinv, taking this capacitive load into consideration. For example, the duty cycle in the pulse width modulation control for the power adjustment circuit of power supply unit 2 is adjusted to be larger.

[0029] In Figure 7, “Is: ±180°” represents the vector diagram when the phase difference between the synchronous phase and the second current Is is 180 degrees. In this case, the first current Ip and the second current Is flow in the same direction, and the mutual induction voltage V2 is also 90 degrees ahead in phase with respect to the first current Ip. Therefore, the mutual induction voltage V2 acts as an inductive load with respect to the basic output voltage Vinv (power supply unit 2 for the first power supply line 3p). Consequently, power supply unit 2 compensates for the interference voltage so that the compensated output voltage Vinv2 is lower than the basic output voltage Vinv, taking this inductive load into consideration. For example, the duty cycle in the pulse width modulation control for the power adjustment circuit of power supply unit 2 is adjusted to be small.

[0030] In Figure 7, “Is: +90°” represents the vector diagram for the case where the second current Is is 90 degrees ahead of the synchronous phase. In this case, the phase of the first current Ip leads the phase of the second current Is by 90 degrees, and the mutual induction voltage V2 is in the same phase as the first current Ip. Therefore, the mutual induction voltage V2 acts as a real load (resistive load) with respect to the basic output voltage Vinv (power supply unit 2 for the first power supply line 3p). Consequently, power supply unit 2 compensates for the interference voltage so that the output voltage becomes a compensated output voltage Vinv2, which is higher than the basic output voltage Vinv, taking this resistive load into consideration. For example, the duty cycle in the pulse width modulation control for the power adjustment circuit of power supply unit 2 is adjusted to be larger.

[0031] In Figure 7, “Is:-90°” shows a vector diagram when the second current Is is 90 degrees behind the synchronous phase. In this case, because the phase of the first current Ip lags the phase of the second current Is by 90 degrees, the mutual induction voltage V2 is 180 degrees out of phase with the first current Ip. Therefore, the mutual induction voltage V2 acts as a negative real load (regenerative load) with respect to the basic output voltage Vinv (power supply unit 2 on the first feed line 3p). When the power consumption by the electrical load supplied with power from the first feed line 3p is small, as shown in Figure 7, it may become impossible to compensate for the interference voltage if it exceeds the imaginary axis. In this case, the compensated output voltage Vinv2 becomes a negative voltage and is regenerated to the power supply unit 2 on the first feed line 3p. The regenerated power may cause abnormalities such as overvoltage in the power supply unit 2.

[0032] Here, we considered the first feed line 3p as the feed line 3 (prime feed line) under analysis and examined the influence of the second feed line 3s as a secondary feed line on the prime feed line. However, as shown in Figure 3, multiple feed systems 1 are often adjacent to one feed system 1. Therefore, multiple second feed lines 3s may influence the first feed line 3p. For example, if a second current Is with a phase 90 degrees behind the synchronous phase flows through many of the multiple second feed lines 3s, the total power regenerated to the power supply unit 2 connected to the first feed line 3p will also increase, and the possibility of causing a malfunction in the power supply unit 2 will also increase.

[0033] Therefore, it is desirable that the first current Ip and the second current Is be synchronized. For example, it is known that the phases of the AC currents supplied from multiple power supply units 2 to their respective power supply lines 3 can be synchronized by supplying a synchronization signal to each power supply unit 2 using a synchronization signal transmission device and a signal transmission line that transmits the synchronization signal. Each power supply unit 2 can output an AC current based on the synchronization signal so that the phase of the AC current matches the phase of the AC current output from the other power supply units 2. However, providing such transmission devices and signal transmission lines tends to increase the material costs of the equipment and the installation man-hours. Also, because a large number of signal transmission devices are required, the costs required for the maintenance of these devices tend to be high.

[0034] The contactless power supply equipment 100 of this embodiment reduces interference power generated between adjacent power supply lines 3 without synchronizing AC currents between multiple power supply systems 1, and is configured with a simpler system than conventional systems. Specifically, the simpler system is achieved by reducing the interference power generated in the connecting unit 5 itself through the way the power supply lines 3 are held in the connecting unit 5.

[0035] Figure 8 shows a first example of the arrangement of the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s in the connecting unit 5. Note that, as the positional relationship between the connecting unit 5 and the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s is clear, as shown by the dashed lines in Figure 4, explicit representation is generally omitted in the embodiments exemplified from Figure 8 onward for the sake of visibility. The equivalent circuit diagram in Figure 9 shows the electromagnetic coupling between the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s in the arrangement shown in Figure 8.

[0036] As shown in Figure 8, the contactless power supply equipment 100 includes a connecting unit 5 positioned between a first power supply line 3p, which is one of a plurality of power supply lines 3, and a second power supply line 3s, which is a power supply line 3 adjacent to the first power supply line 3p along the movement path 10, and which holds the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s. The connecting unit 5 holds the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line in the first section 31 and the second section 32 of the power supply line 3, in which the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s are arranged in parallel. In this embodiment, in the connecting unit 5, both the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s have two first sections 31 and one second section 32. Furthermore, both the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s are held in a state where the first section 31, the second section 32, and the first section 31 are arranged in series in the order of first section 31, second section 32, and first section 31.

[0037] Furthermore, the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s are arranged in the connecting unit 5 such that the direction of the second current Is flowing through the first section 31 of the second power supply line 3s is opposite to the direction of the first current Ip flowing through the first section 31 of the first power supply line 3p, and the direction of the second current Is flowing through the second section 32 of the second power supply line 3s is opposite to the direction of the first current Ip flowing through the second section 32 of the first power supply line 3p. In the example shown in Figure 8, in the first section 31, the directions of the first current Ip and the second current Is are opposite to each other, while in the second section 32, the directions of the first current Ip and the second current Is are the same.

[0038] Here, as shown in Figure 9, the mutual inductance between the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s in the first section 31 is defined as the first mutual inductance M1, and the mutual inductance between the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s in the second section 32 is defined as the second mutual inductance M2. The first induced voltage Vp shown in equation (1) can be expressed by the following equation (2).

[0039]

number

[0040] Here, if the difference between “M1” and “M2” is small, the value of the second term in the second row of equation (2) becomes small. When the first mutual inductance M1 and the second mutual inductance M2 are equal, the second term becomes zero, and equation (2) can be expressed as equation (3) below.

[0041]

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[0042] In other words, the second current Is flowing through the second power supply line 3s does not affect the first induced voltage Vp, regardless of its phase with respect to the first current Ip. Therefore, it does not affect the power supply device 2 that supplies power to the first power supply line 3p. Consequently, interference power generated between the adjacent first power supply line 3p and second power supply line 3s can be reduced without synchronizing the first current Ip and the second current Is, and the contactless power supply equipment 100 can be configured with a simpler system than conventional systems.

[0043] As is clear from equations (2) and (3), it is preferable that the first feed line 3p and the second feed line 3s are arranged in the connecting unit 5 such that the first mutual inductance M1, which is the mutual inductance between the first section 31 of the first feed line 3p and the first section 31 of the second feed line 3s, and the second mutual inductance M2, which is the mutual inductance between the second section 32 of the first feed line 3p and the second section 32 of the second feed line 3s, are equal. However, even if "M1=M2", if the difference between the first mutual inductance M1 and the second mutual inductance M2 is small, the value of the second term in the second row of equation (2) will be small, and the influence of the second current Is can be reduced. Naturally, if the difference between the first mutual inductance M1 and the second mutual inductance M2 is small enough to be within the margin of error, the influence of the second current Is will also be small enough to be ignored.

[0044] Figure 10 shows a second example of the arrangement of the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s, and Figure 11 shows a third example. Figure 12 is a top view of the second section 32 in the second and third examples. Here, as shown in Figures 8, 10, and 11, the portion of the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s that are arranged outside the connecting unit 5 along the movement path 10 is referred to as the power supply section 33 of the power supply line 3. In common to both the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s, the power supply section 33 is directly connected to the first connection part 35 of the first section 31. That is, the first connection part 35 is the end of the first section 31 on the side of the power supply section 33. The second section 32 is connected to the second connection part 36 of the first section 31. The second connection part 36 is in a different position from the first connection part 35 and is the end of the first section 31 opposite to the power supply section 33. The second section 32 is connected to the second connection part 36 of the first section 31, and is connected to the power supply section 33 via the first section 31. That is, both the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s are connected in series in the order of power supply section 33, first section 31, and second section 32. In this embodiment, the power supply line 3 is arranged on both sides in the path width direction H, and the power supply section 33 is also arranged on both sides in the path width direction H. The first section 31 is connected to the power supply section 33 on both sides in the path width direction H. That is, the power supply line 3 is connected in series in the order of one power supply section 33, one first section 31, the second section 32, the other first section 31, and the other power supply section 33.

[0045] In order to continuously supply power to the goods transport vehicle 30 by switching between multiple power supply systems 1, adjacent power supply lines 3 are arranged in a line along the travel path 10. Accordingly, the power supply section 33 of the first power supply line 3p and the power supply section 33 of the second power supply line 3s are arranged in a line along the travel path 10. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, in the second and third examples, the arrangement of the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s in the connecting unit 5 is set such that the distance between the second connection section 36 of the first power supply line 3p and the second connection section 36 of the second power supply line 3s (second distance D2) is greater than the distance between the first connection section 35 of the first power supply line 3p and the first connection section 35 of the second power supply line 3s (first distance D1).

[0046] The distance between the first connection point 35 and the second connection point 36 is the first section 31, but the second distance D2 to the second connection point 36 is greater than the first distance D1 to the first connection point 35. Therefore, the average distance between the first section 31 of the first power supply line 3p and the first section 31 of the second power supply line 3s is larger than in the case where the distance between them is approximately constant at the first distance D1, as illustrated in the first example shown in Figure 8. Consequently, the first mutual inductance M1 in the first section 31 is smaller than in the first example. As described above, it is preferable that the first mutual inductance M1 and the second mutual inductance M2 are equivalent, so if the first mutual inductance M1 is reduced, the second mutual inductance M2 can also be reduced. As shown in Figures 10 to 12, the second section 32 of the first power supply line 3p and the second section 32 of the second power supply line 3s are located closer together than the first section 31, but the wiring length can be shortened by reducing the second mutual inductance M2.

[0047] Furthermore, as shown in equation (3) above, even if the effect of the second current Is can be made almost zero, the first induced voltage Vp due to the first current Ip remains. And since the first induced voltage Vp is also an unnecessary voltage, it is preferable that it be as small as possible. By reducing the first mutual inductance M1, the first induced voltage Vp can also be reduced. As the first mutual inductance M1 becomes smaller, the second mutual inductance M2 also becomes smaller as described above, so "M1 + M2" in equation (3) becomes even larger, making it easier to reduce the first induced voltage Vp.

[0048] Furthermore, it is preferable that the first connection section 35 connected to the power supply section 33 be close to the material transport vehicle 30 in order to smoothly continue power supply when the material transport vehicle 30 switches to the power supply system 1. However, by mounting multiple (at least two) power receiving devices 4 spaced apart at the front and rear of the material transport vehicle 30, and ensuring that at least one of the front or rear power receiving devices 4 can receive power from the power supply line 3, the first distance D1 can be extended to the distance between the front and rear power receiving devices 4. Alternatively, by mounting a battery or capacitor on the material transport vehicle 30 to store energy, it may be possible to secure enough power to continue operation even if the power supply is temporarily interrupted when switching to the power supply system 1. Depending on the energy storage capacity, the first distance D1 can be made even longer. By making the first distance D1 longer in this way, the first mutual inductance M1 can be made even smaller.

[0049] In the first example, the plane on which the first section 31 of the power supply line 3 is located and the plane on which the second section 32 of the power supply line is located are parallel. As a result, the magnetic flux generated when current flows through the power supply line pair, which is a bundle of the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s, is in the same direction in the first section 31 and the second section 32. Therefore, the magnetic flux generated in the first section 31 and the magnetic flux generated in the second section 32 are prone to mutual interference, and the first mutual inductance M1 and the second mutual inductance M2 are prone to errors between the design value and the actual value. Furthermore, if the error becomes large, the effect of suppressing interference voltage may also decrease. As shown in the fourth example in Figure 13 and the fifth example in Figure 14, by arranging the power supply line 3 so that the plane on which the first section 31 of the power supply line 3 is located and the plane on which the second section 32 of the power supply line is located are perpendicular, the direction of the magnetic flux can be made different, making magnetic flux interference less likely to occur.

[0050] That is, in the first to fifth examples, the first section 31 and the second section 32 of the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s, respectively, are arranged in a planar manner. Here, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, the surface on which the first section 31 of the first power supply line 3p is arranged is called the first surface 61, the surface on which the first section 31 of the second power supply line 3s is arranged is called the second surface 62, the surface on which the second section 32 of the first power supply line 3p is arranged is called the third surface 63, and the surface on which the second section 32 of the second power supply line 3s is arranged is called the fourth surface 64. In the first to fifth examples, the first surface 61 and the second surface 62 are arranged parallel to each other, and the third surface 63 and the fourth surface 64 are arranged parallel to each other. In the fourth and fifth examples, the third surface 63 and the fourth surface 64 are arranged perpendicular to the first surface 61 and the second surface 62. Furthermore, two faces are considered parallel if the angle between one face and the other is 20 degrees or less, and two faces are considered perpendicular if the angle between one face and the other is 20 degrees or less relative to a right angle (with the acute angle being 70 degrees or more).

[0051] Furthermore, as shown in the sixth example in Figure 15 and the seventh example in Figure 16, the connecting unit 5 may be equipped with a magnetic core 8 that forms a magnetic path surrounding the pair of feed lines, which are the second section 32 of the first feed line 3p and the second section 32 of the second feed line 3s bundled together. By providing the magnetic core 8, the second mutual inductance M2 in the second section 32 can be increased compared to the case with only the feed line 3. Therefore, the length of the second section 32 of the first feed line 3p and the second feed line 3s can be shortened while securing the required size of the second mutual inductance M2. As a result, the connecting unit 5 can be made smaller even if the interference power reduction effect is the same.

[0052] The first current Ip and the second current Is are often designed to be synchronized, even if they are not perfectly synchronized. In other words, they are often started up to be synchronized at the beginning of operation of the contactless power supply equipment 100, while allowing for the possibility of them becoming out of sync. Assuming that the first current Ip and the second current Is are nearly synchronized, the first section 31 can be described as an out-of-phase section where the directions of the first current Ip and the second current Is are nearly opposite to each other. On the other hand, the second section 32 can be described as an in-phase section where the directions of the first current Ip and the second current Is are nearly the same.

[0053] Figure 17 schematically shows examples of the configuration of the connecting unit 5, taking into account the advantages of the above-described form, with respect to the first to seventh examples. Compared to the conventional connecting unit 5 (see Figure 4), the connecting unit 5 has the first unit section 5p and the second unit section 5s spaced apart. As a result, as described above with reference to Figures 10 to 12, a second distance D2 can be secured between the second connection section 36 of the first power supply line 3p and the second connection section 36 of the second power supply line 3s. In addition, although the plane symbols are not shown in Figure 17, the plane on which the first section 31 of the power supply line 3 is located (first plane 61, second plane 62) and the plane on which the second section 32 is located (third plane 63, fourth plane 64) are orthogonal. Therefore, interference between the magnetic flux generated by the current flowing through the first section 31 and the magnetic flux generated by the current flowing through the second section 32 is less likely to occur.

[0054] Furthermore, the connecting unit 5 can also hold a magnetic core 8 in the portion that holds the second section 32 of the first power supply line 3p and the second section 32 of the second power supply line 3s. Specifically, it is preferable that the magnetic core 8 is housed inside the bridge section 5b connecting the first unit section 5p and the second unit section 5s, and that the second section 32 of the first power supply line 3p and the second section 32 of the second power supply line 3s are held by the connecting unit 5 by passing radially inside the magnetic core 8. In this way, by appropriately arranging and holding the power supply lines 3 while utilizing the structure of the conventional connecting unit 5, a contactless power supply system 100 can be constructed without the need to synchronize the current flowing through the power supply lines 3. For example, the connecting unit 5 of this embodiment can be applied relatively easily to existing contactless power supply systems 100.

[0055] As illustrated by the various embodiments described above, according to this embodiment, even without a synchronization circuit device such as a circuit for synchronizing the first current Ip and the second current Is, or an associated cable, interference power can be reduced regardless of the phase difference between the first current Ip and the second current Is, and a more stable power supply can be provided from the power supply device 2 of each power supply system 1. In other words, a contactless power supply facility 100 can be constructed on a small scale without the need for a synchronization circuit device.

[0056] Furthermore, since the mutual inductance can be predicted based on the length of the power supply line 3 in the connecting unit 5, the first mutual inductance M1 and the second mutual inductance M2 can be set to close values ​​without requiring complex calculations. Because the second mutual inductance M2 is known, the length of the second section 32 can also be easily set from the design stage.

[0057] Furthermore, as in the second and third examples, by making the second distance D2 longer than the first distance D1, the value of the first mutual inductance M1 can be reduced, and consequently, the second mutual inductance M2 can also be reduced. This allows the length of the second section 32 to be shortened. Also, by reducing the first mutual inductance M1, the value of the first induced voltage Vp, which is an unnecessary voltage, can also be reduced. By reducing the first induced voltage Vp, the electrical load on the power supply device 2 is reduced, making it easier to increase the power supply distance over which the power supply device 2 can supply power. In other words, it becomes easier to increase the extension distance of the power supply line 3 in a single power supply system 1.

[0058] Furthermore, as in the second, third, fourth, and fifth examples, the surfaces on which the first section 31 of the power supply line 3 is located (first surface 61, second surface 62) and the surfaces on which the second section 32 is located (third surface 63, fourth surface 64) are arranged orthogonally (the angle between the surfaces is approximately 20 degrees or less). This makes interference between the magnetic flux generated by the current flowing through the first section 31 and the magnetic flux generated by the current flowing through the second section 32 less likely, thus making it easier to obtain an interference power suppression effect. Moreover, as in the sixth and seventh examples, by providing a magnetic core 8, further miniaturization of the second section 32 is possible. The configuration examples illustrated in Figure 17 can be said to be suitable embodiments of the connecting unit 5 that incorporate all of these advantages.

[0059] Incidentally, in illustrating the vector diagram in Figure 7 above, it is assumed that the power supply unit 2 shown in Figure 3 performs capacitive adjustment to supply current to the power line 3. However, in addition to capacitive adjustment, there are also inductive and resistive adjustment methods. Therefore, referring to Figure 7, we will briefly explain the vector diagrams for other adjustment methods corresponding to the above-mentioned vector diagram, referring to Figure 18.

[0060] In a single power supply system 1, the power supply line 3 forms a closed circuit with an electrically sufficiently long transmission line, and is a distributed-parameter circuit. The impedance of the power supply line 3 is determined by the resistance, inductance, and capacitance that are considered to be distributed on the circuit. The power supply circuit impedance, which is the impedance of the power supply circuit including the power supply line 3 and the power supply device 2, is often further affected by the mutual inductance due to the coupling between the power supply line 3 and the pickup coil 40 of the power receiving device 4 of the goods transport vehicle 30, and the mutual inductance due to the coupling between the power supply line 3 of an adjacent power supply system 1 and the connecting unit 5.

[0061] It is desirable that each power supply unit 2 be configured to supply power to the power receiving unit 4 of the goods transport vehicle 30 appropriately (in an electrically efficient manner) via the power supply line 3 connected to the power supply unit 2. The power receiving unit 4 is equipped with a resonant circuit configured to resonate with the frequency of the high-frequency current flowing through the power supply line 3. Here, if the impedance of the power supply circuit including the power supply line 3 (power supply circuit impedance) deviates from the impedance that enables efficient power supply (specified impedance), the power supply efficiency will decrease and losses will increase. For this reason, it is preferable that the power supply circuit impedance in the power supply circuit of each power supply system 1 is appropriately adjusted.

[0062] Since impedance includes capacitance, inductance, and resistance, the impedance of a power supply circuit can be adjusted by adjusting one or more of these constants. For example, power supply unit 2 is configured with a capacitor array, and the impedance of the power supply circuit can be adjusted by varying the capacitance value. Figure 7 shows a vector diagram when the impedance of the power supply circuit is adjusted capacitively. However, the impedance of the power supply path may be adjusted inductively or resistively.

[0063] Figure 18 illustrates the vector diagrams for the case of “Is:-90°” in Figure 7 (where the second current Is lags the synchronous phase by 90 degrees), similar to Figure 7, showing the vector diagrams when the circuit is adjusted capacitively (left), when it is adjusted inductively (center), and when it is adjusted resistively (right). Note that the compensated output voltage Vinv2, which is the combined vector of the basic output voltage Vinv and the mutual induction voltage V2, is self-evident and therefore is omitted from Figure 18. As shown in Figure 18, in both the inductive and resistive adjustments, as with the capacitive adjustment, the interference voltage may exceed the imaginary axis when the power consumption of the electrical load supplied with power from the first power supply line 3p is low. In this case, the power regenerated to the power supply unit 2 from the first power supply line 3p may cause abnormalities such as overvoltage in the power supply unit 2. In other words, the problems caused by interference voltage arise regardless of the specifications of the power supply unit 2, such as whether the adjustment method in the power supply unit 2 is capacitive, inductive, or resistive. Therefore, the application of the excellent arrangement technique for the power supply line 3 in the connecting unit 5 described above is not limited by the specifications of the power supply unit 2.

[0064] Here, we will elaborate on equation (1) above. As mentioned above, equation (1) was formulated to correspond to a modified T-type circuit (lower part of Figure 19). Therefore, we will explain the modified T-type circuit with reference to Figure 19. The equivalent circuit shown in the upper part of Figure 19 is a general equivalent circuit of a transformer corresponding to the equivalent circuit shown in Figure 5. "M" is the mutual inductance of the two feed lines 3 in the connecting unit 5, as in Figure 5, and "L" is the self-inductance, which is the sum of the leakage inductance and mutual inductance M of the feed line 3. This equivalent circuit can be represented as a T-type circuit as shown in the middle part of Figure 19. This T-type circuit includes leakage inductance (the inductance shown in the arm portion of "T" in the T-type circuit), and the terminal voltage "Vp" is given by the following equation (4). As mentioned above with reference to equation (1), "V1" corresponds to the voltage due to the self-inductance "L" (self-induced voltage), and "V2" corresponds to the voltage due to the mutual inductance M (mutual induced voltage).

[0065]

number

[0066] However, the inductance of the power supply line 3 connected to the power supply unit 2 is far greater than the leakage inductance of the connecting unit 5. Therefore, when considering electromagnetic coupling in the connecting unit 5 as in this embodiment, the leakage inductance can be included in the inductance of the power supply line 3 itself, and the T-type circuit can be transformed into a modified T-type circuit having only mutual inductance M, as shown in the lower part of Figure 19. As a result, equation (4) can be expressed using only mutual inductance M, as shown in equation (5) below.

[0067]

number

[0068] The equivalent circuit shown in Figure 5 schematically illustrates the electromagnetic coupling in the connecting unit 5 between the first power supply line 3p and the second power supply line 3s when the first current Ip and the second current Is are synchronized. That is, in the equivalent circuit shown in Figure 5, the first current Ip and the second current Is are in opposite phases to each other. Therefore, in equation (5), the second current Is becomes "-Is", the sign of the second term in equation (5) is reversed, and equation (1) is obtained.

[0069] The following is a brief summary of the contactless power supply equipment described above.

[0070] In view of the above, the contactless power supply equipment comprises a plurality of power lines arranged in a line along the movement path of a mobile body equipped with a power receiving device, and a power supply device connected to each of the plurality of power lines and supplying alternating current to the connected power lines, and is a contactless power supply equipment that supplies power to the power receiving device without contact, comprising a first power line which is one of the plurality of power lines, and a second power line which is a power line adjacent to the first power line along the movement path, and a connecting unit which holds the first power line and the second power line. The connecting unit holds the first power supply line and the second power supply line in the first and second sections of the power supply line in which the first power supply line and the second power supply line are arranged in parallel, and the first power supply line and the second power supply line are arranged in the connecting unit such that the direction of the current flowing through the first section of the second power supply line is opposite to the direction of the current flowing through the first section of the first power supply line, and the direction of the current flowing through the second section of the second power supply line is opposite to the direction of the current flowing through the second section of the first power supply line.

[0071] With this configuration, even if the phase of the AC current flowing through the first power supply line is out of phase with the phase of the AC current flowing through the second power supply line, interference power can be kept to a minimum by the induced electromotive force generated between the first and second power supply lines, which are arranged in parallel in the connecting unit. This reduces the possibility of malfunctions occurring in the power supply devices connected to each power supply line. Therefore, with this configuration, the need to synchronize the phase of the AC current flowing through the first power supply line with the phase of the AC current flowing through the second power supply line is reduced, and it becomes possible to configure contactless power supply equipment without providing a synchronization system. In other words, with this configuration, interference power generated between adjacent power supply lines is reduced, and contactless power supply equipment with multiple power supply lines can be configured with a simpler system than conventional systems. Therefore, it is easier to simplify and reduce the cost of contactless power supply equipment.

[0072] Furthermore, it is preferable that the contactless power supply equipment is arranged in the connecting unit such that the first power supply line and the second power supply line are arranged such that the first mutual inductance, which is the mutual inductance between the first section of the first power supply line and the first section of the second power supply line, and the second mutual inductance, which is the mutual inductance between the second section of the first power supply line and the second section of the second power supply line are equal.

[0073] This configuration makes it possible to significantly reduce interference power caused by induced electromotive force between the first and second power supply lines, which are arranged in parallel in the connecting unit.

[0074] Furthermore, in the contactless power supply equipment, the portion of each of the first and second power supply lines arranged outside the connecting unit along the movement path is designated as the power supply section of the power supply line, the power supply section is directly connected to the first connection part of the first section, the second section is connected to a second connection part of the first section that is different from the first connection part, and is connected to the power supply section via the first section, the power supply section of the first power supply line and the power supply section of the second power supply line are arranged in a line along the movement path, and the arrangement of the first power supply line and the second power supply line in the connecting unit is set such that the distance between the second connection part of the first power supply line and the second connection part of the second power supply line is greater than the distance between the first connection part of the first power supply line and the first connection part of the second power supply line.

[0075] According to this configuration, the first and second power lines are arranged such that the distance between their first connection points is shorter than the distance between their second connection points. This minimizes the gap between adjacent power lines at the power line transfer point, allowing for proper power supply to the mobile device. Furthermore, by arranging the first and second power lines such that the distance between their second connection points is longer than the distance between their first connection points, the induced electromotive force generated between the first and second power lines can be kept small. This makes it easier to shorten the second section and to keep the induced electromotive force generated in both the first and second sections small. Because interference power is easily reduced, it becomes easier to increase the effective distance of the power line over which power can be supplied from the power supply unit.

[0076] Furthermore, in the contactless power supply equipment, the first section and the second section of the first power supply line and the second power supply line, respectively, are arranged in a planar manner, the first surface on which the first section of the first power supply line is arranged and the second surface on which the first section of the second power supply line is arranged are arranged parallel to each other, the third surface on which the second section of the first power supply line is arranged and the fourth surface on which the second section of the second power supply line is arranged are arranged parallel to each other, and the third and fourth surfaces are arranged perpendicular to the first and second surfaces.

[0077] This configuration makes it easier to keep the induced electromotive force between the first and second power lines low, thereby enhancing the effect of reducing interference power.

[0078] Furthermore, the contactless power supply equipment preferably includes a magnetic core that forms a magnetic path surrounding the second section of the first power supply line and the second power supply line, with each of the first and second power supply lines having a portion arranged along the movement path outside the connecting unit as the power supply section of the power supply line, the power supply section being directly connected to the first connection part of the first section, the second section being connected to a second connection part of the first section different from the first connection part, and connected to the power supply section via the first section.

[0079] With this configuration, the inclusion of a magnetic core makes it easier to shorten the length of the second section of the first and second power supply lines. Therefore, even if the interference power reduction effect is the same, the connecting unit can be made smaller. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 2:Power supply 3:Power line 3p: 1st feeder line 3s: 2nd feeder line 4: Power receiving device 5: Connecting Unit 8: Magnetic core 10: Travel Route 12: Running section (mobile body) 30: Goods transport vehicle (mobile) 31: Section 1 32: Section 2 33: Power supply section 35: First connection section 36: Second connection section 61: 1st page 62: 2nd side 63:Side 3 64:Side 4 100: Contactless power supply equipment D1: First distance (distance between the first connection point of the first power supply line and the first connection point of the second power supply line) D2: Second distance (distance between the second connection point of the first power supply line and the second connection point of the second power supply line) Ip: First current (current flowing through the first power supply line) Is: Second current (current flowing through the second power supply line) M1: First mutual inductance M2: Second mutual inductance

Claims

1. A contactless power supply system comprising: a plurality of power lines arranged in line along the movement path of a mobile body equipped with a power receiving device; and a power supply device connected to each of the plurality of power lines and supplying alternating current to the connected power lines, wherein power is supplied to the power receiving device without contact, The device comprises a connecting unit that is positioned between a first power supply line, which is one of a plurality of power supply lines, and a second power supply line, which is adjacent to the first power supply line along the movement path, and holds the first power supply line and the second power supply line. The connecting unit holds the first power supply line and the second power supply line in the first and second sections of the power supply line in which the first power supply line and the second power supply line are arranged in parallel. The first power supply line and the second power supply line are The direction of the current flowing through the first section of the second power supply line with respect to the direction of the current flowing through the first section of the first power supply line, The direction of the current flowing through the second section of the second power supply line with respect to the direction of the current flowing through the second section of the first power supply line, A contactless power supply device is arranged in the connecting unit such that the orientation is reversed.

2. The first power supply line and the second power supply line are The contactless power supply equipment according to claim 1, wherein the connecting unit is arranged such that the first mutual inductance, which is the mutual inductance between the first section of the first power supply line and the first section of the second power supply line, and the second mutual inductance, which is the mutual inductance between the second section of the first power supply line and the second section of the second power supply line, are equal.

3. Each of the first and second power supply lines, outside the connecting unit, has a portion arranged along the movement path designated as the power supply section of the power supply line. The power supply section is directly connected to the first connection section of the first section. The second section is connected to a second connection of the first section, which is different from the first connection, and is connected to the power supply section via the first section. The power supply section of the first power supply line and the power supply section of the second power supply line are arranged in a line along the movement path. The contactless power supply equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the arrangement of the first power supply line and the second power supply line in the connecting unit is set such that the distance between the second connection of the first power supply line and the second connection of the second power supply line is greater than the distance between the first connection of the first power supply line and the first connection of the second power supply line.

4. The first section and the second section of the first power supply line and the second power supply line, respectively, are arranged in a planar manner. The first surface on which the first section of the first power supply line is arranged and the second surface on which the first section of the second power supply line is arranged are arranged parallel to each other. The third surface on which the second section of the first power supply line is located and the fourth surface on which the second section of the second power supply line is located are arranged parallel to each other. The contactless power supply equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the third and fourth surfaces are arranged orthogonally with respect to the first and second surfaces.

5. Each of the first and second power supply lines, outside the connecting unit, has a portion arranged along the movement path designated as the power supply section of the power supply line. The power supply section is directly connected to the first connection section of the first section. The second section is connected to a second connection of the first section, which is different from the first connection, and is connected to the power supply section via the first section. The contactless power supply equipment according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a magnetic core that forms a magnetic path surrounding the second section of the first power supply line and the second section of the second power supply line.

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