Drive Unit Wheel Blocking for Fail-Safe Driverless Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Driverless transport units face safety issues due to uncontrollable movement in case of malfunctions or energy supply interruptions, as existing braking systems often fail to act on the wheels directly, leading to potential collisions.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a blocking device, such as an electromagnetic brake pin, within the travel unit that locks the gear wheels or wheels directly, ensuring immediate stoppage by engaging with the gear or wheel upon detection of a malfunction or energy interruption, thereby preventing uncontrolled rolling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional braking system acting on the floor is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the stopping reliability deteriorates because the brake cannot make contact or acts too late
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional floor-acting mechanical brake with an electromagnetic blocking device that directly engages with the drive wheels. This substitution of the braking mechanism achieves more reliable stopping by directly blocking the wheel rotation through electromagnetic activation, eliminating the contact and timing issues of floor-acting brakes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a blocking device as an intermediary component between the control system and the wheels. This blocking device, which can be electromagnetic or mechanical, serves as a mediator to transmit the stopping command directly to the wheels, ensuring immediate and reliable cessation of motion without the delays inherent in floor-acting systems.
2Reliability
If no blocking device is provided, then the device complexity is minimized, but the transport unit cannot be stopped in case of malfunction or energy interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a blocking device that is pre-positioned and ready to engage with the wheels. In the event of malfunction or energy interruption, this pre-positioned blocking device can immediately activate to prevent uncontrolled rolling, eliminating the need for complex monitoring systems while ensuring safety through advance preparation of the blocking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking device is designed to automatically engage when energy supply is interrupted or malfunction occurs, without requiring external monitoring or control systems. The device essentially blocks the wheels through its own design characteristics (such as spring-loaded mechanical blocks or electromagnetic engagement), providing self-service safety functionality.
3Reliability
If the blocking device is activated continuously, then the stopping reliability is maximized, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking device operates periodically rather than continuously - it remains inactive during normal operation and activates only when needed (during malfunction or energy interruption). This periodic activation pattern maintains high stopping reliability while minimizing energy consumption, as the blocking mechanism engages only in critical situations rather than continuously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures safe and immediate stopping of the transport unit, even on uneven terrain, by directly blocking the drive wheels, enhancing operational safety and preventing collisions, with a compact and cost-effective design that integrates seamlessly into the travel unit.
Implementation Method 1
the blocking device is formed by an electromagnetic brake pin
Data Source
AI summary
A driverless transport unit, travel unit, and method for controlling a travel unit for a transport unit, in which a control signal for activating a travel unit is emitted by a controller in the transport unit, whereupon one or several electric motors of the travel unit are activated for driving wheels and the transport unit is moved forwards or backwards. The driving operation is monitored by a safety control/controller. Upon detection of a malfunction, in which driving operation of the travel unit or transport unit is continued on the basis of an emitted stop signal, or upon interruption of the energy supply, at least one blocking device is activated in the travel unit for stopping the travel unit or transport unit, respectively, wherein at least one gear, at least one gear wheel or directly at least one wheel is blocked via the blocking device.