Electromagnetic Transport System Curved Section Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transport systems face challenges in maintaining mechanical stability and precision when handling heavier loads, often resulting in increased tolerance and disruptions during object transport.

Innovation Solution

A transport system featuring a stationary running rail with a movable runner driven by an electromagnetic drive, utilizing a multiplicity of stationary coil elements and a permanent magnet, along with a guide device comprising joint axes and rollers that provide high-precision and tolerance-free guidance, even for heavier objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If conventional coil arrangements are used in curved sections, then the transport system can be compact, but the conveying speed is reduced and disruptions occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport system compactnessVSAvoidconveying speed in curved section
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the guide rail itself movable rather than stationary. The guide rail is designed to move together with the runner in curved sections, allowing the runner to maintain constant speed while navigating curves. This dynamic configuration eliminates the speed reduction and disruptions that occur with conventional stationary coil arrangements in curved sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable guide rail acts as an intermediary between the electromagnetic drive and the runner. By introducing this intermediate element that moves with the runner, the system can maintain precise guidance and constant speed through curved sections without the limitations of stationary coil arrangements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Weight of moving object

If heavier objects are transported, then the transport capacity is improved, but mechanical stability and precision are reduced due to increased tolerance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport capacityVSAvoidguidance precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional mechanical guidance system with an electromagnetic guidance system. Instead of relying on mechanical contact and friction between guide surfaces, the system uses electromagnetic forces generated by coil elements to guide the runner. This substitution eliminates mechanical wear and tolerance accumulation, maintaining high guidance precision even when transporting heavier objects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of guidance from mechanical contact forces to electromagnetic forces. By using magnetic field interactions between coil elements and permanent magnets, the system achieves contactless guidance that is not affected by the weight of the transported objects, thereby maintaining constant precision regardless of load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If mechanical guide surfaces are used, then the runner can be guided, but friction and wear lead to tolerance and disruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance functionVSAvoidoperational stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical guide surface contact system with an electromagnetic field-based guidance system. Coil elements generate magnetic fields that interact with permanent magnets on the runner to provide guidance forces without physical contact. This eliminates friction and wear, thereby improving operational stability and reliability while maintaining the guidance function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The electromagnetic field acts as a flexible, contactless medium for guidance. Instead of rigid mechanical contact surfaces that wear over time, the system uses flexible magnetic field lines that can adapt and maintain consistent guidance forces without degradation, improving long-term reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Enables the precise and stable transport of heavier objects by maintaining mechanical stability and minimizing tolerance, ensuring efficient movement along the transport route.

Implementation Method 1

an electromagnetic drive for driving the at least one runner by means of electromagnetic forces, wherein the electromagnetic drive has a plurality of stationary coil elements and at least one permanent magnet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Data Source

PatentEP3885290B1Transport system
Publication Date: 2023.07.12 HOFSTETTER NORBERT
  • EP3885290B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3885290B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3885290B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

The invention relates to a transport system for conveying objects along a transport path, comprising at least a stationary guide rail and at least one runner movable along the guide rail for conveying the objects along the transport path, further comprising an electromagnetic drive for driving the at least one runner by means of electromagnetic forces, wherein the electromagnetic drive has a plurality of stationary coil elements and at least one permanent magnet. The stationary coil elements are located on the stationary guide rail and the at least one permanent magnet is located on the at least one runner.