Inductively Coupled Driverless Vehicle Spring Drive Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driverless transport vehicles face challenges in efficiently navigating and transporting loads on uneven ground surfaces, as they struggle to maintain consistent energy supply and drive force due to changing distances and waviness, which affects normal force and maneuverability.
Innovation Solution
A driverless transport vehicle system with an inductively coupled secondary coil and spring means between the drive unit and drive wheels, allowing for contactless energy supply and maintaining constant normal force, along with independent wheel speed control and lane guidance, enabling efficient operation on undulating surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If contactless energy supply via inductive coupling is used, then energy transmission efficiency is improved, but the system becomes sensitive to distance changes caused by ground undulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the drive unit movable relative to the vehicle body through a spring mechanism. This allows the drive unit to dynamically adjust its position to maintain optimal distance from the primary conductor despite ground undulations, ensuring stable inductive coupling and reliable energy transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of distance between the secondary coil and primary conductor by allowing the drive unit to move vertically via the spring mechanism. This parameter adjustment compensates for ground undulations and maintains consistent inductive coupling efficiency across varying terrain.
2Device complexity
If fixed drive wheels are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but the vehicle cannot adapt to uneven ground surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static drive wheel assembly into a dynamic system by introducing a spring mechanism that allows vertical movement. This enables the drive wheels to adapt to uneven ground surfaces while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the vehicle into a fixed body and a movable drive unit that can independently adjust to terrain variations. This segmentation allows the drive system to adapt to uneven ground without complicating the entire vehicle structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the drive unit is firmly connected to the vehicle body, then structural stability is improved, but the normal force on drive wheels cannot be maintained constant on undulating ground
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic movement capability to the drive unit through the spring mechanism, allowing it to maintain constant normal force on the drive wheels by adjusting its position relative to the vehicle body in response to ground undulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism acts as a counterbalancing element that compensates for variations in ground surface height, maintaining constant normal force on the drive wheels by adjusting the drive unit's position to offset terrain variations.
4Force
If heavy drive units are used to ensure sufficient normal force, then drive capability is improved, but vehicle maneuverability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the spring mechanism to dynamically generate the required normal force through controlled movement rather than relying on heavy mass. This allows sufficient drive capability while keeping the drive unit lightweight and maintaining vehicle maneuverability.
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 system ensures efficient energy supply and drive force transmission independent of distance, maintains constant normal force, and enhances maneuverability, allowing the vehicle to operate effectively on uneven ground with improved steerability and load handling.
Implementation Method 1
a vehicle (100) that can be supplied without contact from it, with a (10) comprising an inductively coupled secondary coil
Implementation Method 2
the secondary coil being assigned a capacitance such that the associated resonant frequency essentially corresponds to the center frequency, in particular between 10 and 100 kHz, of the current impressed into the primary conductor
Implementation Method 3
a spring means (7) is arranged between the drive unit, comprising the respective drive wheel (2) and associated drive (3), and the linkage (9) of the vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
AI summary
Disclosed is a system, particularly a driverless transport vehicle, for transporting loads on a bumpy surface, especially the ground, comprising at least one primary conductor and a vehicle which can be supplied thereby in a contactless manner and is provided with a secondary coil that is inductively coupled to the primary conductor. A capacitor is associated with the secondary coil in such a way that the associated resonant frequency substantially corresponds to the medium frequency, particularly between 10 and 100 kHz, of the current applied to the primary conductor. A spring means is arranged between the drive unit, which encompasses a respective driven wheel and an associated drive, and the linkage of the vehicle.