Long-Stator Linear Motor Fault Scope for Localized Shutdown

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Solution Overview

Problem

In long stator linear motors, system errors often require a complete shutdown of the transport system, which is undesirable due to the interruption of connected processes and potential for increased damage from uncontrolled collisions between transport units.

Innovation Solution

A method to determine a local error scope on the stator and transfer only the drive coils within that scope to a predetermined error state, allowing for controlled, localized error handling and preventing complete system shutdown.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complete system shutdown is implemented in response to system errors, then safety is ensured, but productivity is reduced due to interruption of connected processes

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidinterruption of connected processes
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The transport system is divided into independent segments (individual transport units and stator sections) that can be controlled separately. When an error occurs, only the affected segment is shut down while other segments continue operating, thus maintaining safety in the error zone while preserving productivity in unaffected zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The error response is localized to the specific stator section where the error occurred. The control system identifies the exact location of the error and applies the fault state only to the magnetic field generation units within that local area, rather than shutting down the entire system. This allows unaffected areas to continue normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a complete system shutdown is implemented in response to system errors, then collision risks are reduced, but loss of time increases due to system unavailability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision risksVSAvoidsystem unavailability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system isolates the error to a specific stator section, creating a localized safety zone. Transport units in unaffected sections continue to operate normally without increased collision risk, as each section's error response is independent and contained to its local area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control system pre-defines fault states for magnetic field generation units that can be activated immediately upon error detection. This preliminary preparation allows for instantaneous local shutdown without system-wide delay, reducing the time transport units need to react and minimizing overall system unavailability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If all magnetic field generation units are transferred to fault state in response to system errors, then safety is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to complete system stoppage

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidsystem operation continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The fault state is applied selectively only to the magnetic field generation units located within the affected stator section, while units in other sections maintain their normal operational state. This localized application of the fault state ensures safety in the error zone while preserving productivity in unaffected zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The stator is divided into multiple independent sections with distinct magnetic field generation units. When an error occurs in one section, only the units in that specific section are transferred to the fault state, while units in other sections continue to operate normally, thus maintaining overall system productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the transport system is completely shut down, then damage from uncontrolled collisions is prevented, but the complexity of system recovery increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamage from collisionsVSAvoidsystem recovery
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The error isolation to specific stator sections simplifies recovery by limiting the scope of the fault state application. When the error is resolved, only the magnetic field generation units in the affected section need to be reactivated, rather than requiring a complete system restart, thus reducing recovery complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fault state and its subsequent recovery are localized to the specific stator section where the error occurred. This means that once the error is corrected, only the local units need to be brought back online, making the recovery process simpler and faster compared to system-wide shutdown and restart procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This approach minimizes the impact of system errors on the transport system while maintaining safety, allowing unaffected transport units to continue operating and reducing the risk of collisions and consequential damage.

Implementation Method 1

Due to the interaction of the (electro)magnetic fields of the drive magnets and the magnetic field generating units, forces act on the secondary part that move the secondary part relative to the primary part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic field interaction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

If the drive coils in the area of a rotor are energized, an electromagnetic drive magnetic field is generated which interacts with the excitation field of the drive magnets to generate a driving force on the rotor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLorentz force: Lorentz Force

Data Source

PatentEP4064549B1Transport system in the form of a long stator linear motor and method for operating the same
Publication Date: 2024.11.13 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP4064549B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4064549B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4064549B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

In order to limit the effects of a system fault on a transport system (1) as much as possible without compromising the safety of the rest of the transport system (1), it is provided that in the event of a system fault on a part of the transport system (1), a fault extent (F) is defined on the stator (2), wherein the fault extent (F) only includes a part of the stator (2) with the faulty part of the transport system (1), and the magnetic field generating units in the fault extent (F) are brought into a predetermined fault state.