Magnetic Trolley Conveyance for Track-Free Surface Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing track-based mobility and conveyance systems limit access and movement within environments due to restricted travel paths and access points, failing to provide comprehensive mobility assistance for individuals or objects across entire spatial areas, especially in residential, commercial, and industrial settings.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic conveyance system featuring a ferromagnetic support structure and a trolley with magnets and friction-reducing load spreading devices, allowing for movement in any direction across a smooth surface, such as a ceiling, floor, or wall, with articulating connections and load transfer members to distribute loads and reduce friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If track-based overhead conveyance systems are used to provide lifting and conveyance assistance, then patients can be moved between specific locations, but the direction of travel and accessible locations are limited by the track placement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical track-guided system with a magnetic field-based system. The trolley uses magnets to attach to and move along the support structure without physical tracks, allowing movement in any direction across the surface. This substitution of mechanical guidance with magnetic attraction enables unrestricted travel paths while maintaining lifting and conveyance functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is divided into discrete magnetic segments or zones that can independently support and guide multiple trolleys. This segmentation allows multiple objects to be conveyed simultaneously along different paths across the same support surface, increasing system versatility without requiring a complete track network for each potential route.
2Reliability
If track-based systems are installed to provide conveyance support, then lifting assistance is available at specific points, but access to areas without tracks is impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic support structure serves multiple functions: it provides lifting support, guides movement, and enables access to any location on its surface. Unlike tracks that are confined to specific routes, the magnetic field can be distributed across the entire support surface, making the whole area accessible for conveyance operations. The system universally supports any object that can be magnetically attached.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from one-dimensional track-based movement to two-dimensional surface-based movement. The trolley can move freely across the planar support surface in any direction, not just along predetermined linear or curved track paths. This dimensional expansion dramatically increases the accessible area from limited track locations to the entire support structure surface.
3Productivity
If multiple objects need to be supported and moved simultaneously, then conveyance capacity increases, but track-based systems cannot accommodate multiple objects moving at the same time
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic support structure is divided into discrete magnetic segments or zones that can independently support and guide multiple trolleys. This segmentation allows multiple objects to be conveyed simultaneously along different paths across the same support surface, increasing system versatility without requiring a complete track network for each potential route.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic support structure serves multiple functions: it provides lifting support, guides movement, and enables access to any location on its surface. Unlike tracks that are confined to specific routes, the magnetic field can be distributed across the entire support surface, making the whole area accessible for conveyance operations. The system universally supports any object that can be magnetically attached.
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 unrestricted movement and positioning of individuals or objects across entire environments, overcoming the limitations of traditional systems by providing a flexible and efficient means of conveyance without the need for predefined tracks, supporting multiple objects and allowing for easy reconfiguration and access to all areas.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one magnet is operable to exert a magnetic attraction force between the trolley and the support structure
Implementation Method 2
at least one friction reducing load spreading device
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic conveyance system comprising a support structure having a ferromagnetic capacity and a trolley moveable upon the support structure in a plurality of directions. The trolley may include a trolley frame and at least one attractor cell disposed on the trolley frame. The at least one attractor cell may comprise a housing and at least one magnet, at least one friction reducing load spreading device, and a load transfer member disposed within the housing. The magnet may provide a magnetic attraction force between the trolley and the support structure. The friction reducing load spreading device may comprise a plurality of bearing balls circulating within a reservoir and a channel formed by the load transfer member disposed within the housing. The load transfer member may also include a bearing surface wherein a portion of the plurality of bearing balls is disposed between the bearing surface and the support structure.