Traveling Vehicle Track Layout for Smooth Gap Crossing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing traveling vehicle systems with grid-shaped tracks face challenges in preventing traveling wheels from falling into gaps, leading to vibration and hindered movement, especially at crossing points where auxiliary tracks are required, causing unnecessary contact and vibration.

Innovation Solution

A traveling vehicle system with a track configuration that includes first and second gaps, where auxiliary wheels are positioned non-contacting with the traveling surface and auxiliary tracks are only present when necessary, ensuring the drive wheel passes through gaps without falling, allowing smooth movement even when the traveling surface overlaps in multiple directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If auxiliary wheels are positioned to prevent falling into gaps, then wheel stability is improved, but the auxiliary wheels may contact the track surface and hinder movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewheel stabilityVSAvoidmovement smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary track is provided in advance before the gap, allowing the auxiliary wheel to contact it and prepare for the gap transition before the drive wheel actually enters the gap. This preliminary positioning prevents the auxiliary wheel from falling into the gap while avoiding contact with the main track surface during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary track serves as an intermediary element between the main track and the gap. Instead of the auxiliary wheel directly interacting with the main track or falling into the gap, the auxiliary track provides a intermediate support surface that guides the auxiliary wheel through the transition zone smoothly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If auxiliary tracks are provided for all gaps, then wheel fall prevention is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewheel fall preventionVSAvoidtrack structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary track is provided only locally at specific positions before gaps where the auxiliary wheel may contact the main track, rather than along the entire track. This localized approach prevents wheel fall while minimizing the addition of structural complexity to the overall track system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The track system is segmented into main track portions and auxiliary track portions. The auxiliary track is divided into discrete segments positioned before each gap, allowing for modular implementation that prevents wheel fall without requiring a complete redesign of the entire track structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12116021B2Traveling vehicle system

Publication Date: 2024.10.15 MURATA MASCH LTD

AI summary

A traveling vehicle system includes a track including a first gap, a partial track, and a second gap, a traveling vehicle including a drive wheel and first and second auxiliary wheels, a first auxiliary track on a near side of the first gap in a traveling direction and in contact with a lower end of the first auxiliary wheel while a lower end of the drive wheel passes through the first gap when the drive wheel enters the partial track, and a second auxiliary track on a far side of the second gap in the traveling direction and in contact with a lower end of the second auxiliary wheel while the lower end of the drive wheel passes through the second gap when the drive wheel leaves the partial track.