Working Track Access for Overhead Traveling Unit Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional overhead traveling vehicle systems pose a challenge for maintenance as the track is designed to enclose the traveling unit, making it difficult to access for cleaning and maintenance without compromising the power feeder, which is essential for the vehicle's operation.
Innovation Solution
A traveling vehicle system with a working track that exposes the traveling unit for maintenance, eliminating the power feeder and incorporating a mover mechanism to facilitate movement within the working area, along with a suction device for adhering substances and a controlled moving mechanism using arms to prevent inertial movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the track is formed with sidewalls accommodating the traveling unit, then the traveling vehicle can travel along the track, but the traveling unit cannot be exposed for maintenance operations
Solution Approach 1:
The track is divided into two distinct segments: a traveling track with sidewalls for normal operation, and a working track without sidewalls for maintenance. This segmentation allows the system to switch between operational mode and maintenance mode by moving the traveling vehicle between the two track sections, resolving the contradiction between maintaining structural integrity for travel and providing access for maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
A mover mechanism acts as an intermediary device to transfer the traveling vehicle from the traveling track to the working track and vice versa. This intermediary mechanism enables the traveling vehicle to access the maintenance area without requiring permanent openings in the sidewalls, thus maintaining both operational reliability and maintenance accessibility.
2Ease of repair
If an opening is provided in the sidewall for maintenance access, then the traveling unit can be exposed, but the power feeder cannot be provided and the traveling vehicle cannot travel
Solution Approach 1:
The track system is segmented into a traveling track section with complete sidewalls and power feeders for operation, and a working track section without sidewalls for maintenance. This spatial segmentation allows both functions to coexist without interference - the power feeder is provided only where needed for travel, while the opening is provided only where needed for maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between operational configuration (traveling track with sidewalls) and maintenance configuration (working track with openings) by moving the traveling vehicle between sections. The sidewalls and power feeders are present only in the traveling section, while the working section provides open access, allowing the system to adapt its structure based on operational needs.
3Device complexity
If the traveling unit is accommodated inside the body, then the vehicle structure is compact, but the traveling unit cannot be accessed for cleaning and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by moving the traveling vehicle to the working track section before maintenance operations begin. This preliminary positioning action exposes the previously enclosed traveling unit to the external environment, making it accessible for cleaning and maintenance while preserving the compact enclosed structure during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The working track without sidewalls serves as an intermediary environment that facilitates maintenance operations. When the traveling vehicle is positioned on this intermediate track section, the traveling unit becomes accessible despite being enclosed during normal operation, thus resolving the contradiction between structural compactness and maintenance accessibility.
4Ease of repair
If the working track has no power feeder, then the traveling unit can be exposed for maintenance, but the traveling vehicle cannot move itself
Solution Approach 1:
A separate mover mechanism acts as an intermediary to provide movement capability on the working track where power feeders are absent. This intermediary device transfers the traveling vehicle into and out of the maintenance area, allowing the vehicle to remain self-propelled during normal operation while enabling movement during maintenance operations through the intermediary mover system.
Data Source
AI summary
A traveling vehicle system in which a traveling vehicle travels along a traveling track including a rail body to accommodate a traveling unit of the traveling vehicle and extending along a traveling path of the traveling vehicle and a power feeder positioned along an extending direction of the rail body to supply electricity to the traveling unit, includes a working track that is continuous with the traveling track and includes an opening exposing at least a portion of the traveling unit and does not have the power feeder, and a mover to move the traveling vehicle along the working track.