Method for operating a transport system and corresponding transport system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10744922-B2
Application number	US-201815943966-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2018
Priority date	Apr 12, 2017
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

The exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to methods for operating a transport system, which have a large number of transport mechanism and means. The invention further relates to a corresponding transport system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for operating a transport system, comprising:
a plurality of independent transport means, which are assembled into a total set of transport means that includes all the transport means in the transport system, the plurality of transport means are modular and can move independently of one another, and are emission-free, the method comprising:
receiving a transport means request at a central control unit of said transport means, the transport means request containing information about and characteristic parameters of a vehicle to be transported,
selecting a subset of transport means from the total set of transport means such that the subset of transport means, based on the information and parameters in the transport means request, includes a sufficient number of transport means that are suitable for the vehicle to be transported, and
autonomously conveying the subset of transport means from respective remote locations to a transport starting location, wherein, at the transport starting location, the vehicle to be transported having a plurality of wheel axles is jointly picked up by the transport means included in the subset of transport means, wherein on sides of the wheel axles that face away from each other, at least one of the transport means is arranged adjacent to at least one wheel of a respective wheel axle, and subsequently, the transport means communicate with each other to move toward one another or away from one another autonomously for raising the vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the subset of transport means actuate at least one component of the vehicle by a communication connection to the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, as a vehicle component, a signal system of the vehicle or a drive device of the vehicle is used to communicate with the subset of transport means.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the subset of transport means actuate the vehicle component in such a way that, during the loading, the wheel can rotate freely or rotates for driving onto the transport means, and/or in such a way that, after the loading, the wheel is locked during the transport.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, after being picked up, the vehicle is fixed in position on the subset of transport means during the transport.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, after it has been raised, the vehicle is transported to a transport destination location and unloaded there, and after the transport destination location has been reached by the subset of transport means, the subset of transport means is cancelled.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transport means are selected for the subset of transport means on the basis of a quantity of energy needed for reaching the transport starting location and the transport destination location and/or a respectively remaining residual quantity of energy of the transport means.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in the selection of the transport means for the subset of transport means, additionally, a distance of the transport destination location from a maintenance device and/or charging device for the transport means is taken into consideration.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, at least during the transport, the subset of transport means that jointly pick up and/or raise the vehicle autonomously keep constant a distance between them or are coupled to one another mechanically, magnetically, and/or pneumatically.

10. A transport system, comprising:
a plurality of independent transport means, which are assembled into a total set of transport means that includes all the transport means in the transport system, the plurality of transport means are modular and can move independently of one another, are emission-free, and are designed in such a way that, when a transport means request containing information about and characteristic parameters of a vehicle to be transported occurs at a central control unit of said transport means, a subset of transport means are selected from the total set of transport means such that the subset of transport means, based on the information and parameters in the transport means request, includes a sufficient number of transport means that are suitable for the vehicle to be transported, and autonomously conveyed to a transport starting location from respective remote locations, wherein, at the transport starting location, the vehicle to be transported having a plurality of wheel axles is jointly picked up by the transport means included in the subset of transport means wherein on sides of the wheel axles that face away from each other, at least one of the transport means is arranged adjacent to at least one wheel of a respective wheel axle, and subsequently, the transport means communicate with each other to move toward one another or away from one another autonomously for raising the vehicle.

Assignees

• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Idelevitch Vladimir
• Fendt Christina
• Schindler Sebastian
• Ertl Maximilian
• Beutler Stephan
• Budnik Daniel
• Hehne Frank
• Reuschenbach Simon
• Bramfeld Arne

Classifications

• B60S13/00 Primary

  Vehicle-manoeuvring devices separate from the vehicle (vehicle lifting {, e.g. liftable turntables} or pushing devices B66F; {workshop equipment B25H}) · CPC title

• G05B1/00

  Comparing elements, i.e. elements for effecting comparison directly or indirectly between a desired value and existing or anticipated values · CPC title

• G05B2219/50393

  Floor conveyor, AGV automatic guided vehicle · CPC title

• G05B19/41895

  using automatic guided vehicles [AGV] (control of position or course of AGV's G05D1/00) · CPC title

• B60L2200/30

  Trolleys · CPC title