Transport apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12327745-B2
Application number	US-202117532001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2021
Priority date	Nov 23, 2020
Publication date	Jun 10, 2025
Grant date	Jun 10, 2025

Abstract

A transport apparatus includes a transport rail extending along a predetermined path, a transport vehicle configured to be movable along the transport rail to transport a material, and a brake unit mounted on the transport vehicle to be adjacent to the transport rail and configured to apply an eddy current braking force to the transport vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transport apparatus comprising:
a first transport rail and a second transport rail extending parallel to each other along a predetermined path;
a transport vehicle comprising a drive module disposed on the first and second transport rails and configured to be movable along the first and second transport rails to transport a material; and
a brake unit mounted on the transport vehicle to be adjacent to the first and second transport rails and configured to apply an eddy current braking force to the transport vehicle,
wherein the drive module comprises:
a front drive unit comprising front wheels respectively disposed on the first and second transport rails; and
a rear drive unit comprising rear wheels respectively disposed on the first and second transport rails, and
wherein the brake unit comprises:
a front brake unit mounted on the front drive unit; and
a rear brake unit mounted on the rear drive unit,
wherein the front brake unit comprises:
a first permanent magnet disposed adjacent to the first transport rail;
a first electromagnet disposed on one side of the first permanent magnet;
first pole pieces connecting ends of the first permanent magnet and the first electromagnet to each other; and
a second permanent magnet disposed adjacent to the second transport rail;
a second electromagnet disposed on one side of the second permanent magnet;
second pole pieces connecting ends of the second permanent magnet and the second electromagnet to each other, and
wherein the rear brake unit comprises:
a third permanent magnet disposed adjacent to the first transport rail;
a third electromagnet disposed on one side of the third permanent magnet;
third pole pieces connecting ends of the third permanent magnet and the third electromagnet to each other; and
a fourth permanent magnet disposed adjacent to the second transport rail;
a fourth electromagnet disposed on one side of the fourth permanent magnet;
fourth pole pieces connecting ends of the fourth permanent magnet and the fourth electromagnet to each other.

2. The transport apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a vibration sensor mounted on the transport vehicle and configured to sense vibration of the transport vehicle; and
a brake controller for controlling an operation of the brake unit based on a signal from the vibration sensor.

3. The transport apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the brake unit comprises:
a power supply for applying a first brake current to the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet, and
the brake controller controls an operation of the power supply based on the signal from the vibration sensor.

4. The transport apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the brake unit further comprises:
a magnet drive unit for adjusting a gap between the transport rail and the permanent magnet, and
the brake controller controls an operation of the magnet drive unit based on the signal from the vibration sensor.

5. A transport apparatus comprising:
a first transport rail and a second transport rail extending parallel to each other along a predetermined transport path;
a transport vehicle comprising a drive module disposed on the first and second transport rails and configured to be movable along the first and second transport rails, and a hoist module connected to the drive module and configured to elevate a material; and
brake units mounted on the drive module to be adjacent to the first and second transport rails and configured to apply an eddy current braking force to the drive module,
wherein the drive module comprises:
a front drive unit comprising front wheels respectively disposed on the first and second transport rails; and
a rear drive unit comprising rear wheels respectively disposed on the first and second transport rails, and
wherein the brake units comprise:
a front brake unit mounted on the front drive unit; and
a rear brake unit mounted on the rear drive unit,
wherein the front brake unit comprises:
a first permanent magnet disposed adjacent to the first transport rail;
a first electromagnet disposed on one side of the first permanent magnet;
first pole pieces connecting ends of the first permanent magnet and the first electromagnet to each other; and
a second permanent magnet disposed adjacent to the second transport rail;
a second electromagnet disposed on one side of the second permanent magnet;
second pole pieces connecting ends of the second permanent magnet and the second electromagnet to each other, and
wherein the rear brake unit comprises:
a third permanent magnet disposed adjacent to the first transport rail;
a third electromagnet disposed on one side of the third permanent magnet:
third pole pieces connecting ends of the third permanent magnet and the third electromagnet to each other; and
a fourth permanent magnet disposed adjacent to the second transport rail:
a fourth electromagnet disposed on one side of the fourth permanent magnet;
fourth pole pieces connecting ends of the fourth permanent magnet and the fourth electromagnet to each other.

6. The transport apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:
a front vibration sensor mounted on the front drive unit and configured to sense vibration of the front drive unit;
a rear vibration sensor mounted on the rear drive unit and configured to sense vibration of the rear drive unit; and
a brake controller for controlling an operation of the front brake unit based on a signal from the front vibration sensor and controlling an operation of the rear brake unit based on a signal from the rear vibration sensor.

7. The transport apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the front brake unit comprises:
a first electromagnet disposed adjacent to the first transport rail;
a second electromagnet disposed adjacent to the second transport rail; and
a first power supply for applying a first brake current to the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet, the rear brake unit comprises:
a third electromagnet disposed adjacent to the first transport rail;
a fourth electromagnet disposed adjacent to the second transport rail; and
a second power supply for applying a second brake current to the third electromagnet and the fourth electromagnet, and
the brake controller controls the first and second brake currents based on the signals from the first and second vibration sensors, respectively.

8. The transport apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the front brake unit further comprises:
a first magnet drive unit for adjusting a gap between the first transport rail and the first permanent magnet and a gap between the second transport rail and the second permanent magnet,
the rear brake unit further comprises:
a second magnet drive unit for adjusting a gap between the first transport rail and the third permanent magnet and a gap between the second transport rail and the fourth permanent magnet.

9. The transport apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the front brake unit further comprises:
a first power supply for applying a first brake current to the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet,
a second power supply for applying a second brake current to the third electromagnet and the fourth electromagnet, and
the brake controller controls the first and second brake currents based on the signals from the first and second vibration sensors, respectively.

10. The transport apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:
an obstacle detection sensor mounted on a front portion of the transport vehicle and configured to detect an obstacle in front of the transport vehicle; and
a brake controller configured to control operations of the brake units so that the eddy current braking force is applied to the driv

Assignees

• Semes Co Ltd

Inventors

• Cho Jae Ik
• Cho Kil Hyun
• Cho Chung Il

Classifications

• H10P72/3221 Primary

  Overhead conveying · CPC title

• H10P72/3218

  Conveying cassettes, containers or carriers · CPC title

• H10P72/3204

  using magnetic elements · CPC title

• H10P72/06

  Apparatus for monitoring, sorting, marking, testing or measuring · CPC title

• H10P72/3214 Primary

  by means of a cart or a vehicle · CPC title