Non-contact power supply apparatus and pickup portion used therein

[0002] The present invention relates to a non-contact power supply apparatus which can feed a power to each load from a feeder line of a primary circuit connected to an alternating current power supply via a pickup portion of a secondary circuit magnetically coupled to the feeder line in a physically non-contact state, and to a pickup portion used therein.

[0003] Conventionally, various handling systems have been employed such that a baggage is carried by using a carrier vehicle moving along a guide rail, and thereby, physical distribution has been effectively performed in a factory, a warehouse or the like. In general, a traction motor is used to tract such a carrier vehicle, and a drive power is supplied to the traction motor via a feeder line which is laid along the guide rail, and through which an alternating current flows.

[0004] In this feeding method, there are conventionally a trolley type and a non-contact type. The trolley type is a system in which a collector provided on the carrier vehicle side contacts with a feeder line so as to feed an electric power. On the other hand, the non-contact type is a system in which a pickup portion provided on the carrier vehicle is arranged in the vicinity of a feeder line, and then, an induced power is generated in the pickup coil so as to obtain an electric power. The above trolley type requires maintenance because the collector is worn, and further, has a problem that dust and spark are generated. On the contrary, the non-contact type has no problem as described, and therefore, a non-contact type power supply apparatus has been frequently used.

[0005] FIG. 1A is a schematic view showing a conventional monorail type handling system, FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a non-contact power supply apparatus used in the conventional monorail type handling system shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a structure of a conventional carrier vehicle, and FIG. 4A is a schematic side view showing a relationship between a feeder line and a pickup portion provided on the carrier vehicle.

[0006] In FIG. 1A, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4A, a reference numeral 1 denotes a guide rail of a monorail type handling system in a factory, 2 denotes a carrier vehicle, and 3 denotes a system controller. The guide rail 1 is formed into a multiple loop which is constructed in a manner of connecting each station (not shown) in accordance with a handling purpose, and is located on plane. Each crossing portion is provided with a switch/rail type diverge/merge portion 4 for selectively using either rail.

[0007] As shown in FIG. 4A, the guide rail 1 is formed into a substantially I-letter shape in its cross section in a manner that a support column portion 1pis stretched between an upper plate portion 1uand a lower plate portion 1d, which are parallel with each other. Further, one side of the guide rail 1 is attached with a support arm (not shown) at its one side with an approximately regular interval in a longitudinal direction, and thus, the guide rail 1 is located in a state of being suspended from a ceiling or the like of a factory via the support arm. A feeder line 5 constituting a power supply section is fixed to another side of the guide rail 1 over the entire length thereof in the longitudinal direction, and is connected with a power source section 6.

[0008] The feeder line 5 is arranged like a loop in a manner of being laid on each distal end portion of a pair of upper and lower many supporters 1afixed to the side face of the guide rail 1. Further, the feeder line 5 is constructed in a manner that insulated single wires are bundled so as to form a twist wire and that the twist wire is coated with a resin material. On the other hand, the carrier vehicle 2 is constructed in a manner that a carrier 23 for detachably mounting a handling produce is suspended from a pair of front and rear vehicle body frames 21 and 22 having a U-letter shape as shown in FIG. 3.

[0009] The vehicle body frame 21 includes a drive trolley 21awhich rolls in contact with the guide rail 1 at a position opposite to an upper surface of the upper guide rail 1, and a pair of swing preventive rollers 21band 21cwhich individually roll in contact with both upper and lower surfaces of the guide rail 1 at a position opposite to these surfaces. Further, the vehicle body frame 21 is provided with a motor M connected to the drive trolley 21aat its upper portion. Moreover, a pickup portion 24 as shown in FIG. 4A is provided at a portion opposite to the feeder line 5 of the guide rail 1 in the vehicle body frame 21.

[0010] The pickup portion 24 comprises a pickup core which is formed into an E-letter shape when viewing from its side, and the pickup core is constructed in the following manner. More specifically, in the pickup core, an upper plate portion 24b,a lower plate portion 24cand an middle plate portion 24dare arranged in parallel with each other, and are extended individually from upper, lower and intermediate portions of a back plate portion 24amade of a magnetic material and having a rectangular shape. Further, coils 24eand 24ecomprising a litz wire are wound around each of upper and lower portions of the back plate portion 24adivided by the middle plate portion 24d.

[0011] Each feeder line 5 is positioned and set in two concave portions of the above pickup portion 24 having an E-letter shape when viewing from its side and in a state of being close to each coil 24e;24e. An induced power is generated in each coil 24e;24eby an electric power supplied to each feeder line 5, and then, is supplied to the motor M via a power conversion section 7 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0012] The induced power generated in each coil 24evaries depending upon a length of the pickup core (a length in an extending direction of the feeder line 5) so long as the number of turns of the coil 24eand a power supplied to the feeder line 5 are the same. Thus, it is general to employ a method of varying the length of the pickup core in accordance with a power required for a load side and an incoming capacity of the coil 24eso as to obtain a required power.

[0013] By the way, when the length of the pickup core is determined, swing angles α and β (α: vertical (upper and lower) swing angle as shown in FIG. 4B, β: transverse (right and left) swing angle as shown in FIG. 4C) are determined. The swing angles are a condition for making no interference of the pickup core with the feeder line 5 from an interval between the upper plate portion 24band the middle plate portion 24d, an interval between the middle plate portion 24dand the lower plate portion 24c, and an interval between the feeder line 5 and each coil 24ein the pickup core, or the like.

[0014] In order to make large the swing angles α and β, it is necessary to wider set the aforesaid intervals between the upper plate portion 24band the middle plate portion 24d,between the middle plate portion 24dand the lower plate portion 24c, and between the feeder line 5 and each coil 24e.However, when these intervals are set wider, the pickup core itself is inevitably formed into a large size. Moreover, an air gap is enlarged, and thereby, a magnetic resistance becomes large; as a result, a problem has arisen such that an incoming capacity is reduced. Therefore, in the case where the pickup core is constructed in the manner as described above, the swing angles α and β are set as follows. More specifically, the swing angle ρ is merely set to such a degree that the carrier vehicle 2 is capable of being turned along the guide rail 1 in a horizontal plane; on the other hand, the swing angle α is merely set to such a degree that an error when attaching the carrier vehicle 2 to the guide rail 1 is avoided. For this reason, an arrangement pattern of the guide rail 1 is limited within a range similar to a substantially horizontal plane as shown in FIG. 1A. In particular, it is difficult to make an arrangement pattern of the guide rail 1 as shown in FIG. 1B having a difference in a height, and therefore, there is a problem that a degree of freedom is remarkably limited.

[0015] FIG. 5A is a schematic side view showing a construction of a conventional another pickup portion disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-252552(1997). In FIG. 5A, a reference numeral 1 denotes a guide rail, 5 denotes a feeder line laid along the guide rail 1, and 24 denotes a pickup portion.

[0016] The pickup portion 24 comprises a pickup core which is formed into a C-letter shape when viewing from the side, and the pickup core is constructed in the following manner. More specifically, in the pickup core, an upper plate portion 24band a lower plate portion 24care arranged in parallel with each other, and are extended individually from upper and lower edge portions of a back plate portion 24ahaving a rectangular shape. Further, convex portions 24gand 24ghaving a rectangular shape in its cross section are fixed to each surface opposite to distal end portions of the upper and lower plate portions 24band 24c, and a coil 24eis wound around the back plate portion 24a. Furthermore, an interval between the convex portions 24gand 24gis set approximately equal to a diameter of the feeder line 5, or is set slightly larger than that.

[0017] In the above pickup portion 24, as shown in FIG, 5A, the feeder line 5 is positioned inside the pickup core having a C-letter shape in a state of being close to the coil 24e, and then, a support arm of the feeder line 5 passes through between the convex portions 24gand 24gtogether with a movement of the carrier vehicle 2.

[0018] By the way, in the conventional construction as described above, as a method of obtaining a power required for a load side, there are a method of enlarging an air-gap area of the pickup core, and/or a method of reducing the air-gap length of the pickup core. According to a method of making long a pickup core length in the method of enlarging an air-gap area of the pickup core, the pickup core is made into a large size. Moreover, according to a method of making small the interval between the convex portions 24gin the method of reducing the air-gap length, an interference with the supporter 1aneed to be avoided; for this reason, there is the limit in a reduction of the air-gap length. In order to obtain a required power, the above method of reducing the air-gap length must be employed together with the method of making long the pickup core length; as a result, the pickup core is inevitably made into a large size. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C, there is a problem that a vertical swing angle α of the pickup core becomes small with respect to the feeder line 5, and also, a transverse swing angle β of the pickup core becomes small.

[0019] An object of the present invention is to provide a non-contact power supply apparatus which is suitable for three-dimensional running of a mobile such as a carrier vehicle or the like, and is compact and light with a simple structure, and further, can obtain a large incoming capacity, and to provide a pickup portion used in the non-contact power supply apparatus.

[0020] The pickup portion of the present invention generates an induced power, and includes a pickup core having a partially opening portion, and formed so as to surround a feeder line, a coil wound around the pickup core, and a pair of plate portions fixed individually to respective opening ends of the pickup core, and made of a magnetic material, each plate portion having an area larger than an area of portion fixed to each opening end. The non-contact power supply of the present invention is provided with the pickup portion having the aforesaid construction; therefore, it is possible to generate an induced power in the pickup portion on the basis of a power supplied to the feeder line.

[0021] In the present invention, the pair of plate portions made of a magnetic material and having an area wider than a fixing area are fixed to both opening ends of the pickup core surrounding the feeder line. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a width dimension of the pickup core, and to reduce an air gap between opening ends. Further, a magnetic path area is enlarged, and a magnetic resistance is greatly reduced, and thereby, a mutual inductance is increased, that is, an incoming capacity is increased. An allowable range in a change of orientation becomes large; therefore, the apparatus of the present invention is applicable to three-dimensional running of a mobile. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a small-size and light pickup core, and to improve a heat radiating effect, and to cheaply manufacture a pickup core.

[0022] Further, the pickup core is provided with an end portion which is formed integrally with a pair of plate portions arranged in parallel with the feeder line at an interval, at its opening portion. The pickup core has the end portion formed integrally with the plate portions at the opening portion; therefore, a manufacture of the pickup core is not troublesome.

[0023] Further, the pickup portion is constructed in a manner that a plurality of pickup cores are piled up in the form of plural stages in a state that respective opening ends are directed toward the same side so as to surround respective feeder lines. Therefore, the pickup cores surrounding the respective feeder lines are fixed in a state of being vertically piled up, so that an incoming capacity can be readily increased with a simple structure.

[0024] Further, the pickup portion is constructed in a manner that a plurality of pickup cores are arranged in parallel in a state that respective opening ends are directed toward the same side so as to surround a same feeder line. Therefore, the pickup cores are transversely arranged in a state that their sides are abutted against each other, so that an incoming capacity can be readily increased with a simple structure.

[0025] The above and further objects and features of the invention will more fully be apparent from the following detailed description with accompanying drawings.

[0026] FIG. 1A is a schematic view showing one example of a monorail type handling system;

[0027] FIG. 1B is a schematic view showing another example of a monorail type handling system;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a non-contact power supply apparatus used in the monorail type handling system;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a structure of a conventional carrier vehicle;

[0030] FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C are individually a schematic side view, a schematic front view and a schematic top plan view showing a relationship between a feeder line and a conventional pickup portion provided on a carrier vehicle;

[0031] FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C are individually a schematic side view, a schematic front view and a schematic top plan view showing a construction of a conventional another pickup portion disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-252552(1997);

[0032] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a construction of a non-contact power supply apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C are individually a schematic side view, a schematic top plan view and a schematic front view showing a relationship between a pickup portion of the present invention and a feeder line;

[0034] FIG. 8A is a schematic front view showing a construction of a pickup portion according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C are individually a schematic side view and a schematic top plan view showing a relationship between the pickup portion of the second embodiment and a feeder line;

[0036] FIG. 9A is a schematic side view showing a construction of a pickup portion according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

[0037] FIG. 9B and FIG. 9C are individually a schematic front view and a schematic top plan view showing a relationship between the pickup portion of the third embodiment and a feeder line.

[0038] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a construction of a non-contact power supply apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7A is a schematic side view showing a relationship between a pickup portion and a feeder line. In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7A, a reference numeral 1 denotes a guide rail having a substantially I-letter shape in its cross section. The guide rail 1 is constructed in a manner that a support column portion 1pis stretched between an upper plate portion 1uand a lower plate portion 1d, which are parallel with each other. A feeder line 5 is arranged so as to be laid on a distal end portion of a supporter 1afixed to the side of the guide rail 1. A pickup portion 24 is formed into a U-letter or C-letter shape, and is usually integrally molded using a magnetic material such as a metal, a ferrite or the like. Further, the pickup portion 24 has upper and lower plate portions 24band 24cwhich have the same shape and dimension and are extended in parallel with each other from upper and lower end portions of a rectangular back plate portion 24a. A pair of plate portions 25 and 26 are formed using a magnetic material such as a ferrite or the like, and have the same rectangular shape and dimension to each other. The pair of plate portions 25 and 26 are bonded and fixed to opposite surfaces of the distal ends of the upper and lower plate portions 24band 24cof the pickup core formed into a U-letter shape when viewing from the side. Each area S of the plate portions 25 and 26 is set larger than a bonding area S₀of the plate portions 25 and 26 and the upper and lower plate portions 24band 24cof the pickup core (S>S₀), and then, the upper limit of the area S is not specifically limited.

[0040] Moreover, the above plate portions 25 and 26 may be formed integrally with the opposite surfaces of the upper and lower plate portions 24band 24c. In this case, each area S of the plate portions 25 and 26 is set larger than each area S₀of each distal end portion of the upper and lower plate portions 24band 24c.

[0041] Each width dimension W₂of the plate portions 25 and 26 with respect to a width dimension W₁of the pickup core has a relation of W₁<W₂, and to give an example, the plate portions 25 and 26 have the following dimension; more specifically, the width W₂: 100 mm, a length L₂: 40 mm, and a thickness d₂: 10 mm. Therefore, the width dimension W₁of the pickup core is reduced to about one several in the case of comparing with the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C. The plate portions 25 and 26 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and may be formed into a circular or ellipse shape, for example. Moreover, a distance e between opposite surfaces of the plate portions 25 and 26 is set slightly larger than a diameter D of the feeder line 5 and a thickness of the support arm, and more specifically, the distance e is about 20 mm in the case where the diameter of the feeder line 5 is 16 mm.

[0042] FIG. 7B is a schematic top plan view showing a relationship between a pickup portion and a feeder line, and FIG. 7C is a schematic front view showing the above relation. In the pickup portion 24 of this first embodiment, it can be seen that swing angles α and β in vertical (up and down) and transverse (right and left) direction to the feeder line 5 have an allowable range considerably larger than the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C.

[0043] As described above, each area S of the plate portions 25 and 26 is set larger than the bonding area S₀of the pickup core and the plate portions 25 and 26, so that a magnetic resistance can be greatly reduced by an enlargement of magnetic path area and by a reduction of air gap. Therefore, by the reduction of magnetic resistance, a mutual inductance is increased, that is, an incoming capacity is increased. Moreover, the pickup core becomes small in its width dimension W₁; therefore, the pickup core can be made into a light and compact size. As a result, a magnetic material is saved, and it is possible to achieve an increase of incoming capacity per mass of pickup core. In addition, the above pickup core is constructed as the pickup portion 24, and then, it is possible to mount it onto the guide rail 1 there-dimensionally arranged as shown in FIG. 1B. Therefore, an application range is improved, a heat radiating effect is excellent, and further, an incoming capacity is more increased.

[0044] FIG. 8A is a schematic front view showing a construction of a pickup portion according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8B is a schematic side view showing a relationship between the pickup portion of the second embodiment and a feeder line, and FIG. 8C is a schematic top plan view showing the same. In this second embodiment, two pickup cores of the pickup portion 24 shown in FIG. 6 having a U-letter shape are arranged in parallel so that their opening sides are positioned toward the same direction. Further, these two pickup cores are arranged in a state that their sides are abutted against to each other, and then, plate portions 25 and 26 are fixed to opposite surfaces of the upper and lower plate portions 24band 24cin a state of being abutted against each other. The plate portions 25 and 26 are made of a magnetic material such as a ferrite or the like, and have the same rectangular shape and dimension. In this case, a ratio of the area S of the upper and lower plate portions 25 and 26 to the sum 2S₀of the bonding area S₀of the upper and lower plate portions 25 and 26 and two pickup cores, is set to the substantially same (S>2S₀) as the relation described in the above first embodiment. Other constructions have the substantially same as the above first embodiment; therefore, like reference numerals are used to designated the portions corresponding thereto, and the details are omitted.

[0045] In this second embodiment, two pickup cores are provided; therefore, by a simple structure, an incoming capacity becomes twice as the case of the above first embodiment. The number of the pickup cores may be arbitrarily increased until a required incoming capacity is satisfied. Moreover, in this second embodiment, two pickup cores are provided; therefore, its width dimension is wider the pickup core of the first embodiment. As a result, allowable swing angles α and β in vertical and transverse directions as shown in FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C are slightly reduced; however, a great incoming capacity can be secured. Moreover, a reduction of air gap by the pair of plate portions 25 and 26, and the effect of reducing a magnetic resistance by an enlargement of magnetic path area are the same as the above first embodiment.

[0046] FIG. 9A is a schematic side view showing a construction of a pickup portion according to a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9B is a schematic front view showing a relationship between the pickup portion of the third embodiment and a feeder line, and FIG. 9C is a schematic top plan view showing the same. In this third embodiment, two pickup portions 24 shown in the first embodiment are vertically arranged as one set, and then, two sets of pickup portions are provided in parallel. More specifically, the plate portions 25 or 26 made of a magnetic material such as a ferrite or the like are arranged in parallel in a state that their lateral end faces are abutted against each other, and then, an incoming capacity becomes four times as the pickup core shown in the first embodiment. Other constructions have the substantially same as the above first embodiment; therefore, like reference numerals are used to designated the portions corresponding thereto, and the details are omitted. Swing angles α and β of the feeder line 5 with respect to the pickup core becomes narrower than the above first and second embodiments because a width dimension between the pickup cores becomes slightly wide. However, an incoming capacity is considerably increased.

[0047] As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive. Since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds thereof are therefore intended to be embraced by the claims.