JP2002178799A - Noncontact feeder device, and noncontact feeder system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a noncontact feeder device and a noncontact feeder system capable of always required power. SOLUTION: A distance between a coil 13 constituting a pickup 11 and a feeder wire 4 is adjusted. When an induced electromotive force occurring in the coil 13 is lower than a power required by load, the distance is shortened. Thus, a magnetic flux interlinked with the coil 13 becomes large, and the induced electromotive force occurring in the coil 13 and supplied to the load increases.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a non-contact power supply apparatus and a non-contact power supply system for bringing a pickup close to a power supply line and supplying an induced electromotive force generated in the pickup to a load.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Monorail type transfer equipment is widely used in factories or warehouses, and electric power to a load such as a motor for traveling mounted on a transport vehicle or a device for loading and unloading luggage is transmitted to the traveling rail. The electric power is supplied via a power supply line attached along. As one method of supplying power, a pickup provided on a carrier is brought close to the power supply line in a physically non-contact state from the power supply line, and an induced electromotive force generated by an alternating current flowing through the power supply line is generated. There is a contactless power supply method for supplying a load.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a conventional wireless power supply system, and FIG. 7 is a front view thereof. A power supply line 4 is provided along the rail 3, and a pickup 11 provided on the carrier is close to the power supply line 4.
The pickup 11 is constituted by using a magnetic material core 12 formed in a substantially E-shape as viewed from the front, and a coil 13 wound around a non-open leg of the core 12 in series. The power supply line 4 is located inside the character. An alternating current flowing through the power supply line 4 generates a time-varying magnetic flux around the power supply line 4, and the magnetic flux links with the coil 13 to generate an induced electromotive force. Is supplied to a load such as a traveling motor. In all places along the rail 3, the distance d between the feeder line 4 and the coil 13 is kept almost constant, and the magnitude of the magnetic flux linked to the coil 13 becomes almost constant. , The electric power supplied to the carrier is substantially constant.

[0004]

When operating a carrier powered by a non-contact power supply system, a specific location such as a place where the carrier starts or a place where cargo is loaded and unloaded is provided. In some cases, a large amount of power is required as compared with a place where the transportation is simply performed. In this case, in the conventional contactless power supply system, since the power supplied to all locations is almost constant as described above, the contactless power supply is performed so that the required maximum power can be supplied by using a large-sized pickup. There is a problem that it is necessary to design a system, and the cost of equipment increases.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, there is a case where a feed line is discontinuous at a joint portion of a rail at a point switching point or the like so that the rail can be separated. The feed line is greatly slackened at the portion where the feed line is discontinuous, and the distance between the feed line and the coil of the pickup is increased. Thus, due to the structure of the non-contact power supply system, there may be places where the distance between the power supply line and the pickup coil increases,
In this case, since the distance increases, the magnetic flux linked to the pickup coil decreases, and the induced electromotive force generated decreases. there were.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to change the distance between a coil constituting a pickup and a power supply line close to the coil. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a non-contact power supply device and a non-contact power supply system that can adjust supplied power as needed.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-contact power supply device in which a pickup is brought close to a power supply line through which an alternating current flows, and an induced electromotive force generated in a coil constituting the pickup is supplied to a load. In the contact power supply device, the pickup is configured to be capable of changing its position in a direction in which the coil comes into contact with or separates from a power supply line.

[0008] A non-contact power supply system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the non-contact power supply system for bringing a pickup close to a power supply line through which an alternating current flows, and supplying an induced electromotive force generated in a coil constituting the pickup to a load. A part of the power supply line is configured to be movable in a direction to change a distance between the power supply line and the coil when the pickup is located at a location where the power supply line is provided.

A contactless power supply system according to a third aspect of the present invention is the contactless power supply system for bringing a pickup close to a power supply line through which an alternating current flows, and supplying an induced electromotive force generated in a coil constituting the pickup to a load. In a place where the power supply line is provided and where the power required by the load is substantially constant, the distance between the power supply line and the coil when the pickup is located at the place is substantially constant. The power supply line is disposed while maintaining the power supply line, and in a place where the power required by the load is larger, the distance is made smaller and the power supply line is disposed.

In the first aspect of the invention, the distance between the coil constituting the pickup and the power supply line is shortened and the magnetic flux linked to the coil is increased by bringing the pickup of the non-contact power supply device closer to the power supply line. Increase the induced electromotive force generated. When the distance is shortened over the entire length of the moving path of the moving object to which the power is supplied by the non-contact power supply device, a non-contact power supply system is configured so that the contact between the pickup and the power supply line can be prevented. The cost increases because of the need. According to the present invention, the position of the pickup is adjusted in accordance with the required power by arranging the pickup so as to be movable in the direction in which the pickup comes into contact with or separated from the power supply line. Is locally changed. Thereby, the contactless power supply device can always supply the optimal power without significantly increasing the cost.

[0011] In the second invention, a power supply line provided at a place where there is a possibility that a large load may require power is provided.
It is configured to be movable with respect to the pickup when the pickup of the non-contact power supply device is located at the location. When a large load requires power at the location, the power supply line disposed at the location is moved, and by locally reducing the distance between the coil constituting the pickup and the power supply line, The power required by the load can be supplied.

In a third aspect of the present invention, the power supply line is provided with the distance between the coil constituting the pickup of the non-contact power supply device and the power supply line being substantially constant. The feeder is provided with a locally reduced distance. Thereby, the electric power required by the load can be supplied at each place.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a non-contact power supply device and a non-contact power supply system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a non-contact power supply device according to the present invention, which is provided in a transport vehicle and supplies electric power to a load such as a motor for traveling. The carrier provided with the non-contact power supply device 1 is configured to travel along a rail 3, and the rail 3 is provided with a power supply line 4 for supplying electric power to the carrier. An AC power supply (not shown) is connected to the power supply line 4, and an AC current flows.

The contactless power supply device 1 includes a pickup 11 that generates an induced electromotive force in proximity to the power supply line 4, a voltmeter 14 that measures a voltage generated in the pickup 11, and An actuator 16 that moves in the contact and separation directions, and a first control device 1 that controls the driving of the actuator 16 based on the voltage measured by the voltmeter 14
5 is used.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the positional relationship between the pickup 11 and the power supply line 4. A single feed line 4 is arranged back and forth along the rail 3, and the feed line 4 is supported by bar-shaped support members 41, 41. ing. Pickup 1
1 includes a magnetic material core 12 formed in a rectangular shape in a side view and a substantially E shape in a front view, and a coil 13 wound around the core 12 in series. The power supply line 4 is located inside. The alternating current flowing through the feed line 4 generates a time-varying magnetic flux around the feed line 4, and the generated magnetic flux links the coil 13 to generate an induced electromotive force.
The generated induced electromotive force is supplied to the load of the carrier.

The voltmeter 14 is an AC voltmeter, and the coil 1
3 is measured, and the value of the measured voltage is input to the first control device 15. The first control device 15 is a voltmeter 14
The driving of the actuator 16 is controlled based on the input voltage value. The actuator 16 is an electromagnetic actuator configured using a solenoid or the like, and has a fixed portion fixed to the non-contact power supply device 1 and a movable portion connected to the pickup 11. The actuator 16 is driven and controlled by the first control device 15 when necessary, and is configured to move the pickup 11 connected to the movable portion in a direction of coming and coming from the power supply line 4.

The magnitude of the induced electromotive force generated in the coil 13 changes due to a change in the distance d between the power supply line 4 and the coil 13. When the distance d is large as shown in FIG. 2A, the magnetic flux linked to the coil 13 is small, and the generated induced electromotive force is small. When the distance d is small as shown in FIG. 2B, the magnetic flux linked to the coil 13 is large,
The induced electromotive force generated is also large. The first control device 15 controls the actuator 16 based on the voltage measured by the voltmeter 14.
Is controlled, and the pickup 11 is moved to the distance d.
And the induced electromotive force generated in the coil 13 is adjusted.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the first control device 15 controls the driving of the actuator 16 to adjust the power supplied to the load. When a transport vehicle supplied with electric power to a load such as a traveling motor transports a load along the rail 3, when the transport vehicle starts up, or when loading / unloading of the load, simply travel and perform. The load requires more power than when it is. When the power supplied by the non-contact power supply device 1 becomes insufficient due to a large load requiring power, the voltage measured by the voltmeter 14 drops. The first control device 15 receives the voltage value V measured by the voltmeter 14 and compares the voltage value V with a predetermined lower limit value Vmin to determine whether V <Vmin. (S1). If the determination is YES, the actuator 16 is driven to move the pickup 11 by a predetermined width in the direction approaching the power supply line 4 and reduce the distance d between the coil 13 and the power supply line 4 by one step. (S2). At this time, the magnetic flux linked to the coil 13 increases, the power supplied to the load increases, and the voltage increases.

When the operation of consuming power with a large load is completed and the power consumed decreases, the voltage measured by the voltmeter 14 increases. NO in step S1
Or when step S2 is completed, the first control device 15 next compares the voltage value V with a predetermined upper limit value Vmax of the voltage to determine whether or not V> Vmax. (S3). If the determination is YES, the actuator 16 is driven to move the pickup 11 by one step in a direction away from the power supply line 4, and the distance d between the coil 13 and the power supply line 4 is increased by one step (S4).
At this time, the magnetic flux linked to the coil 13 decreases, the power supplied to the load decreases, and the voltage decreases. If the determination is NO in step S3, or if step S4 is completed, the process returns to step S1.

As described above, the non-contact power supply device 1
By controlling the position of the pickup 11 with respect to the power supply line 4, the distance d between the coil 13 and the power supply line 4 is changed, and the power supplied is adjusted corresponding to the power required by the load. When increasing the power to be supplied by reducing the distance d over the entire length of the path on which the carrier equipped with the non-contact power supply device 1 travels, the power supply line can be prevented from contacting the pickup 11 and the power supply line 4 with high accuracy. 4, the cost increases. When the carrier starts, or when a large load is required, such as when loading and unloading cargo, it is when the carrier is stopped. When the carrier is traveling, increasing the distance d can suppress an increase in cost.

In the present embodiment, the voltage generated in the coil 13 is measured, and the coil 1 is determined based on the measured voltage value.
The method of controlling the distance d between the power supply line 3 and the power supply line 4 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this method, and a method of measuring the current or power generated in the coil 13 to control the distance d is used. Is also good.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a non-contact power supply device and a non-contact power supply system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the contactless power supply system according to the present invention is realized by making it possible to change the position of the power supply line with respect to the pickup. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a non-contact power supply device according to the present embodiment, which is provided in a transport vehicle traveling along a rail 3 and generates an induced electromotive force in proximity to a power supply line 4 attached along the rail 3. The pickup 11 is configured to include a pickup 11 to be measured, a voltmeter 14 for measuring a voltage generated in the pickup 11, and a transmitter 17 for transmitting a voltage value measured by the voltmeter 14 to the outside. The configuration of the pickup 11 and the positional relationship between the pickup 11 and the power supply line 4 are the same as those in the first embodiment. Corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference characters, and description thereof will be omitted. The voltmeter 14 is an AC voltmeter, measures a voltage generated in the coil 13, and inputs the measured voltage value to the transmitter 17. The transmitter 17 wirelessly transmits the value of the voltage input from the voltmeter 14 to the outside.

A series of power supply lines 4 are arranged back and forth along the rail 3, and the power supply lines 4 are supported by support members 41, 41. Have been. The support members 41 are configured by attaching a bar-shaped member vertically to the rail 3 and projecting a part of the member outside the rail 3. There are support members 41, 41,... That exist in places where there is a possibility that a large load may require electric power, such as a place where a carrier equipped with the non-contact power supply device 1 starts or a place where cargo is loaded and unloaded. Telescopic devices 4 are provided on the portions of each rail 3 that do not protrude outside.
2, 42... Are connected. Telescopic devices 42, 42 ...
Is configured by using an electromagnetic actuator such as a solenoid or a motor.
Are configured to be moved in the longitudinal direction to expand and contract the support members 41, 41,. The power supply line 4 provided at the place is provided with a slack length so that the position can be changed by expansion and contraction of the support members 41. Telescopic device 4
Are connected to a second control device 43, and a receiver 44 is connected to the second control device 43.

The receiver 44 receives the value of the voltage wirelessly transmitted from the transmitter 17 and inputs the value to the second controller 43. The second controller 43 controls the driving of the telescopic devices 42 based on the value of the voltage input from the transmitter 17. That is, the voltage generated in the coil 13 is
Is measured, and the measured voltage value is transmitted to the transmitter 17 and the receiver 4
4 is input to the second control device 43 via the control unit 4 and based on the value of the input voltage, the second control device 43
2 are controlled so that the support members 41, 41, which are connected to the expansion and contraction devices 42, 42, expand and contract, and the portion of the power supply line 4 supported by the support members 41, 41,.
1 and the distance d between the feed line 4 and the coil 13 is changed.

The second controller 43 operates the telescopic devices 42, 42,... In the same procedure as the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.
Control. The second control device 43 presets an allowable upper limit value Vmax and a lower limit value Vmin of the voltage value V measured by the voltmeter 14 in advance. Second control device 43
Is input via the transmitter 17 and the receiver 44 with the value V of the voltage generated in the coil 13 measured by the voltmeter 14, compares the voltage value V with the lower limit value Vmin of the voltage, and V <Vmi
It is determined whether or not n (S1). If the determination is YES, it means that the load requires a large amount of electric power, such as when the transport vehicle starts up or when loading and unloading the luggage, and the telescopic devices 42, 42 at the location where the transport vehicle is located.
Are driven to extend the supporting members 41, 41,.
The distance d between the coil 13 and the power supply line 4 is reduced by one step (S2). At this time, the magnetic flux linked to the coil 13 increases, and the power supplied to the load increases.

If the determination in step S1 is NO, or if step S2 ends, the second control device 43 next compares the voltage value V with the upper limit value Vmax of the voltage, and
It is determined whether or not> Vmax (S3). Judgment is Y
In the case of ES, the telescopic device 4 at the place where the carrier is located
, 42, and the supporting members 41, 41,.
And the feed line 4 is moved one step away from the coil 13 to increase the distance d between the coil 13 and the feed line 1 by one step (S4). At this time, the magnetic flux linked to the coil 13 decreases, and the power supplied to the load decreases. If the determination is NO in step S3, or if step S4 is completed, step S1
Return processing to

In the present embodiment, the method of transmitting and receiving the value of the voltage measured by the voltmeter 14 by radio has been described. However, a method of transmitting and receiving by using another communication method such as optical communication may be used. .

In the present embodiment, in a place where there is a possibility that a large load of electric power is required, such as a place where a carrier equipped with the non-contact power supply device 1 starts or a place where cargo is unloaded and loaded, Feeding line 4 arranged at the place
By changing the position with respect to the coil 13, it is possible to adjust the power supplied in accordance with the power required by the load. Since the place where the load may require a large amount of power is a place where the carrier stops and performs work, the location of the pickup 11 and the power supply line 4 is smaller than when the carrier is traveling. Contact can be easily prevented. Since the power supply line 4 is configured to be movable locally, an increase in cost can be suppressed.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a non-contact power supply apparatus and a non-contact power supply system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the contactless power supply system according to the present invention is realized by reducing the distance between the coil of the pickup and the power supply line in a place requiring a large amount of power. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a non-contact power supply device according to the present embodiment, which is provided in a carrier that travels along a rail 3. The non-contact power supply device 1 is configured using a pickup 11 that generates an induced electromotive force in proximity to a power supply line 4 provided along a rail 3 and supplies the generated induced electromotive force to a load of a transport vehicle. The configuration of the pickup 11 and the positional relationship between the pickup 11 and the power supply line 4 are the same as those in the first embodiment. Corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference characters, and description thereof will be omitted.

The rail 3 is formed by connecting a plurality of rail members in series in the longitudinal direction. The power supply lines 4 are arranged back and forth along the respective rail members so as to be able to switch the rail members on which the carrier travels at the point switching portions of the rails 3 at predetermined intervals. A bar-shaped support member 4 projecting perpendicularly to each rail member
, 41,. In the joint portion of the rail members of the rail 3, the support members 41, 41,... Disposed at the ends of the respective rail members are configured to be longer than the support members 41, 41,. .
Thereby, when the power supply line 4 becomes cantilevered at the end of each rail member and the pickup 11 is located at the seam where the power supply line 4 is greatly loosened, the power supply line 4 and the pickup which are greatly loosened The distance d between the eleventh coil 13 does not increase, and the induced electromotive force generated in the coil 13 does not decrease. Therefore, the non-contact power supply device 1 can supply stable power to the load.

Further, in a place where a large load is required, such as a place where a carrier provided with the non-contact power supply device 1 is supplied with electric power or a place where loading and unloading of cargo is performed, such a place is arranged. Are configured to be longer than the support members 41, 41,... Arranged at a place where the carrier simply travels. For this reason, when the carrier is located at a place where a large load requires electric power, the distance d between the power supply line 4 and the coil 13 decreases, and the induced electromotive force generated in the coil 13 increases. The power required by the load can be supplied.

In the present embodiment, the length of the supporting members 41, 41,... For supporting the feeder line 4 at the joint portion of the rail 3 or at a place where a large load requires electric power is compared with other places. Since the power supply line 4 is provided with a longer length, the distance between the power supply line 4 and the coil 13 is locally changed, so that the power required by the load can always be supplied. Since the power supply line 4 is locally arranged close to the coil 13 with an accuracy that can prevent the contact between the pickup 11 and the power supply line 4, an increase in cost can be suppressed.

[0033]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the distance between the coil constituting the pickup and the power supply line is changed by moving the pickup of the non-contact power supply device in the direction of coming into contact with or separating from the power supply line. In this case, the power supplied by the non-contact power supply device is changed by changing the induced electromotive force generated in the contactless power supply device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in a place where a large load may require a large amount of power, the position of a feed line with respect to a coil constituting the pickup can be changed, thereby requiring a large load of a large amount of power. Sometimes, the position of the power supply line is changed, the induced electromotive force generated in the coil is changed to adjust the power supplied by the non-contact power supply device, and the optimum power can always be supplied.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in a place where the power required by the load is substantially constant, the distance between the coil constituting the pickup of the non-contact power feeding device and the feeder line is kept substantially constant. In a place where a feeder line is provided, and in a place where a load requires larger power, the feeder line is provided so as to reduce the distance, the induced electromotive force generated in the coil becomes larger in the place. The present invention has an excellent effect that power required by a load can be supplied to all places.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating a configuration of a non-contact power supply device and a non-contact power supply system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a positional relationship between a pickup and a power supply line.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which a first control device controls driving of an actuator to adjust power supplied to a load.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view illustrating a configuration of a non-contact power supply device and a non-contact power supply system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a non-contact power supply device and a non-contact power supply system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a conventional wireless power supply system.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a conventional wireless power supply system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Non-contact power supply device 11 Pickup 12 Core 13 Coil 14 Voltmeter 15 First control device 16 Actuator 17 Transmitter 3 Rail 4 Power supply line 41 Support member 42 Telescopic device 43 Second control device 44 Receiver

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shingo Koyama 4-17-17, Tsurumi, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term in Tsubakimoto Chain Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A non-contact power supply device for bringing a pickup close to a power supply line through which an alternating current flows, and supplying an induced electromotive force generated in a coil constituting the pickup to a load, wherein the pickup has the coil connected to the power supply line. A non-contact power supply device characterized in that the position can be changed in a direction of coming and going with respect to the non-contact power supply. 2. A non-contact power supply system in which a pickup is brought close to a power supply line through which an alternating current flows, and an induced electromotive force generated in a coil constituting the pickup is supplied to a load. A non-contact power supply system characterized in that it can be moved in a direction to change a distance between the power supply line and the coil when the pickup is located at a place where the pickup is provided. 3. A non-contact power supply system for bringing a pickup close to a power supply line through which an alternating current flows and for supplying an induced electromotive force generated in a coil forming the pickup to a load, wherein the power supply line is provided. In a place where the power required by the load is substantially constant, the feed line is disposed while keeping the distance between the feed line and the coil substantially constant when the pickup is located at the place. In a non-contact power supply system, the distance is made smaller and the power supply line is provided in a place where the power required by the load is larger.