JPH03112301A - Conduit branching system for linear traveling capsule - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable continuous traveling of a capsule at a joint of a pipeline by arranging electromagnets at the outside of the side face section of a pipe branch and the outside of the side face section of main line and then controlling the electromagnets. CONSTITUTION:A coil 13 of an electromagnet for main line is fixed to the outside of the side face section 11a of a main line at a branch section 10. A coil 14 of an electromagnet for a branch line is fixed to the outside of the side face section 10a at the branch section 10. Furthermore, coils 5 of electromagnets are fixed to the outside of the upper and lower faces of branch section 10 and the main line 11. Electromagnets 14 for the branch line, electromagnets for the main line and the electromagnets 5 are arranged at same interval.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a pipe branching device for a linear capsule-type traveling device that uses pipes to transport materials efficiently and at high speed. .

[Conventional technology]

Capsule pipeline transportation systems that utilize pipes (pipelines) have traditionally been attracting attention as logistics systems for transporting small packages, garbage, and other types of storage. This system transports goods to their destination by running capsules through pipelines laid between multiple points, such as between a distribution center and a distribution center.

As a conventional technology for such a capsule pipeline transportation system, a pneumatic capsule traveling system has already been developed. In this system, a capsule inside a pipe is moved by airflow from a large blower, and the materials loaded in the capsule are transported along with the capsule to the destination.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, the conventional pneumatic capsule type traveling system has the following drawbacks.

■ Because the capsule is run at high speed inside the pipe, the sealing material tends to wear out and the driving force of the capsule tends to drop.

■ In the curved portion of the pipe, the sealing performance of the capsule is likely to deteriorate, so the curvature of the pipe must be increased, which is disadvantageous in terms of pipeline design.

■ To move the capsule, air must flow at high speed along the entire length of the pipeline, resulting in a large pressure drop. Furthermore, when transporting over long distances, a booster is required, and a large blower is also required, requiring large-scale power and equipment.

■ Capsules cannot be fired continuously because a large pressure drop occurs when firing the capsule body.

■ When increasing the capsule speed, it is necessary to increase the flow speed beyond the set capsule speed, so the pressure drop increases as the square of the flow speed. Therefore, it is difficult to increase the speed of the capsule to more than 20 to 30 m/sec.

■ Blower stations are required at both ends of the pipeline to return the capsules.

■ At pipe branching sections, complex switching drive equipment must be installed to maintain air pressure. That is, in the conventional pneumatic capsule traveling system, a method has been used in which a pipe is moved and switched while maintaining airtightness at a branch section where a branch line branches from the main line of the pipeline. For this reason, the structure of the branch portion has become large and extremely complicated. Furthermore, since air cannot flow during switching, there are problems such as the capsule being unable to run during that time, resulting in poor efficiency.

In this way, the conventional pneumatic capsule type transport system has the drawbacks mentioned above, so it is possible to transport goods at higher speeds.
There is a strong desire to develop a capsule pipeline transportation system that can transport materials efficiently and has lower construction costs such as equipment costs.

In order to solve the two problems, the inventors developed a linear capsule-type traveling device that can efficiently transport materials at high speed and is inexpensive to construct. This led to the invention of a pipe branching device for a linear capsule-type traveling device for traveling capsules.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a pipe branching device for a linear capsule type traveling device for traveling a capsule at a branching portion of a pipeline.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention includes a pipe made of a non-magnetic material, a capsule made of a non-magnetic material that can freely travel within the pipe via wheels that contact the inner peripheral surface of the pipe, and a capsule that is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the capsule. a permanent magnet wound around the outer peripheral surface of the pipe at predetermined intervals over the entire length of the pipe;
A linear system consisting of an electromagnet whose polarity can be changed, a polarity conversion mechanism for changing the polarity of the electromagnet, and a sensor for detecting the position of the capsule, which is attached to each position of the electromagnet on the pipe. A branch line electromagnet is attached to the outside of the side surface of the branch part where the branch line branches from the main line of the pipe of the formula capsule type traveling device,
A main line electromagnet is attached to the outer side of the main line, a forward electromagnet is attached to the outer side of the branch part and the upper and lower surfaces of the main line, and the branch line electromagnet, the main line electromagnet, and the electromagnet are The feature is that they are arranged with the same spacing.

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the branching device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the linear capsule type traveling device. Figure 4 is B-B in Figure 3.
FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a capsule 1 with a circular cross section is inserted into a pipe 2 with a circular cross section.

The capsule 1 is made of a non-magnetic material such as SUS 304 or aluminum. Permanent magnets 4 are installed in the circumferential direction of the capsule 1 at the upstream and downstream ends of the capsule 1.
is wrapped in a ring. Permanent magnet 4 for air release
may be arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. A plurality of wheels 3 (for example, about 10 wheels) are provided on the upstream and downstream sides of the capsule I at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the capsule 1, respectively. The capsule 1 can freely run inside the pipe 2 via wheels 3 that are in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pipe 2. Although not shown, the capsule 1 has a single-hinged opening/closing door with a lock, and a magnetically silted inner capsule is mounted inside this door. This inner capsule can also be opened and closed, and cargo can be loaded inside.

As the pipe 2, a non-magnetic pipe made of SUS 304, aluminum, FRP, etc. can be used.

An electromagnetic coil 5 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 2 in an annular manner. The coils 5 are attached at predetermined intervals along the entire length of the pipe 2.

Outside the pipe 2, an electric wire 6 for feeding power to the coil 5 from a power source (not shown) is installed in close proximity to the pipe 2 over the entire length of the pipe 2. An electric wire 6 is connected to each coil 5. It constitutes a polarity conversion mechanism for reversing the current supplied to the coil 5 and converting the polarity of the electromagnet.

A magnetic sensor is attached to the pipe 2 at each position of each coil 5. The magnetic sensor detects the position of the capsule, determines its speed, and changes the frequency accordingly, thereby changing the polarity of the electromagnet to attract or repel the permanent magnet 4 of the capsule. In addition, as another means, first sensors 8a and 8b for setting different polarities, and a second sensor 8C for setting the polarity of the electromagnetic coil 5 to the same polarity as the permanent magnet 4.
It consists of At which position in the coil 5 is the second sensor 8C attached? On the other hand, the first sensor 8a is located a predetermined distance upstream from the second sensor 8C (on the left side as shown in FIG. 3), and the first sensor 8b is located a predetermined distance downstream from the second sensor 8c (as shown in FIG. 3). They are installed at separate locations on the right side). A signal line 9 connects the control box 7 to the first sensors 8a, 8b and the second sensor 8C. Signal lines 9 of these sensors are connected to electrical switches such as cyrisks or power transistors in the control box 7.

Further, the electric wire 6 is connected to the coil 5 through an electric switch such as a cyrisk in a control box 7.

Next, the principle of running the capsule 1 will be explained. It is assumed that the capsule 1 travels from the left side to the right side as shown in FIG. When the permanent magnet 4 attached to the capsule I passes the first sensor 8a, the first sensor 8a detects this, and immediately thereafter, a current flows so that the electromagnet of the coil 5 has a polarity different from that of the permanent magnet 4. As a result, the permanent magnet 4 is attracted by the electromagnet of the coil 5, and the capsule 1 moves in the running direction (to the right in FIG. 3). Next, when the permanent magnet 4 passes the second sensor 8c, the second sensor 8c detects this, and immediately after that, the current flowing through the coil 5 is reversed, and the polarity of the electromagnet in the coil 5 is converted to the same polarity as the permanent magnet 4. do. As a result, the permanent magnet 4 and the electromagnet of the coil 5 repel each other, and the capsule 1 is pushed out in the traveling direction. this,
By repeating the process sequentially for each coil 5, the capsule 1 runs continuously in the running direction within the pipe 2.

On the other hand, when the capsule l moves in the opposite running direction (from the right side to the left side in FIG. 3), the first sensor 8b
is used, and the first sensor 8a is not used. Note that a section sensor (not shown) is provided for each predetermined section (50 to 100 m), and a current is passed through one section, so that even if a plurality of capsules run in this section, the power is the same. No current flows through the electromagnet in the section where the capsule 1 does not pass.

Next, the branching device of the present invention will be explained.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the branch line 12 branches off from the main line 11 via a branch section 10. As shown in FIGS. A branch line 12 connects from this main line 11 to one of several collection and distribution stations. The branch line 12 branches off from the main line 11 at an angle of 3 to 8 degrees. Side part 11a of main line 11 at branch part 10
A main line electromagnet coil 13 is attached to the outside of the main line electromagnet. On the other hand, a coil 14 of a branch line electromagnet is attached to the outside of the side surface 10a of the branch part 10. Further, electromagnetic coils 5 are attached to the outside of the upper and lower surfaces of the branch portion 10 and the main line 11. The branch line electromagnet 14, the main line electromagnet 13, and the electromagnet 5 are arranged at equal intervals.

[Effect]

In order to guide the capsule 1 to the branch line 12, the polarity of the electromagnetic coil 13 for the main line is always the same as the polarity of the permanent magnet 4 of the capsule 3. On the other hand, the electromagnetic coil 14 for the branch line has a polarity opposite to that of the permanent magnet 4.

In order to run the capsule 1, an electromagnetic coil 5 is required.
Changes the polarity between attraction and repulsion. As a result, the electromagnet coil 14 for the branch line attracts the capsule 1 traveling from the upstream side to the downstream side (from the left side to the right side as shown in FIG. 1) more weakly than the coil 5, whereas the electromagnet coil 14 for the main line The coil 13 operates so as to constantly repel the capsule l and pushes the capsule l toward the branching portion 10 side.

These operations are performed by a control system (not shown).

On the other hand, in order for capsule 1 to run on main line 11,
Set the polarity of the electromagnet coil 14 for the branch line to capsule 1.
The polarity of the electromagnetic coil 13 for the main line should always be the same as that of the permanent magnet 4, and the polarity of the electromagnet coil 13 for the main line should be different from that of the permanent magnet 4 to attract the capsule 1, and in order to make the capsule 1 run, the polarity of the electromagnet coil 5 should be attracted. , repulsion and change.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since this invention is configured as described above, it produces the following useful effects.

■ By using a non-contact glue near motor,
The only part of contact between the pipe and capsule is the wheel, making it possible to achieve higher speeds.

■ It is efficient because the capsule is driven directly using electricity, and electricity can be easily supplied even over long distances, making it easy to transport long distances.

■ Since current is passed only to the section where the capsule is running, current consumption is low and economical.

■ It is easy to automate because it can detect the position of the capsule and control its speed.

■ Since there is no driving equipment at the branch, the equipment can be simplified and failures are less likely to occur.

■ When branching, all you have to do is control the electromagnet, which is very efficient because you can do it without stopping the capsule.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the branching device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the linear capsule type traveling device. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line B--B in FIG. 3. In the drawings: 1 capsule, 2 pipe, 3 wheel, 4 permanent magnet, 5 coil, 6 electric wire, 7 control box, 8a, 8b first sensor, 8c second sensor, 9 signal line, 1 (L branch part, 10a side part, 11 main line, = 14-11a, side part, 126 branch line, 13, main line electromagnet coil, 14, branch line electromagnet coil.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A pipe made of a non-magnetic material, a capsule made of a non-magnetic material that can freely travel within the pipe via wheels that contact the inner circumferential surface of the pipe, and an outer circumferential surface of the capsule. a permanent magnet attached to the pipe, an electromagnet whose polarity can be changed and which is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the pipe at predetermined intervals over the entire length of the pipe, and a polarity converter for changing the polarity of the electromagnet. A branching section where a branch line branches from a main line of the pipe of a linear capsule type traveling device comprising a mechanism and a sensor for detecting the position of the capsule attached to each position of the electromagnet of the pipe. A branch line electromagnet is attached to the outer side of the main line, a main line electromagnet is attached to the outer side of the main line, the electromagnet is attached to the outer side of the branch and the upper and lower surfaces of the main line, and the branch line electromagnet is attached to the outer side of the branch and the main line. 1. A conduit branching device for a linear capsule type traveling device, characterized in that an electromagnet, the main line electromagnet, and the electromagnet are arranged at equal intervals. 2. The main line electromagnet has the same polarity as the permanent magnet of the capsule, while the branch line electromagnet has a polarity different from that of the permanent magnet, so that the main line electromagnet attracts the electromagnet while running on the main line. The pipe line branching device for a linear capsule type traveling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the capsule is guided to the branch line.