JPH0739007A - Noncontact current collector of running vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the noncontact current collector, of a running vehicle, wherein a secondary coil can be situated at a definite distance from the surface of a road. CONSTITUTION:A primary coil 1 is buried in a running road, and a secondary coil 2 is attached to the bottom part of a running vehicle 3. A current is made to flow to the primary call 1, and a magnetic field is generated by the primary coil 1. The secondary coil 2 on the running vehicle 3 generates an induced current through the magnetic field. Electric power obtained by taking out the induced current is supplied to a motor and a storage battery as the motive power source of the running vehicle 3, and it runs the running vehicle 3 or it is stored. When the running vehicle 3 is run, a control part 5 is informed of respective distances from individual distance-measuring sensors 7, and it controls individual actuators 4 on the basis of the distances. Thereby, the secondary coil 2 maintains an attitude which is nearly parallel to the surface of a road at a definite distance from the surface of the road.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a non-contact current collector for a traveling vehicle which supplies electric power to the traveling vehicle without contacting the traveling vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A device of this type comprises a primary coil laid on the ground and a secondary coil arranged at the bottom of a traveling vehicle, and a current is passed through the primary coil on the ground side to drive the vehicle. An induced current is generated in the secondary coil on the vehicle side, and electric power based on this induced current is supplied to the traveling vehicle. The traveling vehicle operates the motor of the power source by this electric power or stores this electric power in the storage battery.

In order to efficiently feed power from the primary coil to the secondary coil, it is preferable that both coils are close to each other. In order to realize this, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-180101 proposes what is called a "non-contact current collector". Here, a small moving body is attached to the bottom of the vehicle body, and a secondary coil is mounted on this moving body. The moving body has a plurality of small wheels and is pressed downward by a spring. For this reason, the moving body travels on the ground together with the vehicle body and is mounted on the moving body.
The next coil moves along the ground at a low position. As a result, the secondary coil of the moving body always approaches the primary coil on the ground side, and efficient power supply from the primary coil to the secondary coil becomes possible.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, not only the wheels of the vehicle body but also the wheels of the moving body are in contact with the road surface, so that there is a problem that running resistance increases.

Further, the wheels of the moving body are much smaller than the wheels of the vehicle body. For this reason, even if the road surface of the vehicle body is uneven, the wheels of the moving body cannot get over the unevenness, and the moving body or the secondary coil may come into contact with the road surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a non-contact current collector for a traveling vehicle in which the secondary coil can be positioned at a fixed distance from the road surface without increasing the traveling resistance. is there.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, in a non-contact current collector for a traveling vehicle according to the present invention, a displacement detecting means for detecting displacement of the traveling vehicle with respect to the ground and a secondary coil are provided. This is supported on the bottom of the traveling vehicle.
A moving means for moving the secondary coil up and down and a control means for controlling the moving means according to the detection output of the displacement detecting means and for holding the secondary coil at a fixed position with respect to the ground are provided.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the control means controls the moving means in accordance with the displacement of the traveling vehicle detected by the displacement detecting means and holds the secondary coil at a fixed position with respect to the ground. . As a result, the efficiency of power transmission from the primary coil to the secondary coil is kept good.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2 schematically show a traveling vehicle to which an embodiment of a non-contact current collector according to the present invention is applied. In the apparatus of this embodiment, the primary coil 1 is embedded in the traveling path, and the secondary coil 2 is attached to the bottom of the traveling vehicle 3. A current is passed through the primary coil 1, and a magnetic field is generated by the primary coil 1. The secondary coil 2 of the traveling vehicle 3 passes through this magnetic field and generates an induced current. The electric power obtained by extracting this induced current is supplied to the motor or the storage battery of the power source of the traveling vehicle 3,
It operates the motor and is stored in the storage battery.

The secondary coil 2 includes four actuators 4
Supported by. These actuators 4
Is composed of, for example, a hydraulic cylinder and a piston, and when pressure oil is pumped to the hydraulic cylinder, the piston moves up and down. The pistons of these actuators 4 have 2
The secondary coil 2 is connected, and the secondary coil 2 is vertically moved by each piston.

The pressure oil is supplied to each actuator 4 through each solenoid valve, and these solenoid valves are controlled by the control unit 5. That is, the control unit 5 applies each control signal to each electromagnetic valve via each amplifier 6, switches each electromagnetic valve, and vertically moves the piston of each actuator 4. Therefore, the secondary coil 2 is moved up and down by the control unit 5, whereby the position and posture of the secondary coil 2 with respect to the traveling path are adjusted.

Further, in the vicinity of each actuator 4, each distance measuring sensor 7 for measuring the distance to the road surface is provided. These distance measuring sensors 7 are, for example, sensors using ultrasonic waves, generate ultrasonic waves, detect ultrasonic waves reflected on the road surface, and measure the distance to the road surface.
The detection outputs of these distance measuring sensors 7 are added to the control unit 5, whereby the respective distances detected by the respective distance measuring sensors 7 are notified to the control unit 5.

Although two amplifiers 6 are shown in FIG. 1, four amplifiers 6 are actually provided. Similarly, four actuators 4 and four distance measuring sensors 7 are provided.

Now, in such a configuration, when the traveling vehicle 3 travels, the control unit 5 is notified of the respective distances from the respective distance measuring sensors 7, and compares these distances with a predetermined reference distance. Then, the deviation between each distance detected by each distance measuring sensor 7 and the reference distance is obtained. Then, the control unit 5 controls the actuators 4 to move the pistons of the actuators 4 by the respective deviations.

For example, if the distance detected by the distance measuring sensor 7 is shorter than the reference distance, the distance measuring sensor 7 is approaching the road surface, and therefore the piston of the actuator 4 near the distance measuring sensor 7 is detected. Move upward by the difference between the distance and the reference distance. As a result, the part of the secondary coil 2 connected to the actuator 4 moves upward.

If the distance detected by the distance measuring sensor 7 is longer than the reference distance, the distance measuring sensor 7 is far from the road surface. Therefore, the piston of the actuator 4 near the distance measuring sensor 7 is used as the reference distance. It is connected to this actuator 4 by moving it downward by the distance deviation.
The part of the next coil 2 is moved downward.

Similarly, the secondary coil 2 is separated by the respective deviations between the respective detection distances by the other distance measuring sensors 7 and the reference distances.
Move each part of up and down. As a result, the secondary coil 2 maintains a posture that is substantially parallel to the road surface with a certain distance from the road surface.

By such control, the separation distance between the secondary coil 2 and the road surface is kept constant even if the traveling road is uneven. Therefore, the secondary coil 2 moves near the primary coil 1 without coming into contact with the road surface, and the electric power is transferred to the primary coil 1.
Can be efficiently received from.

Further, in the apparatus of this embodiment, the traveling vehicle 3
Since each of the wheels has a structure in which only the wheels contact the traveling path and the other parts do not contact the traveling path, there is an advantage that the traveling resistance does not need to be increased as compared with the conventional device.

3 and 4 show a modification of the non-contact current collector of this embodiment. Here, the secondary coil 2
A current sensor 8 for detecting the induced current is attached.

The control unit 5 inputs the detection output of the current sensor 8 and determines whether or not an induced current is generated in the secondary coil 2 based on this detection output. Here, if the traveling vehicle 3 is traveling in a place where no current flows through the primary coil 1 or where the primary coil 1 is not laid, an induced current does not occur in the secondary coil 2, so the control unit 5 makes this determination. In this case, the control unit 5 controls each actuator 4 to pull up the secondary coil 2.

That is, if an induced current is not generated in the secondary coil 2, it is useless even if the secondary coil 2 is brought close to the road surface, so the secondary coil 2 is pulled up. As a result, the air resistance is reduced, and power can be saved.

On the other hand, when the unevenness of the traveling path is severe as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the control unit 5 judges this fact and controls each actuator 4 to pull up the secondary coil 2. For this determination, the control unit 5 obtains the rate of change of each distance detected by each distance measuring sensor 7 every time a fixed time passes, and the rate of change of these distances is set to a predetermined threshold value. If any of the change rates of the respective distances exceeds a threshold value, it is determined that the unevenness of the traveling road is severe.

Further, even if any of the distances detected by the distance measuring sensors 7 deviates from the predetermined allowable range, it is judged that the unevenness of the traveling road is severe. This permissible range is represented by the minimum permissible value and the maximum permissible value.
If any one of the distances detected by is smaller than the minimum allowable value or larger than the maximum allowable value, the control unit 5
Determines that the unevenness of the road is severe.

When the secondary coil 2 is pulled up while the vehicle is traveling on a traveling road having severe irregularities, it is possible to prevent the secondary coil 2 from coming into contact with the traveling road.

FIG. 5 shows another modification of the non-contact current collector of this embodiment. Here, a current sensor 8 for detecting an induced current in the secondary coil 2 and a side brake sensor 9 are attached to the traveling vehicle 3. The current sensor 8 is similar to that shown above. Side brake sensor 9
Detects that the traveling vehicle 3 is stopped by the side brake, and adds a detection output indicating this to the control unit 5.

The traveling vehicle 3 is parked in the parking lot.
A primary coil 1 is buried in this parking lot, and an electric current from the power feeding equipment 10 flows through the primary coil 1. The power supply equipment 10 has a vehicle detection sensor 11, and when the vehicle detection sensor 11 detects a traveling vehicle 3 in a parking lot, a current is passed through the primary coil 1. The ground maintenance facility 12 is for maintaining and managing the power feeding facility 10.

Now, when the traveling vehicle 3 is parked in the parking lot, an electric current is passed through the primary coil 1, so that an induced current is generated in the secondary coil 2 of the traveling vehicle 3. The induced current is detected by the current sensor 8, and the control unit 5 determines that the induced current is generated in the secondary coil 2.

Further, the traveling vehicle 3 is driven by the side brakes.
When is stopped, the control unit 5 determines this based on the detection output of the side brake sensor 9.

When the control unit 5 determines that the induced current is generated in the secondary coil 2 and determines that the traveling vehicle 3 is stopped by the side brake, it controls each actuator 4 and Secondary coil 2 to near the road surface,
Or drop it on the road. As a result, the secondary coil 2 comes very close to the primary coil 1, the coupling between the two coils becomes strong, and the power transmission efficiency becomes very good. The electric power obtained at this time is stored in the storage battery of the traveling vehicle 3.

In this embodiment, as the actuator for moving the secondary coil 2 up and down, the actuator composed of the hydraulic cylinder and the piston is illustrated, but the actuator is not limited to this and other mechanisms may be used. . Further, as the distance measuring sensor, the one using ultrasonic waves is exemplified, but the one using light may be used.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the displacement of the traveling vehicle detected by the displacement detecting means,
The moving means is controlled to hold the secondary coil at a fixed position with respect to the ground. As a result, the efficiency of power transmission from the primary coil to the secondary coil is kept good. Further, unlike the conventional device, the running resistance of the running vehicle does not increase.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a traveling vehicle as viewed from the side, to which an embodiment of a non-contact current collector according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the traveling vehicle of FIG. 1 when viewed from the front.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a modification of the traveling vehicle of FIG. 1 when viewed from the side.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the traveling vehicle of FIG. 3 as viewed from the side.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing another modified example of the traveling vehicle of FIG. 1 and peripheral devices thereof as seen from the side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Primary coil 2 Secondary coil 3 Traveling vehicle 4 Actuator 5 Control unit 6 Amplifier 7 Distance measuring sensor 8 Current sensor 9 Side brake sensor 10 Power supply equipment 11 Vehicle detection sensor 12 Ground maintenance equipment

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A primary coil laid on the ground, and a secondary coil arranged at the bottom of a traveling vehicle, wherein
In a non-contact current collector for a traveling vehicle, in which a current is passed through the secondary coil and an induced current is generated in a secondary coil on the traveling vehicle side, a displacement detecting means for detecting displacement of the traveling vehicle with respect to the ground and a secondary coil The moving means which is supported on the bottom part of the secondary coil and moves the secondary coil up and down, and the moving means is controlled according to the detection output of the displacement detecting means,
A non-contact current collector for a traveling vehicle, comprising: a controller that holds the secondary coil at a fixed position with respect to the ground. 2. The non-contact current collector for a traveling vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the moving means to draw the secondary coil toward the traveling vehicle when an induced current does not flow in the secondary coil. . 3. The control means determines, based on the detection output of the displacement detection means, that the unevenness on the ground exceeds a predetermined level, and if so, controls the moving means to control the secondary coil. The non-contact current collector for a traveling vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the non-contact current collector is pulled toward the traveling vehicle. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising stop detection means for detecting a stop of the traveling vehicle, wherein the control means controls the moving means according to the detection output of the stop detection means to lower the secondary coil to the ground. A non-contact current collector for the traveling vehicle described.