# US 10,479,216 B2 · Linear motor transport for packaging and other uses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,216 B2 - Document ID: US10479216B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/711,647 - Filed: 2017-09-21 - Published: 2018-01-11 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-21 - Assignees: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: MagneMotion, Inc. - Inventors: Tracy M. Clark; Todd S. Webber; Michael Bottasso; Robert Mosher; Nathan King - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479216B2 ## CPC - B60L 13/03: Electric propulsion by linear motors - B60L 13/003: {Crossings; Points} - B60L 13/10: Combination of electric propulsion and magnetic suspension or levitation - B60L 15/005: {for control of propulsion for vehicles propelled by linear motors} - Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract The invention provides in some aspects a transport system comprising a guideway having a plurality of regions in which one or more vehicles are propelled, where each such vehicle includes a magnet. Disposed along each region are a plurality of propulsion coils, each comprising one or more turns that are disposed about a common axis, such that the respective common axes of the plurality of coils in that region are (i) substantially aligned with one another, and (ii) orthogonal to a direction in which the vehicles are to be propelled in that region. The plurality of coils of at least one such region are disposed on opposing sides of the magnets of vehicles being propelled along that region so as to exert a propulsive force of substance on those magnets. In at least one other region, the plurality of coils disposed on only a single side of the magnets of vehicles being propelled in that region exert a propulsive force of substance thereon—regardless of whether the plurality of coils in that region are disposed on a single or multiple (e.g., opposing sides) of those magnets. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transport system comprising: a linear synchronous motor guideway in or on which one or more vehicles are propelled, where each such vehicle includes magnets; wherein the guideway comprises one or more modules, each module comprising a plurality of propulsion coils, and wherein each of the propulsion coils in a region of the guideway comprises turns that are disposed about a common axis, such that the respective common axes of the plurality of propulsion coils in the region are substantially aligned with one another, and orthogonal to a direction in which the vehicles are to be propelled in the region; and wherein the plurality of propulsion coils of the region are disposed on two opposing sides of and in laterally facing relation to the magnets of the vehicles propelled on the region, and the propulsion coils exert a propulsive force of substance on the magnets of the vehicles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the modules include any of straight sections, curved sections, and inclined sections. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the region is curved and the respective common axes of the plurality of propulsion coils in the region are radially aligned with one another. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the region is straight and the respective common axes of the plurality of propulsion coils in the region are linearly aligned with one another. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the guideway is arranged to propel vehicles along one or more directions, including a horizontal direction and a non-horizontal direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the non-horizontal direction comprises a vertical direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the guideway is arranged to propel the vehicles at two or more heights. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the two or more heights include a floor height, a tabletop height, and an overhead height. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising another region in which a second plurality of propulsion coils are disposed on a single side of and in laterally facing relation to magnets of the vehicles, and the second plurality of propulsion coils exert a propulsive force of substance on the magnets of the vehicles. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicles have a generally I-shaped cross section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicles are generally planar. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicles have magnets on two mutually opposite sides. ### Claim 13 A transport system comprising: a linear motor guideway having a region in which a vehicle is propelled, the region including a plurality of propulsion coils, and the vehicle including magnets, each of the propulsion coils in the region of the guideway comprising a plurality of turns that are disposed about a common axis, the respective common axes of the plurality of propulsion coils in the region being substantially aligned with one another, and orthogonal to a direction in which the vehicle is to be propelled; wherein the plurality of propulsion coils of the region are disposed on two opposing sides of and in laterally facing relation to the magnets of the vehicles propelled on the region, and the propulsion coils exert a propulsive force of substance on the magnets of the vehicles. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicles have a generally I-shaped cross section. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicles are generally planar. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicles have magnets on two mutually opposite sides. ### Claim 17 A transport system comprising: a linear motor guideway having a plurality of propulsion coils for propelling a vehicle including magnets, each of the propulsion coils comprising a plurality of turns that are disposed about a common axis, the respective common axes of the plurality of propulsion coils being substantially aligned with one another, and orthogonal to a direction in which the vehicle is to be propelled; wherein the plurality of coils are disposed on two opposing sides of and in laterally facing relation to the magnets of the vehicle, and the propulsion coils exert a propulsive force of substance on the magnets of the vehicle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the vehicles have a generally I-shaped cross section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the vehicles have magnets on two mutually opposite sides.