# US 11,309,737 B2 · Method and apparatus for power transfer to an independent moving cart during travel along a track > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,309,737 B2 - Document ID: US11309737B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/794,520 - Filed: 2020-02-19 - Published: 2020-07-30 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-28 - Assignees: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: John Floresta; Peter Bruder; Xikai Sun; Peter M. Smit; Oliver C. Haya; Mark R. Cooper; Nanwei Yao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309737B2 ## CPC - H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling - B60L 5/005: {without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line} - B60L 15/007: {Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles} - H01F 38/14: Inductive couplings - H02J 7/865: {Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply (H02J7/50 takes precedence)} - H02J 50/30: using light, e.g. lasers - H02J 50/40: using two or more transmitting or receiving devices (H02J50/50 takes precedence) - H02K 7/1846: {structurally associated with wheels or associated parts (dynamos arranged in the wheel hub of cycles B62J6/12)} - H02K 41/031: {of the permanent magnet type} - H02P 6/04: Arrangements for controlling or regulating the speed or torque of more than one motor (H02P6/10 takes precedence) - H02P 25/064: of the synchronous type - H02P 27/06: using DC to AC converters or inverters (H02P27/05 takes precedence) - B65G 54/02: electrostatic, electric, or magnetic - Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - 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 - H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A system and method for providing power to independent movers traveling along a track in a motion control system without requiring a fixed connection between the mover and a power source external to the mover. In one embodiment, a sliding transformer transfers power between the track and each mover. In another embodiment, an optical transmitter transfers power between the track and an optical receiver mounted on each mover. In yet another embodiment, a generator includes a drive wheel engaging the track as each mover travels along the track. A power converter on the mover receives the power generated on and/or transmitted to the mover to control an actuator or a sensor mounted on the mover or to activate drive coils mounted on the mover to interact with magnets mounted along the track and, thereby, control motion of each mover. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for providing power to a mover in an independent moving cart control system, the apparatus comprising: at least one mover, wherein the at least one mover includes at least one drive magnet mounted to the at least one mover; a track having a length and defining a path along which the at least one mover travels: a plurality of drive coils positioned along the length of the track, wherein the plurality of drive coils are controlled to generate an electromagnetic field to interact with the at least one drive magnet mounted on the at least one mover to control operation of the at least one mover; at least one electrical device, wherein the at least one electrical device is mounted to the at least one mover; a primary winding associated with the track, wherein the primary winding is configured to receive power from a power supply; a secondary winding associated with the at least one mover that is positioned proximate the primary winding as the at least one mover travels along the track, wherein an air gap separates the secondary winding from the primary winding, and power from the power supply is inductively transferred from the primary winding to the secondary winding across the air gap; and a power converter associated with the at least one mover that is operative to receive power from the secondary winding and to supply power to the at least one electrical device mounted on the mover. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the track includes a plurality of track segments. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the primary winding includes a plurality of windings and at least one of the plurality of windings for the primary winding is mounted to each of the plurality of track segments. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: the primary winding includes a plurality of windings, a first portion of the plurality of track segments includes at least one of the plurality of windings for the primary winding mounted to each of the plurality of track segments in the first portion, and a second portion of the plurality of track segments has none of the plurality of windings mounted on the plurality of track segments in the second portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising an electrical energy storage device mounted on the at least one mover, wherein: at least a portion of the power received from the secondary winding is stored in the electrical energy storage device when the at least one mover is located on the first portion of the plurality of track segments, and the portion of power stored in the electrical energy storage device when the at least one mover is located on the first portion of the plurality of track segments is supplied to the at least one electrical device mounted on the at least one mover when the at least one mover is located on the second portion of the plurality of track segments. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a supply-side power converter, wherein the supply-side power converter is configured to receive power from the power supply and to provide power to the primary winding. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the supply-side power converter is configured to provide an alternating current power to the primary winding, wherein a frequency of the alternating current power is at least 100 Hz. ### Claim 8 A linear motor system comprising: a track having a length and defining a path; a mover configured to move along the path, wherein the mover includes at least one drive magnet mounted to the mover; a plurality of drive coils positioned along the length of the track, wherein the plurality of drive coils are controlled to generate an electromagnetic field to interact with the at least one drive magnet mounted on the mover to control operation of the mover; a primary winding associated with the track that receives power from a power supply; a secondary winding associated with the mover that is positioned proximate the primary winding to define an air gap between the primary winding and the secondary winding; an electrical device associated with the mover; and a power converter connected between the electrical device and the secondary winding, wherein power from the power supply is inductively coupled from the primary winding to the secondary winding and the power converter supplies power from the secondary winding to the electrical device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a supply-side power converter, wherein the supply-side power converter is configured to receive power from the power supply and to provide power to the primary winding. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the supply-side power converter is configured to provide an alternating current power to the primary winding, wherein a frequency of the alternating current power is at least 100 Hz. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the track includes a plurality of track segments. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the primary winding includes a plurality of windings and at least one of the plurality of windings for the primary winding is mounted to each of the plurality of track segments. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: the primary winding includes a plurality of windings, a first portion of the plurality of track segments includes at least one of the plurality of windings for the primary winding mounted to each of the plurality of track segments in the first portion, and a second portion of the track segments has none of the plurality of windings mounted on the plurality of track segments in the second portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising an electrical energy storage device mounted on the mover, wherein: at least a portion of the power received from the secondary winding is stored in the electrical energy storage device when the mover is located on the first portion of the plurality of track segments, and the portion of power stored in the electrical energy storage device when the mover is located on the first portion of the plurality of track segments is supplied to the at least one electrical device mounted on the mover when the mover is located on the second portion of the plurality of track segments. ### Claim 15 A method of powering an electrical device associated with a mover in a linear motor system, comprising: controlling operation of the mover by generating an electromagnetic field with a plurality of drive coils positioned along a track of the linear motor system, wherein the electromagnetic field interacts with at least one drive magnet mounted to the mover; supplying power to a primary winding for the track in the linear motor system; receiving inductively coupled power with a secondary winding associated with the mover, wherein the secondary winding is positioned proximate the primary winding as the mover travels along the track; and coupling power received by the secondary winding to the electrical device through a power converter mounted on the mover. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the step of supplying power to the primary winding for the track further comprises the steps of: supplying power to an input of a supply-side power converter; and generating power at an output of the supply-side power converter, wherein the power generated at the output of the supply-side power converter is supplied to the primary winding. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the supply-side power converter is configured to provide an alternating current power to the primary winding, wherein a frequency of the alternating current power is at least 100 Hz. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein: the mover includes an electrical energy storage device, the track includes a plurality of track segments, the primary winding includes a plurality of windings, a first portion of the plurality of track segments includes at least one of the plurality of windings for the primary winding mounted to each of the plurality of track segments in the first portion, a second portion of the plurality of track segments has none of the plurality of windings mounted on the plurality of track segments in the second portion, the method further comprising the steps of: storing at least a portion of the power received from the secondary winding in the electrical energy storage device when the mover is located on the first portion of the plurality of track segments, and supplying the portion of power stored in the electrical energy storage device when the mover is located on the first portion of the plurality of track segments to the at least one electrical device mounted on the mover when the mover is located on the second portion of the plurality of track segments.