US 12,612,269 B1Granted

Dynamic wheel assemblies for shuttles powered by linear synchronous motors

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsZahin Nambiar, Michael Alan Bray, Sudhakar Teegavarapu, Jeffrey Nelson, Michael D Assadi, Zechariah Ives

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Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for dynamic wheel assemblies for shuttles powered by linear synchronous motors. An example shuttle may include a frame having a front lateral portion, a rear lateral portion, and a central member. The shuttle may include a first wheel assembly coupled to a first end of the front lateral portion, the first wheel assembly having a first wheel configured to engage a first sidewall of the track, where the first wheel assembly is configured to rotate in a forward and rearward direction with respect to the front lateral portion. The shuttle may include a second wheel assembly coupled to a second end of the rear lateral portion, the second wheel assembly having a second wheel configured to engage a second sidewall of the track, where the second wheel assembly is configured to rotate in a forward and rearward direction with respect to the rear lateral portion.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a track having a central axis, the track comprising a first rail segment on a first side of the central axis and a second rail segment on a second side of the central axis;
a shuttle configured to transport one or more items using the track, the shuttle comprising:
a permanent magnet;
a first conveyor assembly having a central axis that is transverse to the central axis of the track;
a frame having an H-shaped configuration with a front lateral portion, a rear lateral portion, and a central member disposed between the front lateral portion and the rear lateral portion;
a first wheel assembly coupled to a first end of the front lateral portion, the first wheel assembly comprising a first plurality of wheels configured to engage a sidewall of the first rail segment, wherein the first wheel assembly is configured to rotate in a forward and rearward direction with respect to the front lateral portion;
and
a second wheel assembly coupled to a second end of the rear lateral portion, the second wheel assembly comprising a second plurality of wheels configured to engage a sidewall of the second rail segment, wherein the second wheel assembly is configured to rotate in a forward and rearward direction with respect to the rear lateral portion;
wherein the first shuttle is configured to support the one or more items on the first conveyor assembly;
and
a set of electromagnets disposed along the central axis of the track, wherein the set of electromagnets interact with the permanent magnet to propel the shuttle along the track.

8 more elements

A shuttle configured to move along a track, the shuttle comprising:

a frame comprising a front lateral portion, a rear lateral portion, and a central member disposed between the front lateral portion and the rear lateral portion;
a first wheel assembly coupled to a first end of the front lateral portion, the first wheel assembly comprising a first wheel configured to engage a first sidewall of the track, and a first flag component configured to interact with a first electromagnetic switch disposed along the track, wherein the first wheel assembly is configured to rotate in a forward and rearward direction with respect to the front lateral portion;
and
a second wheel assembly coupled to a second end of the rear lateral portion, the second wheel assembly comprising a second wheel configured to engage a second sidewall of the track, and a second flag component configured to interact with a second electromagnetic switch disposed along the track, wherein the second wheel assembly is configured to rotate in a forward and rearward direction with respect to the rear lateral portion.

1 more element

A system comprising:

a shuttle frame comprising a front lateral portion, a rear lateral portion, and a central member disposed between the front lateral portion and the rear lateral portion
a first wheel assembly coupled to a first end of the front lateral portion, the first wheel assembly comprising:
a first wheel configured to engage a first sidewall of the track;
a frame portion configured to rotate in the forward and rearward direction with respect to the front lateral portion;
a ferrous block disposed at a side of the first wheel assembly;
and
a third wheel configured to roll along the track, wherein the first wheel has a horizontal orientation and the third wheel has a vertical orientation;
wherein the first wheel assembly is configured to rotate in a forward and rearward direction with respect to the front lateral portion;
a second wheel assembly coupled to a second end of the rear lateral portion, the second wheel assembly comprising a second wheel configured to engage a second sidewall of the track, wherein the second wheel assembly is configured to rotate in a forward and rearward direction with respect to the rear lateral portion;
and
a third wheel assembly coupled to a second end of the front lateral portion, the third wheel assembly comprising a third wheel configured to engage the second sidewall of the track, wherein the third wheel assembly is configured to rotate in the forward and rearward direction with respect to the front lateral portion.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.