US 12,763,644 B2Granted

Support and heatsink for an independent cart system

AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

InventorEric Gardner

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An independent cart system, including a track having multiple track segments and multiple movers operative to travel along the track, has a support system with a thermal transfer member and a support member for each track segment. The thermal transfer member transfers heat generated by switching devices mounted on a first surface to a second surface remote from the first surface. The switching devices selectively deliver current to coils spaced along each of the track segments. The support member has a base operative to engage a fixed location and a support extending away from the base. The support includes an inner surface, an outer surface, opposite the inner surface, and an upper surface proximate the second surface of the thermal transfer member. The upper surface is configured to engage a complementary surface, and the continuous surface and the complementary surface each have a smooth finish to provide contact therebetween.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A support system for an independent cart system, wherein the independent cart system includes a track having a plurality of track segments and a plurality of movers operative to travel along the track, the support system comprising for each of the plurality of track segments:

a thermal transfer member, comprising:
a first surface operative to receive a plurality of switching devices, wherein the plurality of switching devices selectively deliver current to a plurality of coils spaced along each of the plurality of track segments,
a second surface remote from the first surface, and
a thermal transfer body extending between the first surface and the second surface;
a single support member, comprising:
a base including:
a generally planar lower surface operative to engage a fixed location,
an upper surface opposite the generally planar lower surface, and
a first length extending between a first end and a second end of the base;
and
a support extending away from the base in a generally orthogonal direction with respect to the generally planar lower surface, the support including:
an inner surface,
an outer surface, opposite the inner surface,
a second length extending between a first end and a second end of the support, wherein the second length is the same as the first length, and
an upper surface proximate the second surface of the thermal transfer member, the upper surface, including:
a first side edge,
a second side edge, the second side edge opposite the first side edge, and
a continuous surface extending between the first side edge and the second side edge for the second length of the support, wherein:
the upper surface is configured to engage a complementary surface;
and
the continuous surface and the complementary surface each have a smooth finish to provide contact therebetween.

18 more elements

A method for removing heat from a track segment in an independent cart system, the method comprising:

conducting heat generated by a plurality of switching devices between a first surface and a second surface of a thermal transfer member in a track segment for the independent cart system, wherein:
the plurality of switching devices selectively deliver current to a plurality of coils spaced along a length of the track segment,
the plurality of switching devices are mounted to the first surface, and
a thermal transfer body extends between the first surface and the second surface;
supporting the track segment with a single support member extending between a fixed location and the track segment, wherein the single support member includes:
a base comprising:
a generally planar lower surface operative to engage a fixed location,
an upper surface opposite the generally planar lower surface, and
a first length extending between a first end and a second end of the base;
and
a support extending away from the base in a generally orthogonal direction with respect to the generally planar lower surface, the support including:
an inner surface,
an outer surface, opposite the inner surface,
a second length extending between a first end and a second end of the support, wherein the second length is the same as the first length, and
an upper surface proximate the second surface of the thermal transfer member, the upper surface, including:
a first side edge,
a second side edge, the second side edge opposite the first side edge, and
a continuous surface extending between the first side edge and the second side edge for the second length of the support, wherein:
the upper surface is configured to engage a complementary surface;
and
the continuous surface and the complementary surface
each have a smooth finish to provide contact therebetween;
and
transferring heat from the second surface of the thermal transfer member to the upper surface of the support member.

21 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/498,213Filed 31 Oct 2023
Published: US 2025/0141309 A11 May 2025
Granted: 13 Oct 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H02K 9/227
By solid heat conducting material embedded in, or arranged in contact with, the stator or rotor, e.g. heat bridges: heat sinks
B65H 54/02
Winding, coiling, or depositing filamentary material: winding and traversing material on to reels, bobbins, tubes, or like package cores or formers
H02K 5/18
Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof: with ribs or fins for improving heat transfer
H02K 5/203
With channels or ducts for flow of cooling medium: specially adapted for liquids, e.g. cooling jackets