System and method for providing wireless power and control signals to a trolley
AssigneeFtsi, LLC
InventorsNathan Hoover CROSS, James D. LOVE
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trolley system for the entertainment industry can receive power and control signals wirelessly. The trolley system can be wirelessly powered by an inductive power transfer system that is associated with the support member the trolley travels along. The trolley system can use a leaky feeder system for the wireless exchange of data, information and control instructions with an automation and motion and control system. The trolley can include additional components, e.g., a winch, that also receive power and control signals wirelessly.
Claims21
A trolley system comprising:
- a support member;
- a trolley mounted on the support member and being operable to travel along the support member;
- a power system, the power system being operable to wirelessly power the trolley;
- and
- a control system to control operation of the trolley, the control system being operable to wirelessly communicate with the trolley.
A method of wirelessly providing power and control to a trolley used in the entertainment industry, the method comprising:
- providing a trolley mounted on a support member, the trolley being operable to travel a predetermined path defined by the support member;
- mounting a primary circuit of an inductive power transfer system on the support member;
- mounting a plurality of communication points near the support member, the plurality of communication points enabling communication between the trolley and a control system;
- providing power to the primary circuit from a power grid;
- and
- inducing a current in a pickup circuit on the trolley in response to the pickup circuit being near the primary circuit, the induced current from the pickup circuit being used to power the trolley.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.