Aerial transport system

In an aerial transport system having an aerial track having therealong a pair of power supply cables, a pair of electric current-carrying cables in parallel relationship with respect to one another and with respect to the track and being separated at longitudinal regular intervals so as to define respectively independent electric power supply zones, self-propelled vehicles, each having an electric current collecting means to collect electric power from the current-carrying cables and to supply the power to an electric driving means mounted on the vehicle so as to drive wheels engaging the track for propelling the vehicle along the track, said transport system including an electric power supply control means for controlling driving of the vehicle, said electric power control means comprising:

• a first circuit for each power supply zone interposed between the power supply cables and the current-carrying cables for comprising a power supply circuit therewith;
• a second circuit provided in said vehicle, which second circuit completes the power supply circuit while the vehicle travels in the power supply zone;
• a means for detecting an intensity of electric current which flows through said power supply circuit in said power supply zone so as to detect the existence of a vehicle in said zone;
• and
• a third circuit associated with said first circuit and a corresponding detecting means in an adjacent forward power supply zone, said third circuit serving to block the electric current flow in said power supply circuit when said detecting means in said adjacent forward zone detects the electric current exceeding a predetermined level.

In an aerial transport system having an aerial track having therealong a pair of electric current-carrying cables in parallel relationship with respect to one another and with respect to the track, and a self-propelled vehicle having an electric current collecting means to collect electric power from the current-carrying cables and to supply the power to an electric driving means mounted on the vehicle so as to drive wheels engaging the track for propelling the vehicle along the track, said current-carrying cables being separated at longitudinal given intervals so as to define respectively independent electric power supply zones, which transport system includes a power supply control means for controlling the power supply for each of the power supply zones comprising:

• power supply cables connected with an electric power source and transmitting the electric power therethrough, which power supply cables are respectively sequentially extending along the current-carrying cables in parallel relationship therewith;
• a first circuit interposed and connected between said power supply cables and said current-carrying cables, said first circuit comprising, with said power supply cables and said current-carrying cables, a power supply circuit for each power supply zone;
• a second circuit provided in said vehicle and bypassing said driving means in said vehicle, which second circuit completes said power supply circuit in the power supply zone in which the vehicle is travelling;
• a holding relay provided in each power supply zone and associated with said first circuit for switching between a set position permitting the current flow through said first circuit and a reset position blocking the current flow therethrough, said holding relay having contacts associated with respective power supply controlling contactors of the first circuit in each power supply zone;
• a holding relay control circuit for controlling each said holding relay to switch the position thereof between said set position and said reset position, said holding relay control circuit being associated with a current-responsive relay provided in an adjacent forward power supply zone and being responsive to an intensity of current exceeding a predetermined level flowing in said adjacent forward zone to position said holding relay in said reset position;
• and
• an auxiliary power source to provide electric power for said holding relay control circuit.

An automatic vehicle control system in an aerial transport system including an aerial track and self-propelled vehicles travelling along the aerial track, said system comprising:

• a power cable connected with an electric power source and extending along said aerial track in parallel relationship therewith;
• a current-carrying cable extending along said aerial track and separated at given intervals for defining independent power supply zones;
• a first circuit for each power supply zone connected between said power cable and said current-carrying cable, which first circuit comprises a power supply circuit in a said power supply zone and has a switch means variable between a first position permitting current flow within said power supply circuit in the power supply zone and a second position blocking the current flow;
• a second circuit provided in a first vehicle so that it may complete said power supply circuit when the vehicle travels in said power supply zone;
• a current detecting means associated with said switch means in one zone rearward from said power supply zone and responsive to the current flowing in said power supply circuit, said current detecting means switching said switch means from said first position to said second position for stopping propelling of a second vehicle travelling in said one zone rearward from said power supply zone when the first vehicle is present in the power supply zone.

An automatic vehicle control system in an aerial transport system including an aerial track, a vehicle travelling along the aerial track, said control system comprising:

• a power cable connected with an electric power source and transmitting the electric power therethrough, said power cable extending along said aerial track in parallel relationship therewith;
• a current-carrying cable extending along said aerial track and separated at given intervals for defining respectively independent power supply zones;
• a first circuit connecting said power cable and said current-carrying cable for comprising a power supply circuit therewith;
• a switch means incorporated with said first circuit and being switchable between a first position permitting current flow through said power supply circuit and a second position blocking the current flow;
• a second circuit provided in said vehicle in parallel relationship with a driving means of the vehicle with respect to said power source, said second circuit completing said power supply circuit upon the vehicle travelling in said power supply zone;
• a current detecting means connected with the power supply circuit so that the current flowing through the power supply circuit flows therethrough, said current detecting means being responsive to an intensity of current exceeding a predetermined level, which current detecting means becomes operative to switch a corresponding switch means of a power supply zone one zone rearward from said first position to said second position when the current detecting means detects the intensity of the current exceeding the predetermined level, said current detecting means cooperating with a corresponding current detecting means in a power supply zone two zones forward so that it becomes operative to detect the presence of the current intensity when said current detecting means detects the intensity of current exceeding the predetermined level.

An automatic vehicle travel control system in an aerial transport system including an aerial track and a self-propelled vehicle travelling along the aerial track, said control system comprising:

• a power cable connected with an electric power source and extending along said aerial track in parallel relationship therewith;
• a current-carrying cable extending along said aerial track in parallel relationship therewith and supplying the electric power for a driving means of the vehicle, which current-carrying cable defines a plurality of power supply zones, each power supply zone being electrically independent from other zones;
• a first circuit connected between said power cable and said current-carrying cable, which first circuit comprises a power supply circuit with said power cable and said current-carrying cable in each power supply zone;
• a switch means incorporated in said first circuit and being switchable between a first position permitting current flow in said power supply circuit in the power supply zone and a second position blocking the current flow therethrough;
• a bypass circuit incorporated in said first circuit in parallel relationship with said switch means for permitting the current flow in the power supply circuit even when the switch means is in said second position, said bypass circuit defining a minimum current value flowing through the power supply circuit when the vehicle is present in said power supply zone;
• a second circuit provided in said vehicle in parallel relationship with said vehicle driving means, said second circuit completing the power supply circuit when the vehicle travels in said power supply zone;
• and
• a current detecting means connected with the power supply circuit so that the current flowing through the power supply circuit flows therethrough, said current detecting means being responsive to an intensity of current exceeding a predetermined level, which current detecting means becomes operative to switch a corresponding switch means of a power supply zone one zone rearward from said first position to said second position when it detects the intensity of the current exceeding the predetermined level, said current detecting means cooperating with a corresponding current detecting means in a power supply zone two zones forward so that it becomes operative to detect the presence of the current intensity when said current detecting means detects the intensity of current exceeding the predetermined level.