Power sharing among multiple power supplies in a material handling system
US6278201A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 1, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 1, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02J1/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for providing power to an automated material handling system that includes a track on which a plurality of electrically powered material transport vehicles are mounted comprises a plurality of current-limited power sources each having a power supply lead and a power return lead. The apparatus further includes a power supply distribution network that is configured and arranged to electrically connect the power supply leads of the plurality of power sources together and to couple the current supplied therefrom to the power supply input of at least one of the plurality of material transport vehicles. And further includes a power return network configured and arranged to electrically couple the power return output of at least one of the plurality of material transport vehicles to the interconnected power return leads of the plurality of power sources. As the voltage of one or more of the power sources droops due to a current overload condition, the other interconnected power sources will begin to supply current via the power supply distribution network.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.