Vehicular guidance system with collision prevention

Claim 2

A vehicular guidance system comprising: elongated guide means forming a track; a plurality of self-propelled vehicles provided with drive means and with sensing means for said track; transmitting means and receiving means for high-frequency signals aboard each vehicle, said transmitting means being disposed on a first side and said receiving means being disposed on a second side of said track upon alignment of the vehicle therewith; a plurality of elongated conductor loops disposed along said track in mutually insulated and longitudinally staggered relationship, each of said loops comprising a pair of generally parallel conductors forming a first portion extending alongside the track at said first side for inductive coupling with said transmitting means of a vehicle passing thereover, a second portion extending alongside the track at said second side for inductive coupling with said receiving means of a vehicle passing thereover, said conductors having a crossover point in a single one of said portions for substantially preventing the generation of stray electromagnetic fields, and a connecting portion crossing said track, said first portion preceding said second portion in the direction of vehicle motion and being substantially aligned and coextensive with the second portion of an adjoining conductor loop whereby a high-frequency signal induced in any loop by the transmitting means of a leading vehicle is picked up by the receiving means of a trailing vehicle immediately behind, the length of each of said first and second portions exceeding that of each vehicle; and control means aboard each vehicle connected to said receiving means thereof and responsive to said signal for arresting said drive means.

Claim 3

A system as defined in claim 1, further comprising switchover means aboard each vehicle for making said transmitting and receiving means alternately effective.

Claim 4

A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said crossover point is located midway on said second portion.

Claim 5

A track member for a vehicular guidance system wherein self-propelled vehicles equipped with track-sensing means and with transmitting and receiving means for the exchange of collision-preventing signals follow one another along a predetermined path, comprising: an elongated rail element; an elongated conductor loop positioned for cooperation with said transmitting and receiving means of respective vehicles moving one behind the other along said path, said loop having a first portion with two parallel conductors extending alongside said rail element at one side thereof, a second portion of substantially the same length as said first portion extending alongside said rail element at the opposite side thereof and in longitudinally offset relationship with said first portion, only said second portion being provided with a crossover point, and an intermediate connecting portion crossing said rail element in insulated relationship therewith; and insulating support means mechanically securing said loop to said rail element.

Claim 6

A track member for a vehicular guidance system wherein self-propelled vehicles equipped with track-sensing means and with transmitting and receiving means for the exchange of collision-preventing signals follow one another along a predetermined path, comprising: an elongated rail element; an elongated conductor loop positioned for cooperation with said transmitting and receiving means of respective vehicles moving one behind the other along said path, said loop having a first portion with two parallel conductors extending alongside said rail element at one side thereof, a second portion of substantially the same length as said first portion extending alongside said rail element at the opposite side thereof and in longitudinally offset relationship with said first portion, only said second portion being provided with a crossover point, and an intermediate connecting portion crossing said rail element in insulated relationship therewith; and insulating support means mechanically securing said loop to said rail element.

Claim 7

A vehicular guidance system comprising: elongated guide means forming a track; a plurality of self-propelled vehicles provided with drive means and with sensing means for said track; transmitting means and receiving means for high-frequency signals aboard each vehicle, said transmitting means being disposed on a first side and said receiving means being disposed on a second side of said track upon alignment of the vehicle therewith; a plurality of elongated conductor loops disposed along said track in mutually insulated and longitudinally staggered relationship, each of said loops comprising a pair of generally parallel conductors forming a first portion extending alongside the track at said first side for inductive coupling with said transmitting means of a vehicle passing thereover, a second portion extending alongside the track at said second side for inductive coupling with said receiving means of a vehicle passing thereover, and a connecting portion crossing said track, said first portion preceding said second portion in the direction of vehicle motion and being substantially aligned and coextensive with the second portion of an adjoining conductor loop whereby a high-frequency signal induced in any loop by the transmitting means of a leading vehicle is picked up by the receiving means of a trailing vehicle immediately behind, said conductors being relatively closely spaced in a forward section of said second portion and relatively widely spaced in said first portion and in a rear section of said second portion; the length of each of said sections substantially equaling that of each vehicle; and control means aboard each vehicle connected to said receiving means thereof and responsive to said signal for arresting said drive means.

Claim 8

A vehicular guidance system comprising: elongated guide means forming a track; a plurality of self-propelled vehicles provided with drive means and with sensing means for said track; transmitting means and receiving means for high-frequency signals aboard each vehicle, said transmitting means being disposed on a first side and said receiving means being disposed on a second side of said track upon alignment of the vehicle therewith; a plurality of elongated conductor loops disposed along said track in mutually insulated and longitudinally staggered relationship, each of said loops comprising a pair of generally parallel conductors forming a first portion extending alongside the track at said first side for inductive coupling with said transmitting means of a vehicle passing thereover, a second portion extending alongside the track at said second side for inductive coupling with said receiving means of a vehicle passing thereover, and a connecting portion crossing said track, said first portion preceding said second portion in the direction of vehicle motion and being substantially aligned and coextensive with the second portion of an adjoining conductor loop whereby a high-frequency signal induced in any loop by the transmitting means of a leading vehicle is picked up by the receiving means of a trailing vehicle immediately behind, said conductors being relatively closely spaced in a forward section of said second portion and relatively widely spaced in said first portion and in a rear section of said second portion; the length of each of said sections substantially equaling that of each vehicle; and control means aboard each vehicle connected to said receiving means thereof and responsive to said signal for arresting said drive means.