Postioning apparatus for tracked transport vehicles with linear motor propulsion

Claim 2

Positioning apparatus for tracked transport vehicles having a primary alternating current linear motor windings and separate direct current windings located in the vehicle and stationary linear motor parts of a ferromagnetic bar within the position area having a position point therein, said bar having rows of conducting material placed in an orientation perpendicular to the track and spaced a distance from one another as the pole pitch spacing of the primary winding, comprising: means for sensing the position of the vehicle as it approaches the positioning point from either direction on the track within the position area; switching control means responsive to said position means for closing one or two switches depending on the position of the vehicle within the position area; means for measuring the vehicle velocity while said vehicle is within said position area; excitation control circuit means responsive to said velocity measurement and said switch positions for applying an accelerating, decelerating or zero strength excitation to said primary alternating current linear motor windings if either one or the other of said two switches are closed and for applying a direct current field excitation to said separate direct current windings regardless of said velocity measurement if both of said switches are closed simultaneously.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the direct current windings on said vehicle have a greater pole pitch than that of the alternating current linear motor windings.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the pole pitch of the primary windings to the spacing between conductors in said ferromagnetic secondary part is an integral ratio.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the width of the conductor material in said ferromagnetic secondary part is greater than half the pole pitch of the primary alternating current linear motor windings.

Claim 6

The positioning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the secondary part is vertically movable and the underside of said primary part of said vehicle has attached thereto a brake lining.

Claim 7

A vehicle propulsion and positioning system for tracked vehicles having a propulsion system with primary alternating current linear motor windings and separate direct current windings in said vehicles and a secondary part having a continuous homogeneous ferromagnetic bar along the entire length of the track except for multiple position areas along the track wherein the said stationary part is a ferromagnetic bar having a position point therein said bar, having rows of conducting material placed in an orientation perpendicular to the track and spaced a distance from one another as the pole pitch spacing of the alternating current primary winding comprising at each position area: means for sensing the position of the vehicle as it approaches the positioning point from either direction on the track within the position area; switching control means responsive to said position means for closing one or two switches depending on the position of the vehicle within the position area; means for measuring the vehicle velocity while said vehicle is within said position area; excitation control circuit means responsive to said velocity measurement and said switch positions for applying an accelerating, decelerating or zero strength excitation to said primary alternating current linear motor windings if either one or the other of said two switches are closed and for applying a direct current field excitation to said separate direct current windings regardless of said velocity measurement if both of said switches are closed simultaneously.

Claim 8

A vehicle propulsion and positioning system for tracked vehicles having a propulsion system with primary alternating current linear motor windings and separate direct current windings in said vehicles and a secondary part having a continuous homogeneous ferromagnetic bar along the entire length of the track except for multiple position areas along the track wherein the said stationary part is a ferromagnetic bar having a position point therein said bar, having rows of conducting material placed in an orientation perpendicular to the track and spaced a distance from one another as the pole pitch spacing of the alternating current primary winding comprising at each position area: means for sensing the position of the vehicle as it approaches the positioning point from either direction on the track within the position area; switching control means responsive to said position means for closing one or two switches depending on the position of the vehicle within the position area; means for measuring the vehicle velocity while said vehicle is within said position area; excitation control circuit means responsive to said velocity measurement and said switch positions for applying an accelerating, decelerating or zero strength excitation to said primary alternating current linear motor windings if either one or the other of said two switches are closed and for applying a direct current field excitation to said separate direct current windings regardless of said velocity measurement if both of said switches are closed simultaneously.

Claim 9

The propulsion and positioning of claim 6 wherein the switching control means in the velocity measuring means for each of said multiple positioning areas are connected in parallel to a single excitation control circuit means.