US3948357A — Transportation system with decelerating control

Claim 1

Independent Claim 212 words

A transportation system including a guide path structure and a plurality of spaced landings and a transportation means comprising a transport vehicle, means mounting said vehicle for movement relative to said structure in a path extending adjacent each of said landings, motive means moving said vehicle relative to said structure, means responsive to an output of said motive means and providing an output proportional signal, means sensing the position of said vehicle, and control means cooperating with said motive means and moving said vehicle relative to said structure and stopping said vehicle at a selected landing and including pattern generating means operatively controlling the operation of said motive means, said pattern generating means including integrating means having an output providing a vehicle command signal and input means operatively connected to said output and receiving said vehicle command signal and operatively supplying an input responsive to said vehicle command signal to said integrating means and modifying means operatively coupled to said integrating means and varying said vehicle command signal in response to the sensed position of said vehicle, said control means including means receiving said vehicle command signal and said output proportional signal and providing an error signal operatively controlling the movement of said vehicle and stopping said vehicle at a selected landing.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 212 words

A transportation system including a guide path structure and a plurality of spaced landings and a transportation means comprising a transport vehicle, means mounting said vehicle for movement relative to said structure in a path extending adjacent each of said landings, motive means moving said vehicle relative to said structure, means responsive to an output of said motive means and providing an output proportional signal, means sensing the position of said vehicle, and control means cooperating with said motive means and moving said vehicle relative to said structure and stopping said vehicle at a selected landing and including pattern generating means operatively controlling the operation of said motive means, said pattern generating means including integrating means having an output providing a vehicle command signal and input means operatively connected to said output and receiving said vehicle command signal and operatively supplying an input responsive to said vehicle command signal to said integrating means and modifying means operatively coupled to said integrating means and varying said vehicle command signal in response to the sensed position of said vehicle, said control means including means receiving said vehicle command signal and said output proportional signal and providing an error signal operatively controlling the movement of said vehicle and stopping said vehicle at a selected landing.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 1, wherein said modifying means includes a selectively variable impedance means modifying the rate of integration of said integrating means in response to the sensed position of said vehicle.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 59 words

The system of claim 2, wherein said impedance means includes a plurality of impedance elements selectively connected to said integrating means and said position sensing means operatively sensing said vehicle at a predetermined position spaced from said selected landing and operatively varying the number of said impedance elements connected to said integrating means to modify the rate of integration.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 50 words

The system of claim 2, wherein said impedance means includes a predetermined number of impedance values and said sensing means operatively senses said vehicle at a predetermined number of positions and selects an appropriate impedance value corresponding to one of said sensed positions to provide an appropriate rate of integration.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 1, wherein said input means includes switching means providing an output coupled to said integrating means and selectively operable between a first predetermined magnitude and a second predetermined magnitude and operatively controlling the magnitude of ssaid vehicle command signal.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 5, wherein said switching means includes clamping means providing said first and second predetermined magnitudes.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system of claim 1, wherein said input means includes summing means providing an analog signal selectively varying according to a preconditioning signal and said vehicle command signal and operatively controlling the operation of said integrating means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 45 words

The system of claim 7, wherein said input means selectively provides a first polarity preconditioning signal in response to vehicle movement in a first direction and a second polarity preconditioning signal in response to vehicle movement in a second direction to provide said analog signal.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 7, wherein said preconditioning signal is selectively connected to said summing means until said integrating means initiates decelerating control of said vehicle in response to the sensed position of said vehicle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 48 words

The system of claim 1, wherein said input means is operatively coupled to said integrating means and operatively supplies a signal to be integrated by said integrating means in response to said vehicle command signal providing a decreasing vehicle command signal operatively controlling the deceleration of said vehicle.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 10, and including feedback means coupled to said integrating means and to said input means and supplying said vehicle command signal to said input means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 11, wherein said feedback means includes inverting means operating to provide the proper polarity of said vehicle command signal supplied to said input means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 213 words

A transportation system including a guide path structure and a plurality of spaced landings and a transportation means comprising a transport vehicle, means mounting said vehicle for movement relative to said structure in a path extending adjacent each of said landings, motive means moving said vehicle relative to said structure, means responsive to an output of said motive means and providing an output proportional signal, means sensing the arrival of said vehicle at a predetermined plurality of positions along said path spaced from selected landing at which a stop is to be made, and control means cooperating with said motive means and moving said vehicle relative to said structure and stopping said vehicle at said selected landing and including means providing a vehicle velocity command signal selectively variable from a first predetermined magnitude to a second predetermined magnitude by providing a predetermined number of substantially linear slopes and including modifying means operating in response to the sensed arrival of said vehicle at said predetermined plurality of positions to select a proper one of said predetermined slopes and means receiving said vehicle velocity command signal and said output proportional signal and providing an error signal operatively controlling the operation of said motive means and decelerating said vehicle for a stop at said selected landing.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 213 words

A transportation system including a guide path structure and a plurality of spaced landings and a transportation means comprising a transport vehicle, means mounting said vehicle for movement relative to said structure in a path extending adjacent each of said landings, motive means moving said vehicle relative to said structure, means responsive to an output of said motive means and providing an output proportional signal, means sensing the arrival of said vehicle at a predetermined plurality of positions along said path spaced from selected landing at which a stop is to be made, and control means cooperating with said motive means and moving said vehicle relative to said structure and stopping said vehicle at said selected landing and including means providing a vehicle velocity command signal selectively variable from a first predetermined magnitude to a second predetermined magnitude by providing a predetermined number of substantially linear slopes and including modifying means operating in response to the sensed arrival of said vehicle at said predetermined plurality of positions to select a proper one of said predetermined slopes and means receiving said vehicle velocity command signal and said output proportional signal and providing an error signal operatively controlling the operation of said motive means and decelerating said vehicle for a stop at said selected landing.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 13, wherein said control means includes input means operatively receiving said vehicle command signal and operatively controlling the operation of said velocity command signal providing means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 13, wherein said control means includes integrating means providing said velocity command signal.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 15, wherein said control means includes input means selectively supplying a preconditioning signal operatively coupled to control the operation of said integrating means during the acceleration of said vehicle and providing said first predetermined magnitude velocity command signal.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system of claim 16, wherein said input means includes switching means operatively receiving said preconditioning signal and providing a predetermined magnitude output signal integrated by said integrating means in response to vehicle movement to provide said first velocity command signal.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 17, wherein said switching means includes a switching amplifier having an output and a clamping circuit connected to said output.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 52 words

The system of claim 15, wherein said control means includes input means selectively supplying a preconditioning signal during the acceleration of said vehicle and including summing means providing an analog output signal varying in response to said preconditioning signal and said velocity command signal operatively controlling the operation of said integrating means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system of claim 19, wherein said input means includes switching means operatively receiving said analog signal and providing a predetermined magnitude output signal integrated by said integrating means in response to vehicle movement.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 20, wherein said analog output signal decreases to a predetermined value in response to said velocity command signal increasing to said first predetermined magnitude operatively coupled to maintain said first predetermined magnitude.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 46 words

The system of claim 13, wherein said control means includes integrating means preconditioned to provide said first predetermined magnitude velocity command signal and means providing a stepped input integrated by said integrating means and providing a decelerating velocity command signal decreasing to said second predetermined magnitude.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 90 words

The system of claim 22, wherein said control means includes input means including summing means providing an analog output signal varying in response to a constant preconditioning signal and said velocity command signal controlling the operation of said integrating means and providing said first predetermined magnitude vehicle command signal during initial vehicle movement from a landing, said preconditioning signal selectively removed from said summing means and providing said stepped input to said integrating means in response to said vehicle arriving at a predetermined decelerating position spaced from said selected landing.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 196 words

A transportation system including a guide path structure having a plurality of spaced landings and a transportation means comprising a transport vehicle, means mounting said vehicle for movement relative to said structure in a path extending adjacent each of said landings, motive means moving said vehicle relative to said structure, means responsive to an output of said motive means and providing an output proportional signal, and control means cooperating with said motive means and moving said vehicle at a selected landing and including pattern generating means having an integrator providing a vehicle velocity command signal and a summing circuit receiving said vehicle command signal through a feedback circuit and a preconditioning signal from an input command circuit in response to vehicle movement and providing an analog output signal operatively controlling a switching circuit having an output coupled to a clamping circuit and selectively providing first and second stepped signals which are integrated by said integrator in response to said analog signal, said control means including means receiving said velocity command signal and said output proportional signal and providing an error signal operatively controlling the movement of said vehicle and stopping said vehicle at a selected landing.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 196 words

A transportation system including a guide path structure having a plurality of spaced landings and a transportation means comprising a transport vehicle, means mounting said vehicle for movement relative to said structure in a path extending adjacent each of said landings, motive means moving said vehicle relative to said structure, means responsive to an output of said motive means and providing an output proportional signal, and control means cooperating with said motive means and moving said vehicle at a selected landing and including pattern generating means having an integrator providing a vehicle velocity command signal and a summing circuit receiving said vehicle command signal through a feedback circuit and a preconditioning signal from an input command circuit in response to vehicle movement and providing an analog output signal operatively controlling a switching circuit having an output coupled to a clamping circuit and selectively providing first and second stepped signals which are integrated by said integrator in response to said analog signal, said control means including means receiving said velocity command signal and said output proportional signal and providing an error signal operatively controlling the movement of said vehicle and stopping said vehicle at a selected landing.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 77 words

The system of claim 24, and including means sensing the arrival of said vehicle at a predetermined plurality of positions along said path spaced from said selected landing and said pattern generating means including a gain-setting circuit connected to said integrator and selectively operable to provide a selected one of a predetermined number of substantially linear slopes for said vehicle command signal in response to the sensed arrival of said vehicle at said predetermined plurality of positions.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 39 words

The system of claim 24, and including means supplying a rescue signal to said summing circuit in response to said vehicle traveling beyond said selected landing and said vehicle command signal operatively moving said vehicle to said selected landing.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 26, wherein said rescue means includes switching means operable for varying said analog signal from a first polarity to a second polarity in response to said vehicle traveling beyond said selected landing.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-04-06	1979-10-06	1980-04-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-04-06	1983-10-06	1984-04-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-04-06	1987-10-06	1988-04-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Transportation system with decelerating control

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag