High-Performance LIM-Based Material Mover

该提案要求获得创新研究加速奖，以研究一种基于直线感应电机(LIM)的高性能系统的新概念，该系统用于在制造系统中运输原材料、制造的部件和工具。现有的材料传输技术既慢又笨重。拟议的概念由多辆轻型车辆组成，每辆车都使用一对直线感应电机沿高架导轨推进。车辆将在导轨上高速运行。该系统与现有架空轨道系统的一个主要区别是，使用直线感应电机可以获得非常高的加速度和速度。在合理距离内，从申请车辆到完成所需交付的时间预计不到一分钟。设计并制造了样车和导轨。拟议的研究将使这一概念的可行性得到证明。将测试关键的系统概念，以评估跨越现有材料运输技术的潜力。这些结果将提供对直线电机性能和车辆/导轨性能的评估，并确定该领域未来的研究需求。如果这项工作成功，将提交后续建议，以解决未来的研究问题。需要一种具有与数据传输网络相似并且在逻辑上可以被视为数据传输网络的属性的原材料、制造部件和工具传输网络。拟议研究的目的是证明这一制度的可行性。拟议的系统的好处包括快速传输材料、及时交付、消除缓冲部件的需要以及系统设计的模块化。

This proposal requests an Expedited Award for Novel Research to investigate a novel concept of a high performance, linear induction motor (LIM) based system for transporting raw material, manufactured parts and tools in manufacturing systems. Existing technology for material transmission is slow and bulky. The proposed concept consists of multiple lightweight vehicles, each using a pair of linear induction motors for propulsion along an overhead guideway. The vehicles would circulate around the guideway at high speeds. A major distinction between the proposed system and existing overhead track systems is the very high accelerations and velocities that can be obtained using linear induction motors. The time between a request for a vehicle and the completion of the required delivery is expected to be less than a minute over reasonable distances. A prototype vehicle and guideway have been designed and constructed. The proposed research will enable the feasibility of the concept to be proven. Crucial system concepts will be tested in order to evaluate the potential to leap-frog existing material transportation technologies. The results will provide an assessment of LIM performance and of vehicle/guideway performance and identification of future research needs in this area. If this work is successful, a follow-on proposal will be submitted to address the future research issues. There is a need for a raw material, manufactured part and tooling transmission network that has properties similar to and can be treated logically like a data transmission network. The objective of the proposed research is to prove out the feasibility of such a system. The benefits of the proposed system include rapid transmission of material, just-in-time delivery, elimination of need to buffer parts, and modularity of system design.