High-Performance LIM-Based Material Mover

该提案要求获得新研究加速奖，以研究高性能，基于线性感应电机（LIM）的系统的新概念，用于在制造系统中运输原材料，制造零件和工具。现有的材料传输技术既慢又笨重。提出的概念由多个轻型车辆组成，每个车辆使用一对线性感应电动机沿着架空导轨推进。这些车辆将在轨道上高速运行。拟议的系统和现有的架空轨道系统之间的一个主要区别是可以使用线性感应电动机获得非常高的加速度和速度。在合理的距离内，从请求车辆到完成所需交付的时间预计将少于一分钟。设计并制造了原型车和导轨。拟议的研究将使这一概念的可行性得到证实。将对关键的系统概念进行测试，以评估超越现有材料运输技术的潜力。结果将提供LIM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，将提交后续提案，以解决未来的研究问题。需要一个原材料、制造零件和工具传输网络，它具有类似于数据传输网络的特性，并且可以像数据传输网络一样在逻辑上处理。本研究的目的是为了证明该系统的可行性。所提出的系统的优点包括材料的快速传输，及时交货，消除了需要缓冲的部件，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.