US 11,912,516 B1
Passive braking systems for container shuttles
Zahin Nambiar, Seattle, WA (US); Ganesh Krishnamoorthy, Seattle, WA (US); Michael D. Assadi, Seattle, WA (US); Michael Alan Bray, Elkhorn, NE (US); Enrico Fortunato, Dublin (IE); and Erika Regan Storvick, Broomfield, CO (US)
Assigned to Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Aug. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/898,785.
Int. Cl. B65G 54/02 (2006.01); B07C 5/36 (2006.01); H02K 41/03 (2006.01); H02K 41/02 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 54/02 (2013.01) [B07C 5/36 (2013.01); H02K 41/03 (2013.01); H02K 41/031 (2013.01); H02K 41/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a track having a first portion at a first elevation, a second portion at a second elevation, and a third portion that forms a downward ramp between the first portion and the second portion;
a first electromagnet disposed along the first portion of the track;
a second electromagnet disposed along the second portion of the track;
a shuttle comprising a permanent magnet configured to interact with the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet to propel the shuttle along the track, wherein the shuttle comprises an onboard conveyor;
a first aluminum block disposed along the third portion of the track;
a second aluminum block disposed adjacent to the first aluminum block; and
a third aluminum block disposed adjacent to the second aluminum block;
wherein a combined length of the first aluminum block, the second aluminum block, and the third aluminum block is equal to a length of the first electromagnet; and
wherein the first aluminum block, the second aluminum block, and the third aluminum block create a repulsive force opposite a direction of travel of the shuttle.