US 12,227,110 B2
Track-guided cart system
Mitsuya Tokumoto, Inuyama (JP)
Assigned to MURATA MACHINERY, LTD., Kyoto (JP)
Appl. No. 17/921,422
Filed by MURATA MACHINERY, LTD., Kyoto (JP)
PCT Filed Mar. 11, 2021, PCT No. PCT/JP2021/009866
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 26, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/220636, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-081444 (JP), filed on May 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0182577 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. B60L 7/22 (2006.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.01); H01L 21/677 (2006.01)
CPC B60L 7/22 (2013.01) [B60L 50/60 (2019.02); H01L 21/6773 (2013.01); H01L 21/67733 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rail-guided vehicle system configured to connect between vertically-spaced floors, the rail-guided vehicle system comprising:
a descending rail to enable a travel vehicle to move downward; and
an ascending rail to connect between the vertically-spaced floors and to enable the travel vehicle to move upward; wherein
the descending rail includes a helical structure, a first rail of a first section where heat energy or electric energy converted from kinetic energy by actuation of brakes included in the travel vehicle is generated, and a second rail of a second section where the heat energy generated in the first section is released or where the electric energy generated in the first section is consumed;
the travel vehicle is an overhead hoist transport including a traveler to travel on the descending rail and the ascending rail, and a body connected to the traveler in a suspended state;
the ascending rail overlaps with the descending rail in a plan view as seen from above in a vertical direction; and
the second section includes:
a branching portion that is connected to a rail suspended from a ceiling at each of the vertically-spaced floors; and
a joining portion that connects together the rails suspended from the ceiling at each of the vertically-spaced floors.