The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 21, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 01, 2000
Richard M. Brien, Methuen, MA (US);
Mitchell Weiss, Carlisle, MA (US);
PRI Automation, Inc., Billerica, MA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for providing power to an automated material handling system that includes a track on which a plurality of electrically powered material transport vehicles are mounted comprises a plurality of current-limited power sources each having a power supply lead and a power return lead. The apparatus further includes a power supply distribution network that is configured and arranged to electrically connect the power supply leads of the plurality of power sources together and to couple the current supplied therefrom to the power supply input of at least one of the plurality of material transport vehicles. And further includes a power return network configured and arranged to electrically couple the power return output of at least one of the plurality of material transport vehicles to the interconnected power return leads of the plurality of power sources. As the voltage of one or more of the power sources droops due to a current overload condition, the other interconnected power sources will begin to supply current via the power supply distribution network.