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Connection for Automatic Battery Recharging on Matl Handling Cart
- Thread starter rb
- Start date
dbaird
Electrical
- Mar 31, 2000
- 412
I would look into using "docking connectors" for this application. Check:
David Baird
mrbaird@hotmail.com
Sr Controls Engineer
EET degree.
Journeyman Electrician.
David Baird
mrbaird@hotmail.com
Sr Controls Engineer
EET degree.
Journeyman Electrician.
There's always the good old copper bar contoured to match a mating spring supported (other half) that is wired to with a generous amount of braided copper strap (to allow flexing). You can use a magnet or light, etc, with a relay to actually energize the *connected* shoes.
Take a look at
I call them Forklift Connectors or Golf Cart Connectors. They are also used for the aux starting battery connector on race cars.
I call them Forklift Connectors or Golf Cart Connectors. They are also used for the aux starting battery connector on race cars.
The connector recommended by sreid is what is used on our electric forklifts for change over from forklift operation to battery charging, and I have seen them used on tow trucks as a quick connect for jumper cables negating the need to raise the hood on the tow truck. They should work fine for your application.
rmw
rmw
soy-tant-ly! I'd pay to see that!! (hope they aren't too conductive)
I would assume that *Automatic Connection* ment humans need not apply. Shove, park, or drive some material handling machine into its home parking spot and this event alone, connects it to the charger.
I'm near a Lipton's plant and they have these material handling robots scuttling all over the place unattended. I could imagine having them charge themselves, would be a virtue.
But this is all smoke anyway cuz I think the OP hit and ran us.
I would assume that *Automatic Connection* ment humans need not apply. Shove, park, or drive some material handling machine into its home parking spot and this event alone, connects it to the charger.
I'm near a Lipton's plant and they have these material handling robots scuttling all over the place unattended. I could imagine having them charge themselves, would be a virtue.
But this is all smoke anyway cuz I think the OP hit and ran us.
- Thread starter
- #9
Thanks for the replies so far!
What I mean by "Automatic Connection" is that when the vehicle comes to it's home position it automatically (without operator - or mouse
- intervention begins to re-charge itself. I think the Automatic Guded Vehicles (AGVs) you see in large assembly plants use some sort of spring loaded copper plates. I was hoping I could find a standard off-the-shelf component rather that designing our own from scratch.
What I mean by "Automatic Connection" is that when the vehicle comes to it's home position it automatically (without operator - or mouse
- intervention begins to re-charge itself. I think the Automatic Guded Vehicles (AGVs) you see in large assembly plants use some sort of spring loaded copper plates. I was hoping I could find a standard off-the-shelf component rather that designing our own from scratch.Ta DA! He is here.
Honestly, I think you will have to roll your own.. The variations would be so large for different applications and they would be cheap enough to have built that there won't be any one producer and marketing them would be pointless... So just design what you need and get them built.
Honestly, I think you will have to roll your own.. The variations would be so large for different applications and they would be cheap enough to have built that there won't be any one producer and marketing them would be pointless... So just design what you need and get them built.
Just a thought -
For some design ideas have a look at the connection spouts used for MV switchgear - the 3.3 / 6 / 11kV class. I'm not suggesting actually using them as they are almost certainly overspec'd for what you need, but the connector design is intended to reliably mate a breaker truck weighing maybe half a tonne to a live switchboard. There will be design elements which could be well suited to your application.
----------------------------------
If we learn from our mistakes,
I'm getting a great education!
For some design ideas have a look at the connection spouts used for MV switchgear - the 3.3 / 6 / 11kV class. I'm not suggesting actually using them as they are almost certainly overspec'd for what you need, but the connector design is intended to reliably mate a breaker truck weighing maybe half a tonne to a live switchboard. There will be design elements which could be well suited to your application.
----------------------------------
If we learn from our mistakes,
I'm getting a great education!
Yup.
Of course if there are any attractive ladies operating the material handling carts, then the supervisor would have to jump on the back, lean over them to steer with one hand, whilst the other graps the power pick up pole and try to seduce them.
Judging by all the bumper car operators I've seen anyway.
Not helping the OP much here am I.
Back on topic: is this a "plug" mounted on the cart that you would simply push up and into a socket on the charging station to recharge, or does it need to physically guide the cart in automatically?
"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go past." Douglas Adams
Of course if there are any attractive ladies operating the material handling carts, then the supervisor would have to jump on the back, lean over them to steer with one hand, whilst the other graps the power pick up pole and try to seduce them.
Judging by all the bumper car operators I've seen anyway.
Not helping the OP much here am I.
Back on topic: is this a "plug" mounted on the cart that you would simply push up and into a socket on the charging station to recharge, or does it need to physically guide the cart in automatically?
"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go past." Douglas Adams
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