Aerial transport system

摘要

Disclosed is an aerial transport system which comprises an aerial track having therealong a pair of electric current-carrying cables in a parallel relationship with respect to one another and with respect to the track, and self-propelled carriages. Each carriage has an electric current collector to collect electric power from the current-carrying cables and to supply the power to an electrical driving mechanism mounted thereon for driving wheels engaging with the track. The current-carrying cables are separated at longitudinal given intervals so as to define respectively independent electric power supply zones. The transport system further includes a system for controlling electric power supply for the vehicle or carriage including a mechanism for detecting a vehicle or carriage position in the track provided in each power supply zone. The vehicle or carriage position detecting mechanism has a circuit which is closed when the vehicle or carriage is present within the zone, and a detector for detecting an electric current flowing in the zone when the circuit is closed. The detector is associated with a holding relay control circuit. The holding relay controls an electric power supply control circuit having a controlling contactor connected with a contact of the holding relay.