Importance

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Abstract

A proximity switching system comrising a plurality of self-propelled vehicles mounted in tandem on a track and carrying magnetic proximity switches for controlling the vehicle propulsion. Each vehicle has a first magnet mounted on the front end at a first position, a second magnet mounted on the back end at a second position, a first magnetic reed switch mounted on the front end at a position congruent with the second position on the back end, and a second magnetic reed switch mounted on the back end at a position congruent with the first position on the front end. A pair of electric rails are mounted next to the track. Each vehicle includes contacts for receiving voltages on the rails. A DC motor drives the vehicles on the track in one of two directions dependent on the polarity of the voltages, and for not driving the vehicles in response to the closure of the first switch when the voltage has one polarity and in response to the closure of the second switch when the voltage has an opposite polarity. The magnet on a given vehicle has two functions: first, it will close the reed switch on an approaching vehicle if it comes within a predetermined distance from the given vehicle and second, it will bias a switch mounted adjacent to the magnet on the approaching vehicle to vary the distances that the switch opens or closes. The effect of the magnet on the front of the approaching vehicle is to apply a magnetic biasing field to the switch mounted adjacent to the magnet on the approaching vehicle. The magnet on the back of the given vehicle will provide a magnetic field in the same direction and therefore additive to the magnetic biasing field at the front of the approaching vehicle which additive magnetic and magnetic biasing fields when two vehicles are in proximity will cause the switch at the front of the approaching vehicle to close and disable the drive mechanism of the approaching vehicle.

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First Claim