Carrier-to-Storage Charging Interface for Palletless Parking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated parking apparatuses that transfer vehicles from carriers to storages without using pallets cannot charge the vehicles effectively due to fixed charging contacts on pallets being incompatible with these systems.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle charging apparatus that includes a charging part on a carrier and a feeding part on the storage, allowing connection and disconnection during vehicle transfer, enabling charging even in systems that do not use pallets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed charging contact on a pallet is used for vehicle charging, then charging can be provided in automated parking apparatuses that use pallets, but it cannot be applied to apparatuses that transfer vehicles directly from carriers to storages without pallets
Solution Approach 1:
The charging contact is divided into separate components: a charging contact on the carrier and a feeding contact on the storage. This segmentation allows the charging function to be adapted to different parking apparatus configurations, including those without pallets, while maintaining the essential charging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging contact system is designed to work universally across different parking apparatus types. By placing charging contacts on both carriers and storages, the system can accommodate both pallet-based and direct transfer configurations, enhancing adaptability without requiring separate charging solutions for each type.
2Reliability
If the charging contact is fixed on the pallet, then the pallet can provide charging function, but the charging contact cannot be used when the automated parking apparatus transfers only vehicles from carrier to storage
Solution Approach 1:
The charging contact system transitions from a static, fixed configuration on pallets to a dynamic system where charging contacts are positioned on both carriers and storages. This dynamic arrangement allows the system to adapt to different operational modes, ensuring reliable charging whether vehicles are transferred on pallets or directly from carriers to storages.
3Productivity
If the carrier transfers the vehicle to the storage without pallets, then the transfer process is simplified, but the fixed charging contact on the pallet becomes unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The charging contact is pre-positioned on the carrier before vehicle transfer. This preliminary positioning ensures that the charging connection is already established and ready to function when the vehicle arrives at the storage, maintaining reliable charging capability while allowing the simplified direct transfer process to proceed efficiently.
Data Source
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AI summary
A charging box 62 of a vehicle charging apparatus 60 connects with a placement part 64 provided on a carrier 30 when a vehicle 12 is carried by the carrier 30. The charging box 62 then connects to a charging box receiving part 66 provided on a storage 14 with a movement of the vehicle 12 from the carrier 30 to the storage 14. The charging box 62 is disconnected from the placement part 64 after the connection of the charging box 62 to the charging box receiving part 66.