Ceiling Rail Stopper With Multi-Directional Sensor Targets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overhead traveling vehicle stopping devices are inadequate in preventing entry from multiple directions, particularly in grid-shaped tracks, as they cannot effectively prohibit vehicles from entering from various angles.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates an engagement part with a body featuring elongated members and detection target portions detectable by obstacle sensors, allowing it to stop vehicles from two orthogonal directions without multiple devices, suitable for grid systems, and includes push-down parts to forcibly halt vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single stopping device with one detection target portion is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to prohibit entry from multiple directions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The body is divided into multiple detection target portions (first detection target portion and second detection target portion) that face different directions. Each detection target portion can be independently detected by obstacle sensors of overhead traveling vehicles approaching from different directions, enabling the single device to prohibit entry from multiple directions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection target portions are arranged in different spatial dimensions and orientations. The first detection target portion faces a transverse direction while the second detection target portion faces another direction intersecting the elongated member, creating multi-directional detection coverage through spatial dimensionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple stopping devices are attached to cover all directions, then the ability to prohibit entry from multiple directions is improved, but the device complexity and installation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple detection target portions that would traditionally require separate stopping devices are merged into a single integrated body. The engagement part with the elongated member serves as a common structure supporting multiple detection target portions, reducing the number of separate devices needed from multiple to one.
Solution Approach 2:
The single stopping device is designed with multi-functional capability to perform the entry prohibition function in multiple directions. The body with its multiple detection target portions can detect and respond to vehicles approaching from different directions, making one device universal for multi-directional protection.
Data Source
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AI summary
An overhead traveling vehicle stopping device is attached to rails provided on a ceiling and stops an overhead traveling vehicle traveling along travel routes constituted by the rails. The overhead traveling vehicle stopping device includes an engagement part engageable with the rails, and a body including an elongated member extending downwardly from the engagement part. The body includes at least one first detection target portion detected by obstacle sensors of an overhead traveling vehicle traveling toward the body from a transverse direction intersecting the elongated member, and second detection target portions detected by the obstacle sensors of the overhead traveling vehicle traveling toward the body from another direction intersecting the elongated member and different from the transverse direction.