Cooled storage system having sections separated by thermal barrier

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cooled storage systems for refrigerated and frozen food products lack efficient retrieval mechanisms, leading to prolonged storage and delivery times due to the inability to maintain controlled temperatures and access the correct products quickly.

Innovation Solution

A cooled storage system featuring a grid structure with thermal insulation between sections, allowing for different temperature zones, and a remotely operated vehicle that can move between these zones to efficiently retrieve and deliver storage bins, utilizing a bin lift device to convey bins vertically to a delivery station while maintaining temperature control through evaporator-cooled sections and insulating covers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If thermal insulation is provided between grid structure sections to maintain different temperature zones, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature controlVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grid structure is divided into multiple temperature zones (frozen zone, refrigerated zone, and intermediate zone) separated by thermal barriers. Each zone can be independently temperature-controlled, allowing differentiated storage conditions for different product types while maintaining overall system functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the grid structure are assigned different thermal properties through the introduction of thermal barriers and insulating covers. The frozen zone has enhanced insulation, the refrigerated zone has moderate insulation, and the intermediate zone serves as a thermal buffer, creating local quality variations to optimize temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Speed

If a remotely operated vehicle is used to access storage cells, then retrieval speed is improved, but heat transfer to cooled sections increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretrieval speedVSAvoidheat transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating cover is designed to be movable, allowing it to be opened only when a storage cell needs to be accessed. During normal operation, the cover remains closed to maintain thermal insulation. The vehicle can access cells dynamically without compromising the overall thermal integrity of the zone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The thermal barrier and insulating cover act as intermediaries between the remotely operated vehicle (which operates at ambient temperature) and the cooled storage sections. These intermediaries minimize direct thermal contact and heat transfer while still allowing the vehicle to perform its retrieval function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple temperature zones are created in the storage system, then product storage flexibility is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage flexibilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate temperature zone, which could be seen as an energy-consuming addition, actually serves as a thermal buffer that reduces the overall energy demand. By placing this zone between the frozen and refrigerated sections, it minimizes thermal bridging and heat transfer between the two extreme zones, thereby reducing the energy required to maintain both zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

Each temperature zone is equipped with localized thermal management features (thermal barriers, insulating covers) that allow independent temperature control. This enables the system to maintain different temperatures in different zones only when necessary, rather than cooling the entire system uniformly, thus optimizing energy consumption while maintaining storage flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables rapid and efficient access to cooled products by maintaining controlled temperatures across different sections of the storage grid, improving the operational time of the vehicle and ensuring the integrity of refrigerated and frozen goods during storage and delivery.

Implementation Method 1

there is provided thermal insulation between at least a section of the grid structure and the remotely operated vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

an evaporator to cool the storage bin and freeze any liquid product inside the storage bin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS11466923B2Cooled storage system having sections separated by thermal barrier

Publication Date: 2022.10.11 AUTOSTORE TECH AS

AI summary

A cooled storage system includes a grid structure of storage cells. Each cell may be arranged to accommodate a vertical stack of storage bins and having a top level. At least one remotely operated vehicle may be arranged to move at the top level of the grid structure and receive a bin from a storage cell at the top level of the grid structure. Additionally, a thermal insulation is provided between at least a section of the grid structure and the remotely operated vehicle, and the section of the grid structure has a temperature that is lower than the temperature of the remotely operated vehicle.