Extendable Wheelbase for Stable Cantilever Container Handling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The instability of container handling vehicles with a cantilever solution is due to the weight of the cantilever and container causing the center of gravity to be outside the base of the wheels, especially when handling heavy loads.
Innovation Solution
The wheels on the cantilever side of the container handling vehicle are positioned or extendable to provide a permanent or controlled extension of the wheelbase, allowing them to use both inner and outer tracks for stability, and are controlled by a central computer system based on the weight of the attached container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cantilever structure is used to enable container handling operations, then the vehicle can access storage columns and perform lifting operations, but the center of gravity shifts outside the wheelbase causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The wheelbase is made dynamically adjustable through extendable wheel assemblies that can change their position relative to the vehicle body. The wheels on the cantilever side can be extended outward to increase the wheelbase width, dynamically adapting the stability characteristics based on operational requirements and load conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameter of wheelbase width is changed by extending or retracting the wheel assemblies. This parameter modification allows the vehicle to transition between a compact configuration for navigation and an extended configuration for enhanced stability during container handling operations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the wheelbase is extended to improve stability, then the center of gravity is brought back over the wheels, but the vehicle size increases affecting maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The wheelbase extension is a dynamic, reversible modification rather than a permanent structural change. The wheels can be extended when stability is needed and retracted when maneuverability is required, allowing the vehicle to adapt its dimensions based on operational context.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheelbase extension is achieved through separate, modular wheel assemblies that can be independently controlled. Each wheel assembly on the cantilever side can be extended or retracted independently, allowing fine-tuned adjustment of the wheelbase width without affecting the entire vehicle structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed wheel positioning is used to simplify the structure, then manufacturing is easier, but the vehicle cannot adapt to different stability requirements based on load weight
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel positioning system transitions from fixed to dynamic, allowing the wheelbase width to be adjusted based on operational requirements. The extendable wheel assemblies provide adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple base structure that can be manufactured using conventional methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A container handling vehicle with a cantilever solution operates on an automated storage and retrieval system. The automated storage and retrieval system includes a framework structure forming a three-dimensional storage grid structure for storing storage containers for storing items. The grid structure forms vertical storage columns each having a horizontal area defined by the size of an access opening of the vertical storage columns. A rail system is arranged on the framework structure, rails of the rail system extending in an X-direction and a Y-direction to define a grid and to define a perimeter of each access opening on top of each storage column. The rail system provides available routes for container handling vehicles handling and transferring the storage containers to and from the storage columns. Each rail has a first track and a parallel second track allowing two container handling vehicles to pass each other using the same rail. Each vehicle communicates with a central computer system controlling the operation. At least one container handling vehicle has a container handling platform with a set of grippers for handling the storage containers. The wheels are on a cantilever side of the container handling vehicle, used for manoeuvring the container handling vehicle in the Y-direction, are positioned or are positionable with respect to the container handling vehicle to allow them to use an outer track of a rail in the Y-direction to manoeuvre the container handling vehicle when the wheels on an opposite side of the container handling vehicle are using an inner track of an adjacent rail in the Y-direction.