Firefighting Service Vehicle With Diagonal Travel for ASRS Grids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated storage and retrieval systems face challenges in efficiently extinguishing fires within or above the storage grid without disrupting container handling vehicle operations, leading to potential damage and productivity losses due to the need for human intervention and inefficient firefighting paths.
Innovation Solution
A service vehicle equipped with caterpillar tracks or cylindrical rollers for movement across the rail system, allowing for a wider footprint and diagonal travel, combined with a fire extinguisher compartment and inspection units, enables rapid and efficient fire extinguishment without halting container handling vehicle operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If human firefighters are deployed to extinguish fires within the storage grid, then fire extinguishment can be performed, but container handling vehicle operations must be halted causing productivity loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs an autonomous service vehicle equipped with fire extinguishing equipment that can independently navigate to and extinguish fires within the storage grid without requiring human intervention or halting container handling operations. The vehicle autonomously detects fires, positions itself, and deploys extinguishing agents, allowing the system to service itself during fire incidents while maintaining normal operational productivity.
2Ease of operation
If conventional wheel-based vehicles are used on the rail system, then they can move along the rails, but they cannot travel diagonally across grid cells limiting firefighting efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The service vehicle transitions from conventional two-dimensional rail-bound movement to three-dimensional spatial mobility by incorporating both wheel-based rail travel and diagonal traversal capability through the storage grid. The vehicle can move along rails for long-distance transport and then traverse diagonally across grid cells to reach fire locations more directly, adding a dimensional aspect to its navigation that reduces response time and improves operational efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If the service vehicle uses a narrow footprint design, then it can navigate through the rail system, but it becomes unstable on weakened or distorted rails
Solution Approach 1:
The service vehicle employs a dynamically adjustable footprint width that can change based on rail conditions. When rails are intact and properly positioned, the vehicle operates with a narrower footprint for optimal navigation. When rails are weakened, distorted, or missing, the vehicle automatically widens its footprint to span across multiple rails or support structures, distributing its weight and maintaining stability on compromised surfaces through real-time adaptation.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the caterpillar track length exceeds the diagonal of a grid opening, then the vehicle can span weakened rails, but the overall vehicle width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The service vehicle's propulsion system is segmented into multiple independent caterpillar tracks rather than using a single continuous track. This segmentation allows the vehicle to deploy only the necessary track length for spanning weakened rails at any given moment, rather than requiring the full diagonal length across the entire grid opening. The modular track segments can be extended or retracted based on the specific rail condition, maintaining a compact overall vehicle footprint while providing spanning capability when needed.
Data Source
Figure 1~1B
Figure 2~2B
Figure 3~3C
AI summary
The invention concerns a service vehicle for extinguishing fire on and within an automated storage and retrieval system and a method for operating such a service vehicle. The service vehicle comprises propulsion means configured to drive on top of the rail system and a fire extinguisher device for extinguishing fire on and beneath the rail system using fire extinguishant.