Forklift Battery Compartment Roller Guide System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial trucks with battery compartments designed for specific guide profiles struggle to accommodate battery blocks of different designs, making it difficult to insert or remove them without corresponding support elements or rollers.

Innovation Solution

The battery compartment floor features roller receiving openings, and an optional separate shelf with similar openings, allowing rollers to be inserted for supporting battery blocks without their own rollable or sliding elements, enabling flexible accommodation of various battery blocks by adjusting the rollers' dimensioning and positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the battery compartment floor is designed with guide tracks and rollers for specific battery blocks, then the support and movement of those specific battery blocks is improved, but the adaptability to accommodate battery blocks of different designs is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport reliabilityVSAvoidbattery block compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The battery compartment floor is designed with multiple roller receiving openings that can accommodate different types of rollers. The guide tracks are positioned to work with both battery blocks having rollers and those without, allowing the same battery compartment to universally support multiple battery block designs through configurable roller arrangements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows dynamic configuration by enabling rollers to be inserted into or removed from the roller receiving openings based on the specific battery block being used. This dynamic adaptability lets the battery compartment adjust its support mechanism to match different battery block designs while maintaining reliable support and movement functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If battery blocks without support elements are used, then the versatility of battery block designs is improved, but the ease of insertion and removal from the battery compartment is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery block design flexibilityVSAvoidbattery block insertion ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Rollers serve as an intermediary mechanism between the battery compartment floor and battery blocks lacking support elements. When inserted into the roller receiving openings, these rollers provide the necessary rolling contact that enables easy insertion and removal of battery blocks without integrated support elements, while maintaining design flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If fixed guide profiles are provided on the battery compartment floor, then the guidance of battery blocks is improved, but the adaptability to different battery block designs is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguideway stabilityVSAvoidbattery block design compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guide tracks are positioned and dimensioned to provide stable guidance locally where needed, while the roller receiving openings are distributed across the battery compartment floor to provide adaptable support points. This combination allows the guide tracks to maintain stability for battery block movement while the configurable roller system adapts to different battery block designs and positions

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 configuration allows for the easy insertion and removal of battery blocks, accommodating different designs and ensuring free movement, while protective elements prevent damage to the rollers, enhancing compatibility and usability across various battery changing systems.

Implementation Method 1

the battery block can be movably supported relative to the battery compartment with a support element provided thereon... on which rollers arranged on the battery block can be moved... the axes of rotation of the rollers are aligned orthogonally to the direction of movement of the battery block

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling: Roller

Data Source

PatentEP2123595B1Industrial truck with battery compartment with roller holder opening
Publication Date: 2014.09.17 JUNGHEINRICH AG
  • EP2123595B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2123595B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2123595B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a material handling vehicle, in particular a forklift, with a replaceable battery pack (23) and a battery compartment (12) accommodating the battery pack (23), wherein the battery compartment (12) comprises at least one lateral access opening for inserting and removing the battery pack (23), wherein the base (10) of the battery compartment (12) has at least one guide track (16a, 16b) in the direction of battery movement (B), on which the battery pack (23) can be movably supported relative to the battery compartment (12) by means of a support element provided thereon. According to the invention, the battery compartment base (10) has several roller receiving openings (18) into which rollers (20) belonging to the battery compartment base (10) can be inserted as required.According to a further aspect, it is proposed that a separate insert (40) can be inserted into the battery compartment (12), arranged at a distance from the battery compartment base (10) by means of spacers (42), which has several roller receiving openings (18) into which rollers (20) can be inserted as required for the insert (40).