Bracing arrangement with damper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated storage and retrieval systems face challenges in maintaining structural rigidity due to lateral forces from operating vehicles, as conventional dampers absorb energy from the onset, causing undesirable movement, whereas a solution is needed to isolate the damper until a threshold tensile load is exceeded to allow normal operation without energy dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A bracing arrangement with a damper mechanism isolated by a tension limiter, which prevents lateral forces from activating the damper until a predetermined threshold is reached, using a releasable locking mechanism such as a spring-loaded detent or breakable pin to allow energy dissipation only when excessive forces are applied, thereby maintaining structural rigidity during normal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a damper mechanism is installed to dissipate kinetic energy from lateral forces, then the framework structure's ability to absorb energy from earthquakes and impacts is improved, but the framework structure experiences undesirable movement during normal operation of automated vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The tension limiter is pre-configured with a threshold value that determines when the damper mechanism should be activated. During normal operation, the tension limiter remains engaged, preventing the damper from activating. Only when lateral forces exceed the predetermined threshold does the tension limiter release, allowing the damper to dissipate energy. This preliminary configuration resolves the contradiction by ensuring the damper remains inactive during normal operations while being ready to activate when truly needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension limiter acts as an intermediary mechanism between the lateral force sources and the damper mechanism. It selectively transmits or blocks forces based on their magnitude, allowing normal operational forces to pass through to the rigid framework while blocking and redirecting excessive forces to the damper mechanism for energy dissipation. This intermediary function resolves the contradiction by filtering which forces trigger damper activation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a tension limiter with releasable locking mechanism is added to isolate the damper until threshold is reached, then structural rigidity during normal operation is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tension limiter function is extracted as a separate, dedicated component from the overall bracing arrangement. By isolating the threshold-based activation logic into a distinct tension limiter mechanism with its own locking and release functions, the design avoids complicating the entire system. The tension limiter can be implemented as a simple mechanical device with a predetermined threshold, keeping its complexity low while effectively resolving the rigidity issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension limiter is applied locally at specific connection points in the bracing arrangement where lateral forces are most problematic. Rather than making the entire framework more complex, the tension limiter is strategically positioned to provide threshold-based protection only where needed. This localized application maintains overall structural simplicity while achieving the desired rigidity during normal operations.
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
The solution effectively maintains the structural rigidity of the framework during normal operation by isolating the damper until excessive forces are applied, ensuring efficient energy dissipation only when necessary, thus preventing undesirable movement and maintaining operational integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (514) that is compressible and extendable in a longitudinal direction (L) of the bracing member (504), the compression of the spring being responsive to tension forces transferred to the spring (514) via the elongated member (504)
Implementation Method 2
a friction element (505) arranged to dissipate kinetic energy from lateral forces when the friction element (505) and the second element (507) move relative to one another
Data Source
AI summary
A bracing arrangement is for a framework structure of an automated storage and retrieval system. The framework structure includes a rail system arranged at an upper level of the framework structure. The rail system includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent grid cells. Each grid cell includes a grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails. The framework structure provides a plurality of storage columns. Each column is arranged to store a respective stack of storage containers where the storage columns are located beneath the rail system and each storage column is located vertically below a grid opening. The rail system is arranged to guide a plurality of automated vehicles that operate on the rail system. The bracing arrangement includes an elongated, rigid bracing member, and a damping mechanism. The elongated, rigid bracing member is coupled at one end to the framework structure, at or near an upper level of the framework structure and at an opposite end to a grounding point. The damping mechanism is connected to an end of the bracing member. The damping mechanism is arranged to respond to forces from lateral movement in the upper level of the framework structure transferred to the damper mechanism via the elongated bracing member. The damping mechanism further includes a releasable locking mechanism which isolates the damping mechanism until a threshold force exerted on the locking mechanism via the bracing member is exceeded, such that after the threshold value is exceeded the releasable locking mechanism is tripped allowing the damper to dissipate kinetic energy from lateral movement of the upper level of the framework structure.