Container Handling Lifting Frame With Cable-Free Gripper Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container handling vehicles face issues with worn lifting bands causing short circuits and operational delays due to power and signal transmission via embedded cables, which can lead to system complications and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A container handling vehicle with a lifting device using a rechargeable power supply and wireless communication for gripper elements, eliminating direct power and signal transfer via cables by employing Li-ion batteries or capacitors and light-based communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power and signals are transmitted via lifting bands connecting the lifting frame to the container handling vehicle, then the gripper elements can be controlled and powered, but the cables become worn causing short circuits and operational delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power supply and signal transmission functions from the lifting bands/cables and relocates them to independent rechargeable power supplies mounted on the vehicle body. This separation eliminates the wear and short circuit problems associated with cables in the lifting bands while maintaining the necessary power and control functions for the gripper elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces rechargeable power supplies as intermediary devices between the vehicle body and the lifting frame. These power supplies provide power and signals to the gripper elements without requiring physical connection through the lifting bands, thereby eliminating the harmful wear and short circuit issues.
2Ease of operation
If cables are embedded in lifting bands for power and signal transmission, then the system can function, but short circuits occur leading to system complications and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the cables from the lifting bands and places power supplies on the vehicle body, extracting the source of short circuits from the system while maintaining operational simplicity through wireless or contactless power transfer mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of cable wear and short circuits into a benefit by using rechargeable power supplies that can be independently maintained and replaced without affecting the lifting mechanism, turning a reliability issue into a maintainable feature.
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
Ensures reliable operation by preventing short circuits and reducing service intensity, enhancing system efficiency and safety by using wireless power and communication.
Implementation Method 1
A container handling vehicle with a lifting device using a rechargeable power supply and wireless communication for gripper elements, eliminating direct power and signal transfer via cables by employing Li-ion batteries or capacitors
Implementation Method 2
employing Li-ion batteries or capacitors and light-based communication
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
A container-handling vehicle (9) for picking up storage containers (6) from a three- dimensional grid (4) of an underlying storage system (1), comprising a vehicle body (13) and at least one lifting device (18) for lifting a storage container (6) from the grid (4), comprising a lifting frame (17) with gripper elements (24) for releasable connection to a storage container (6), wherein that the lifting frame (17) further comprises a first rechargeable power supply (41) for supplying energy to the gripper elements (24).