Lifting Frame Wireless Power and Control Without Cable Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container-handling vehicles face issues with worn lifting bands and embedded cables providing power and signals to gripper elements, leading to potential short circuits, system delays, and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A container-handling vehicle with a lifting device featuring a rechargeable power supply integrated into the lifting frame, and wireless light communication for controlling gripper elements, eliminating the need for direct power and signal transfer via lifting bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lifting bands with embedded cables are used to transfer power and signals to gripper elements, then the gripper elements can be controlled, but the risk of short circuits and system failures increases due to worn lifting bands and cables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power supply and control signal sources from the central vehicle unit and places them directly on the lifting frame. The power supply unit and control unit are now integrated with the lifting frame structure, eliminating the need for cables running through lifting bands. This extraction of critical components from the vulnerable cable path resolves the short circuit risk while maintaining system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless communication as an intermediary medium for transmitting control signals between the control unit on the lifting frame and the gripper elements. Instead of direct electrical connection through vulnerable cables, wireless signals mediate the control function, eliminating the harmful effect of cable wear and short circuits while preserving the ability to control gripper elements.
2Ease of operation
If cables are embedded in lifting bands to provide power and signals, then gripper elements can be controlled, but the complexity of the system increases due to potential cable wear and replacement needs
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is extracted from the central vehicle and relocated to the lifting frame, eliminating the need for complex cable management systems. By placing the control unit directly on the lifting frame, the system simplifies the operational architecture while maintaining full gripper control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable-based signal and power transmission system with wireless communication technology. This substitution eliminates the mechanical wear and complexity associated with cables embedded in lifting bands, while preserving the ease of gripper element control through wireless signal transmission.
3Speed
If power is transferred via lifting bands, then the lifting frame can be raised and lowered, but the risk of system delays and failures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power supply unit with the lifting frame structure, creating an integrated system where power is available locally on the lifting frame. This combination eliminates the vulnerability of power transfer through lifting bands, ensuring operational continuity while maintaining lifting speed performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Wireless communication acts as an intermediary for signal transmission between the control unit and gripper elements, independent of the lifting band mechanical system. This separation ensures that lifting operations can proceed at full speed without being constrained by cable wear or signal transmission issues through the lifting bands.
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 solution reduces the risk of short circuits and system failures, enhances operational reliability, and ensures safe and efficient handling of storage containers within the storage grid.
Implementation Method 1
wireless light communication for controlling gripper elements
Data Source
AI summary
A container handling vehicle for picking up storage containers from a three-dimensional grid of an underlying storage system includes a vehicle body and at least one lifting device with a lifting frame with gripper elements for releasable connection to a storage container, and a transmitter for communicating instructions for controlling the gripper elements. The lifting frame includes a first rechargeable power supply for supplying energy to the gripper elements. The container handling vehicle has at least one second rechargeable power supply configures to charge the first rechargeable power supply when the lifting frame is in a top most position. The at least one second 10 rechargeable power supply is connected to at least one upper charger connector and the first rechargeable power supply is connected to at least one lower charger connector. The at least one lower charger connector is attached to the upper side of the lifting frame and is connected to the first rechargeable power supply.