Loading Vehicle Spring Compensation for Uneven Container Stacks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing loading vehicles for block storage arrangements experience significant one-sided stress and moment loads due to unevenly stacked containers, which can lead to excessive wear and tear without requiring a stiffer supporting structure.

Innovation Solution

A moment compensation arrangement using spaced-apart spring elements that adapt to the inclination of the container stack, counteracting one-sided stress through opposing spring forces, allowing the loading vehicle to balance moments and reduce uneven loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the loading vehicle uses a lifting device to raise container stacks, then containers can be inserted into and removed from receiving areas, but significant one-sided stress and moment loads occur due to unevenly stacked containers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer insertion and removal capabilityVSAvoidloading vehicle structural load capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a moment compensation arrangement with spring elements that generate counteracting forces to balance the moment loads caused by unevenly stacked containers. The spring elements are positioned to create opposing moments that compensate for the one-sided stress on the lifting device, effectively reducing the net moment load on the loading vehicle structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the lifting system by incorporating spring elements with specific stiffness and pre-load characteristics. These spring elements deform under load to provide dynamic moment compensation, allowing the system to adapt to varying container stack conditions while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If the supporting structure is stiffened to handle moment loads, then structural strength increases, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupporting structure load bearing capacityVSAvoidsupporting structure stiffness requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a moment compensation arrangement as an intermediary system between the lifting device and the supporting structure. This arrangement includes spring elements that actively compensate for moment loads, allowing the supporting structure to remain less complex while still handling the loads effectively. The intermediary system absorbs the complexity rather than requiring the supporting structure to be over-engineered.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If spring elements are used for moment compensation, then one-sided loads are mitigated, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading vehicle load distributionVSAvoidmoment compensation arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The moment compensation arrangement is segmented into multiple independent spring elements positioned at different locations on the loading vehicle. Each spring element handles a portion of the moment compensation task, allowing the system to distribute the complexity across multiple simple, modular components rather than requiring a single complex mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 mitigates one-sided loads on the loading vehicle, reducing wear and tear, ensuring a longer service life and easier assembly of the system by compensating for container stack tolerances.

Implementation Method 1

a moment compensation arrangement with several spaced-apart spring elements which act in the direction of gravity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4696621A1Loading vehicle for a block bearing assembly
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 JUNGHEINRICH AG
  • EP4696621A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4696621A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4696621A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a loading vehicle (8) for a block storage arrangement (16) with several container receiving spaces (17) for receiving a stack of containers (3a) with at least one container (3), wherein the loading vehicle (8) is movable in a loading space (18) and has a container receiving space (2) for the at least one container (3) and a lifting device (4). The object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight loading vehicle (8). This object is achieved by the container receiving space (2) having a moment compensation arrangement (1) which has several spaced-apart spring elements (5) that act in the direction of gravity.