Mobile Carousel Power Contacts for Forklift Load Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional material handling vehicles are unable to transfer power to or exchange information with loads, limiting their functionality in powering accessories and communicating with carried items.

Innovation Solution

A clamp assembly with electrical contacts is integrated into the material handling vehicle, allowing it to engage with loads and provide power and communication signals through a clamp assembly that includes power contacts and signal contacts, enabling secure engagement and data transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional material handling vehicles are used without electrical contacts, then the device complexity is low, but the ability to transfer power and exchange information with loads is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to transfer power and exchange informationVSAvoidcomplexity of clamp assembly with electrical contacts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: mechanical clamping of loads and electrical contact for power transfer and data communication. By integrating these functions into a single component, the system gains versatility without requiring separate mechanisms for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical contacts are merged with the mechanical clamp structure, combining the clamping function and electrical connection function into one integrated assembly. This reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If electrical contacts are integrated into the clamp assembly, then power and communication capabilities are enabled, but the ease of operation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower and communication capabilitiesVSAvoidease of engagement and disengagement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical contacts are integrated into the clamp assembly itself, so that a single engagement action simultaneously establishes both mechanical clamping and electrical connections. This eliminates the need for separate operations to connect power and data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple electrical contacts are added to the clamp assembly, then the ability to communicate and transfer power is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication and power transfer capabilityVSAvoidnumber of electrical contacts and connections

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple electrical contacts for power and communication are merged into the clamp assembly structure, integrating several functions into a single component rather than requiring separate assemblies for each electrical connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3816071B1A mobile carousel with power and communications contacts

Publication Date: 2024.11.20 RAYMOND LTD

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AI summary

The present disclosure provides a material sorting system adapted to engage a material handling vehicle. The material sorting system (310) comprises: a base (156) including fork pockets (163) adapted to receive a pair of forks (103, 105) from the material handling vehicle (100); a carousel assembly (318) coupled to the base (156), the carousel assembly (318) including: a plurality of storage units (320); and an actuation mechanism (327) configured to move the plurality of storage units (320) relative to the base (156); and at least one electrical contact within the base (156) and in electrical communication with the carousel assembly (318), the at least one electrical contact being adapted to engage with a corresponding electrical contact on a clamp assembly (110) of the material handling vehicle (100) to transfer power or a communication signal between the material handling vehicle (110) and the carousel assembly (318).