Articulation Joint for Mobile Racks on Uneven Seismic Floors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile industrial rack systems face challenges in seismic areas due to the need for leveled flooring and rigid connectors, which limit flexibility and increase costs, while also occupying excessive floor space with fixed aisles.
Innovation Solution
A mobile industrial rack system with spaced couplers between adjacent racks, formed from three interacting components (coupling, receiving, and movement brackets), allowing relative movement and structural stability, forming a strong articulation joint to withstand seismic activity and uneven floors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid connectors are used between racks to withstand seismic activity, then structural stability is improved, but flexibility and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The connector assembly transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic articulated connection. The movement bracket allows the connector to adapt its position and orientation relative to the rack upright, enabling the system to withstand seismic forces while maintaining flexibility for installation on uneven floors and adaptability to different rack configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector assembly changes its geometric parameters through the movement bracket, which allows variation in the angle and distance between connected racks. This parameter change capability enables the connector to maintain structural stability under seismic loads while adapting to different operational conditions and floor conditions.
2Ease of operation
If leveled flooring is implemented to support mobile rack systems, then movement smoothness is improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connector assembly serves itself by accommodating floor unevenness directly through the movement bracket's range of motion. Instead of requiring the floor to be leveled externally, the connector absorbs the unevenness through its articulated design, eliminating the need for costly floor leveling while maintaining smooth rack movement.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid connectors are used to limit floor unevenness, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability to uneven floors deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The movement bracket introduces dynamic adaptability to the connector assembly, allowing it to adjust to floor unevenness while maintaining structural stability. The bracket's ability to move within a defined range enables the connector to accommodate varying floor conditions without compromising the strength of the connection between racks.
4Adaptability or versatility
If spaced couplers with movement capability are used between racks, then flexibility and adaptability are improved, but structural stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The connector assembly functions as a composite structure combining the coupling bracket, movement bracket, and receiving bracket into a unified system. This composite design integrates both flexibility (through the movement bracket) and structural stability (through the rigid coupling and receiving brackets working together), achieving a balance between adaptability and strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A structural coupler for joining two storage racks of a mobile rack system. The coupler includes three separate components that are movable relative to each other to allow for relative movement between adjacent storage racks while providing the structural stability to prevent tipping of the storage racks. The coupler includes a coupling bracket that includes a pair of tabs that extend through open slots formed in a movement bracket and through receiving slots formed in a receiving bracket. A removable connector prevents separation of the coupler in the assembled condition while the size of the coupling tabs relative to the open slots allows the three components to move relative to each other. A series of individual couplers can be used along the height of the uprights that form part of each of the individual storage racks.