Pivoting Bracket Lifting System for Tight Warehouse Racks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lifting devices are unable to effectively lift pallet-type shelving due to their heavy and top-heavy nature, and the close spacing of vertical columns in crowded warehouse environments, making it difficult to engage and stabilize the shelving for safe movement.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive jack-operated lifting system featuring a dolly-mounted jack and a tilting interface bracket that engages with vertical columns, allowing for stable and secure lifting of heavy pallet shelving by pivoting to fit between closely spaced columns, using pins to lock the bracket in place and maintain stability during lifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional jacking devices are used to lift pallet shelving, then the lifting function is provided, but the devices cannot engage with closely spaced vertical columns in crowded warehouse environments
Solution Approach 1:
The interface bracket is designed to tilt dynamically during engagement. The bracket pivots on a pin mounted to the vertical column, allowing it to tilt away from the column and engage the dolly jack. This dynamic tilting motion enables the bracket to adapt to the tight spacing between closely spaced vertical columns, solving the problem of conventional static jacking devices unable to engage in crowded warehouse environments.
2Strength
If the shelving is made heavy to support large loads, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the shelving becomes top-heavy and unstable, easily tipping over
Solution Approach 1:
The dolly jack system provides a counterbalancing lifting force to stabilize the top-heavy shelving during movement. By engaging the interface bracket and applying upward force through the jack, the system counteracts the unstable top-heavy condition, preventing tipping while maintaining the heavy load-bearing capacity of the shelving structure.
3Productivity
If the vertical columns are spaced closely to maximize storage density, then the storage capacity per floor space is improved, but it becomes difficult to position and engage lifting devices between the columns
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting interface bracket enables engagement in tight spaces by dynamically adjusting its position. The bracket tilts away from the vertical column to access the limited space between closely spaced columns, allowing the dolly jack to engage and lift the shelving without requiring large clearance distances that would reduce storage density.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a tilting interface bracket is used to engage closely spaced columns, then the adaptability to tight spacing is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting system is segmented into distinct functional components: the interface bracket that engages the vertical column, the pin that serves as a pivot point, and the dolly jack that provides lifting force. This segmentation allows the tilting bracket to handle the adaptability requirement while keeping each component relatively simple, with the bracket being a straightforward U-shaped structure with a pin mounting capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A lifting device for warehouse shelving supported by closely spaced vertical members is provided. The device employs a pivotable bracket which engages the vertical member at a central position with a pin to allow the bracket to rotate to move the top of the bracket away from the vertical member and position the member in a gap in the bracket. In the rotated position the bracket is engageable to a plate whereupon the bracket is pivoted back parallel with the vertical member and engaged with a second pin. A jack lifts the plate thereafter to thereby lift the member and the shelf.