Pivoting Rail Expansion Joint for Thermal Misalignment Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rail systems in automated storage and retrieval systems face issues with misalignment, buckling, and excessive tension due to expansion and contraction caused by temperature differences, leading to potential derailment of container handling vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable expansion joint design that allows for relative longitudinal and lateral movement between connected rail regions, featuring elongate rail elements with pivotable connections and a support profile to maintain track continuity and prevent buckling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional expansion joint design is used, then the rail system can accommodate thermal expansion, but water and debris accumulate in the expansion joint creating harmful effects
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion joint is divided into multiple functional segments: a first receiving space for water/debris, a second receiving space for additional accumulation, and a drainage channel system. This segmentation allows different zones to handle different aspects of water and debris management, preventing accumulation that would harm rail system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
A drainage channel acts as an intermediary structure between the receiving spaces and the exterior environment. This intermediary component provides a controlled pathway for water and debris to be drained away from the expansion joint, eliminating harmful accumulation while maintaining the joint's expansion functionality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the expansion joint receives space is increased to accommodate more water and debris, then harmful accumulation is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second receiving spaces are merged into a integrated drainage system within the expansion joint structure. By combining multiple receiving functions into a unified design with shared walls and coordinated drainage channels, the system reduces overall complexity compared to implementing separate, independent drainage solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The expansion joint structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it accommodates thermal expansion between rail sections, provides receiving spaces for water and debris accumulation, and incorporates drainage channels for water removal. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated drainage structures, reducing overall device complexity.
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 minimizes derailment risks and wear by accommodating rail expansion and contraction, ensuring smooth vehicle movement across connected rail systems.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member between the first and second regions, the resilient member having a resilient force in the first direction when the expansion joint is in the first position and having a resilient force in the second direction when the expansion joint is in the second position
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a storage system comprising a first region (50) and a second region (50') of a rail system (108), wherein each of the first region and the second region has rails (110,111) with a profiled upper surface that define one or more tracks (27', 27'') for supporting container handling vehicles (201, 301, 401), and each rail of at least one pair of parallel rails (110) of the first region (50) is connected to a corresponding rail of a pair of rails (110') of the second region (50') via an expansion joint (10,10'), the expansion joint comprises: - a first rail element (12) and a second rail element (11), the rail elements (12, 11) being elongate and configured at a first end (22, 23) to allow the first ends (22, 23) of the first and second rail elements to move relative to one another in a longitudinal direction in a junction area (14) where they overlap, and - a profiled upper surface that defines one or more tracks (27', 27''), the tracks (27', 27'') extending from the first rail element (12) through the junction area (14) to the second rail element (11), and wherein a second end (24) of the first rail element (12) is pivotably connected to the first region (50) of the rail system (108) around a first vertical axis (VI), and a second end (25) of the second rail element (11) is pivotably connected to the second region (50') of the rail system (108) around a second vertical axis (V2).