Rack Loader Vertical Mast Wheel Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage and retrieval devices face challenges in navigating curves with precise positioning, requiring significant construction effort, generating noise, and consuming high energy due to the need for multiple drives and gear systems.
Innovation Solution
The device employs wheels rolling on vertical rail side surfaces to transmit horizontal drive forces by friction, with articulated running gears and lateral guide wheels that allow for parallel displacement along the mast, eliminating drilling friction and enabling efficient navigation of curves without additional structural components or noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If positive drives (gear and rack or toothed belt) are used to transmit horizontal drive forces, then precise positioning is achieved, but construction effort and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex positive drive system (gears and racks or toothed belts) with a simplified friction-based wheel drive system. The running gear comprises wheels that roll on the rail surfaces, utilizing friction for force transmission. This substitution eliminates the need for complex meshing mechanisms while maintaining adequate positioning capability, directly reducing construction effort and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the complex gear and rack components from the drive system. By eliminating these positive drive elements and retaining only the essential wheel-rail contact for force transmission, the patent achieves precise positioning with significantly reduced construction effort and simpler device architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple drives are used at mast foot and mast head to navigate curves, then curve navigation capability is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal drive approach where a single friction-based wheel system serves multiple functions: it provides both straight-line propulsion and curve navigation capability. The articulated running gear allows the wheels to adapt to curved rail paths without requiring separate drive mechanisms at mast foot and mast head, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The running gear is designed with articulation that allows dynamic adaptation to curved paths. The wheels can adjust their orientation and position relative to the mast structure, enabling the single drive system to navigate curves efficiently without the energy losses associated with multiple rigidly mounted drives.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If friction wheel drives are used instead of positive drives, then noise is reduced, but positioning precision on curved paths deteriorates due to play
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary prestressing forces to the wheels pressing against the rails. This pre-compression eliminates play and gaps in the friction contact before motion begins, ensuring that no positional accuracy is lost during curve navigation. The prestressing is applied in advance through spring elements or adjustable mechanisms, preventing any backlash from affecting positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the friction contact by applying controlled prestressing forces. By adjusting the normal force between wheels and rails through mechanical prestressing elements, the system maintains optimal friction conditions that eliminate play while keeping noise levels low, thereby achieving precise positioning on curved paths without the drawbacks of traditional friction drives.
4Device complexity
If horizontal wheel axles are used, then drive force transmission is simple, but drilling friction and wheel-rail wear occur during cornering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal wheel axles to vertical wheel axles, changing the orientation dimension of the wheel mounting. This vertical arrangement allows the wheels to roll on the vertical side surfaces of the rails, eliminating the drilling friction that occurs with horizontal axles during cornering. The dimensional change in axle orientation fundamentally removes the source of energy loss and wear while maintaining simple drive force transmission.
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
This solution reduces construction effort, noise, and energy consumption by up to 50% through efficient energy storage and use, allowing for precise positioning and optimized space usage, while minimizing structural complexity and energy requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The two running gears are provided with wheels rolling on vertical rail side surfaces, which are pressed against the rail and can transmit horizontal drive forces by friction
Implementation Method 2
At least one of these wheels on each running gear is driven and, due to the preload, can transmit horizontal drive forces tangentially to a side surface of the rail by friction
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a
AI summary
The invention relates to a rack loader having a vertical mast (12) and a first driven chassis (3) associated with the foot of the mast (11), said chassis being guided on a lower rail (1), and a second driven chassis (3) associated with the head of the mast (11), said second chassis being guided on an upper rail (1), characterized in that each chassis (3) comprises at least three wheels (2, 4) rolling on the two outer rail surfaces and having vertical axes of rotation (14, 15), wherein two of the axes of rotation (14) are separated from each other in the direction of travel and fixedly connected to the chassis (3), the axis of rotation or axes of rotation (15) of the remaining wheels or the remaining wheel (4) are displaceably mounted transversely to the rail (1) on the chassis and clamped against the chassis, so that the wheels (2,4) are pressed against the rail (1), wherein at least one of the wheels (2, 4) of each chassis can be driven.