Spindle Drive Lifting Device Transmits Transverse Forces via Linear Guide

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Solution Overview

Problem

Driverless transport vehicles with threaded spindle drives face reduced service life due to transverse forces and bending moments perpendicular to the spindle axis, which can lead to device destruction during acceleration, deceleration, or cornering.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a vertically arranged linear guide device between the vehicle frame and load-carrying platform to transmit transverse forces and bending moments perpendicular to the spindle axis, ensuring the threaded spindle drive only absorbs vertical forces and torques, thus extending its service life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a threaded spindle drive is used for lifting the load-bearing platform, then high lifting performance and large stroke are achieved, but transverse forces and bending moments during acceleration, deceleration, or cornering reduce service life and can lead to device destruction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting performanceVSAvoidservice life of threaded spindle drive
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A linear guide device is introduced as an intermediary component between the load-bearing platform and the threaded spindle drive. This linear guide device absorbs and transmits transverse forces and bending moments to the vehicle frame, preventing these forces from acting on the threaded spindle drive. The linear guide acts as a mediator that protects the threaded spindle drive from harmful lateral loads while allowing the lifting function to continue operating reliably.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the threaded spindle drive transmits only vertical forces, then reliable operation is achieved, but transverse forces during vehicle maneuvering cannot be handled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliable operation of lifting deviceVSAvoidhandling of transverse forces
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The force transmission function is segmented into two independent parts: the threaded spindle drive handles only vertical lifting forces, while the linear guide device handles transverse forces and bending moments. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the threaded spindle drive maintaining reliable vertical lifting operation and the linear guide providing adaptability to lateral loads during vehicle maneuvering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 ensures reliable operation of the lifting device by preventing damage from transverse forces and bending moments, maintaining constant drive torque and efficiency, and allowing for a large lifting range with reduced complexity and cost.

Implementation Method 1

the lifting device is designed as a threaded spindle drive with at least one vertically arranged threaded spindle drive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThreaded spindle drive: Screw

Implementation Method 2

at least one vertically arranged linear guide device is arranged between the vehicle frame and the load-bearing platform, which is designed such that forces are transmitted from the load-bearing platform to the vehicle frame by the linear guide device in a plane perpendicular to a vertically arranged spindle axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLinear guide:

Data Source

PatentEP3845482B1Driverless transport vehicle with a load support platform which can be raised and lowered by a spindle drive
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 STILL GMBH
  • EP3845482B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3845482B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3845482B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a driverless transport vehicle (1), in particular for the transport of load carriers (LT), which has a mobile underframe (2) and a load-handling platform (5) for receiving a load carrier (LT), wherein the underframe (2) is arranged vertically below the load-handling platform (5) and the load-handling platform (5) is arranged on a vehicle frame of the underframe (2) so as to be raised and lowered vertically by means of a lifting device (7), wherein the lifting device (7) is designed as a threaded spindle drive (50) with at least one vertically arranged threaded spindle drive (50a; 50b; 50c). At least one vertically arranged linear guide device (80) is arranged between the vehicle frame (3) and the load-handling platform (5).The linear guide device (80) is designed such that forces are transmitted from the load-bearing platform (5) to the vehicle frame (3) by the linear guide device (80) in a plane perpendicular to a vertically arranged spindle axis (SA) of the threaded spindle drive (50a; 50b; 50c).