Two-Section Container Handling Vehicle With Offset Motor Section
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container handling vehicles in automated storage and retrieval systems face challenges with stability and limited space for larger, more powerful wheel motors, particularly in single cell robots with in-wheel-motor configurations.
Innovation Solution
A container handling vehicle design featuring a two-section vehicle body with an off-center first section for storage and a second section housing motors and lifting device, allowing for larger hub motors and improved weight distribution, enhancing stability and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single cell robot with in-wheel-motor configuration is used, then the vehicle structure is simplified and space is saved, but the stability deteriorates and space for larger wheel motors is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle body is divided into two distinct sections: a first section with a first footprint for basic vehicle functions and a second section with a second footprint extending beyond the first footprint to house the lifting device and motors. This segmentation allows the motors to be positioned in the second section, improving weight distribution and stability while maintaining the compact in-wheel-motor configuration benefits.
2Power
If larger wheel motors are installed to increase acceleration and lifting capacity, then the power increases, but the vehicle stability deteriorates due to weight distribution issues
Solution Approach 1:
The second section of the vehicle body extends asymmetrically beyond the first footprint, specifically positioned to optimize the weight distribution when larger motors are installed. This asymmetric extension allows the heavy motors to be positioned in a way that improves overall vehicle stability rather than deteriorating it, resolving the contradiction between power and stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A container handling vehicle for lifting storage containers from a three-dimensional grid of an underlying storage system includes a first set of wheels and a second set of wheels for moving the vehicle along a rail system of the grid; a vehicle body having a vehicle body footprint defined by horizontal peripheries in a first and a second direction of the vehicle body, the vehicle body comprises a first section having a first footprint and a second section having a second footprint defined by horizontal peripheries in the first and second directions of the first and second sections, respectively; a lifting device for lifting storage containers from the storage system; and a lifting device motor arranged to drive the lifting device when lifting storage containers from the storage system; the first section and the second section are arranged side-by-side such that a total area of the first and second footprints equals a total area of the vehicle body footprint, and a centre point of the first footprint is arranged off centre relative a centre point of the vehicle body footprint; the first section defines a storage container receiving space which is configured to accommodate a storage container; the first section accommodates the lifting device for lifting a storage container from the storage system and the lifting device motor is accommodated in the second section.