Warehouse Crossing Frame for Low-Vibration Guide Rail Intersections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing warehouse designs with distribution vehicles experience noise and vibrations at intersections due to segmented guideways and conventional fastening methods, leading to increased stress and wear on components.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a single-piece frame element at intersections, using connecting elements that are outside the running rail and side walls, to create a seamless transition for distribution vehicles, reducing noise and vibrations while minimizing part count and assembly time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If segmented guideways with conventional screw fasteners are used at intersections, then the structure is easier to manufacture and assemble, but noise and vibrations increase when distribution vehicles pass over the crossings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate guide rail segments into a single-piece frame element at intersection areas. This eliminates the segmented structure with multiple screw connections, thereby reducing noise and vibrations caused by distribution vehicles passing over numerous crossings, while maintaining ease of assembly through the unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the connecting elements (screws) from the running surface area by positioning them laterally outside the running rail. This removal of fasteners from the vehicle path eliminates the primary noise and vibration source, while the frame element remains securely fastened to the support surface.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If press-fit threaded studs are used as fasteners to reduce noise, then noise levels decrease, but component costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fasteners from the running surface area entirely, positioning connecting elements laterally outside the running rail. This eliminates the need for expensive press-fit threaded studs at the crossings, reducing both noise and component costs by removing the fastener from the vehicle path.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention moves the connecting elements from the vertical dimension (under the running surface) to the lateral dimension (outside the running rail). This spatial repositioning allows conventional, cost-effective fasteners to be used while eliminating noise, as the fasteners are no longer in the vehicle's path.
3Productivity
If multiple rail segments are used at intersections, then the guideway is easier to assemble, but the number of crossings and associated noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple rail segments into a single-piece frame element at intersection areas, reducing the number of crossings from multiple screw connections to a unified structure. This maintains assembly efficiency while significantly reducing the number of noise-generating crossings.
4Strength
If connecting elements are positioned under the running surface, then the fastening is more secure, but vibrations and noise increase when vehicles pass over
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions connecting elements from the vertical dimension (under the running surface) to the lateral dimension (outside the running rail). This spatial transformation maintains secure fastening through lateral attachment while eliminating vibrations and noise by removing fasteners from the vehicle's path.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts connecting elements from the running surface area and positions them laterally outside the running rail. This removal from the vehicle path eliminates vibrations and noise while the fastening remains secure through lateral attachment to the support surface.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a warehouse for the storage and retrieval of goods or packages of goods arranged on load carriers by means of a distribution vehicle, with transport aisles (5a, 5b) arranged in a frame (1) and traversable by the distribution vehicle, with storage places (15) for the load carriers arranged laterally in the frame (1) of the transport aisles (5a, 5b), and with a connecting aisle (6) also traversable by the distribution vehicle, which crosses the transport aisles (5a, 5b) at crossings (10), wherein components of the connecting aisle (6) and the transport aisles (5a, 5b) are guides (11, 12, 13, 14) which each have a running rail (20) traversable by the distribution vehicle and side walls (21, 22) along the running rail (20), wherein a crossing area (8) of one of the transport aisles (5a, 5b) with one of the connecting aisles (6) has four crossings (10), wherein the crossing area (8) is designed as a one-piece frame element (24),which is attached in the area of the crossings (10) by means of connecting elements (40) to a frame-fixed horizontal support surface (17), wherein the connecting elements (40) are arranged laterally outside the running rail (20) and laterally outside the plane in which the respective side wall (21, 22) extends.