CA2282285C - Storage system - Google Patents
Storage system Download PDFInfo
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- CA2282285C CA2282285C CA 2282285 CA2282285A CA2282285C CA 2282285 C CA2282285 C CA 2282285C CA 2282285 CA2282285 CA 2282285 CA 2282285 A CA2282285 A CA 2282285A CA 2282285 C CA2282285 C CA 2282285C
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- Prior art keywords
- rails
- pair
- carts
- cart
- primary
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G1/00—Storing articles, individually or in orderly arrangement, in warehouses or magazines
- B65G1/02—Storage devices
- B65G1/026—Racks equipped with a displaceable load carrying surface to facilitate loading or unloading
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Handcart (AREA)
- Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to a system for storing a plurality of loads within a storage bay. The system comprises a pair of primary rails, and at least one pair of auxiliary rails positioned between the pair of primary rails. Carts of progressively narrowing widths are nested together at the front end of the rails. The carts are moved along the rails as loads are stored thereon. The widest cart is uppermost in the nested cart configuration and has wheels which roll along the outer edge of the pair of primary rails. The adjacent cart rolls along the inner edge of the pair of primary rails.
Carts of successively decreasing width are adapted to roll on the outer edges and inner edges respectively of each successive pair of auxiliary rails. To prevent a cart from moving rearward of an adjacent wider cart, a lip may extend upwardly from the front of a cart to abut the adjacent upper cart. This system allows storage of five or more successive loads within a storage bay.
Carts of successively decreasing width are adapted to roll on the outer edges and inner edges respectively of each successive pair of auxiliary rails. To prevent a cart from moving rearward of an adjacent wider cart, a lip may extend upwardly from the front of a cart to abut the adjacent upper cart. This system allows storage of five or more successive loads within a storage bay.
Description
STORAGE SYSTEM
The present invention relates to a storage system for the storage of multiple loads within a bay, and particularly to a storage system having rolling carts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Storage systems with rolling carts allow efficient storage of a plurality of loads within a storage bay. Such storage systems, commonly known as push-back cart storage systems, are loaded and unloaded from a position at the front of the storage bay.
Conventional push-back cart storage systems, such as those described in U.S.
Patent 4,687,404, and U.S. Patent 4,773,546, utilize a single pair of tracks within a storage bay along which a plurality of wheeled carts move rearwardly as successive loads are stored thereon.
Push-back cart storage systems are known which allow two carts to roll along either the inside or the outside edges of a pair of rails. U.S. Patent 5,393,188 teaches a system which comprises three nested carts traversing a pair of rails. Two of the carts have wheels which roll along the same edge of a pair of rails, while a third cart travels along the opposing edge of the same rails. The wheels rolling along the same edge of the rail may collide as the carts are urged forwardly or rearwardly, which could result in derailment of one of the carts. Additionally, in this system, the uppermost cart, which receives the first load rolls along the inner edge of the rails, and must nest within successively wider carts at the front of the storage bay.
Lower carts must be U-shaped to allow an upper cart to nest therein, and cannot have a closed load-bearing platform or even a rearward cross-beam. The U-shaped carts are less supportive of a heavy load, and thus increase the risk that a load will fall from the cart.
U.S. Patent 5,180,069 teaches a three cart storage system in which three nested carts roll along a single pair of I-shaped tracks. Two of the carts travel along an upper surface of the track, and one of the carts travels along a lower groove formed in the track. However, the cart rolling along the groove cannot be lifted from the track for easy re-assembly or routine maintenance, but must be rolled off an end of the track to be removed from the system.
Two pairs of rails are employed in the three cart system described in U.S.
Patent 4,341,313 in which each cart rolls along a distinct edge of a pair of rails, thereby allowing storage of up to four loads. In this system, an upper cart is not prevented from passing forward of a lower cart.
There is a need for a storage system having storage capacity for five or more successive loads which obviates or mitigates the above-noted deficiencies of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a storage system comprising a pair of primary rails having a front end and a back end, and at least one pair of auxiliary rails positioned between the primary pair of rails and parallel thereto. Each successive pair of auxiliary rails is positioned between the preceding pair of said auxiliary rails and is parallel thereto. The rails have an inner edge and an outer edge.
Carts are provided which comprise a front end, a load-bearing surface and wheels adapted to roll on a pair of rails. The carts are of successively narrowing widths and are configured to internest with the widest cart being uppermost and successively narrower carts being nested therebeneath. The widest cart is adapted to roll on the outer edge of the pair of primary rails, while the next widest cart is adapted to roll on the inner edge of the pair of primary rails. Carts of successively decreasing width are adapted to roll on the outer edges and inner edges respectively of each successive pair of auxiliary rails.
The present invention relates to a storage system for the storage of multiple loads within a bay, and particularly to a storage system having rolling carts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Storage systems with rolling carts allow efficient storage of a plurality of loads within a storage bay. Such storage systems, commonly known as push-back cart storage systems, are loaded and unloaded from a position at the front of the storage bay.
Conventional push-back cart storage systems, such as those described in U.S.
Patent 4,687,404, and U.S. Patent 4,773,546, utilize a single pair of tracks within a storage bay along which a plurality of wheeled carts move rearwardly as successive loads are stored thereon.
Push-back cart storage systems are known which allow two carts to roll along either the inside or the outside edges of a pair of rails. U.S. Patent 5,393,188 teaches a system which comprises three nested carts traversing a pair of rails. Two of the carts have wheels which roll along the same edge of a pair of rails, while a third cart travels along the opposing edge of the same rails. The wheels rolling along the same edge of the rail may collide as the carts are urged forwardly or rearwardly, which could result in derailment of one of the carts. Additionally, in this system, the uppermost cart, which receives the first load rolls along the inner edge of the rails, and must nest within successively wider carts at the front of the storage bay.
Lower carts must be U-shaped to allow an upper cart to nest therein, and cannot have a closed load-bearing platform or even a rearward cross-beam. The U-shaped carts are less supportive of a heavy load, and thus increase the risk that a load will fall from the cart.
U.S. Patent 5,180,069 teaches a three cart storage system in which three nested carts roll along a single pair of I-shaped tracks. Two of the carts travel along an upper surface of the track, and one of the carts travels along a lower groove formed in the track. However, the cart rolling along the groove cannot be lifted from the track for easy re-assembly or routine maintenance, but must be rolled off an end of the track to be removed from the system.
Two pairs of rails are employed in the three cart system described in U.S.
Patent 4,341,313 in which each cart rolls along a distinct edge of a pair of rails, thereby allowing storage of up to four loads. In this system, an upper cart is not prevented from passing forward of a lower cart.
There is a need for a storage system having storage capacity for five or more successive loads which obviates or mitigates the above-noted deficiencies of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a storage system comprising a pair of primary rails having a front end and a back end, and at least one pair of auxiliary rails positioned between the primary pair of rails and parallel thereto. Each successive pair of auxiliary rails is positioned between the preceding pair of said auxiliary rails and is parallel thereto. The rails have an inner edge and an outer edge.
Carts are provided which comprise a front end, a load-bearing surface and wheels adapted to roll on a pair of rails. The carts are of successively narrowing widths and are configured to internest with the widest cart being uppermost and successively narrower carts being nested therebeneath. The widest cart is adapted to roll on the outer edge of the pair of primary rails, while the next widest cart is adapted to roll on the inner edge of the pair of primary rails. Carts of successively decreasing width are adapted to roll on the outer edges and inner edges respectively of each successive pair of auxiliary rails.
Advantageously, the inventive system allows for storage of five or more successive loads within a storage bay, thereby optimizing storage space.
Additionally, only one cart rolls on any rail edge, thereby eliminating the possibility of collision between wheels from different carts along a rail edge. Because each rail is utilized by two carts, use of the rails is optimized.
The invention also provides a storage bay comprising the inventive storage system arranged within a support frame. A storage unit is additionally provided which comprises a plurality of storage bays having the inventive storage system arranged therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the storage system according to an embodiment of the invention having carts nested at the front end of the rails;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment according to Figure 1, showing the carts positioned along the entire length of the rails;
FIGURE 3A is a sectional view across lines A--A of Figure 1;
FIGURE 3B is a front view of the embodiment of Figure 1;
FIGURE 4 is a top view of the rails for the storage system depicted in Figure 1;
FIGURE 5 is a side view of the support frame for housing a storage system according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 6 is a front view of a storage unit according to an embodiment of the invention; and FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a storage unit according to an embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention relates to a storage system having the capacity to store five or more loads. The invention also relates to a storage bay having the inventive storage system housed within a support frame and to a storage unit comprising a plurality of storage bays. With reference to Figures 1 to 7, the invention will now be described in further detail.
The embodiment described herein comprises a pair of primary rails, one pair of auxiliary rails and four carts. However, it is possible to add more pairs of auxiliary rails which would run between and parallel to the first pair of auxiliary rails. For each pair of auxiliary rails used, one or two more carts may be added to the system, thereby increasing the load bearing capacity of the system.
In the embodiment depicted in Figures 1 to 3B, a pair of primary rails 10 and a pair of auxiliary rails 12 are provided. The storage system further comprises carts 16, 18, 20 and 22. The rails are parallel to each other. As shown in Figures 3A
and 3B, each rail has an outer edge 24 and an inner edge 26.
Each rail is configured to allow wheels to roll along both edges thereof, and thus must be wide enough to permit passage of the wheels of a cart on both the inner edge and outer edge. As depicted in Figures 3A and 3B, the rails have a flat upper surface 28 on which a wheel 30 may travel. Any adequate rail type may be employed, provided that the wheels of a cart can roll along both edges. A rail may be square or rectangular in section, and may comprise individual beams placed in contact with and directly adjacent each other, for increased strength. For example, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B, each of the auxiliary rails comprise two adjacent beams 32, 34 placed in contact with each other.
As depicted in Figure 4, the pair of primary rails 10 comprise a front end 36 and a back end 38. The primary rails 10 may extend from the front to the back of a storage bay on a support frame. Such a support frame 40 is shown in side view in Figure 5. The pair of auxiliary rails 12 extends parallel to the pair of primary rails 10 and is positioned therebetween. The pair of auxiliary rails 12 may extend the full length of the primary rails, or may be shorter than the pair of primary rails by up to _5_ about the length ctf the two first carts 16, 18 which roll ~lo,~g the prirnarv roils 10 only. if the auxiliary rails are shorter than the primary rails, the front end of the auxiliary rails is preferably aligned with the fi~ottt end 36 of the primary rails, as depicted in Figure 4. The pair c>fauxiliarv rails 12 nra5~ he of a slu~rter length hecau~e the first and second carts lfi, 18 roll along the primary rrtil~ only, while flte third and fourth carts 20, 22 roll along the pair of auxiliary rails 12 only. The third arid .fourth carts 20, 22 are only loaded once the ~trst and second carts 16, l8 hare been loaded and moved toward the back end 38 of the rails.
T'lte height of the auxiliary rails is inferior to the height «f the prinrrry rails. In a preferred embodiment, the height of the auxiliary rails is ab«crl half of that of the primary rails.
For embodiments in which more than four carts are employed, snbsc:quent pairs of auxiliary rails are disposed between the first pair of auxiliary rails 12, and may be shorter than the first set of auxiliary rails by the combined length of the third and fotrrlh carts, since only subsequent fifth mid ,r sixth carts would tlaVCrse the second set of auxiliary rails. ns with the first set of auxiliary rail,, fi~rtlter sets of auxiliary rails would be aligned at the front end 3fi of llte rails so I.h~t all carts can be internestecl prior to storing a Load thereon.
The carts are sized so that the cart 16 which beat's the first load is wider than the subsequent carts, identified as 18, 20 and 22 in T' figures I and :?.
('art ( l is positioned vertically higher than the subsequent carts, so that other c,rrts may fit thereunder. Subsequent ~ ar s are successively narrower, so that they may be internested when at the front. of the rails, as depicted in ~~igures 1 and 3A.
/\ wider cart is higher in the nesting arrangement than a narrower cart, and thus wider carts arr loaded first according to the invention.
Fac;h cart ltas a load-hearing surface 42 wltl('h Cirlt SIrppOrt a Ic~ad. lrr the embodiment shown in higures I and 2, the load-bearing surface 42 is a rectangular frame. Any configuration supportive of a load could be used as the load--bearing surface. In the ernboditnent wherein the load-bearing surface is a rectangular frame, the sides of the frame which are parallel to the rails are spaced no fin-tltet apart than the width of a typical load, so that the load may rest on the sides of the frame when a load is stored on a cart.
Optionally, according to an embodiment of the invention, one or more of the carts 16, 18, 20, 22 may comprise a lip 44 at the front of the cart extending upwardly of the load-bearing surface. The lip of a narrower cart abuts the front of an adjacent wider cart when the carts are internested. For example, the abutment of the lip 44 of cart 22 with the adjacent wider cart 20 prevents rearward passage of narrower cart 22 past adjacent wider cart 20.
The carts have wheels 30 disposed thereon for rolling on a pair of rails 10, 12.
Typically, a cart will have two wheels on each of two sides. Only one cart rolls along any given edge of a rail, which prevents collision of carts along the same rail.
As depicted in Figures 3A and 3B, the wheels of the first cart 16 are in rolling engagement with the outer edge 24 of the pair of primary rails 10. The wheels 30 of the second, narrower, cart 18 roll on the inner edge 26 of the pair of primary rails 10.
The wheels 30 of the third cart roll on the outer edge 24 of the pair of auxiliary rails 12. The wheels 30 of the fourth cart 22 are in rolling engagement with the inner edge 26 of the pair of auxiliary rails 12.
The wheels of the carts may be formed in any suitable shape, and according to an embodiment of the invention, may be a flanged wheel, having a flange 46 on the inboard side and facing the edge on which the wheel is rolling, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B. This allows a cart to remain in the tracks while rolling on a flat surface, and reduces the amount of side to side motion, thus preventing derailment of a cart.
The wheels may be made of metal. Any wheel configuration which would allow a wheel to roll along an edge of a rail could be used with the invention.
Conveniently, according to the embodiment depicting Figures 3A and 3B, carts may be lifted from the rails for cleaning or maintenance without requiring removal of the carts from the front end or back end of the rails.
_'j_ The rails incline downwardly toward the front end to urge the carts 16, 18, 20, 22 into the internested position at the front end of the rails, as depicted in Figures 1, 3A and 3B.
The pair of primary rails 10 may be vertically higher than the pair of auxiliary rails, for example as depicted in Figures 3A and 3B. This serves to promote internesting of the carts without requiring extreme variations in cart heights. This also allows a smaller distance between the wheels 30 and the load-bearing surface 42 of wider carts, which improves stability. Additionally, the higher positioning of the primary rails 10, permits the fifth load to rest only on the pair of primary rails 10, since auxiliary rails 12 do not extend to the vertical height of the primary rails.
The pair of primary rails 10 support the weight of three loads, including two carts, while each pair of auxiliary rails 12 support the weight of two loads, including two carts.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a storage bay 48 is provided which comprises a support frame 40 as depicted in Figures 6 and 7, on which the inventive storage system is supported. The storage system may comprise a plurality of bays 48 in a storage unit 50 as depicted in Figure 7. The support frame 40 may be structurally common to one or more storage bays 48 of a storage unit 50.
Optionally, as shown in Figure 7 a first retainer member 52 may be situated at the front end of the rails, for example adjacent the support frame 40 of the storage bay, to prevent the carts 16, 18, 20, 22 from leaving the rails from the front of the rails. As a further option, a second retainer member 54 may be provided at the back end of the rails to prevent the carts from leaving the rails from the back end thereof.
The first and second retainer members may be of any suitable variety, such as an L-shaped bracket or a beam disposed in front of the internested carts to prevent further forward motion.
In operation, the number of loads which may be stored in a system is calculated as the number of carts within a system plus one, since the final load may be stored directly on the primary pair of rails.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the rails are inclined downwardly from the back end to the front end. When the system contains no stored load the carts are empty, and are urged toward the front end of the rails in the internested position. When the first load is deposited onto the widest cart 16, the first cart 16 can be moved toward the back end of the rails. To load the second cart 18, the second load is brought to the front end of the rails and is pushed against the first loaded cart, urging the first loaded cart rearwardly to reveal the narrower cart 18 which is nested immediately therebeneath. This procedure is repeated for loads to be stored on the subsequently narrower carts 20, 22. The fifth load pushes all four initial loads back and is set down directly on the primary pair of rails 10. In the reversal of this procedure; as a load is removed from the front, all remaining loaded carts move toward the front end 36 of the rails, due to the forward inclination of the rails.
Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. It is understood that the invention has been disclosed herein in connection with certain examples and embodiments.
2~ However, such changes, modifications or equivalents as can be used by those skilled in the art are intended to be included.
Accordingly, the disclosure is to be construed as exemplary, rather than limiting, and such changes within the principles of the invention as are obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.
Additionally, only one cart rolls on any rail edge, thereby eliminating the possibility of collision between wheels from different carts along a rail edge. Because each rail is utilized by two carts, use of the rails is optimized.
The invention also provides a storage bay comprising the inventive storage system arranged within a support frame. A storage unit is additionally provided which comprises a plurality of storage bays having the inventive storage system arranged therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the storage system according to an embodiment of the invention having carts nested at the front end of the rails;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment according to Figure 1, showing the carts positioned along the entire length of the rails;
FIGURE 3A is a sectional view across lines A--A of Figure 1;
FIGURE 3B is a front view of the embodiment of Figure 1;
FIGURE 4 is a top view of the rails for the storage system depicted in Figure 1;
FIGURE 5 is a side view of the support frame for housing a storage system according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 6 is a front view of a storage unit according to an embodiment of the invention; and FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a storage unit according to an embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention relates to a storage system having the capacity to store five or more loads. The invention also relates to a storage bay having the inventive storage system housed within a support frame and to a storage unit comprising a plurality of storage bays. With reference to Figures 1 to 7, the invention will now be described in further detail.
The embodiment described herein comprises a pair of primary rails, one pair of auxiliary rails and four carts. However, it is possible to add more pairs of auxiliary rails which would run between and parallel to the first pair of auxiliary rails. For each pair of auxiliary rails used, one or two more carts may be added to the system, thereby increasing the load bearing capacity of the system.
In the embodiment depicted in Figures 1 to 3B, a pair of primary rails 10 and a pair of auxiliary rails 12 are provided. The storage system further comprises carts 16, 18, 20 and 22. The rails are parallel to each other. As shown in Figures 3A
and 3B, each rail has an outer edge 24 and an inner edge 26.
Each rail is configured to allow wheels to roll along both edges thereof, and thus must be wide enough to permit passage of the wheels of a cart on both the inner edge and outer edge. As depicted in Figures 3A and 3B, the rails have a flat upper surface 28 on which a wheel 30 may travel. Any adequate rail type may be employed, provided that the wheels of a cart can roll along both edges. A rail may be square or rectangular in section, and may comprise individual beams placed in contact with and directly adjacent each other, for increased strength. For example, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B, each of the auxiliary rails comprise two adjacent beams 32, 34 placed in contact with each other.
As depicted in Figure 4, the pair of primary rails 10 comprise a front end 36 and a back end 38. The primary rails 10 may extend from the front to the back of a storage bay on a support frame. Such a support frame 40 is shown in side view in Figure 5. The pair of auxiliary rails 12 extends parallel to the pair of primary rails 10 and is positioned therebetween. The pair of auxiliary rails 12 may extend the full length of the primary rails, or may be shorter than the pair of primary rails by up to _5_ about the length ctf the two first carts 16, 18 which roll ~lo,~g the prirnarv roils 10 only. if the auxiliary rails are shorter than the primary rails, the front end of the auxiliary rails is preferably aligned with the fi~ottt end 36 of the primary rails, as depicted in Figure 4. The pair c>fauxiliarv rails 12 nra5~ he of a slu~rter length hecau~e the first and second carts lfi, 18 roll along the primary rrtil~ only, while flte third and fourth carts 20, 22 roll along the pair of auxiliary rails 12 only. The third arid .fourth carts 20, 22 are only loaded once the ~trst and second carts 16, l8 hare been loaded and moved toward the back end 38 of the rails.
T'lte height of the auxiliary rails is inferior to the height «f the prinrrry rails. In a preferred embodiment, the height of the auxiliary rails is ab«crl half of that of the primary rails.
For embodiments in which more than four carts are employed, snbsc:quent pairs of auxiliary rails are disposed between the first pair of auxiliary rails 12, and may be shorter than the first set of auxiliary rails by the combined length of the third and fotrrlh carts, since only subsequent fifth mid ,r sixth carts would tlaVCrse the second set of auxiliary rails. ns with the first set of auxiliary rail,, fi~rtlter sets of auxiliary rails would be aligned at the front end 3fi of llte rails so I.h~t all carts can be internestecl prior to storing a Load thereon.
The carts are sized so that the cart 16 which beat's the first load is wider than the subsequent carts, identified as 18, 20 and 22 in T' figures I and :?.
('art ( l is positioned vertically higher than the subsequent carts, so that other c,rrts may fit thereunder. Subsequent ~ ar s are successively narrower, so that they may be internested when at the front. of the rails, as depicted in ~~igures 1 and 3A.
/\ wider cart is higher in the nesting arrangement than a narrower cart, and thus wider carts arr loaded first according to the invention.
Fac;h cart ltas a load-hearing surface 42 wltl('h Cirlt SIrppOrt a Ic~ad. lrr the embodiment shown in higures I and 2, the load-bearing surface 42 is a rectangular frame. Any configuration supportive of a load could be used as the load--bearing surface. In the ernboditnent wherein the load-bearing surface is a rectangular frame, the sides of the frame which are parallel to the rails are spaced no fin-tltet apart than the width of a typical load, so that the load may rest on the sides of the frame when a load is stored on a cart.
Optionally, according to an embodiment of the invention, one or more of the carts 16, 18, 20, 22 may comprise a lip 44 at the front of the cart extending upwardly of the load-bearing surface. The lip of a narrower cart abuts the front of an adjacent wider cart when the carts are internested. For example, the abutment of the lip 44 of cart 22 with the adjacent wider cart 20 prevents rearward passage of narrower cart 22 past adjacent wider cart 20.
The carts have wheels 30 disposed thereon for rolling on a pair of rails 10, 12.
Typically, a cart will have two wheels on each of two sides. Only one cart rolls along any given edge of a rail, which prevents collision of carts along the same rail.
As depicted in Figures 3A and 3B, the wheels of the first cart 16 are in rolling engagement with the outer edge 24 of the pair of primary rails 10. The wheels 30 of the second, narrower, cart 18 roll on the inner edge 26 of the pair of primary rails 10.
The wheels 30 of the third cart roll on the outer edge 24 of the pair of auxiliary rails 12. The wheels 30 of the fourth cart 22 are in rolling engagement with the inner edge 26 of the pair of auxiliary rails 12.
The wheels of the carts may be formed in any suitable shape, and according to an embodiment of the invention, may be a flanged wheel, having a flange 46 on the inboard side and facing the edge on which the wheel is rolling, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B. This allows a cart to remain in the tracks while rolling on a flat surface, and reduces the amount of side to side motion, thus preventing derailment of a cart.
The wheels may be made of metal. Any wheel configuration which would allow a wheel to roll along an edge of a rail could be used with the invention.
Conveniently, according to the embodiment depicting Figures 3A and 3B, carts may be lifted from the rails for cleaning or maintenance without requiring removal of the carts from the front end or back end of the rails.
_'j_ The rails incline downwardly toward the front end to urge the carts 16, 18, 20, 22 into the internested position at the front end of the rails, as depicted in Figures 1, 3A and 3B.
The pair of primary rails 10 may be vertically higher than the pair of auxiliary rails, for example as depicted in Figures 3A and 3B. This serves to promote internesting of the carts without requiring extreme variations in cart heights. This also allows a smaller distance between the wheels 30 and the load-bearing surface 42 of wider carts, which improves stability. Additionally, the higher positioning of the primary rails 10, permits the fifth load to rest only on the pair of primary rails 10, since auxiliary rails 12 do not extend to the vertical height of the primary rails.
The pair of primary rails 10 support the weight of three loads, including two carts, while each pair of auxiliary rails 12 support the weight of two loads, including two carts.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a storage bay 48 is provided which comprises a support frame 40 as depicted in Figures 6 and 7, on which the inventive storage system is supported. The storage system may comprise a plurality of bays 48 in a storage unit 50 as depicted in Figure 7. The support frame 40 may be structurally common to one or more storage bays 48 of a storage unit 50.
Optionally, as shown in Figure 7 a first retainer member 52 may be situated at the front end of the rails, for example adjacent the support frame 40 of the storage bay, to prevent the carts 16, 18, 20, 22 from leaving the rails from the front of the rails. As a further option, a second retainer member 54 may be provided at the back end of the rails to prevent the carts from leaving the rails from the back end thereof.
The first and second retainer members may be of any suitable variety, such as an L-shaped bracket or a beam disposed in front of the internested carts to prevent further forward motion.
In operation, the number of loads which may be stored in a system is calculated as the number of carts within a system plus one, since the final load may be stored directly on the primary pair of rails.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the rails are inclined downwardly from the back end to the front end. When the system contains no stored load the carts are empty, and are urged toward the front end of the rails in the internested position. When the first load is deposited onto the widest cart 16, the first cart 16 can be moved toward the back end of the rails. To load the second cart 18, the second load is brought to the front end of the rails and is pushed against the first loaded cart, urging the first loaded cart rearwardly to reveal the narrower cart 18 which is nested immediately therebeneath. This procedure is repeated for loads to be stored on the subsequently narrower carts 20, 22. The fifth load pushes all four initial loads back and is set down directly on the primary pair of rails 10. In the reversal of this procedure; as a load is removed from the front, all remaining loaded carts move toward the front end 36 of the rails, due to the forward inclination of the rails.
Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. It is understood that the invention has been disclosed herein in connection with certain examples and embodiments.
2~ However, such changes, modifications or equivalents as can be used by those skilled in the art are intended to be included.
Accordingly, the disclosure is to be construed as exemplary, rather than limiting, and such changes within the principles of the invention as are obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.
Claims (14)
1. A storage system comprising:
a pair of primary rails having a front end and a back end; at least one pair of auxiliary rails positioned between the primary pair of rails and parallel hereto wherein each successive pair of auxiliary rails is positioned between the preceding pair of said auxiliary rails and is parallel thereto;
the primary rails having a cross-sectional profile which is higher than the cross-sectional profile of the auxiliary rails;
the rails having a rectangular cross-section and an inner edge and an outer edge;
carts comprising a rectangular frame adapted to serve as a load-bearing surface and wheels adapted to roll on a pair of rails;
the carts being of successively narrowing widths and configured to internest with the widest cart being uppermost and successively narrower carts being nested therebeneath;
the widest cart being adapted to roll on the outer edge of the pair of primary rails; the next widest cart being adapted to roll on the inner edge of the hair of primary rails, wherein carts of successively decreasing width are adapted to roll on the outer edges and inner edge:
respectively of each successive pair of auxiliary rails.
a pair of primary rails having a front end and a back end; at least one pair of auxiliary rails positioned between the primary pair of rails and parallel hereto wherein each successive pair of auxiliary rails is positioned between the preceding pair of said auxiliary rails and is parallel thereto;
the primary rails having a cross-sectional profile which is higher than the cross-sectional profile of the auxiliary rails;
the rails having a rectangular cross-section and an inner edge and an outer edge;
carts comprising a rectangular frame adapted to serve as a load-bearing surface and wheels adapted to roll on a pair of rails;
the carts being of successively narrowing widths and configured to internest with the widest cart being uppermost and successively narrower carts being nested therebeneath;
the widest cart being adapted to roll on the outer edge of the pair of primary rails; the next widest cart being adapted to roll on the inner edge of the hair of primary rails, wherein carts of successively decreasing width are adapted to roll on the outer edges and inner edge:
respectively of each successive pair of auxiliary rails.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one cart additionally comprises a lip disposed along the front end of the cart and extending upwardly of the load-bearing surface to abut the front of an adjacent wider cart when said carts are internested.
3. The system according to claim 1 comprising one pair of auxiliary rails and four carts.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the wheels of the carts are flanged on the side adjacent the edge of the rail on which the cart roll.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pair of auxiliary rails are shorter in length than the pair of primary rails by up to about combined length of the carts rolling on the pair of primary rails.
6. The system according to claim 1, additionally comprising a first retainer member secured to the front end of the rails to prevent the carts from leaving the rails at the front end thereof.
7. The system according to claim 6, additionally comprising a second retainer member secured to the back end of the rails to prevent the cartsfrom leaving the rails at the back end thereof.
8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the first retainer member comprises an abutment beam.
9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the second retainer member comprises a beam.
10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rails incline downwardly from the back end to the front end of the said system.
11. A storage bay comprising the storage system of claim 1 arranged within a support frame.
12. A storage unit comprising a plurality of storage bays according to claim 11.
13. A storage bay comprising at least two storage systems of claim 1 arranged one above the other within a support frame.
14. A storage unit comprising a plurality of storage bays according to claim 13.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2282285 CA2282285C (en) | 1999-09-17 | 1999-09-17 | Storage system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2282285 CA2282285C (en) | 1999-09-17 | 1999-09-17 | Storage system |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2282285A1 CA2282285A1 (en) | 2001-02-08 |
| CA2282285C true CA2282285C (en) | 2002-07-02 |
Family
ID=4164149
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2282285 Expired - Fee Related CA2282285C (en) | 1999-09-17 | 1999-09-17 | Storage system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2282285C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103802845A (en) * | 2012-11-05 | 2014-05-21 | 中国北车集团大同电力机车有限责任公司 | Bogie transportation device |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES2226548B2 (en) * | 2002-12-05 | 2006-09-01 | Mecalux, S.A. | PERFECTED STRUCTURE FOR "PUSH BACK" PALLET STORAGE SYSTEMS. |
-
1999
- 1999-09-17 CA CA 2282285 patent/CA2282285C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103802845A (en) * | 2012-11-05 | 2014-05-21 | 中国北车集团大同电力机车有限责任公司 | Bogie transportation device |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2282285A1 (en) | 2001-02-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20130917 |