GB1574122A

GB1574122A - Storage systems

Info

Publication number: GB1574122A
Application number: GB3888875A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SURMAN IND Ltd
Current assignee: SURMAN IND Ltd
Priority date: 1976-12-22
Filing date: 1976-12-22
Publication date: 1980-09-03

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO STORAGE SYSTEMS (71) We, SURMAN INDUSTRIES LIMI TED, a British Company, of Haden Street, Highgate, Birmingham B12 8BH, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to storage systems of the kind in which a plurality of storage units disposed in a row are movable along the row such that any adjacent two of the storage units can be spaced apart to provide a gangway in the storage system, the storage units having mobile bases with wheels which run on tracks or other guides in the storage systems. Such storage systems are hereinafter referred to as "of the kind described".

The storage units are usually racks, and it is usual for one of the wheels of the mobile base of a storage unit to be driven.

The present invention consists in a mobile base for a storage unit of a storage system of the kind described, comprising a wheeled carriage which comprises an open structure of connected frame members and has a driven wheel the drive to an axle of which is transmitted from an output shaft of a prime mover by transmission means housed in a hollow of one of the frame members, a part of said frame member extending over the transmission means and providing overhead protection to the transmission means against falling matter or objects.

The hollowed frame member may be of channel section disposed on its side, the transmission means being in the channel of the member and one of the two opposite side walls of the channel forming the part of the frame member which extends over the transmission means.

The transmission means may be reduction gearing comprising simply a drive pinion on the output shaft of the prime mover and a meshing larger gear wheel fixed to the axle of the driven wheel. Alternatively, the transmission means may comprise components of a belt drive or chain drive. If a belt drive is provided the belt is desirably of the toothed type engaging with toothed pulley wheels.

The prime mover may be removably supported by a mounting fixed to the hollowed frame member of the carriage.

Preferably, for ease of disassembly of the driven wheel from the carriage, for example for the purposes of maintenance, the transmission means permits the wheel to be disconnected from the prime mover without separation of the latter from the mounting. On the other hand, if the prime mover requires attention, the transmission means enables it to be disconnected from the driven wheel without removal of the wheel from the carriage.

The prime mover may comprise an electric drive unit in which an electric motor is coupled directly to a gearbox of which the output shaft is a part.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a mobile base for a storage unit of a storage system of the kind described, and Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

The mobile base comprises a rectangular carriage 1 constructed from channel section, L-section and plate frame members rigidly secured together and braced by a diagonal member 1' against distortion from the rectangular shape. As will be apDre- ciated from Figure 1, the frame members in combination present a substantially planar top surface of the carriage. Four wheels 2 support the carriage. One wheel 2' is driven by an electric motor 3 and the others are freely rotatable. As indicated, the wheels 2 are arranged to run along guide rails 4 in a storage system.

The driven wheel 2' is mounted on and keyed for rotation with an axle 5 which extends two parallel frame members 6, 7 of the carriage of similar channel section.

The frame members 6, 7 are disposed with the web walls 8 of the channels vertical and towards one another, and the side walls 9 of each channel extending horizontally in directions away from the other channel. Opposite ends of the axle 5 are detachably fitted with ball bearings 10 in housings 11 mounted in and bolted to locators 12 welded to the web walls 8 of the frame members 6, 7, the bearings, housings and locators being within the channels of the frame members. Tubular spacers 13 mounted on the axle 5 space the wheel from the bearings 10 and restrain the wheel from axial movement on the axle. The manner in which the driven wheel is mounted on the carriage is in accordance with the invention which is the subject of our co-pending patent application No. 38887/75 (Serial No. 1,574,121).

One end of the axle 5 protrudes from its bearing 10 and has a large reduction gear wheel 14 releasably keyed to it within the channel of the one frame member 7.

A drive pinion 15 is in mesh with the gear wheel also within the channel. The drive pinion 15 is fixed to an output shaft 16 of a gearbox 17 coupled to the electric motor 3 in an electric drive unit supported by a mounting flange 18 rigid with the frame member 7. The electric drive unit is disposed below the level of the top surface of the frame member. A detachable guard 19 fabricated from sheet metal fits into the channel to enclose the gear wheel 14 and drive pinion 15 at the open side of the channel and within the channel. The guard is secured to the frame member by bolts, not shown.

Because they are contained within the channel, the gear wheel 14 and drive pinion 15 will be protected by the frame member 7 from debris or other matter or objects which may fall on to the mobile base when it is in use. The detachable guard 19 adds to the protection, as well as being a safety measure to prevent people from putting their hands into that part of the channel where the reduction gearing is housed.

For removal of the driven wheel 2', the gear wheel 14 can be readily removed from the axle and the axle driven out of the bearing 10, and also out of the wheel. It is possible to remove the wheel without disturbing the electric drive unit.

The other wheels 2 of the mobile base are mounted in similar manner to the driven wheel, the arrangements differing only to the extent that as their axles are not required to carry gearing they do not have ends which protrude from the bearings.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A mobile base for a storage unit of a storage system of the kind described, comprising a wheeled carriage which comprises an open structure of connected frame members and has a driven wheel the drive to an axle of which is transmitted from an output shaft of a prime mover by transmission means housed in a hollow of one of the frame members, a part of said frame member extending over the transmission means and providing overhead protection to the transmission means against falling matter or objects.

2. A mobile base according to Claim 1 wherein the hollowed frame member is of channel section disposed on its side, the transmission means being in the channel of the member and one of the opposite side walls of the channel forming the part of the frame member which extends over the transmission means.

3. A mobile base according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein a guard is fitted to the hollowed frame member about the transmission means.

4. A mobile base according to Claim 3 as dependent from Claim 2 wherein the guard encloses the transmission means at the open side of the channel and within the channel.

5. A mobile base according to any preceding claim wherein the transmission means comprises reduction gearing having a drive pinion on the output shaft of the prime mover and a meshing larger gear wheel fixed to the axle of the driven wheel.

6 A mobile base according to any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the transmission means comprises a toothed belt engaged with toothed pulley wheels.

7. A mobile base according to any preceding claim wherein the prime mover comprises an electric drive unit in which an electric motor is coupled directly to a gearbox of which the output shaft is a part.

8. A mobile base according to any preceding claim wherein the prime mover is removably supported by a mounting fixed to the hollowed frame member.

9. A mobile base according to any preceding claim wherein the driven wheel is mounted between the hollowed frame member and a parallel frame member of the carriage, its axle extending between the two frame members and being journalled in bearings supported by said frame members, and one end of the axle extending into the hollowed frame member and being connected therein to the transmission means.

10. A mobile base according to any preceding claim wherein the frame members of the carriage in combination present a substantially planar top surface of the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. extends two parallel frame members 6, 7 of the carriage of similar channel section. The frame members 6, 7 are disposed with the web walls 8 of the channels vertical and towards one another, and the side walls 9 of each channel extending horizontally in directions away from the other channel. Opposite ends of the axle 5 are detachably fitted with ball bearings 10 in housings 11 mounted in and bolted to locators 12 welded to the web walls 8 of the frame members 6, 7, the bearings, housings and locators being within the channels of the frame members. Tubular spacers 13 mounted on the axle 5 space the wheel from the bearings 10 and restrain the wheel from axial movement on the axle. The manner in which the driven wheel is mounted on the carriage is in accordance with the invention which is the subject of our co-pending patent application No. 38887/75 (Serial No. 1,574,121). One end of the axle 5 protrudes from its bearing 10 and has a large reduction gear wheel 14 releasably keyed to it within the channel of the one frame member 7. A drive pinion 15 is in mesh with the gear wheel also within the channel. The drive pinion 15 is fixed to an output shaft 16 of a gearbox 17 coupled to the electric motor 3 in an electric drive unit supported by a mounting flange 18 rigid with the frame member 7. The electric drive unit is disposed below the level of the top surface of the frame member. A detachable guard 19 fabricated from sheet metal fits into the channel to enclose the gear wheel 14 and drive pinion 15 at the open side of the channel and within the channel. The guard is secured to the frame member by bolts, not shown. Because they are contained within the channel, the gear wheel 14 and drive pinion 15 will be protected by the frame member 7 from debris or other matter or objects which may fall on to the mobile base when it is in use. The detachable guard 19 adds to the protection, as well as being a safety measure to prevent people from putting their hands into that part of the channel where the reduction gearing is housed. For removal of the driven wheel 2', the gear wheel 14 can be readily removed from the axle and the axle driven out of the bearing 10, and also out of the wheel. It is possible to remove the wheel without disturbing the electric drive unit. The other wheels 2 of the mobile base are mounted in similar manner to the driven wheel, the arrangements differing only to the extent that as their axles are not required to carry gearing they do not have ends which protrude from the bearings. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A mobile base for a storage unit of a storage system of the kind described, comprising a wheeled carriage which comprises an open structure of connected frame members and has a driven wheel the drive to an axle of which is transmitted from an output shaft of a prime mover by transmission means housed in a hollow of one of the frame members, a part of said frame member extending over the transmission means and providing overhead protection to the transmission means against falling matter or objects.

carriage, and the prime mover is disposed below the level of the top surface.

11. A mobile base substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

12. A storage unit for a storage system of the kind described including a mobile base as claimed in any preceding claim.

13. A storage system of the kind described in which there is a storage unit including a mobile base as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11.