CHARGING VEHICLE FOR A STACK STORAGE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A charging vehicle for a stack storage assembly includes a chassis; a first impeller assembly structured and arranged to move the chassis in a first direction; a second impeller assembly structured and arranged to move the chassis in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and a hoisting device comprising a hoisting drive acting perpendicularly to the first direction and to the second direction. The hoisting device has a hoisting platform movable, with the hoisting drive, upwardly in the direction of gravity from an initial position into a lifted position. The hoisting drive acts downwardly on the second impeller assembly in the direction of gravity and downwardly moves the second impeller assembly beyond the first impeller assembly.

Claims

1. A charging vehicle for a stack storage assembly comprising: a chassis; a first impeller assembly structured and arranged to move the chassis in a first direction; a second impeller assembly structured and arranged to move the chassis in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and a hoisting device comprising a hoisting drive acting perpendicularly to the first direction and to the second direction, wherein the hoisting device has a hoisting platform movable, with the hoisting drive, upwardly in the direction of gravity from an initial position into a lifted position, and wherein the hoisting drive acts downwardly on the second impeller assembly in the direction of gravity and downwardly moves the second impeller assembly beyond the first impeller assembly.

2. The charging vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the hoisting drive acts on the second impeller assembly via the hoisting platform.

3. The charging vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the hoisting platform is downwardly movable from the initial position in the direction of gravity via the hosting drive.

4. The charging vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a spring assembly between the chassis and the second impeller assembly, wherein the spring assembly is structured and arranged to act against an effect of the hoisting drive directed downwardly in the direction of gravity.

5. The charging vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the spring assembly comprises a spring element.

6. The charging vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the spring element comprises a pressure spring.

7. The charging vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second impeller assembly comprises at least one impeller arranged on a swing arm.

8. The charging vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the swing arm is suspended from the chassis in a central area in the second direction.

9. The charging vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the hoisting platform acts on the swing arm.

10. The charging vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the hoisting platform acts on the swing arm via a ball assembly and a ball support.

11. The charging vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the hoisting drive comprises a push chain, which acts with pressure on the hoisting platform given an upward motion of the hoisting platform from the initial position in the direction of gravity, and acts with traction on the hoisting platform given a downward movement of the hoisting platform from the initial position in the direction of gravity.

12. A method of moving a charging vehicle comprising: driving a first impeller assembly to drive first impellers to move the charging vehicle in a first direction; moving second impellers in a direction of gravity from a position above the first impellers to a position below the first impellers; and driving a second impeller assembly to drive the second impellers to move the charging vehicle in a second direction transverse to the first direction.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the moving of the second impellers comprises driving a hoisting platform downwardly onto the second impeller assembly, wherein the hoisting platform is moved perpendicularly to the first direction and to the second direction.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising moving the hoisting platform upwardly in the direction of gravity from an initial position into a lifted position.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the hoisting drive acts downwardly on the second impeller assembly in the direction of gravity and downwardly moves the second impeller assembly beyond the first impeller assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of a charging vehicle with a first impeller assembly and a second impeller assembly,

[0022] FIG. 2 shows is a schematic side view of the charging vehicle in a state in which the first impeller assembly is active,

[0023] FIG. 3 shows is a schematic side view of the charging vehicle in a state in which a switch is made between the first impeller assembly and the second impeller assembly, and

[0024] FIG. 4 shows is a schematic side view of the charging vehicle in a state in which the second impeller assembly is active.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a charging vehicle 1, which can be used in a stack storage assembly to store containers into container stacking spaces from below, and to remove containers from the container stacking spaces from below.

[0027] The charging vehicle has a first impeller assembly 2 with first impellers 2a, 2b, 2c and a second impeller assembly 3 with second impellers 3a, 3b. The first impellers 2a-2c are fastened to a chassis 4. The charging vehicle 1 can be moved in a first direction with the first impeller assembly 2. The second impellers 3a, 3b of the second impeller assembly 3 are vertically aligned to the first impellers 2a-2c. The charging vehicle 1 can be moved in a direction perpendicular or transverse to the first direction with the second impeller assembly 3.

[0028] The charging vehicle 1 further has a hoisting device, with which it is able to store a container (not shown in more detail) from below into a container stacking space of a stack storage assembly or to remove the container from the container stacking space from below. To this end, the charging vehicle 1 has a hoisting platform 5, which can be lifted by a hoisting device. In the present case, the hoisting device has a push chain 6. The push chain 6 is driven by a drive motor 7. The hoisting platform 5 can be guided by a guide 8.

[0029] The first impellers 2a-2c are arranged directly on the chassis 4. They can be driven by a traction drive 9.

[0030] The second impellers 3a, 3b are each arranged on a swing arm 10, 11, wherein the swing arms 10, 11 are pivoted to the chassis 4. A pivot point 12 is discernible only for the swing arm 11.

[0031] The swing arms 10, 11 are supported on the chassis 4 via pressure springs 13, 14. Without exposure to other forces, the pressure springs 13, 14 cause the second impellers 3a, 3b to be pivoted into the inactive position shown on FIG. 2, in which the charging vehicle 1 can only be moved on the first impeller assembly 2.

[0032] The push chain 6 is fixedly connected with the hoisting platform 5. The lower side of the hoisting platform 5 (the directional indications “above” and “below” relate to the direction of gravity) is provided with a ball transfer assembly 15. The upper side of the swing arms 10, 11 has a ball support 16.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows an initial position of the hoisting platform 5. The initial position of the hoisting platform 5 is a position in which a container received on the hoisting platform is moved in the charging space during transport in the first direction, while the charging vehicle 1 rolls on the first impeller assembly 2. The hoisting platform 5 can be moved upwardly out of this initial position, so as to store the container in a container stacking space or remove the container from there.

[0034] However, the hoisting platform 5 can also be downwardly relocated from the initial position with the help of the push chain 6. The ball transfer assembly 15 here comes into contact with the ball support 16, as shown on FIG. 3. If the hoisting platform 5 is further lowered as shown on FIG. 4, the swing arms 10, 11 are pivoted relative to the chassis, and thereby move the second impellers 3a, 3b downwardly beyond the first impellers 2a, 2b. During this movement, the pressure springs 13, 14 are compressed, and the chassis 4 is lifted. The charging vehicle 1 can then be moved on the second impeller assembly 3.

[0035] If the first impeller assembly is to be activated once more, the hoisting platform 5 is again lifted. This lifting can be accomplished solely by the force of the pressure springs 13, 14 given the appropriate dimensioning. However, it is also possible to use the hoisting drive with the push chain 6 for this movement. If the hoisting platform 5 is lifted, the swing arms 10, 11 are pivoted back, and the second impellers 3a, 3b are lifted relative to the chassis (or the chassis 4 is lowered relative to the second impellers 3a, 3b), so that the first impeller assembly 2 becomes active again.

[0036] At least while lifting the hoisting platform 5 upwardly out of the initial position, the push chain 6 acts with pressure on the hoisting platform 5. By contrast, if the hoisting platform 5 is downwardly relocated out of the initial position, the push chain 6 acts with traction on the hoisting platform 5.

[0037] The pivoting axis 12 of the swing arms 10, 11 is arranged in a central area of the chassis 4. In other words, the swing arms 10, 11 are suspended on the chassis 4 in a central area. This in turn allows the second impellers 3a, 3b to be arranged relatively far outside on the charging vehicle, so that the charging wheels 3a, 3b (and their corresponding pair on the other side of the charging vehicle 1) comprise a relatively large footprint. This has a positive effect on the stability of the charging vehicle 1.

[0038] It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.