Abstract:
A mechanical safety braking device for use with a mobile storage unit forming a part of the mobile storage system. The device includes an actuating member disposed on a mobile storage unit that is operably connected to a braking mechanism engaged with a motive system for the mobile storage unit. When the actuating member is engaged, the mechanical connection between the actuating member and the braking mechanism causes the braking mechanism to slow and ultimately cease the operation of the motive system and consequent movement of the mobile storage unit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/914,875, filed Apr. 30, 2007, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to mobile storage systems, and more specifically to a safety braking device utilized with a mobile storage system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Mobile storage systems have long been utilized to store documents, books and other items in a high density manner that also allows for easy access to the items contained on any portion of the mobile storage system. These systems typically include a number of storage units movably mounted on rails that are secured to the floor of a room or other enclosure. By operation of a motive system associated with each of the storage units, individual units may be moved along the rails to expose a desired unit in order to retrieve the items contained therein. 
     The motive system selected for these types of storage units can be either a mechanical system or an electrical system. With a mechanical motive system, each storage unit is moved by manually activating the mechanical mechanism, such as a hand crank. The crank or other manual activation means is disposed directly on the individual storage unit, and is mechanically connected to wheels on the storage unit to move those wheels and the storage unit along the rails. 
     With regard to the electrical motive systems used for the storage units, the system is activated by utilizing a switch that is operably connected to an electrically-powered motor connected to wheels for the storage unit. The activation of the motor then causes the wheels of the storage unit to rotate in the selected direction to move the storage unit in the desired direction. 
     A number of safety devices have been developed for use with mobile storage systems in order to prevent adjacent storage units from inadvertently being moved towards one another when a person or other object is positioned between the storage units. Many prior art safety devices designed for use with storage units in storage systems of this type are electrically operated safety devices that are integrated with a motor-operated drive system that moves the individual storage units along the rails during operation of the system. 
     While safety devices of this type function satisfactorily, it is necessary to supply electrical power to the storage unit in order to power the safety device. This is not a concern in a motor-operated systems, since each storage unit is supplied with electrical power in order to power the motor-operated drive system, unless there is a loss of power. When power is lost, however, the motor also ceases to function such that the storage unit is unable to move. 
     In mobile storage systems that have a mechanical drive system, the motive power is manually supplied by a user. As such, systems of this type do not require the supply of electrical power to the storage units so that the electrically powered-safety devices are not able to be utilized effectively. In particular, in those situations where the power supply to the electrical safety device is interrupted, unlike those storage units where the unit is moved by an electrically-powered motor, the manual input still enables the storage unit to move as directed by an individual, which can result in an unsafe condition. 
     As a result, it is desirable to develop a safety braking device for a storage units used in a mobile storage system that, while capable of providing the desired safety braking feature to the individual units within the storage system, does not require electrical power and also has a relatively simple construction for easy incorporation with the storage units, whether mechanically or electrically operated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a mechanical safety braking device is provided for attachment to an individual storage unit of a mobile storage system that operates to stop the operation of the motive system for the storage unit upon activation of the device. The mechanical safety braking device includes an actuator disposed in an easily accessible location on the exterior of each storage unit that is used to activate the device. The actuator is, in turn, connected to a connecting member, such as a cable or other suitable member, that extends from the actuator to an engagement mechanism disposed adjacent to the motive system for the storage unit. The engagement mechanism, upon activation of the mechanical safety braking device using the actuator, directly engages the motive system for the storage unit, consequently stopping the operation of the motive system and inhibiting any further movement of the storage unit until the actuator is released. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the mechanical safety braking device has a relatively simple construction that can be easily incorporated into the construction of new storage units, or can be retrofit onto existing storage units. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, the mechanical safety braking device can be employed with either a mechanical or an electrical motive system because no electric power is required for the operation of the braking device. 
     Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a mobile storage system including a number of mobile storage devices each incorporating the mechanical braking safety device constructed according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially broken away isometric view of an actuating member of the mechanical braking safety device incorporated in a storage unit as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial top plan view showing the components of the mechanical safety braking device in accordance with the present invention as incorporated into a carriage of a storage unit as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partially broken away, cross-sectional view of the actuating member of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial isometric view of an actuating device incorporated into the mechanical safety braking device in accordance with the present invention, in which the actuating device is mounted to a carriage of a storage unit as shown in  FIG. 1 , and showing the actuating device in an inactivated position; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the actuating device of  FIG. 5 , showing the actuating device in the inactivated position; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial isometric view of the actuating device of  FIG. 5 , showing the actuating device in an activated position; 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the actuating device of  FIG. 7 , showing the actuating device in the activated position; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial isometric view showing the braking arrangement of the mechanical safety braking device as shown in  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a partial top plan view is similar to  FIGS. 6 and 8 , showing an alternative arrangement for the actuating device incorporated in the mechanical safety braking device of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, a mechanical safety braking device constructed according to the present invention is indicated generally at  10  in  FIG. 3 . The mechanical safety braking device  10  is mounted to a frame  12  of a mobile storage unit carriage  14 , and is interconnected with a motive system  16  ( FIG. 9 ) for the storage unit carriage  14 . In a manner as is known, each carriage  14  is configured to support a series of storage units such as shelves, cabinets, etc., shown at S in  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , the safety device  10  includes a suitable actuating member  18 , such as a kick plate, that is mounted to the exterior of the carriage frame  12 , and preferably to the bottom of the carriage frame  12  or some other readily and easily accessible location. The actuating member  18  can be formed from a suitably rigid material as a single member or as multiple members attached to the frame  12 , with the actuating member(s)  18  fixedly connected at one end to the frame  12  by a series of suitable fasteners  19  inserted through one end of the actuating member  18  and secured to the frame  12 . In one preferred embodiment as shown in  FIG. 4 , the actuating number  18  is formed as a relatively rigid L-shaped member  20 , which has sufficient strength and rigidity to be moved inwardly along its length when it strikes an object in the aisle between storage units S. The actuating member  18  includes an inwardly facing spring member  24 , which extends from the end of the L-shaped member  20  to which the fastener  19  is attached and is secured to the outer end of the L-shaped member  20 . When the actuating member  18  is secured to the frame  12 , the spring member  24  engages the frame  12  and biases the actuating member  18  away from the frame  12 . The L-shaped member  20  may also include a bumper strip  29  at its lower end, which may be in the form of a length of safety tape, and which defines the lowermost and outermost extent of the actuating member  18  and is adapted to be engaged by an object supported on a floor or other supporting surface to which the carriage  14  is mounted. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4-8 , at its lower end, the actuating member  18  is engaged with the outer end of a pivoting actuator plate  26  that is affixed to an actuator support  28  carried by the frame  12 , by means of a pivot pin  100  secured to the plate  26  within an aperture  101  formed in the plate  26 . The pivoting actuator plate  26  includes an outer portion  102  that extends beneath the frame  14  and outwardly beyond the support plate  28  into contact with the actuating member  18 . An engagement tab  104  is positioned on the outer portion  102  and forms the point of engagement of the outer portion  102  with the actuating member  18 . The pivoting actuator plate  26  is connected to one end of a connecting member  30 , such as a cable or other suitable connecting means, that is disposed within and extends through a sheath  32  mounted at one end to the actuator support  28 . The movement of the pivoting actuator plate  26  in response to the movement of the actuating member  18  operates to pull the connecting member or cable  30  outwardly from the sheath  32 , for a purpose to be described. 
     Connected to the outer portion of the pivoting actuator plate  102  is an inner portion  106  that extends inwardly at a right angle relative to the outer portion  102 . The inner portion  106  includes a securing flange  108  extending upwardly from one side of the inner portion  106 . The securing flange  108  includes a notch  110  formed therein. The upper portion of the notch  110  is partially obstructed by a locking flange  112  that functions to hold the cable  30  in connection with the flange  108  by forcing the cable  30  to be bent around the flange  112  in order to pass the cable  30  into the notch  110 . In the inactivated position for the safety device  10 , best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the notch  110  is positioned substantially in alignment with a cable aperture  114  located in a guide flange  116 . The guide flange  116  extends upwardly from the actuator support  28  on one side of a notch  118  formed in the actuator support  28 . In this position, the guide flange  116  and the securing flange  108  are positioned generally parallel to one another. In the activated position for the device  10 , best shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the pivoting actuator plate  26  is pivoted about the pin  100  as a result of contact with the associated actuating member  18 , which moves the securing flange  108  away from the guide flange  116 . This consequently draws the cable  30  secured to the flange  108  out of the sheath  32  secured to the guide flange  116  to activate the device  10 . 
     Looking now at  FIGS. 3 and 9 , the opposite end of the sheath  32  is connected to a braking mechanism or assembly  34  disposed within the frame  12  adjacent a drive axle  36  of the motive system  16  for the unit  12 . The driver axle  36  includes a pair of wheels  37  (one shown). The braking assembly  34  includes an outwardly extending flange  38 , and a brake support  40  fixedly attached to the frame  12  near the drive axle  36 , such as by connection to a vertically oriented internal plate member  41  secured to one of the transverse members of the frame  12 . The flange  38  is fixed to the end of the brake support  40  opposite the point of attachment of the brake support  40  to the frame  12 . In a preferred embodiment, the brake support  40  further includes an aperture  42  therethrough within which the drive axle  36  can be rotatably positioned. A bearing or bushing is mounted in the aperture  42 , so as to enable rotation of drive axle  36  while maintaining the position of the inner area of brake support  40  inwardly of drive axle  36 . 
     The brake support  40  also includes an opening  44  spaced from the aperture  42  opposite the point of attachment of the brake support  40  to the frame  12 . A brake arm  46  is disposed within and extends through opening  44 . The brake arm  46  is pivotally mounted to the brake support  40  by a pivot pin  48  that extends through the brake support  40  and across the opening  44 , while also extending through a corresponding bore (not shown) within the brake arm  46 . 
     At its inner end  50 , the brake arm  46  includes an engagement plate  52  secured thereto in general alignment with the flange  38 . The plate  52  includes a number of engagement apertures  54  that are also disposed in general alignment with corresponding sheath attachment openings  56  in the flange  38 . Thus, the end of the sheath  32  opposite the actuator support  28  can be secured to the flange  38 , while the end of the cable  30  extending from the sheath  32  can be extended through the opening  56  in the flange  38  and engaged with the aperture  54  in the plate  52 . A biasing member  58 , which may be in the form of a spring  60 , is also positioned between the flange  38  and the plate  52  to bias the brake arm  46  away from the flange  38 . The biasing member  58  may take a form other than a coil spring  60 , such as a torsion spring or the like, so long as it functions to bias the brake arm  46  away from flange  38  with a desired degree of biasing force. 
     Opposite the plate  52 , the brake arm  46  includes at least one engaging member  62  that is engageable with a stopping member  63  on the motive system  16  for the storage unit  10 , which preferably is in the form of a disc  64  disposed on the drive axle  36 , though other suitable structures for the stopping member  63  can also be used. The disc  64  is formed with an outer periphery or ring  66  including a number of engagement structures  68  thereon of that are shaped complementary to the engaging member  62  on the pivot arm  46 . Also, the disc  64  is fixedly mounted to the drive axle  36 , such that the disc  64  rotates in conjunction with the drive axle  36 . Representatively, the engaging member  62  may be in the form of a tooth or key that is formed in the outer end of brake arm  46 , and the engagement structures  68  on the disc  64  may be in the form of spaced apart outwardly extending cogs or teeth formed on the outer surface of disc  64 , which are formed so as to define recesses within which the tooth or key in the outer end of brake arm  46  can be engaged. 
     In operation, when the storage unit carriage  14  is in motion, the drive axle  36  rotates in response to the operation of the motive mechanism  16 , such as by operation of a hand crank or the like, to move the storage unit carriage  14  along rails (not shown) secured to a surface on which the storage unit carriage  14  rests. When the storage unit carriage  14  encounters an obstacle during movement, such as a person or other object that is between carriages that are being moved together, the safety device  10  is engaged by operation of the actuating member  18  coming into contact with the foot of the person, or with the lower area of the object, as one of the carriages  14  is moved toward another. When the actuating member  18  comes into contact with an object in this manner, the actuating member  18  is moved toward the storage unit frame  12  against the bias of the spring member  24 . By pivoting the actuating member  18  against the frame  12 , the actuating member  18  functions to move the pivoting actuator plate  26  inwardly with respect to the frame  12 , as best shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . This action of the pivoting actuator plate  26  correspondingly pulls the cable  30  that is secured to the pivoting actuator plate  26  outwardly from the sheath  32 , as a result of the connection of the cable  30  to the pivoting actuator plate  26 . As the cable  30  is drawn outwardly from the sheath  32  by the movement of the pivoting actuator plate  26 , the opposite end of the cable  30 , which is secured to the engagement plate  52 , is drawn towards the opposite end of the sheath  32 , which is secured to flange  38 . This, in turn, draws the engagement plate  52  toward the flange  38  against the bias of the biasing member  58 , and functions to pivot the brake arm  46  about pivot pin  48 . When brake arm  46  is pivoted in this manner, the engaging member  62  on the brake arm  46  is moved into engagement with one or more of the engagement structures  68  disposed on the disc  64  as the engagement structures  68  rotate into alignment with the engaging member  62  in response to rotation drive axle  36 . The engagement of the engaging member  62  with one of the engagement structures  68  positively stops rotation of disc  64 , and thereby the drive axle  36 , and acts to quickly brake corresponding movement of the storage unit carriage  14 . In a preferred embodiment, the engagement of the actuating member  18  and the engagement of the brake arm  46  with the disc  68  occurs virtually simultaneously. 
     In a preferred embodiment for the mechanical safety braking device  10 , a maximum force of approximately five (5) lbs of force is required to be exerted on the actuating member  18  in order to activate the device  10 . In addition, the engagement of the engaging member  62  with the engagement structures  68  is sufficient to completely stop the motion of the storage unit carriage  14  within a maximum stopping distance of 2-3 inches, while also allowing for a two (2) inch clearance between adjacent storage unit carriages  14  and the actuating members  18  on the adjacent unit carriages  14  when the carriages  14  are not in use. Further, it is contemplated that the mechanical safety braking device  10  can include an automatic reset (not shown) whereby the biasing member  58  can urge the pivot arm  46  and engaging member  62  out of engagement with the engaging structures  68  in the disc  64  upon removal of the required force on the actuating member  18 . 
     While the above description covers the preferred embodiments of the mechanical safety device  10  of the present invention, other alternative embodiments are also contemplated as being within the scope of the invention. For example, the motive mechanism or system  16  on which the mechanical safety braking device  10  can be used can be either a mechanically or electrically driven system, so long as the pivot arm  46  and engaging structures  62  are configured to stop the rotation of the drive axle  36  within the required stopping distance tolerances. Also, the flange  38  and engagement plate  52  can be configured to be connected to one or more sheaths  32  and cables  30  such that one or more actuating members  18  can be present on a single storage unit carriage  14  at various locations around the carriage  14 , or so that forces exerted on various sections of the actuating member  18  can be independently transmitted to the plate  38  by one or more of the cables  30  secured thereto. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 13 , the support plate  28  can be formed with guide flanges  116  disposed on opposite sides of the notch  118 . With these multiple guide flanges  116 , the cable  30  can be connected to the pivot arm  46 , while the opposite cable  30 ′ is operably secured to another actuating plate  18 , with each cable also attached to the securing flange  108  in a stacked configuration. In this construction, when the actuating plate  18  connected to the cable  30 ′ is contacted, the cable  30 ′ is pulled in a direction that pivots the plate  26 ′ in the same direction as if the actuating plate  18  connected to the cable  30  were contacted. This draws the cable  30  out of the sheath  32  to engage the pivot arm  46  with the disc  68 . Thus, with this construction for the support plate  28  having the multiple guide flanges  116 , multiple pivot plates  26 ′ that are engageable by spaced actuating members  18  can be connected in series to enable the remote actuating members  18  to effectively activate the device  10  by pivoting each of the intervening plates  26 ′. 
     Various other alternatives are contemplated is being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.