Patent Publication Number: US-9891013-B2

Title: Modular store

Description:
This application is a National Stage Application of International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2013/061064, filed Dec. 18, 2013, which claims benefit of Serial No. TO2012A001103, filed Dec. 19, 2012 in Italy and which application(s) are incorporated herein by reference. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to each of the above disclosed applications. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is relative to a modular store, adapted to adjust to the shape of the place where it is positioned. 
     This store is adapted to be positioned in a hold of a ship and is able to reduce the positioning errors caused by the deformations due to the structural deformations to which the hold of a ship is subject. 
     Stores are known, which comprise an overhead-travelling-crane to move a handler among a plurality of supplying modules, which are arranged in rows comprising a plurality of crates where objects are stowed. 
     Said modules are arranged so as to create one or more lanes where the handler can move, the handler being moved by means of said overhead-travelling-crane. 
     The support structure of the overhead-travelling-crane is independent of the structure of the supplying modules themselves. 
     The use of these stores on board ships is very complex, since the movements and the structural deformations, which are due to the movements of the ship itself, cause a deformation of the elements of the store. 
     Since the structures of the overhead-travelling-crane and of the supplying modules are independent and have different shapes and sizes, they are subject to different forces. These different forces cause different deformations among the different elements of the store. 
     The different structural deformations of the different elements comprised in the store cause and increase in the positioning error both of the handler relative to the single crane and of the overhead-travelling-crane relative to the different supplying modules. 
     These positioning errors can be hardly compensated by the moving system of the overhead-travelling-crane and/or of the handler. 
     Furthermore, the use of elements that are structurally separated from one another requires a larger space for the assembly of the store and to allow the handler to be moved in the different lanes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The presents invention wants to solve the above-mentioned technical problems by providing a modular store, which is able to reduce the positioning errors and to optimize the space taken up. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the store according to the present invention will be best understood upon perusal of the following description of different non-limiting embodiments of the store with reference to the accompanying drawings, which respectively illustrate what follows: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  show an axonometric view of the store according to the present invention; in particular,  FIG. 1A  shows a first embodiment and  FIG. 1B  shows a second embodiment; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a front view of the store; in detail,  FIG. 2A  shows the store of  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 2B  shows the store of  FIG. 1B ; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a plan view from the top of the store according to the present invention; in detail,  FIG. 3A  shows the store of  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 3B  shows the store of  FIG. 1B ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a lateral view of the store according to the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  show a details of the flooring structure of the store according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows a prospective view of a store comprising a handler. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     With reference to the figures mentioned above, modular store  1  is adapted to be preferably installed in the hold of a ship. 
     The store comprises a plurality of crates “C”, which are organized in supplying modules “M”, at least one flooring structure  2 , which supports said supplying modules “M” and defines a walk-off surface, and a moving system for a handler of said crates. 
     Said moving system comprises an overhead-travelling-crane  3 , which is arranged in the upper part of said supplying modules “M”. 
     Each module “M” defines at least one row, each row having a predetermined number of crates “C”. Said modules “M” define a plurality of rows, which are arranged one next to the other, preferably parallel to one another. 
     Overhead-travelling-crane  3  is adapted to move said handler in a reference plane “XY”, so as to reach single crates “C”. Said overhead-travelling-crane is moved by means of a moving system  35 . Said moving system  35 , as shown in the preferred non-limiting embodiment of FIG.  1 B, comprises a shaft  351 , at whose ends there are fixed two pinions  352 , adapted to mesh with a rack comprised in each longitudinal guide  31 . Said shaft  351  is controlled by at least one motor  350 , which is connected to the shaft by means of at least one mechanism comprising transmissions and reduction gears. 
     Said overhead-trevelling-crane  3  comprises a horizontal truss  30 , which is provided with a carriage  32 , to which said handler can be fixed. Said horizontal truss  30  is adapted to slide along longitudinal guides  31 . 
     Said longitudinal guides  31 , on which said horizontal truss  30  slides, are rigidly fixed to supplying modules “M”. In the preferred non-limiting embodiment, said longitudinal guides  31  are rigidly fixed to two supplying modules “M”. Said longitudinal guides, as shown in the appended figures, are arranged so as to be perpendicular, in reference plane “XY”, relative to horizontal truss  30 . 
     Said carriage  32  is adapted to slide along said horizontal truss  30 . 
     Said supplying modules “M”, on which said longitudinal guides  31  are fixed, are modules “M” of the outer rows of store  1 , which define the horizontal extension of the store itself. 
     For the purpose of the present invention, the term “outer rows” means modules “M” defining the ends of store  1  along the horizontal extension or axis “X” defining the plane. 
     Each module “M” is rigidly fixed to said flooring structure  2 . Each one of said modules “M”, as shown in  FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 4, and 6 , comprises a plurality of frames  12 , adapted to house and support said crates “C”. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, and 6 , wherein said modules “M” are arranged so as to create at least one lane “W”, along which said handler can slide. 
     Furthermore, said modules “M” are arranged so as to create at least one passageway between two parallel lanes “W”. 
     Flooring structure  2  comprises a plurality of coupling means  21 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, said flooring structure  2  is rigidly fixed to the ground by means of said plurality of coupling means  21 . 
     Each one of said coupling means  21  can be adjusted, for example longitudinally, so as to create a walk-off surface—and in particular said flooring structure  2 —that is leveled. 
     In an alternative embodiment, which is not shown, said flooring structure is rigidly fixed to the walls of the hold of a ship by means of said plurality of coupling means  21 . 
     In a further alternative embodiment, which is not shown, said flooring structure is rigidly fixed to the ceiling of the hold of a ship by means of said plurality of coupling means  21 . 
     Preferably, store  1  according to the present invention comprises stabilization elements, which are not shown and are adapted to be fixed to the walls of the place where the store is arranged, for example a hold. Said stabilization elements are adapted to ensure the stability of the store when the latter is subject to direct forces along axes “X” and/or “Y”. 
     Preferably, the store according to the present invention comprise support elements, which are not shown and are adapted to support possible longitudinal guides  31  that project relative to frames  12 . Normally, the projection of longitudinal guides  31  is adapted to ensure the passageway for the movements of a handler among the different lanes “W”. 
     In the preferred embodiment, said plurality of coupling means  21  are bolted screws, which fix said flooring structure  2  to the ground or to the structure of the hold of the ship where store  1  is preferably applied. 
     Preferably, said flooring structure  2  is modular and comprises a plurality of plates  22 , which can be rigidly fixed to one another, so as to create a structure that is modular in shape and to optimize the space taken up by store  1 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, each plate  22  comprises first coupling portions  221 , where the plates are fixed to one another, so as to obtain the modular flooring structure. 
     Preferably, plate  22  comprises, furthermore, second coupling portions  222 , where modules “M”—and in particular frames  12 —are fixed, and third coupling portions  223 , where said coupling  21  means are fixed. 
     This embodiment allows plates  22  to be rigidly fixed to one another, so as to obtain a walk-off surface that has an optimal shape based on the space available. 
     In the preferred embodiment, said first coupling portion  221  substantially is a portion of a second coupling portion  222 ; as a matter of fact, it is a frame  12  that, once fixed to two consecutive plates  22 , acts as a fixing means between two plates  22 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A, 2A, and 3A , there is one single flooring structure  2 , which covers the entire area taken up, which is at least equal to the extension of the reference plane “XY” on which overhead-travelling-crane  3  can move. 
     In the embodiment described in  FIGS. 1B, 2B, and 3B , one or more flooring structures  2  can be provided, which, for example, correspond to the number of lanes “W” comprised in store  1 . In  FIGS. 1B, 2B, and 3B , in particular, two lanes “W” are provided and each of them has its own flooring structure  2 . 
     Said modules “M”—and in particular single frame  12 —are rigidly fixed on said flooring structure  2 . This configuration helps create a store in which the different parts are correlated with one another, so as to reduce positioning errors. 
     In the preferred embodiment, two adjacent frames  12  form a housing portion  13 , where a crate “C” is arranged. Said frame  12  comprises, furthermore, a lower fixing end  14 , adapted to be fixed to a second coupling portion  222  of a plate  22  and an upper fixing portion  15 , which can be fixed to support and/or fixing elements ( 34 ,  36 ). 
     As shown in the appended figures, a first support element  34  is provided, which is arranged in correspondence to modules “M” defining the outer rows and is fixed to frames  12 . Said first support element  34 , in turn, is fixed to a longitudinal guide  31  of overhead-travelling-crane  3 . 
     Preferably, said support element  34  is a beam with a length that is at least equal to the longitudinal extension of the longitudinal guide  31  fixed thereto. 
       FIGS. 1B, 2B, and 3B  show a fixing element  36 , adapted to fix frames  12 —and in particular frames  12  not belonging to the same lane “W”—to one another. 
     In a first embodiment, said fixing element  36  is a flange, adapted to fix two or more frames  12  to one another, the different housing portions  13  facing neighboring adjacent lanes “W”. 
     In a first embodiment, which, for example, is shown in  FIGS. 1A, 2A, and 3A , frames  12  facing different lanes “W” are arranged in contact with one another, thus avoiding the creation of hollow spaces. 
     In a second embodiment, which, for example, is shown in  FIGS. 1B, 2B, and 3B , said frames  12  facing different lanes “W” comprise, between one another, a hollow space “V”, adapted to permit the passage of operators in charge of the maintenance of store  1  according to the present invention. 
     Store  1  according to the present invention is adapted to house oblong objects, such as ammunitions. Crates “C” have an oblong shape, as well, so as to be able to house and protect said oblong objects. 
     Store  1  according to the present invention is assembled in such a way that the elements making up the store itself are modular, this optimizing the space taken up. Furthermore, store  1  is adapted to reduce the positioning errors arising when objects are removed from or positioned into crates “C”, since all the elements making up the store are structurally correlated with one another. The store according to the present invention permits to compensate, in an optimal manner, the structural deformations of the store itself due both to the sussultatory movement of the ship and to the deformation of the hold comprised in ship, where in the store is preferably arranged. 
     NUMERICAL REFERENCES 
     
         
         Store  1   
         Frames  12   
         Housing  13   
         Lower fixing end  14   
         Upper fixing end  15   
         Flooring structure  2   
         Coupling means  21   
         Plates  22   
         First fixing portions  221   
         Second fixing portions  222   
         Third fixing portions  223   
         Overhead-travelling-crane  3   
         Horizontal truss  30   
         Longitudinal guides  31   
         Carriage  32   
         Support element  34   
         Moving system  35   
         Motor  350   
         Shaft  351   
         Pinions  352   
         Fixing elements  36   
         Supplying modules M 
         Crates C 
         Lane W 
         Hollow space V 
         Reference plane XY