Abstract:
An electrically driven mobile storage system employing guides along which the storage units move as means of electric transmission to minimize the dangers of electric shock.

Description:
[0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/956,719 filed on 20 Aug. 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to mobile storage systems and, in particular, it is concerned with providing powered mobility to storage units in a manner that reduces the safety hazards associated with high voltage electrical devices. 
         [0003]    Effective space utilization is an important factor for increasing efficiency and productivity in a wide range of setting. Mobile storage systems provide more efficient space utilization and motorized systems provide added user convenience. The drawback of motorized storage systems is that they rely on electric power provided by local municipalities typically delivered to the home or work area at a voltage of 110 or 220 volts and frequencies of 60 or 50 Hz respectively. A shock from electricity of these voltages and corresponding frequencies is especially dangerous for people. Therefore, the high voltage electricity, the abundant wiring required to ensure freedom of motion along the entire length of travel for each unit, the typically metallic shelving, and the tendency for the insulation to wear thin from the rubbing caused by the repetitive travel back and forth is a combination of factors that can give rise to a potentially life threatening shock hazard. Therefore there is a need to reduce the dangers associated with electrocution from motorized storage systems by providing a substantially wireless, low-voltage electrically driven mobile storage systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is an electrically driven mobile storage system operative to reduce the likelihood of being electrocuted by employing motors operative on low voltage DC electricity delivered via metallic travel guides. 
         [0005]    According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, an electrically-driven mobile storage system comprising: (a) a plurality of storage units disposed side-by-side, each of said storage units being moveable connected to a plurality of metallic guides along which said storage units independently move in either direction so as to facilitate the formation of access aisles between said storage units, said metallic guides being connected to an electric power source so as to provide a voltage differential between two of said metallic guides; (b) a plurality of low-voltage motors possessing resiliently biased electrical contact elements disposed to maintain continuous contact with said metallic guides, at least one of said low-voltage motors being deployed on each of said storage units wherein said low-voltage motor is operatively linked to at least one drive wheel configured to apply a torque to a fixed, horizontal body thereby propelling said storage unit along said metallic guide; and (c) a switch arrangement associated with each of said low-voltage motors and said metallic guides for selectively activating desired said low-voltage motor to propel said associated storage unit along said metallic guides in a direction of choice. 
         [0006]    According to a further feature of the present invention, the plurality of storage units includes storage units hanging from said metallic guides. 
         [0007]    According to a further feature of the present invention, the drive wheel includes an electrically non-conductive roller. 
         [0008]    According to a further feature of the present invention, the drive wheel includes a gear. 
         [0009]    According to a further feature of the present invention, the gear is made of an electrically non-conductive material. 
         [0010]    According to a further feature of the present invention, the fixed horizontal body includes said metallic guide. 
         [0011]    According to a further feature of the present invention, the fixed horizontal body includes a toothed track. 
         [0012]    According to a further feature of the present invention, the fixed horizontal body includes a chain disposed in at least one of said metallic guides. 
         [0013]    According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided a remote control arrangement configured to move said storage units into a position reflecting a user instructions when the access aisle is vacant. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a suspended, electrically-driven mobile storage system. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a schematic front view of a suspended, electrically-driven mobile storage system depicting six storage units disposed for sideway mobility. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of a suspended, electrically-driven storage unit. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the motor and electrical connection arrangement of a suspended, electrically-driven storage unit. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the electrically insulated hang arrangement. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an activation and control arrangement for the electrically-driven mobile storage system. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram depicting an activation and control arrangement for the electrically-driven mobile storage system. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    The present invention is an electrically driven mobile storage system operative on low-voltage, electricity delivered via the metallic guides that define a path of travel for the storage units. 
         [0023]    The principles and operation of the method according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. 
         [0024]    It should be noted at this point the following terms of usage. The term low voltage refers to a voltage of about 12 or 24 volts of either direct current or alternating current. The term “guide” includes a rail, an elongated grooved structure, an I-beam or any other structure providing direction and/or support for an entity moveably connected to it. The term “side” in regards to the storage units refers to that face possessing the longer horizontal dimension and the term “front” refers to that face possessing the shorter horizontal dimension. The term “roller” refers to a wheel made of a flexible material, that grips a flat surface when spun on it. 
         [0025]    The current invention has application in a wide variety of settings requiring the organized storage of Large amounts of materials where space is a limited like offices, factories, libraries, hospitals and pharmacies. 
         [0026]    A first embodiment of the current invention includes storage units  1 , metallic guides  2 , a power supply  3 , a support structure  4 , hang elements  5 , a low voltage motor  6  as shown in  FIGS. 1  though  4 . The support structure  4  is rigidly fastened to the ceiling  8  or any other substantial structure and the remaining terminal portion connects to metallic guides  2  that in turn support a number of guide connection elements  5 . The hang elements  5  are moveably connected to the metallic guides  2  as will be explained, and hang the storage units  1  from the metallic guides  2 . In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment each storage unit  1  hangs from two hang elements  5  wherein each hang element is disposed in a separate metallic guide  2  that supports and defines a line of travel for the storage units  1 . A power source  3 , connected to a standard AC outlet provides, provides a 24V voltage differential across the metallic guides  2 . It should be noted that a 12-volt differential or any other comparable voltage is included with the scope of the current invention. A low-voltage gear motor  6  coupled to a drive wheel  10  implemented as a neoprene rubber cylinder encasing the drive shaft is disposed in each mobile storage unit  1 . The low-voltage motor  6  is biased by means of a compression spring  11  or other biasing element so as to maintain the drive wheel  10  in continuous contact with the underside of a horizontal flange  18  of one of the metallic guides  2  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment the metallic guide is implemented as 6061 or 6063 aluminum with a H34 temper. The low-voltage motor  6  is equipped with a resiliently biased electrical contacts  12  configured to also maintain contact with the metallic guide  2  so as to provide an uninterrupted supply of electrical power to the low-voltage motor  6  as it moves along the metallic guides  2 . Any highly conductive, elastic material, as known to those skilled in the art, is a suitable candidate for such contact elements. 
         [0027]    The electrified metallic guides  2  are insulated from the support structure  4  and from the mobile hang elements  5 . The connection arrangement includes a nut and bolt connector  12 , two metal washers  13 , a washer made of polyoxymethylene plastic  14  (commonly know as Delrin) or of any other hard plastic exhibiting similar insulating and resiliency properties  15 , and a collar of polyoxymethylene plastic  15  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In the current non-limiting embodiment the bolt  12  passes downwards through a metallic washer  13 , a Delrin washer  14 , a Delrin collar  15 , a second metal washer  13  and then connects to a square nut secured in the metallic guide  2 . The Delrin collar  15  is a washer with a sleeve extending upwards around the circumference of the washer hole. The flat Delrin surfaces provide insulation between the electrified flat metallic surfaces whereas as the sleeve configuration provides insulation along the length of the bolt  12  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In a preferred embodiment such connections are spaced along the metallic guide about every 60 centimeters. It should be noted that the above configuration is by way of example and any insulation configuration is within the scope of the current invention. 
         [0028]    The storage units  1  are hung from the metallic guides  2  by hang elements  5  including two Delrin wheels  17  (or wheels made of materials exhibiting similar properties) mounted on a hang rod  20  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The Delrin wheels  17  are mounted vertically so that they rotate on a horizontal axis traversing the hang rod  20 . The Delrin wheels  17  roll along two flanges  18  disposed along the bottom edge of opposite inner walls of the metallic guide  2  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The Delrin wheels  17  insulate the hang rod  20  from the electrified track  2 . It should be noted that the wheels disposed horizontally are also within the scope of the current invention. 
         [0029]    The current invention discloses a remote control arrangement including user interface  21 , a central controller  22 , an emitter  23 , position sensors  24 , and receivers  25  linked to low-voltage motors  6 . The user interface  21 , position sensors  24  and emitter  23  are all linked either wirelessly or via hardwire to the central control unit  22  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The position sensors provide information to the central control unit  22  regarding the location of each of the storage units  1  and information regarding the vacancy status of status of the access aisle. When a user desires to access an item from the storage units  1  the control unit  22  evaluates on the basis of the position sensor  24  inputs if there is a need to move the storage units  1 , and if so, in which direction, and if there is an obstruction to such an action. The position sensors  24  are configured to detect the presence of a user in an access aisle and communicate that information to the central processor  22  also. After receiving user input and system status information, the central processor  22  processes the information to derive movement instructions. The instructions are communicated to the emitter  23  that then transmits them to the appropriate receivers  25  that receive the instructions and activate the associated low-voltage motor  6 . As mentioned above the low-voltage motor  6  is biased so that the drive wheel  10  maintains contact with a horizontal flange  18  of the metallic guide  2 . Upon activation the slightly flexible neoprene surface of the drive wheel  10  grips the flange rigidly fixed flange  18  as the motor  6  applies a torque thereby propelling the storage units. 
         [0030]    As is known to those skilled in the art, electrically driven mobile storage systems may be implemented as standing units as appearing in U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,922 hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. A second embodiment of the current invention employs, in a generally analogous manner, an electrified guide from which a low-voltage gear motor is powered and a neoprene drive wheel propels the storage units by applying a torque to a horizontal flange protruding along the length of the metallic guide. Here also, the storage units travel along the track on insulating Delrin wheels 
         [0031]    A first variant form employs a drive wheel implemented as a gear for engaging a toothed track dispose parallel to the electrified guide. 
         [0032]    A second variant form employs a drive wheel implemented as a Delrin gear configured to engage a chain disposed within the metallic guide 
         [0033]    It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples, and that many other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.