Patent ID: 8146717

Claim:
A mobile storage system, comprising: one or more mobile storage units; a drive arrangement interconnected with the one or more storage units for causing movement of the one or more storage units, wherein the drive arrangement includes a rotatable drive shaft that rotates in response to application of an input force; and a brake arrangement that acts on the drive shaft when the input force on the drive shaft is relieved, wherein the brake arrangement comprises a brake member mounted to and rotatable with the drive shaft; a flexible brake band engaged with the brake member, wherein the flexible brake band defines a pair of ends; and a tensioning mechanism engaged with the ends of the brake band, wherein the tensioning mechanism is configured to apply a tensioning force to the ends of the brake band to tension the brake band against the brake member, wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises a stationary mounting member interconnected with one of the mobile storage units, and a tensioning actuator movably interconnected with the mounting member, wherein the tensioning actuator is secured to the ends of the brake band and acts on the ends of the brake band to tension the brake band about the brake member, and wherein the tensioning actuator is movably secured to the mounting member for axial movement toward and away from the brake member along a line intersecting a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft, and further comprising a biasing arrangement interposed between the mounting member and the tensioning actuator for providing a force constantly biasing the tensioning actuator away from the brake member and thereby applying a tensioning force on the ends of the brake band.