HIGH DENSITY STORAGE FACILITY
A high density storage facility including a storage area is described. Storage racks may be provided in the storage facility, and may be divided from top to bottom into slots. The slots may extend the width of the racks and be accessible for inserting and removing objects into and from the racks. The racks may be disposed in rows within the storage area and include a mechanism for rolling the racks along the storage area. The storage area may include a wall disposed substantially parallel to a widthwise side of the storage area. Doors may be disposed along the length of the wall, for providing access to the width ends of the racks. The racks may be installed upon rollably movable carriages along the width of the storage area for providing access to the width ends of the carriage racks from the doors.
This Application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 61/127,346, filed on May 12, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe present application relates to high density storage facilities, and more particularly to high density storage facilities for storing intermodal containers, boats and other large items.
Despite advances in building materials, material handling vehicles, and techniques, there is still a need for storage facilities for large sized objects such as intermodal containers, boats, cars, furniture and the like. Such facilities should provide mechanisms for obtaining ready and efficient access to the stored objects.
For example, conventional boat storage facilities include a large building with racks aligned along the walls and a large unoccupied floor space. This results in a large amount of unused space, as depicted in
Container terminals for storing and retrieving intermodal containers exhibit similar problems. Conventional facilities consume large areas of valuable seaport acreage. Because conventional facilities may use numerous aisles and provide wide spaces between intermodal containers, and because such containers are generally randomly placed and widely spaced, many terminal operators have difficulty in controlling the storage, retrieval and delivery of the containers. This often results in time consuming and costly repositioning and searching operations for displaced containers.
Therefore, a need exists for a high density storage facility which provides ready and efficient access to the space within the facility where objects may be stored.
BRIEF SUMMARYIn one embodiment, a high density storage facility is disclosed, including a storage area. Storage racks, divided from top to bottom into storage slots, may be provided in the storage area. Optionally, the storage area may be in a building including a wall, with doors disposed along the length of the wall for providing access to the ends of the racks.
The storage racks may be open and accessible for inserting and removing objects. The racks may be riding on movable carriages, which may be coupled and disposed in rows within the storage area, and the carriages may include a mechanism for moving the racks. The carriage racks may further be coupled and uncoupled along the width of the enclosed storage area for providing access to the width ends of the racks from the doors. The carriage racks may be connected and disconnected along their lengthwise sides, forming rows which are rollably movable in a widthwise direction along the storage area. Tracks for rolling the carriage racks may extend along the width of the storage area. According to one embodiment, the carriages include motor mechanisms for moving the racks across a portion of the storage area.
According to one embodiment, rows of carriage racks are disposed within the storage area. For some applications, it may be useful to include as many rows of carriage racks as will fit along the width of the storage area.
The number of carriage racks may be chosen such as to leave a portion of the floor area unoccupied, of a size sufficient to provide access from optional doors to the width ends of the carriage racks upon selective movement of the rows along the width of the storage area. According to one embodiment, the doors are selectively disposed along the wall of the building so as to provide access to the unoccupied floor area upon selective movement of one or more of the carriage racks in the rows of carriage racks along the width of the storage area. The unoccupied floor area may be selected to be of such size as to accommodate manipulation of the objects within the unoccupied floor area for insertion into the slots. The unoccupied floor area may further be selected to be of such a size as to be accessible to the doors upon movement of one or more of the carriage racks in the rows of carriage racks along the width of the floor area.
The facility may include a row of stationary racks arranged along the doorless widthwise side of the storage area, the stationary racks having a certain length, width and height and being divided from top to bottom into storage slots. The slots may extend the length of the racks, and may be open and accessible from a width end for inserting and removing objects. The width ends of the racks may face the storage area.
A row of racks may include a series of spaced vertical supports interconnected by a series of spaced horizontal supports. The horizontal supports may be adjustable in position along the height of the vertical supports.
In the accompanying drawings:
The following description sets forth illustrative embodiments of the present invention, it being understood that other embodiments not specifically described herein are encompassed by the present invention.
As depicted in
A carriage rack is a movable rack, which may include means for locomotion integrated into the frame of the carriage, or may be mounted on a movable carriage. A plurality of movable carriage racks 70-84, 85-99, 100-114, 115-129, 130-144, 145-159, 160-174, 175-189, and 190-204 are arranged as shown in rows within floor area 110, each row including a number of individual racks. Depending on the application, as many or as few carriage racks as needed may be selected. In the illustrative embodiment depicted in
In the illustrative embodiment, each row of carriage racks 70-84, 84-99, 100-114, 115-129, 130-144, 145-159, 160-174, 175-189, and 190-204 is movable widthwise along the area 110. The rows may be mounted on wheels 11 (
In the embodiments shown in
Each carriage rack may be divided into slots 14 from top to bottom. In applications such as boat storage, one having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the total height of the slots may be determined by the facility. However, the size of the carriage racks may vary depending on the application.
In one embodiment, the carriages and racks are a unitary structure including a series of parallel vertically oriented supports 18 connected from top to bottom by a series of parallel horizontal 19 supports. Conventional mechanisms may be provided for adjusting a horizontal support up and down along the vertical supports 18 (
According to one embodiment, a series of doors 240 are disposed along one widthwise wall of the facility. An unoccupied and changeable service and loading area 20 may be provided, the size of which may be selected based on a number of factors. Such factors may include where doors 240 are disposed along the outer wall.
When carriage racks in a row 70-84, 85-99,100-114,115-129,130-144,145-159,160-174,175-189, and 190-204 are appropriately moved along the floor area 110, enough floor area 20 may be left unoccupied so as to enable the user to gain access to the width ends 245 of each row. As shown in
As shown in
The size of the unoccupied floor area 20 may be selected such that it is large enough to allow the objects to be stored in the carriage racks and to be manipulated into the width ends 245 of the carriage racks. For example, the length and width of the unoccupied floor space 20 may be selected to be long enough and wide enough to enable a forklift to align itself parallel to the length of the carriage racks for insertion and removal of the boat(s) into and from the width ends 245 of the carriage racks. Likewise, the size of the unoccupied floor area 20 may be selected such that it is large enough to allow the objects to be stored in the carriage racks and to be manipulated into the length wise opening 246 of the carriage racks. For example, the length and width of the unoccupied floor space 20 may be selected to be long enough and wide enough to enable a forklift to align itself perpendicular to the length of the carriage racks for insertion and removal of an intermodal container from the length wise opening 246 of the carriage racks.
In one embodiment, the lengths and widths of movable carriage racks 70-84, 85-99,100-114,115-129,130-144,145-159,160-174,175-189 and 190-204 may vary among different movable rows provided within a facility 110. The facility 110 may be provided with an unoccupied area 20 of at least a size sufficient to obtain access through an appropriate door 240 to all of the width ends 245 of the carriage racks. This may be accomplished, for example, upon appropriate widthwise movement of successive rows of carriage racks within a floor area defined by lines between points 30, 40, 50, and 60. The facility 10 may be provided with a stationary row of racks 205-220. These stationary racks may also have varying widths, or may be of the same width, and may be located along a doorless wall. The movable carriage racks 70-84, 85-99,100-114,115-129,130-144,145-159,160-174, 175-189, and 190-204 may be aligned such that their lengthwise dimensions are substantially parallel to the lengthwise dimension of area 110.
In some embodiments, it may be necessary or desirable to access the length ends of the carriage racks. For example, intermodal containers may be stored in the racks which must be lifted, for example by a forklift, from the length ends. Accordingly, the racks may be oriented so as to afford access to the length ends from the doors.
The racks may alternatively be mounted on carriages. For example,
The carriage racks may be coupled along the lengthwise side, the widthwise side, or both. The carriage racks may be coupled using any suitable coupling method, such as by an electromagnetic coupling system, an electromotive coupling system, or a mechanical coupling system such as a system of hooks. For example,
In one embodiment, the rows of fixed racks 205-220 may be aligned such that their width ends 245 face the widthwise side of area 110 and are substantially parallel thereto. The stationary racks may be smaller, lengthwise or widthwise or both, than the movable racks for purposes of ease of loading, unloading and storage of smaller objects. Alternatively, the stationary racks may be of the same size as the movable carriage racks, or larger, depending on the application.
In one embodiment, motor means may be provided to drive the movable carriage racks in the rows of carriage racks along the lengths of area 110. Remote control means for the motor means may be provided for access to the user outside of area 110. These remote control means may be outside, such as on the outside surfaces of the walls in which access doors 240 are disposed. The user can thus drivably move the carriage racks remotely from outside areas 20, 110. Alternatively, the remote control means may be located inside, as appropriate to the application. The motor means may also be controlled locally.
As discussed above in relation to other embodiments, the carriage racks depicted in
The individual carriage racks in a row of carriage racks may be separately drivable, and the remote motor control may be provided with means for separately driving carriage racks in each row independent of carriage racks in another row. When the user wants to gain access to any particular movable row or stationary rack, the user can separately drive individual carriage racks and rows to move them to appropriate positions within area 110, whereby access to desired racks can be obtained. In one embodiment, the user can gain such access by remote control.
In embodiments where a facility according to the invention is to be used for boat storage, area 20 may serve multiple purposes, such as loading/unloading, servicing a boat or other object, cleaning, and repair.
In some embodiments, the storage facility may be fully or partially enclosed. The facility may or may not include a roof.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments, improvements details and uses can be made consistent with the letter and spirit of the foregoing disclosure and within the scope of this patent.
Claims
1. A high density storage facility comprising:
- a floor area of a certain length and width;
- a plurality of rollably movable storage racks of certain height divided from top to bottom into storage slots, the slots extending the length of the carriage racks and being open and accessible for inserting and removing objects into and from the width ends of the carriage racks, the carriage racks being disposed within the floor area and including means for moving the carriage racks along the floor in a direction consistent with the width of the floor area, said carriage racks arranged in rows within the floor area with the lengthwise sides of the carriage racks being arranged substantially parallel to the lengthwise sides of the floor area, said rows comprising a plurality of side by side carriage racks which collectively fit within and across the width of the floor area.
2. The facility of claim 1 further comprising motor means for drivably moving the carriage racks across the width of the floor area.
3. The facility of claim 1 wherein the floor area is enclosed.
4. The facility of claim 1 further comprising a wall disposed substantially parallel to a widthwise side of the floor area, the wall including door means selectively disposed along the length of the wall for providing access to the width ends of all of the carriage racks, the carriage racks being moveable along the width of the enclosed floor area for providing access to the width ends of the racks from the door means.
5. The facility of claim 1 further comprising a row of stationary racks arranged along the widthwise side of the floor area, the stationary racks having a certain length, width and height and being divided from top to bottom into storage slots, the slots extending the length of the racks and being open and accessible from one width end for inserting and removing objects into and from the width ends of the stationary racks, the width ends of the racks facing the floor area.
6. The facility of claim 1, wherein the carriage racks are uncoupably coupled along the width of the floor area for providing access to the width ends of the carriage racks.
7. The facility of claim 5 wherein at least two rows of carriage racks are disposed within the floor area and wherein as many rows of carriage racks are disposed within the floor area as will fit along the width of the floor area and leave a portion of the floor area unoccupied which is of a size at least sufficient to provide access to the width ends of the carriage racks upon selective movement of carriage racks in the rows of carriage racks along the width of the floor.
8. The facility of claim 7 wherein door means are selectively disposed along a widthwise wall of the facility so as to provide access to the unoccupied floor area upon selective movement of one or more of the carriage racks in the rows of carriage racks along the length of the floor area
9. The facility of claim 7 wherein the unoccupied floor area is further selected to be of such a size as to accommodate manipulation of the objects within the unoccupied floor area for insertion into the slots.
10. The facility of claim 1 wherein the carriage racks are mounted on tracks for widthwise movement within the floor area, the tracks extending the width of the floor area in a direction substantially parallel to the widthwise side of the floor area.
11. The facility of claim 5 further comprising motor means for drivably moving the carriage racks across the width of the floor area.
12. The facility of claim 5 wherein at least two rows of carriage racks are disposed within the floor area and wherein as many rows of carriage racks are disposed within the floor area as will fit along the width of the floor area and leave a portion of the floor area unoccupied which is of a size at least sufficient to provide access to the width ends of the carriage racks upon selective movement of the carriage racks in the rows of carriage racks along the width of the floor.
13. The facility of claim 9 wherein door means are selectively disposed along the widthwise wall of the building so as to provide access to the unoccupied floor area upon selective movement of one or more of the carriage racks in the rows of carriage racks along the width of the floor.
14. The facility of claim 9 wherein the unoccupied floor area is further selected to be of such a size as to be accessible upon movement of one or more of the carriage racks in the rows of carriage racks along the width of the floor area.
15. The facility of claim 1 wherein the carriage racks comprising a row are connected electromagnetically along their lengthwise sides forming rows which are movable and selectively disconnected or uncoupled in a widthwise direction along the floor area
16. The facility of claim 4 further comprising motor means for drivably moving the carriage racks in the rows of carriage racks across the width of the floor area.
17. The facility of claim 4 further comprising a row of stationary racks arranged along the widthwise side of the floor area, the stationary racks having a certain length, width and height and being divided from top to bottom into storage slots, the slots extending the length of the racks and being open and accessible from one width end for inserting and removing objects into and from the width ends of the stationary racks, the width ends of the racks facing the floor area.
18. The facility of claim 4 wherein a rack in a row of racks comprises a series of spaced vertical supports interconnected by a series of spaced horizontal supports.
19. The facility of claim 15 wherein the carriage racks in a row of carriage racks are mounted on tracks for widthwise movement within the floor area, the tracks extending the width of the floor area in a direction substantially parallel to the widthwise side of the floor area.
20. The facility of claim 6 wherein a carriage rack in a row of carriage racks comprises a series of spaced vertical supports interconnected by a series of horizontal supports.
21. The facility of claim 4 wherein at least two rows of carriage racks are disposed within the floor area and wherein as many rows of carriage racks are disposed within the floor area as will fit along the width of the floor area and leave a portion of the floor area unoccupied which is of a size at least sufficient to provide access from the door means to the width ends of the carriage racks upon selective movement of the carriage racks in the rows of carriage racks along the width of the floor.
22. The facility of claim 8 wherein door means are selectively disposed along the wall of the building so as to provide access to the unoccupied floor area upon selective movement of one or more carriage racks in the rows of carriage racks along the length of the floor area.
23. The facility of claim 8 wherein the carriage racks in a row of carriage racks comprises a series of spaced vertical supports interconnected by a series of spaced horizontal supports.
24. The facility of claim 8 wherein the unoccupied floor area is further selected to be of such a size as to be accessible upon movement of one or more of the carriage racks in the rows of carriage racks along the width of the floor area.
25. The facility of claim 14 further comprising motor means for drivably moving the carriage racks across the width of the floor area.
26. The facility of claim 14 wherein a carriage rack in a row of carriage racks comprises a series of spaced vertical supports interconnected by a series of spaced horizontal supports.
27. The facility of claim 14 further comprising a row of stationary racks arranged along one or both of the lengthwise sides of the floor area, the stationary racks having a certain length, wherein objects can be placed into and taken from the width ends of the stationary racks, the width ends of the racks facing the floor area.
28. The facility of claim 24 wherein a carriage rack in a row of carriage racks comprises a series of spaced vertical supports interconnected by a series of spaced horizontal supports.
29. A high density boat storage facility comprising:
- a floor area of certain length and width;
- a plurality of rollable movable storage racks of certain height divided from top to bottom into storage slots, the slots extending the length of the racks and being open and accessible for inserting and removing boats into and from the width ends of the carriage racks, the carriage racks being disposed in rows within the enclosed floor area and including means for rolling the carriage racks along the widthwise direction of the floor area.
30. The facility of claim 29, wherein the floor area is enclosed.
31. The facility of claim 29, further comprising a wall disposed substantially parallel to a widthwise side of the floor area, the wall including door means selectively disposed along a widthwise wall for providing access to the width ends of the carriage racks, the carriage racks being rollably moveable along the width of the enclosed floor area for providing access to the width ends of the carriage racks from the door means.
Type: Application
Filed: May 12, 2009
Publication Date: Dec 17, 2009
Inventor: John F. CORCORAN (Hyannis, MA)
Application Number: 12/464,745
International Classification: E04H 6/00 (20060101); B63C 15/00 (20060101); A47B 53/00 (20060101);