CRASH PREVENTION SYSTEM FOR A STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL MACHINE

• US 20140172195A1
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shamrock Foods Company
• Original Assignee: Shamrock Foods Company
• Inventors: Dwire, Scott D., Waters, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,415,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/00 Safety devices, e.g. for limiting or indicating lifting force
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07 Floor-to-roof stacking devices, e.g. "stacker cranes", "retrievers"

Abstract

A crash prevention system mounted to the crane mast for a storage and retrieval machine having a rotating sensor apparatus for forming a circular detection pattern that detects an obstruction along the entire front or back of the crane mast is disclosed. A processor in operative communication with the rotating sensor apparatus generates a fault condition that terminates the movement of the storage and retrieval machine and prevents contact with the obstruction.

Claims

1. A crash prevention system for operative engagement with a vehicle comprising:

a motor in operative engagement with a rotating member for rotating the rotating member;

a sensor apparatus engaged to the rotating member for rotating the sensor apparatus, the sensor apparatus comprising;

a transmitter for transmitting at least one laser beam; and

a receiver for receiving a reflected laser beam,

wherein detection of the reflected laser beam by the receiver generates a fault condition that terminates movement of the vehicle.

2. The crash prevention system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor apparatus controller in operative communication with the motor for controlling the operation of the motor.

3. The crash prevention system of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor in operative communication with the sensor apparatus for receiving data from the sensor apparatus, wherein the processor generates the fault condition that terminates movement of the vehicle.

4. The crash prevention system of claim 1, wherein the at least one laser beam generates a circular detection pattern.

5. The crash prevention system of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing for mounting the sensor apparatus, wherein the vehicle includes a crane mast for mounting the housing for detecting any obstructions along the path of the crane mast by the sensor apparatus.

6. The crash prevention system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface in operative communication with a vehicle controller and the sensor apparatus controller for controlling and monitoring the operation of the crash prevention system.

7. The crash prevention system of claim 1, wherein the receiver further comprises a slit for detecting a portion of the reflected laser beam.

8. The crash prevention system of claim 5, further comprising:

a mounting plate engaged to the housing, wherein the mounting plate mounts the housing to the crane mast.

9. The crash prevention system of claim 5, further comprising:

a rope guide engaged to the housing for preventing a wire from interfering with the housing, wherein the rope guide engages the housing and the crane mast.

10. The crash prevention system of claim 5, further comprising:

a slip ring engaged to the housing and configured for passing through a control connection.

11. A crash prevention system for operative engagement with a vehicle comprising:

a first motor in operative engagement with a first rotating member;

a second motor in operative engagement with a second rotating member;

a first sensor apparatus engaged to the first rotating member for rotating the first sensor apparatus, the first sensor apparatus comprising;

a first transmitter for transmitting at least one laser beam; and

a first receiver for receiving a first reflected laser beam; and

a second sensor apparatus engaged to the second rotating member for rotating the second sensor apparatus, the second sensor apparatus comprising;

a second transmitter for transmitting at least one laser beam; and

a second receiver for receiving a second reflected laser beam,

wherein the vehicle has a longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second sensor apparatuses are in parallel orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and wherein detection of either the first or second reflected laser beams generate a fault condition that terminates movement of the vehicle.

12. The crash prevention system of claim 11, further comprising:

a first and second sensor apparatus controllers in operative communication with the first and second motors, respectively, for controlling the operation of the first and second motors.

13. The crash prevention system of claim 11, further comprising:

a first and second processors in operative communication with the first and second sensor apparatuses, respectively, for receiving data from the first and second sensor apparatuses, wherein the first and second processors generate the fault condition that terminates movement of the vehicle.

14. The crash prevention system of claim 11, wherein first and second sensor apparatuses generate a circular detection pattern.

15. The crash prevention system of claim 11, further comprising:

At least one housing for mounting the first and second sensor apparatuses, wherein the vehicle includes at least one crane mast for mounting the at least one housing for detecting any obstructions along the path of the at least one crane mast.

16. A method of crash prevention of a vehicle comprising:

a. rotating a sensor apparatus using a motor operatively engaged with the sensor apparatus, wherein a processor is operatively connected to the sensor apparatus;

b. transmitting at least one laser beam from the sensor apparatus;

c. detecting a reflected laser beam within a detection range; and

d. repeating steps a.-c. until detection of a reflected laser beam at the sensor apparatus,

wherein detection of the reflected laser beam generates a fault condition that terminates movement of the vehicle.

17. The method of crash prevention of claim 16, wherein the at least one laser beam is rotated in a 180°

pattern.

18. The method of crash prevention of claim 16, wherein the processor generates the fault condition that terminates movement of the vehicle.

19. The method of crash prevention of claim 16, wherein the processor stores the location of predetermined structural elements.

20. The method of crash prevention of claim 19, wherein the reflected laser beam from the predetermined structural elements does not generate the fault condition.