Electro-mechanical load transfer device for dynamic storage

Claim 1

A dynamic storage installation having at least one storage level comprising: a structure forming a plurality of juxtaposed storage gangways fitted with two load supporting rails, an entrance gangway and an exit gangway placed perpendicularly to said storgage gangways at their ends, at least one flat trolley movable on said rails, said trolley having a vertically movable load bearing surface which assumes an up position relative to said load supporting rails in which it transports the load relative to said storage gangway, and a down position relative to said load supporting rails in which it deposits a load on said rails and freely moves below said load, said trolley being equiPped with electrical control components capable of ensuring automatic control of its movements for effecting loading, unloading and assembly of loads toward the gangway exit, a single flat trolley as said entrance gangway and a single flat trolley at the exit gangway, a loader with which each of said trolleys co-operate means for introducing said loader into a selected gangway, each loader comprising a support element and components for centering said loader and trolley relative to said storage gangway, a portion of said support element cooperating with slide bars with which each storage gangway is fitted at its ends, an electric cable, a drum and winder means, said cable and drum and winder means being mounted on each trolley, said loader being connected to the corresponding flat trolley by said electric cable wound on said drum and winder means, said cable being laid down or taken up along said storage gangway as said trolley moves therealong, and a female plug and power cable mounted on said structure at the end of each storage gangway, said loader further comprising a plug which engages automatically with said female plug and power cable so as to provide an electricity supply to the electrical control components of said trolley.