Harnischfeger Engineers Inc.

Stephen N Miskin

Kurt M Lloyd

A mast connecting structure is disclosed in which the mast includes a lower end having upper plate connected to the lower end of a mast, and lower plate spaced from the upper plate and connected to a base on which the mast is to be mounted. Tensioned connecting device connect the upper plate and lower plate means together to thereby mount the mast on the base. The connecting may comprise bolts having threaded ends and nuts threaded on the bolts. The bolts have an elongated length sufficient to span the thickness of the upper and lower plate means through which the volts pass plus the distance of the space between the upper and lower plate. The long bolt length increases the volume of the bolt body which results in an increased stress distribution and thereby an increased ability to withstand stress due to impact loading of the connecting structure. The mast end and mast base are preferably held apart at a spaced distance by support device such as spacer tubes positioned between the upper and lower plate and coaxially with the connecting bolts.

Mast connecting structure

A base for a storage and retrieval machine is disclosed in which the frame of the base comprises a pair of spaced apart frame members having a length generally parallel to the rail upon which the base travels and extending a portion of the length of the base. The frame members are positioned straddling the rail with the rail projecting upward into the space between the frame members. A mast is mounted on the base and supports a vertically movable carriage means for carrying objects to and from overhead locations. The pair of frame members may comprise a pair of L-shaped members each having a downwardly projecting upper wall spaced apart from the upper wall of the other L-shaped member and a lower wall projecting away from the lower wall of the other L-shaped member in a direction laterally of the length of the base. The base includes first and second trucks located at opposite ends of the pair of L-shaped members. A wheel is rotatably mounted on each truck and both wheels engage the rail for supporting the storage and retrieval machine as it travels along the rail. The trucks have a height sufficient to support the wheels, however, the L-shaped member pair are positioned at a lower height than the height of the first and second trucks to permit the low height profile of the base. An anti-tip bracket is affixed to a foundation adjacent the path of travel of the base, typically at the end of an aisle in which the rail is located. A lower wall of one of the L-shaped sections engages the anti-tip bracket to hold the storage and retrieval machine from tipping.

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Sandy, UT, United States of America

Stephen N Miskin