# US 12,767,441 B2 · Method for operating a storage system, and storage system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,767,441 B2 - Document ID: US12767441B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/290,039 - Filed: 2022-04-26 - Published: 2024-07-18 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-12 - Assignees: Sew-Eurodrive GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Sew-Eurodrive GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Roland Brecht - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12767441B2 ## CPC - B65G 1/0492: {with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles} - B65G 1/0407: {using stacker cranes (constructional features of stacker cranes B66F9/06)} - H02J 7/345: {using capacitors as storage or buffering devices} - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## Abstract In a method for operating a storage system that includes a plurality of rack aisles, each of which includes a storage rack and a vehicle that is movable along the storage rack in a longitudinal direction, each vehicle including a lifting device, each lifting device including a receiving device for receiving a load, the receiving device being movable in a vertical direction, the electrical energy that is generated during operation by one of the vehicles in one of the rack aisles is supplied to another rack aisle. A storage system includes a plurality of rack aisles, each of which includes a storage rack and a vehicle that is movable along the storage rack in a longitudinal direction. Each of the vehicles includes a lifting device that includes a receiving device for receiving a load. The receiving device is movable in a vertical direction. The storage system is operable by the method. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating a storage system that includes a plurality of rack aisles, each rack aisle including a storage rack and a vehicle that is movable along the storage rack in a longitudinal direction, each vehicle including a lifting device having a receiving device adapted to receive a load and being in a vertical direction, comprising: supplying electrical energy that is generated during operation by the vehicle of a first one of the rack aisles to a second one of the rack aisles; wherein each rack aisle includes a respective an intermediate circuit capacitor, the method further comprising storing, in the intermediate circuit capacitor of the second rack aisle, the electrical energy generated during operation by the vehicle of the first one of the rack aisles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate circuit capacitors of the rack aisles are electrically connected to each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate circuit capacitors of the rack aisles are electrically connected to each other in a parallel circuit. ### Claim 4 A method for operating a storage system that includes a plurality of rack aisles, each rack aisle including a storage rack and a vehicle that is movable along the storage rack in a longitudinal direction, each vehicle including a lifting device having a receiving device adapted to receive a load and being in a vertical direction, comprising: supplying electrical energy that is generated during operation by the vehicle of a first one of the rack aisles to a second one of the rack aisles; wherein each rack aisle includes a respective rechargeable battery, the method further comprising storing, in the rechargeable battery of the second rack aisle, the electrical energy generated during operation by the vehicle of the first one of the rack aisles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the rechargeable batteries of the rack aisles are electrically connected to each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the rechargeable batteries of the rack aisles are electrically connected to each other in a parallel circuit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical energy generated during operation by the vehicle of the first one of the rack aisles is used to drive the vehicle of the second one of the rack aisles in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical energy generated during operation by the vehicle of the first one of the rack aisles is used to drive the receiving device of the lifting device of the vehicle of the second one of the rack aisles in the vertical direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the electrical energy generated during operation by the vehicle of the first one of the rack aisles is used to drive the receiving device of the lifting device of the vehicle of the second one of the rack aisles in the vertical direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical energy generated during operation by the vehicle of the first one of the rack aisles is used in the second one of the rack aisles to move a load from a lower storage compartment to an upper storage compartment, the upper storage compartment being farther away from a floor in the vertical direction than the lower storage compartment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein electrical energy required for operation of the vehicle of the second one of the rack aisles is generated in the first one of the rack aisles by moving a load from an upper storage compartment to a lower storage compartment in the first one of the rack aisles, the upper storage compartment being farther away from a floor in the vertical direction than the lower storage compartment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A storage system, comprising: a plurality of rack aisles, each rack aisle including a storage rack, a respective an intermediate circuit capacitor, and a vehicle, the vehicle adapted to move along the storage rack in a longitudinal direction, each vehicle including a lifting device that includes a receiving device adapted to receive a load, the receiving device adapted to move in a vertical direction; wherein the storage system is adapted to operate according to the method recited in claim 1. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The storage system according to claim 12, further comprising an order system and a control unit, the order system being adapted to transmit logistics orders to the control unit, the control unit being adapted to coordinate received logistics orders and to transmit individual orders to respective individual rack aisles. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The storage system according to claim 12, wherein each intermediate circuit capacitor is adapted to store the electrical energy supplied to the respective rack aisle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The storage system according to claim 14, wherein the intermediate circuit capacitors of the rack aisles are electrically connected to each other. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The storage system according to claim 15, wherein the intermediate circuit capacitors of the rack aisles are electrically connected to each other in a parallel circuit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A storage system, comprising: a plurality of rack aisles, each rack aisle including a storage rack, a respective rechargeable battery adapted to store electrical energy supplied to the rack aisle, and a vehicle, the vehicle adapted to move along the storage rack in a longitudinal direction, each vehicle including a lifting device that includes a receiving device adapted to receive a load, the receiving device adapted to move in a vertical direction; wherein the storage system is adapted to operate according to the method recited in claim 16. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The storage system according to claim 17, wherein the rechargeable batteries of the rack aisles are electrically connected to each other. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The storage system according to claim 18, wherein the rechargeable batteries of the rack aisles are electrically connected to each other in a parallel circuit. ### Claim 20 A storage system, comprising: a plurality of rack aisles, each rack aisle including a storage rack and a vehicle, the vehicle adapted to move along the storage rack in a longitudinal direction, each vehicle including a lifting device that includes a receiving device adapted to receive a load, the receiving device adapted to move in a vertical direction; wherein at least one first one of the rack aisles is adapted to supply electrical energy that is generated during operation by the vehicle of the first one of the rack aisles to at least one second one of the rack aisles; and wherein each rack aisle includes a respective an intermediate circuit capacitor adapted to store the electrical energy supplied to the rack aisle. ### Claim 21 A storage system, comprising: a plurality of rack aisles, each rack aisle including a storage rack and a vehicle, the vehicle adapted to move along the storage rack in a longitudinal direction, each vehicle including a lifting device that includes a receiving device adapted to receive a load, the receiving device adapted to move in a vertical direction; wherein at least one first one of the rack aisles is adapted to supply electrical energy that is generated during operation by the vehicle of the first one of the rack aisles to at least one second one of the rack aisles; and wherein each rack aisle includes a respective rechargeable battery adapted to store the electrical energy supplied to the rack aisle.