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US 2020/0031579 A1Published application
Underground storage system with gravitational and buoyancy force-based package delivery
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsKelley Anders, Gregory J. Boss, Sarbajit K. Rakshit, Jeremy R. Fox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for dispensing packages within an underground storage facility.
Claims20
An underground storage system comprising:
- a storage facility comprising:
- an above ground portion connected to a hollow underground portion having a bottom;
- a helical ramp extending from the above ground portion, through the underground portion to the bottom of the storage facility;
- a plurality of package dispensaries adjacent the helical ramp to dispense packages to the helical ramp;
- a first conveyor at the bottom of the underground portion connected to the helical ramp to receive packages from the helical ramp;
- and
- an airlock adjacent the bottom of the underground portion connected to the first conveyor;
- at least one open air fluid column having a fluid surface open to the open air, the at least one open air fluid column being adjacent and connected to the underground portion of the storage facility through the airlock.
5 more elements
A method of dispensing packages from a storage facility comprising the steps of:
- a computer receiving instructions to dispense at least one package to a helical ramp of an underground portion of a storage facility extending to a bottom of the storage facility;
- the computer dispensing the at least one package to the helical ramp from at least one package dispensary, the at least one dispensed package being encased within protective packaging and having at least one attached flotation device;
- the computer transporting the dispensed package within the protective packaging and the at least one attached flotation device to an airlock;
- the computer sealing the airlock;
- the computer flooding the airlock from a column of fluid adjacent to the underground portion of the storage facility to transfer the dispensed package to the column of fluid, such that the flotation device moves the dispensed package to an open air surface of the column of fluid;
- the computer dispatching a drone to the open air surface of the column of fluid to pick up the package.
3 more elements
An underground storage system comprising:
- a storage facility comprising:
- an aboveground portion connected to a hollow underground portion having a bottom, the underground portion filled with a fluid;
- a first conveyor in the aboveground portion receiving packages and transporting packages to the underground portion, each of the packages being wrapped in a protective covering and including an attached floatation device, an attached compressor and a detachable ballast;
- at least one open air fluid column having a surface open to the open air, the at least one open air fluid column being connected to the underground portion of the storage facility, such that each of the packages is transported to the bottom of the underground portion through the fluid;
- when a package is to be dispensed to an end user, the compressor attached to the package to be dispensed is activated, inflating the floatation device attached to the package to be dispensed, such that the floatation device initiates travel of the package to be dispensed from the bottom of the underground portion of the storage facility to the open air surface of the open air fluid column.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.