Storage rack systems

In a storage rack for supporting pallet loads at least seven pallets deep having a framework providing a plurality of storage bays each of which is defined by a plurality of vertical uprights and horizontal shelf beams, each of said storage bays comprising:

• a plurality of carts,
• track means extending along the depth of said storage bay for supporting said cart means for movement along said track means from forward positions to back positions, said track means comprising:
• at least two pairs of parallel tracks having cart supporting portions extending along the depth of the storage bay and being spaced apart across the width of the storage bay,
• said plurality of cart means including:
• a first cart whose back position is located three pallets deep from the entry end of the storage bay,
• a second cart whose back position is located four pallets deep from the entry end of the storage bay,
• a third cart whose back position is located five pallets deep from the entry end of the storage bay,
• a fourth cart whose back position is located six pallets deep from the entry end of the storage bay, and
• a fifth cart whose back position is located seven pallets deep from the entry end of the storage bay, said second and third carts being interconnected to form a cart assembly constructed and arranged so that said second and third carts move together along said track means, said forward position of said second cart being one pallet deep at the entry end of the storage bay and the forward position of said third cart being two pallets deep from the entry end of the storage bay, and
• resilient means interconnecting said second and third carts to act as a shock absorber therebetween,
• said tracks of said track means each being mounted on the storage bay framework so as to be inclined forwardly toward the entry end of the storage bay, whereby said cart means are supported so that they tend to move along said track means toward the entry end of the storage bay.

In a storage rack for supporting pallet loads multiple pallets deep having a framework providing a plurality of storage bays each of which is defined by a plurality of vertical uprights and horizontal shelf beams, each of said storage bays comprising:

• a plurality of carts,
• track means extending along the depth of said storage bay for supporting said carts for movement along said tracks from forward positions to back positions thereof, said track means comprising:
• a first pair of parallel rails each having inwardly facing cart supporting tracks extending over a distance including only part of the depth of the storage bay and being spaced apart across the width of the storage bay,
• a second pair of parallel rails having inwardly and outwardly facing cart supporting tracks extending from front to back along the depth of said storage bay and being spaced apart across the width of the storage bay,
• said first pair of rails being located inwardly of said second pair of rails,
• said plurality of carts including:
• a first cart including a frame providing support for a pallet load, front and rear wheel assemblies on each side of said first cart arranged to make rolling contact with one of said tracks as said first cart moves along the depth of the storage bay between a forward position and a back position, and
• a first cart assembly including a second cart and third cart each of which includes a frame providing support for a loaded pallet, front and rear wheel assemblies on each side of said second and third cart arranged to make rolling contact with one of said tracks as said second and third carts move along the depth of the storage bay between a forward and a back position, and means including a resilient shock absorber for interconnecting said second and third carts for conjoint movement along said track means,
• the front and rear wheel assemblies of said first cart being constructed and arranged to make rolling contact with said inwardly facing tracks of said first rails,
• the front and rear wheel assemblies of said second and third carts being adapted to make rolling contact with said inwardly facing tracks of said second rails,
• said track means being mounted on the storage bay framework so as to be inclined toward the entry end of said storage bay, whereby said carts are supported so that they tend to roll along said track means toward the entry end of said storage bay.