Composite Pallet Underframe for Liquid Containers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The high manufacturing costs of transport and storage containers for liquids due to the expensive materials used in the underframe, particularly the pallet with skids of plastic and sheet metal, and the increasing cost of wood-based pallets.
Innovation Solution
A composite pallet underframe constructed with a flat bottom of wood boards and three plastic skids, featuring front, center, and rear support legs, which reduces material costs while maintaining functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a pallet with skids consisting of a bottom of sheet metal and skids of plastic material is used, then the structural support and functionality are maintained, but the manufacturing costs are relatively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a wooden bottom with plastic skids to create a hybrid pallet structure. This composite construction leverages the cost advantages of wood for the bottom surface while maintaining the functional benefits of plastic skids for durability and handling compatibility, thereby reducing overall manufacturing costs while preserving structural support capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs cheaper materials (wood and plastic combination) for the pallet components compared to the previously used sheet metal and full plastic construction. This approach accepts that the underframe may have a shorter service life but significantly reduces manufacturing costs, aligning with the economic constraints faced by the industry.
2Ease of manufacture
If a pallet of wood is used for supporting the inner container, then the manufacturing costs may be reduced, but the price of wood becomes increasingly expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite construction with a wooden bottom and plastic skids. This hybrid approach allows the company to benefit from the lower cost of wood for the bottom surface while using durable plastic skids that may have more stable pricing and offer better long-term reliability, thus balancing cost reduction with cost stability concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different materials to different parts of the pallet based on local requirements. The bottom surface uses wood where cost reduction is prioritized, while the skids use plastic where durability and handling functionality are critical. This localized material selection optimizes the balance between manufacturing costs and reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If a composite pallet with wood bottom and plastic skids is used, then the manufacturing costs are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pallet into distinct segments: a wooden bottom and separate plastic skids. This segmentation allows for independent manufacturing and assembly of each component, simplifying the production process despite the composite nature. Each part can be manufactured using optimized processes for its specific material, reducing overall manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A transport and storage container for liquids, which can be used as a single-use or multiple-use container, has as its principal components an exchangeable parallelepiped-shaped inner container of plastic material with a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls, a lower and an upper bottom, a filling socket integrally formed on the upper bottom and closable by means of a cover, and a discharge socket to be connected to a discharge fitting, wherein the discharge socket is integrally formed or welded to an indentation in the lower portion of the front wall. The container further includes an outer casing constructed as a grate casing with intersecting horizontal and vertical grate rods of metal for receiving the inner container, and an underframe constructed as a pallet with skids.