Dolly Carrier Pallet With Self-Centring Caster Recesses
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current dollies lack efficient stacking and transportation solutions, leading to instability, damage, and increased storage and transportation costs due to misaligned wheels and inadequate structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A dolly carrier pallet with a dolly receiving layer featuring rectangular wheel receiving recesses for swivel and fixed casters, where swivel caster recesses are longer and wider than fixed caster recesses, and a self-centring mechanism biases wheels to preferred orientations, preventing unwanted swivelling and enhancing stability, combined with reinforcing ribs for structural support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If dollies are stacked for storage and transportation, then storage space efficiency is improved, but wheel misalignment and structural instability occur
Solution Approach 1:
The dolly is segmented into distinct caster types (swivel and fixed) with specific receiving recesses on the pallet, allowing differentiated positioning. The pallet surface is divided into specific zones for different caster types, enabling stable stacking while maintaining wheel alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the pallet have different properties: swivel caster receiving recesses are longer and located towards the centre, while fixed caster recesses are shorter and located at ends. This local differentiation ensures each caster type is positioned optimally for stacking stability.
2Ease of operation
If swivel casters are allowed to swivel freely, then maneuverability is improved, but unwanted swivelling causes instability and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing means pre-positions the swivel caster wheels in a preferred orientation (aligned with the dolly's longitudinal axis) before stacking occurs. This preliminary action prevents unwanted swivelling during stacking while maintaining maneuverability during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing mechanism automatically maintains wheel alignment without external intervention. The spring or elastic material continuously exerts force to keep wheels in the correct orientation, providing self-regulating stability during both operation and stacking.
3Ease of manufacture
If all caster recesses are made the same size, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but swivel and fixed casters cannot be properly differentiated and positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet employs asymmetric recess design where swivel caster recesses are longer than fixed caster recesses. This asymmetry provides clear differentiation between caster types, enabling precise positioning while remaining simple to manufacture using standard woodworking or metalworking techniques.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A dolly carrier pallet (100) comprises a pallet provided with a dolly receiving layer (102). The dolly receiving layer is provided with generally rectangular wheel receiving recesses (116) for receiving swivel casters. The dolly is also provided with generally rectangular wheel receiving recesses (114) for receiving fixed casters.