Combination Dolly-Pallet Shielding for Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combination dollies-pallets are prone to damage from collisions with mechanical handling equipment due to the mechanism used for conversion between dolly and pallet modes, leading to increased repair costs and potential damage to the drive mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A combination dolly-pallet design featuring two pairs of rollers, a movable bearer arrangement with a drive mechanism, and detachable shielding means that are separate from the bearer arrangement, allowing the bearer arrangement to be moved between ground engaging and retracted positions, with shielding members attached to the body to absorb impact forces rather than transmitting them to the drive mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the bearer arrangement is integrated with shielding features to protect the roller arrangement, then the roller arrangement is shielded against impact, but the drive mechanism becomes more complex and harder to repair when damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the shielding function from the bearer arrangement by providing separate shielding means that can be independently attached to the body. This segmentation allows the shielding means to protect the roller arrangement without complicating the bearer arrangement structure, and enables independent replacement of shielding means if damaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding features are extracted from the bearer arrangement and implemented as separate shielding means (such as shielding members or guards) that can be independently attached to the body. This extraction simplifies the bearer arrangement while maintaining protection functionality, and allows the shielding means to be replaced without affecting the bearer arrangement.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the shielding means is integrated with the bearer arrangement, then the structure is more compact, but repair costs increase when the drive mechanism is damaged due to impact transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The body acts as an intermediary between the shielding means and the drive mechanism. The shielding means are attached to the body rather than the bearer arrangement, so impact forces are transmitted to the body structure which can absorb and distribute the forces, preventing direct transmission to the drive mechanism and reducing repair costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding means are designed as separate, replaceable components that can be easily detached and replaced if damaged by impact. This allows the inexpensive shielding means to be replaced without affecting the more expensive bearer arrangement and drive mechanism, effectively protecting the valuable components from damage.
3Reliability
If the bearer arrangement is made robust to withstand impact forces, then the drive mechanism is better protected, but the device becomes heavier and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is segmented from the bearer arrangement and assigned to separate shielding means attached to the body. This allows the bearer arrangement to remain lightweight and simple while the shielding means provide the necessary impact protection. The body structure serves as the load-bearing element for the shielding means.
Solution Approach 2:
The body acts as an intermediary structure that absorbs and distributes impact forces. By attaching shielding means to the body rather than reinforcing the bearer arrangement, the impact forces are transmitted to the body's structural framework which can handle the loads without requiring the bearer arrangement to be heavier or more robust.
Data Source
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Figure 9~10
AI summary
A load carrying apparatus (10) comprising a body (12) and a roller arrangement (18, 22) to allow the apparatus to be moved along the ground. The load carrying apparatus includes a bearer arrangement (34, 36) movable relative to the body between a ground engaging condition in which the bearer arrangement can engage the ground and a retracted condition in which the bearer arrangement is retracted. The load carrying apparatus includes shielding means on the body, separate from the bearer arrangement, the shielding means (28) extending around the roller arrangement. In one embodiment, the load carrying apparatus comprises a combination dolly-pallet.