Elastic Load Carrier Shelf Holders With Bent Shock-Absorbing Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load carrier shelves are prone to deformation and damage during manual handling, leading to frequent replacements and increased costs due to the lack of effective shock absorption, especially when falling vertically and landing on holders.
Innovation Solution
The shelves are designed with holders made from elastic materials featuring a shock-absorbing part with a bend that extends transversely, anchored to absorb forces elastically, allowing holders to share shock-absorbing elements and providing a high degree of strength and safety through a rectangular configuration and secure anchoring in recesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If holders are made from rigid materials to provide strength and support, then the holder can support the shelf effectively, but the holder is prone to deformation and damage during impact
Solution Approach 1:
The holder material transitions from rigid to elastic, changing the physical parameter of material stiffness. This allows the holder to maintain strength while gaining the ability to deform elastically during impact and return to its original shape, preventing permanent deformation and damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic material inherently provides cushioning before impact occurs. When the shelf experiences impact during manual handling, the elastic holder absorbs the shock energy through elastic deformation, protecting the holder structure from damage that would occur with rigid materials.
2Ease of manufacture
If holders are designed without shock-absorbing features to simplify construction, then manufacturing is easier, but holders deform and damage during impact
Solution Approach 1:
The solution changes the material parameter from rigid to elastic, which inherently provides shock-absorbing capability without requiring additional complex shock-absorbing components. This maintains ease of manufacture while protecting against impact damage.
3Volume of moving object
If shelves are made removable for space efficiency during return transport, then space utilization improves, but the risk of loss and damage during manual handling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic material in the holders provides beforehand cushioning that protects the shelf assembly during manual handling operations. This allows the removable shelf design to maintain safety by absorbing impact energies that occur during assembly, disassembly, and transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic holder introduces dynamic behavior to the otherwise static shelf assembly. During impact, the holder dynamically deforms to absorb energy and then returns to its original shape, providing ongoing protection throughout the shelf's lifecycle including during manual handling operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces the risk of holder deformation and damage, minimizing the need for frequent replacements and costly repairs by effectively absorbing impact forces, thereby enhancing the longevity and usability of the shelves.
Implementation Method 1
holders are made from an elastic material with at least one shock-absorbing part which is provided with a bend extending in the transverse direction of the shelf, said shock-absorbing part being anchored in the shelf to the effect that forces applied to the holder in a direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the shelf can be absorbed elastically in the bend
Data Source
AI summary
A shelf (1) for mounting on a substantially rectangular load carrier having four identical columns arranged in the corners thereof. On the shelf a holder (3,3; 3″, 3′″) is mounted that can be inserted into complementary slots in the columns of the load carrier, said slots being configured with a carrier face by which the holder is capable of engaging in such a manner that the holder supports on the column. The holders are configured from an elastic material with a shock-absorbing part which is provided with a bend extending in the transverse direction of the shelf, said shock-absorbing part being anchored in the shelf to the effect that forces applied to the holder in a direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the shelf can be absorbed elastically in the bend.