Folding Pallet Box Frame Locking Mechanism
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing large-scale folding containers have weak resistance to deformation due to external forces and cargo tension, leading to potential safety hazards and unreliable stacking, as the hinge joints between short side plates are not effectively locked, causing deformation and detachment during loading and transportation.
Innovation Solution
A frame design with two long side plates and two groups of short side plates, where each group of short side plates can fold over each other, featuring a locking device with an operating member, locking tongue, and locking hole that can be manually locked or unlocked to secure the short side plates, minimizing deformation and enhancing stacking reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the hinge joint between short side plates is made simple and foldable, then the ease of operation is improved, but the strength and resistance to deformation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is pre-configured on the hinge joint structure, with locking protrusions and locking grooves positioned in advance. When the side plates are unfolded to the working position, the locking mechanism automatically engages without requiring additional assembly steps, thus maintaining ease of operation while providing strong deformation resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge joint structure incorporates localized reinforcement through the locking device at critical stress points. The locking protrusions and grooves are strategically positioned at the connection points between short side plates, providing enhanced strength exactly where deformation resistance is most needed, while the rest of the structure remains lightweight and foldable.
2Device complexity
If the hinge joint between short side plates is made simple and foldable, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is pre-integrated into the hinge joint design, with locking protrusions and corresponding grooves formed during manufacturing. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the container is assembled and stacked, the locking mechanism is already in position to prevent relative displacement, thereby ensuring stacking reliability without adding complex assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device is merged with the hinge joint structure itself, rather than being a separate independent component. The locking protrusions are integrated into the side plate or hinge assembly, combining the functions of connection and locking into a single unified structure, which maintains simplicity while improving reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the short side plates are connected with a simple hinge, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the object-generated harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device incorporates localized geometric features (locking protrusions and grooves) at the critical connection points of the hinge joint. These localized structural enhancements provide deformation resistance and prevent detachment exactly where harmful forces are most likely to act, while the overall manufacturing process remains simple and cost-effective.
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 frame effectively prevents deformation and improves the reliability of the container by maintaining parallel alignment of short side plates under cargo tension, ensuring safer loading and stacking, and enhancing the structural integrity during transportation and stacking.
Implementation Method 1
The locking member is a locking tongue integrally formed with the operating member and the operating member comprises a return spring disposed behind the locking tongue
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A frame and a pallet coaming box, the frame (100) comprising: two long side plates (10) and two groups of short side plates (20) opposite thereto, each group of short side plates (20) comprising two short side plates (21, 22), wherein the two short plates (21, 22) are capable of being folded over each other, and the long side plates (10) and the short side plates (21, 22) that are next to each other are capable of being folded over one another; one of the two short side plates (21, 22) being provided with at least one first engaging portion (211), and the other short side plate being provided with a second engaging portion (221) matching the first engaging portion; a locking device (30) being further arranged between the two short side plates (21, 22), the locking device (30) comprising an operating member (31), a locking member (32), and a locking structure (33) matching the locking member (32); the locking member (32) being mounted on a short side plate (21, 22), the locking structure (33) being arranged on the other short side plate (21, 22), and the operating member (31) operatively driving the locking member (32) to mutually lock or separately unlock with the locking structure (33) so as to lock or unlock the two short side plates (21, 22). The frame minimizes outward deformation of side plates caused by engagement, and improves stability of containers during loading, transporting or stacking.