Manual Support Latch Pallet Tower for Power-Free Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pallet towers face challenges in safe and efficient storage and retrieval of pallets, particularly in locations without access to electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic power sources, and there is a need for improved mechanisms to mitigate these limitations.
Innovation Solution
A pallet tower design featuring a support latch frame with pivotally mounted latches that operate between open and closed configurations, utilizing a latch pull chain mechanism and spring bias for manual operation, allowing pallets to be securely stored and retrieved without power assistance, and incorporating a containment frame with fire-resistant panels and a movable door for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electro-mechanical or hydraulic mechanisms are used to assist in storage and removal of pallets, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity and dependency on power sources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes electro-mechanical and hydraulic power assistance systems from the pallet tower, extracting the power dependency element entirely. The solution uses purely manual mechanical operation through a latch mechanism that can be opened and closed without any power source, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism is designed to be manually operated by the user without requiring external power assistance. The system serves itself through simple mechanical leverage provided by the user, eliminating the need for complex power systems while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive manual control.
2Productivity
If electro-mechanical or hydraulic mechanisms are used to assist in storage and removal of pallets, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability deteriorates in the event of power failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vulnerable power dependency element from the system by removing electro-mechanical and hydraulic mechanisms. The purely manual mechanical latch system ensures continuous reliability regardless of power availability, while maintaining adequate productivity through efficient manual operation.
3Ease of operation
If the support latch is designed to stay closed by the weight of the pallet, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the biasing spring mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism utilizes the weight of the pallet itself as the counterbalancing force through a biasing spring system. The pallet's own weight automatically keeps the latch closed during storage, and the simple spring mechanism requires minimal additional complexity while providing automatic self-latching functionality that improves ease of operation.
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
Enables safe and efficient storage and retrieval of pallets in power-limited environments, ensuring mechanical operation, reducing fire risk, and maintaining pallet alignment without the need for external power sources.
Implementation Method 1
The support latch may rest in the open configuration due to a biasing spring
Data Source
AI summary
A pallet tower for high-density pallet storage which provides for loading and unloading of pallets from a pallet storage area via mechanical operation. The pallet tower has a base frame defining a pallet receiving area, the pallet receiving area for receiving a pallet; a containment frame attached to a support latch frame and/or the base frame, the containment frame defining a pallet storage area for storing the pallet; and a support latch frame attached to the base frame, the support latch frame having a support latch operable between an open position and a closed configuration, and the support latch in the closed configuration for supporting the pallet when the pallet is in the pallet storage area.