MDI Composite Pallet with Nested Legs for Carbon Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pallets contribute to environmental harm due to deforestation and the use of plastic materials containing harmful chemicals, which poses challenges for reducing carbon emissions and aligning with global environmental regulations.
Innovation Solution
The development of 'MDI included Net Zero Green Energy Pallet Composition' made from recycled wood, sawdust, and straw, processed with methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) glue, featuring a 2×2 grid design, reinforcing ribs, and customizable support legs, enhancing load-bearing and anti-slip properties while minimizing environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional wood pallets are made by chopping down trees, then the pallet structure is simple and cost-effective, but it destroys the natural ecosystem and contributes to deforestation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies discarding and recovering by using reclaimed wood, leftover wood, sawdust, and straw as raw materials instead of chopping down trees. These waste materials are processed into pallets, thereby recovering valuable resources and eliminating deforestation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining reclaimed wood, sawdust, and straw with MDI glue to create a sustainable pallet composition. This composite approach maintains structural integrity while avoiding deforestation, as the mixture of materials can be formed from various waste wood sources
2Reliability
If plastic pallets are used, then they are durable and reusable, but they contain harmful chemicals such as plasticizers that are harmful to the environment and human health
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the material composition from plastic to natural wood-based materials. By changing the chemical composition parameters to use reclaimed wood, sawdust, and straw with MDI glue, the pallet maintains durability while eliminating harmful plasticizers and chemicals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent discards and recovers by using reclaimed wood and waste materials instead of plastic. This approach maintains the reusability and durability needed for reliable pallet performance while eliminating the harmful chemical substances inherent in plastic materials
3Device complexity
If traditional pallet designs are used, then the structure is simple, but the load-bearing capacity and anti-slip properties are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the pallet structure into multiple functional components: a base board, nine support legs with specific configurations, and reinforcing ribs. This segmented design increases load-bearing capacity and anti-slip properties while maintaining reasonable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by incorporating MDI glue to bond reclaimed wood, sawdust, and straw into a unified structure with reinforcing ribs. This composite construction enhances strength and load-bearing capacity while keeping the overall design relatively simple
4Ease of operation
If conventional pallets are used, then they require standard storage space, but they do not optimize storage space for empty pallets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by designing the support legs with recessed sections that allow empty pallets to be stacked one on top of another. This nested configuration significantly reduces the storage volume needed for empty pallets while maintaining ease of operation and stacking efficiency
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
This solution reduces carbon emissions, aligns with global environmental standards, and provides a sustainable alternative for pallets, improving load-bearing capacity and reducing storage needs, while enabling compliance with regulations such as the 'Global Plastics Treaty' and 'carbon tax' schemes.
Implementation Method 1
The wood chips are mixed with methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) component glue, and then hot-pressed with a mold at high temperature
Implementation Method 2
The wood chips are mixed with methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) component glue, and then hot-pressed with a mold at high temperature
Data Source
AI summary
The “MDI included Net Zero Green Energy Pallet Composition”, wherein the “MDI included Net Zero Green Energy Pallet” is composed of recycled wood, processing residual wood, sawdust, straw, etc., which are processed by machines, crushed and dried, and the wood chips are mixed with methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) component glue, made by hot-pressing molded. Among them, the “MDI included Net Zero Green Energy Pallet” has a primarily 2×2 grid look, consisting of a pallet body, numerous support legs, and multiple reinforcing ribs, combined with conveyor belt components or double-sided pallet type. When there are nine support legs, the outside of the legs are trapezoidal and the inside is concave downward, which includes the left, center, and right support legs. The reinforcing ribs are hot-pressed and molded into grooves on the pallet's surface, and they include connecting and arc-shaped reinforcing ribs, as well as central connecting and reinforcing ribs.