Modular Load Carrier Assembly for Variable Cargo Geometry
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load carriers with uniform dimensions are inadequate for transporting loads with large dimensions or complex geometries, and custom-made wooden carriers are inefficient and unsustainable.
Innovation Solution
A modular load carrier system comprising support plates, longitudinal beams, and connecting elements with standardized fastening points, allowing assembly into various geometries and reusability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standard load carriers with uniform dimensions are used, then manufacturing simplicity and cost efficiency are improved, but adaptability to transport loads with large dimensions or complex geometries deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The load carrier is divided into multiple modular components (support plates, longitudinal beams, connecting pieces) that can be assembled in different configurations. This segmentation allows the same basic components to create various geometries and sizes, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and adaptability to different load shapes.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized connecting elements with fastening points in three orthogonal axes serve multiple functions: connecting support plates to longitudinal beams, assembling different load carrier geometries, and adapting to various load configurations. This multi-functionality enables a single component design to address multiple transport needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom-made wooden load carriers are manufactured for each load type, then adaptability to transport loads is improved, but sustainability and economic efficiency deteriorate due to single-use disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The load carrier system uses standardized modular components that can be disassembled and reused. After a load is transported, the components can be taken apart and stored for future use, eliminating the need to discard custom-made wooden carriers after single use and thereby reducing material waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design enables recovery and reuse of load carrier components after their initial use. The standardized connecting elements and support structures can be disassembled, stored, and reconfigured for subsequent loads, replacing the traditional model of discarding custom wooden carriers after single use.
3Loss of substance
If modular load carriers with standardized components are assembled, then reusability and sustainability are improved, but assembly complexity and time requirements may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized connecting elements with identical fastening points in three orthogonal axes can connect the same support plates and longitudinal beams in multiple ways to create different geometries. This universality allows for quick reconfiguration without requiring specialized assembly procedures, reducing the time penalty of modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular components are designed with pre-configured connecting elements and standardized interfaces, so that during assembly, users only need to connect pre-prepared components rather than constructing from scratch. This preliminary preparation of connection mechanisms speeds up the actual assembly process.
4Volume of moving object
If modular load carriers are disassembled for compact transport, then storage efficiency is improved, but assembly and disassembly operations become more frequent and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The load carrier is segmented into modular components that can be easily disassembled and compacted for storage. After use, the support plates, longitudinal beams, and connecting pieces can be separated and stored in a compact manner, significantly reducing storage volume compared to a solid monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design allows the load carrier to dynamically transition between assembled and disassembled states. The standardized connecting elements enable quick connection and disconnection, allowing the structure to adapt its configuration based on whether it is in use or needs storage, optimizing both operational efficiency and space utilization.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1h
Figure 2a~2h
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
Modular load carrier (1) with at least one support plate (2), at least two longitudinal beams (6) arranged on an underside of the support plate (2), several first connecting pieces (4) connecting the longitudinal beams (6) to the support plate (2), which are connected to the longitudinal beams (6) and the support plate (2) via detachable identical connecting elements (5), wherein the connecting elements (5) are arranged on the first connecting pieces (4) in three axes orthogonally aligned to each other and each form identical fastening projections (7) accessible from the outside of the first connecting pieces (4).