Modular Pallet System with Dovetail Interlocks for Narrow Passage Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pallet systems pose challenges during shipping, warehousing, and transportation, as they often require manual handling and cannot fit through narrow passageways, leading to inefficiencies and potential injuries when parts of the load need to be separated or transported through restricted spaces.
Innovation Solution
A modular pallet system with interlocking features allows for the formation of larger arrays that can be moved by fork trucks and easily detached for transport with hand-trucks, featuring dovetail arrays and notches for secure engagement and disengagement, enabling versatile configuration and easy passage through narrow areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional pallets are used for shipping and warehousing, then products can be transported on pallets, but manual handling is required when separating loads and the pallets cannot fit through narrow passageways
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet system is divided into multiple detachable modules that can be separated and reconfigured. Each module can be independently handled by hand-trucks, allowing load separation without manual lifting and enabling passage through narrow spaces while maintaining interconnection capabilities for bulk transport
2Ease of operation
If conventional pallets are used for shipping and warehousing, then products can be transported on pallets, but manual handling is required which can lead to injury
Solution Approach 1:
Mechanical coupling devices and standardized attachment mechanisms serve as intermediaries between the pallet modules and handling equipment. These intermediaries enable secure connection and disconnection of pallet modules using hand-trucks, eliminating the need for manual lifting and reducing injury risks while maintaining transport efficiency
3Productivity
If a large pallet is used to transport products, then more products can be moved at once, but the pallet cannot fit through narrow passageways requiring manual separation
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet system transitions from a fixed, monolithic structure to a dynamic, reconfigurable assembly of modular units. The modules can be interconnected to form large pallets for high-volume transport, then easily separated using hand-trucks when needing to navigate narrow passageways, providing adaptability between bulk transport and space-constrained movement scenarios
Data Source
AI summary
A modular pallet system utilizes a plurality of modular pallets that are configured to engage along sides of the pallet to form an interconnected array of coupled pallets that may be moved by a pallet truck and wherein the individual pallets are configured for detachment and transport with a hand-truck. A quad array of coupled pallets may be formed that is about a conventional pallet size and configured to receive the two forks of a fork truck into fork truck openings. One of the modular pallets of the quad array of coupled pallets may be disengaged or disconnected by use of a hand-truck, wherein the tongue of the hand-truck extends in the fork truck opening between the feet of a pallet and engages with hand-truck notches configured on feet. An interconnecting feature of a modular pallet may include a dovetail and dovetail recess.