Modular Pallet Dryer Head Pieces for Reduced Transport Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pallets for drying objects like bricks and paving stones have sharp corners that cause damage and malfunctions during automatic transport, require scrapping when damaged, and lack uniform transverse rigidity to counteract drying warp, with welds leading to localized corrosion and mechanical issues.
Innovation Solution
A detachable head piece is designed for connection to the pallet, featuring rounded corners and optional upward curvature, providing a captive and releasable attachment without welding, enhancing durability and transverse rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the pallet is constructed with folded edges and welds to ensure stability, then structural strength is improved, but the risk of localized corrosion and mechanical damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet is divided into modular components: a base plate with integrated corner reinforcements and separate head pieces that attach to the corners. This segmentation eliminates the need for welding folded edges together, as the corner pieces provide structural strength through their geometry and attachment mechanism, while avoiding the weld-induced corrosion problem entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
Corner pieces are added specifically at the corners where mechanical damage and stability are most critical, rather than folding and welding the entire perimeter. These local reinforcements provide the necessary structural strength at high-stress points without requiring welds along the entire edge, thus maintaining corrosion resistance while achieving local strength enhancement.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the pallet corners are folded to create stability, then structural stability is improved, but mechanical damage and malfunctions during transport increase
Solution Approach 1:
The corner pieces feature rounded corners instead of sharp folded edges. This curvature eliminates the snagging and mechanical damage problems caused by sharp corners during automatic transport, while the corner pieces themselves provide the necessary structural stability through their geometry and attachment to the base plate.
3Strength
If the entire pallet is scrapped when damaged, then structural integrity is maintained, but material waste and operational efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet is designed as an assembly of a base plate and attachable head pieces. When damage occurs, only the affected head piece needs to be replaced rather than scrapping the entire pallet. This segmentation maintains structural integrity through the modular design while dramatically improving operational efficiency by enabling quick, localized repairs.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the entire pallet when damaged, the design allows for recovery and reuse of the undamaged base plate and head pieces. Only the specific damaged component is replaced, reducing material waste and maintaining productivity.
4Device complexity
If uniform transverse rigidity is not provided, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but drying warp of bricks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The corner pieces with their specific geometry and attachment method provide localized rigidity at the critical corners of the pallet. This local reinforcement is sufficient to maintain uniform transverse rigidity across the entire pallet during drying, preventing brick warp without requiring complex overall structural modifications.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for drying or curing objects made of clay or concrete, for example building bricks, paving stones or paving bricks, comprising a pallet with a storage area for the objects having upper longitudinal edges, from which side walls project downwards, which have lower longitudinal edges. In order to enable replacement of parts of the device damaged through use, the invention provides that the device has, in addition to the pallet (1), at least one head piece (2) which is designed for detachable connection to the pallet (1), and that the pallet is designed to detachably and preferably captively receive the head piece on at least one of its head sides.