Pallet Trailer Chassis Segmentation for Maneuverability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pallet lifting trailers for bicycles are cumbersome, difficult to maneuver, and require multiple steps for loading and unloading, limiting their use in inner-city areas due to their heavy and wide construction.

Innovation Solution

A pallet carrying trailer with a chassis comprising two frame sections that can be detached without tools, featuring rotatable rear wheels and a front wheel with a pivotally mounted handlebar, allowing the longitudinal struts to be positioned under a Euro pallet without the need for a lifting device, and equipped with an electric drive and brakes for improved stability and control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a lifting device is used to load and unload pallets, then the pallet trailer can transport heavy loads, but the number of work steps increases and the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload capacityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting device is completely removed from the pallet trailer system. Instead, the chassis is designed with longitudinal struts that can be positioned directly under the Euro pallet runners, allowing the pallet to be loaded by simply driving the chassis under the pallet and lifting the rear end, eliminating the complex lifting mechanism while maintaining load capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a lifting device to raise the pallet onto the trailer, the approach is inverted: the chassis drives under the pallet and the pallet is lifted onto the chassis by raising the rear end of the chassis itself, reversing the traditional loading mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Quantity of substance

If the pallet trailer has a heavy and wide construction to support Euro pallets, then the load capacity is sufficient, but the maneuverability deteriorates and it becomes difficult to handle in narrow spaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload capacityVSAvoidmaneuverability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The chassis is divided into two detachable frame sections that can be separated without tools. This segmentation allows the trailer to be disassembled for storage or transport and reconfigured for different loading scenarios, improving ease of operation while maintaining the ability to support full Euro pallet loads when assembled

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The chassis design incorporates dynamic elements including the ability to raise and lower the rear end during loading, and the detachable frame sections that can be quickly assembled and disassembled, making the rigid load-bearing structure adaptable to different operational needs and spaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If multiple work steps are required for loading and unloading pallets, then the pallet can be securely loaded, but the productivity decreases and time is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading securityVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The longitudinal struts are pre-positioned on the chassis to align with the runners of a Euro pallet. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the chassis is driven under the pallet, the struts are already in the correct location to support the pallet runners, eliminating the need for manual positioning steps and reducing the overall number of work steps while maintaining secure loading

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The chassis design allows the operator to perform the loading operation independently without requiring additional equipment or multiple steps. The chassis drives under the pallet, the rear end is raised to engage the pallet, and the loading is complete - a self-contained process that maintains reliability while improving productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4039560B1Pallet trailer
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 E2TRAIL GMBH
  • EP4039560B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4039560B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4039560B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a pallet carrier trailer (1) for a single-track vehicle, such as a bicycle, for transporting a Euro pallet (10) with elongated skids and at least one support plate connecting the skids, comprising two rear wheels (55, 56), at least one front wheel (35) and a chassis (3) supported by the front wheel (35) and the rear wheels (55) with two longitudinal struts (41) which can be arranged under the support plate and between the skids for supporting the Euro pallet, it is provided that the chassis (3) comprises a first frame section (4) on which the at least one front wheel (35) is mounted, and a second frame section (5) on which the rear wheels (55, 56) are mounted, in particular consisting of, wherein the first and the second frame sections (55, 56) are detachable from each other, in particular without tools, and that the rear wheels (55, 56) define a track width (S) which is not greater than the width (B) of the Euro pallet (10).