Pallet Transport Aid Vertical Support Beams

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for transporting palletized goods on trucks and other vehicles often result in inefficient use of available space, especially when sensitive or unevenly loaded pallets prevent stacking, leading to suboptimal loading capacity and potential damage to goods.

Innovation Solution

A transport aid device featuring a support system with connecting elements and holding elements that allow for vertical stacking of pallets, absorbing weight forces and maintaining a vertical distance between pallets, thereby utilizing available space more efficiently and preventing damage to sensitive goods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If pallets are stacked directly on top of each other to maximize space utilization, then the loading capacity of the truck bed is improved, but the fragile items on the lower pallet may be damaged by the weight of the upper pallet

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading capacityVSAvoiddamage to fragile items
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A support device with support beams and retaining elements is introduced as an intermediary between the lower and upper pallets. This mediator absorbs the weight force from the upper pallet and transfers it to the truck bed floor, preventing direct contact between pallets and protecting fragile goods on the lower pallet while enabling vertical stacking for improved space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If a second pallet is placed directly on top of the first pallet to utilize vertical space, then the space above the first pallet is used, but the uneven or pressure-sensitive surface of the first pallet cannot support the second pallet

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevertical space utilizationVSAvoidsupport stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support device acts as a mediator that bypasses the need for direct pallet-to-pallet contact. The support beams extend vertically from the first pallet and provide a stable, distributed support surface through retaining elements, enabling the second pallet to be placed at a vertical distance without requiring the first pallet's surface to bear concentrated loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If pallets are stacked with direct contact to simplify the transport structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the space utilization above the first pallet is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport structure simplicityVSAvoidavailable loading space
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The support device introduces a vertical dimension to the transport structure by extending support beams upward from the first pallet. This dimensional extension creates a multi-level support system that utilizes vertical space while maintaining structural simplicity through standardized beam and retaining element components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3148890B1Auxiliary transport device for pallets
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 SYNERGIE INVEST GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3148890B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3148890B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3148890B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a transport aid device (1) for at least two pallets (20, 25), wherein the pallets (20, 25) have a loading floor (21) that is oriented substantially horizontally in a usage position during transport, comprising a first supporting apparatus (2) and a second supporting apparatus (2a) for supporting at least one of the pallets (20, 25), one or both of the supporting apparatuses (2) having: a connecting element (4) for mechanically connecting the supporting apparatus (2, 2a) to at least the first pallet (20), and two supporting bars (3, 3a), which extend substantially in a vertical direction in a usage position during transport, each having a first end, which forms the upper end of the supporting bar during transport, and two retaining elements (5, 16), which are each arranged at a first end of one of the supporting bars (3, 3a), wherein each of the retaining elements (5, 16) is designed, in a usage position during the transport of the two pallets (20, 25), to retain or support the second of these pallets (25) at a vertical distance from the first pallet (20).