Reusable Shipping Platform for Circuit Breakers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The power distribution industry faces inefficiencies and environmental concerns with the use of wood pallets for shipping circuit breakers, as they are economically inefficient, resource-intensive, and environmentally destructive, with most pallets being used only once.
Innovation Solution
A modular reusable shipping system comprising a breadboard and pallet, where the breadboard has openings and cutouts for mounting circuit breakers, allowing for secure and efficient transportation and reuse, with the pallet providing support and ease of handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If wood pallets are used to transport circuit breakers, then the shipping process is simple and familiar, but the pallets are economically inefficient, resource-intensive, and environmentally destructive as they are used only once
Solution Approach 1:
The shipping system is divided into modular components: a reusable pallet base and interchangeable breaker-specific mounting plates. This segmentation allows the pallet to be reused while adapting to different breaker types, reducing waste while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized modular assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers and reuses the pallet and mounting plates across multiple shipping cycles. Instead of discarding the entire pallet after one use, only the breaker-specific mounting plate is exchanged, while the pallet structure is recovered and reused, significantly reducing resource consumption and waste
2Reliability
If one pallet is used to transport one breaker with attached flange fixed by bolts, then the breaker is securely transported, but the process is economically inefficient and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet is designed as a universal platform that can transport multiple different breaker types by exchanging standardized mounting plates. This multi-functionality increases productivity by allowing one pallet to serve multiple purposes while maintaining secure transportation through appropriate mounting configurations for each breaker type
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic reconfiguration by exchanging mounting plates on the pallet to match different breaker types. This dynamic adaptability improves productivity by eliminating the need for dedicated pallets for each breaker type while maintaining secure transportation through proper mechanical attachment for each specific breaker configuration
3Loss of substance
If reusable breadboard and pallet system is implemented, then resource consumption is reduced and environmental impact decreases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the shipping device into a simple reusable pallet base and interchangeable mounting plates. This segmentation reduces overall device complexity by allowing the complex breaker-specific features to be isolated in replaceable plates while the main pallet remains simple and standardized
Solution Approach 2:
The universal pallet design serves multiple breaker types through standardized mounting interfaces. This universality reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for multiple specialized pallet designs, consolidating functionality into one adaptable platform that decreases overall system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus may include a breadboard. The breadboard may include a substantially flat board, which may include a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface may be disposed opposite the bottom surface. The board may include one or more openings disposed in the board. The apparatus may include a pallet. The pallet may include a top surface and a bottom portion disposed opposite the top surface. The pallet may include a plurality of risers, which may be disposed on the bottom portion and extend in a direction opposite the top surface. The bottom surface of the breadboard may be mountable to the top surface of the pallet. One or more circuit breakers may be disposable on the top surface of the board of the breadboard. The breadboard and pallet may be reusable in transporting circuit breakers.