Plate-and-Tube-Segment Pallet for Lower Weight and Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport pallets made of solid wood are heavy, weighing between 20 to 24 kg for dimensions of 1200 x 800 x 144 mm, and there is a need for a lighter yet stable alternative.
Innovation Solution
A pallet design featuring a base body with parallel plates and a layer of tube segments, where the segments have cut ends forming a hollow structure, and are made of wood-based materials, allowing for reduced weight and increased mechanical stability through the use of wood-based materials and hollow spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If solid wood is used for pallet construction, then high mechanical stability and load-bearing capability are achieved, but the weight increases to 20-24 kg
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous materials by using a honeycomb structure made of paper or foil as the intermediate layer and stiffeners. This honeycomb structure provides mechanical stability and load-bearing capability while being significantly lighter than solid wood, directly resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining cover plates (metal or wood) with a honeycomb intermediate layer (paper or foil). This composite construction achieves the required mechanical stability through the combination of different materials, each contributing their specific properties, while maintaining reduced weight compared to solid wood construction.
2Weight of moving object
If hollow structures with tube segments are used, then weight is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the hollow structure into discrete tube segments arranged in rows and columns. These segments are formed by cutting and folding panels to create a modular honeycomb-like structure that reduces weight while maintaining manufacturability through systematic repetition of standardized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the geometric parameters of the tube segments (dimensions, spacing, arrangement) to achieve the desired weight reduction while maintaining structural integrity. The parameters are carefully selected to balance weight savings with manufacturing simplicity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a pallet (1), comprising a basic body (10) with a first panel (11), a second panel (12) and a layer (13) having a plurality of tube segments (14) which is arranged between the panels (11, 12), wherein the layer (13) has at least one cutout (131) which is continuous in the direction of a pallet height (HP), and wherein the first panel (11) has at least one first opening (111) which at least partially overlaps with the at least one cutout (131). The invention further relates to a foot (16) and a runner (17) for a pallet (1), to a sandwich block (2) for producing a layer (13) of a pallet (1), and to a method for producing a pallet (1).