1 Client: Pallet Display Systems

2 Product Description The product is a tubular metal support that at its simplest allow the conventional wooden pallets to form tables or benches for such as providing displays in B&Q or as products to their customers. At the other end of the scale they allow vehicle footbridges to be built by such as town councils requiring temporary elevated footpaths through flooded area, or by the military to provide light bridges capable of taking Land Rovers.

Critical Issue Cost:
Because of welded joints the tube has to be sent out after this operation for galvanising which adds additional cost due to transportation and this cost plus the cost of galvanising is increased because of the welded configuration which makes handling and stacking inefficient. Final despatch also was expensive because the stands would not nest for efficient transportation

4 What we did
The MD had believed that alternative fixing systems were not available in the UK but a USA company had offered to develop a system for £10k.

We identified that such systems were available in the UK but also showed how systems related to bicycle handlebar stems – cylinders with inclined plane mating surfaces – could be adapted to provide alternative fastening possibilities.
These non-permanent mechanical joints would allow the tubes to be coated prior to bending operations and allow the tubes to be disassembled for transportation.

The Allen bolt is inserted through the flange, through the two cylindrical wedges and screwed into the bottom cylindrical wedge. The wedges are inserted into the tubular leg & further rotation of the bolt causes the two cut cylinders to slide relative to each other and grip against the tube sides.

5 Outcome
The concept was approved by the company which was to proceed to negotiate supply arrangements

6 More information

Contact: Don Rickard
024 7657 2568
J.D.Rickard@warwick.ac.uk

Date December 2001