Transportation pallet and method for depalletizing load
First Claim
1. A height-adjustable shock pallet comprising:
- a lower deck;
an upper deck having a central portion sized to receive a rack-mounted information handling system (IHS) for shipping and which is selectively positionable;
(i) in a lowered position that is proximate to the lower deck and a supporting surface for loading and unloading, and (ii) in a raised position, spaced apart from the lower deck;
a plurality of air bags attached between the lower and upper decks and which are selectively inflatable to protect the rack-mounted IHS during transport and deflatable to position the upper deck between the raised position and the lowered position;
a sensor positioned to detect tilt of the upper deck; and
a controller in communication with a portable source of compressed air and the sensor, and which;
determines a direction of a detected tilt of the upper desk tilts; and
controls flow of compressed air in the plurality of air bags to rebalance the upper deck to a substantially horizontal position.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A height-adjustable shock pallet includes a lower deck and an upper deck. A central portion of the upper deck is sized to receive a rack-mounted information handling system (IHS) for shipping. Air bags attached between the lower and upper decks are selectively inflatable to protect the rack-mounted IHS during transport and deflatable to position the upper deck proximate to the lower deck for unloading. A controller can detect a tilt of the upper deck and differentially inflate or deflate respective subsets of the air bags to rebalance the upper deck. The controller maintains the rack-mounted IHS horizontal to prevent tipping during transport. Integral or attachable caster wheels can enable repositioning of the height-adjustable shock pallet with the air bags deflated.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A height-adjustable shock pallet comprising:
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a lower deck; an upper deck having a central portion sized to receive a rack-mounted information handling system (IHS) for shipping and which is selectively positionable;
(i) in a lowered position that is proximate to the lower deck and a supporting surface for loading and unloading, and (ii) in a raised position, spaced apart from the lower deck;a plurality of air bags attached between the lower and upper decks and which are selectively inflatable to protect the rack-mounted IHS during transport and deflatable to position the upper deck between the raised position and the lowered position; a sensor positioned to detect tilt of the upper deck; and a controller in communication with a portable source of compressed air and the sensor, and which; determines a direction of a detected tilt of the upper desk tilts; and controls flow of compressed air in the plurality of air bags to rebalance the upper deck to a substantially horizontal position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An information handling system (IHS) comprising:
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a device interface in communication with an electrically-actuated source of compressed gas that selectively pressurizes a first pneumatic interconnect to a first subset of air bags and a second pneumatic interconnect to a second subset of air bags that is exclusive of the first subset to raise an upper deck of a shock pallet that has received a rack-mounted IHS away from a lower deck; a tilt sensor attached to an upper deck of the shock pallet and which detects a tilt of the upper deck; and a controller in communication with the tilt sensor and the electrically-actuated source via the device interface, wherein the controller; simultaneously pressurizes a first pneumatic interconnect to the first subset of air bags and a second pneumatic interconnect to the second subset of air bags that is exclusive of the first subset to raise an upper deck of a shock pallet that has received a rack-mounted IHS away from a lower deck; and differentially adjusts pressure between the first and second subsets of the plurality of air bags via the first and second pneumatic interconnects respectively to mitigate the tilt of the upper deck. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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simultaneously pressurizing a first pneumatic interconnect to a first subset of four or more air bags and a second pneumatic interconnect to a second subset of the four or more air bags that is exclusive of the first subset to raise an upper deck of a shock pallet that has received a rack-mounted information handling system (IHS) away from a lower deck; detecting, by a sensor a tilt of the upper deck; and automatically adjusting, by a controller, differential pressure between the first and second pneumatic interconnects to mitigate the tilt of the upper deck.
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Specification