Loading space expansion

Our customer built a suitable loading space conversion for his Caddy using our magnets.

Loading space expansion

Vehicles with larger loading spaces can be difficult to load with heavy objects, such as boxes. They sit firmly on the felt, but are then difficult to push or can even damage it. I solved this problem with a 9 mm or 12 mm screen-printed board. This is waterproof and has a smooth surface.
The board itself is held in place on the loading area floor by means of holes. These engage with the locking pins of the rear seat attachment (in my long-axle version with an optional third rear seat). Lightly loaded transport goods slide easily and uncontrollably back and forth on the plate.

Magnetic Expansion

Objective: Two self-made boxes (even equipped with lightweight gliders on the bottom for easier movement) are to be secured.

Materials used:

• 2 x squared timber (hard beech) 20 x 20 x 1000 mm,
• 5 x 5 mm locking pins per piece of timber (originally used for attaching shelf inserts in a wardrobe)
• 4 x Neodymium pot magnet Ø 16.0 x 4.5 mm, thread M6x8, holds 6 kg
• Metal disc Ø 16 mm with hole and countersink nickel

The wooden blocks are placed directly on the edge of the box, as the images show. The locking pins actually hold the barrier in place by engaging corresponding holes in the base plate.
Constant impact on the box during transport would quickly cause these holes to pop out, and the wood would be pushed away. With the addition of magnets, the base plate remains firmly anchored.
Even if the pins are slightly pushed out of the holes due to harsh movements, the magnets immediately return the wood to its original position with the next counter-movement.
The pins subject the magnets to tensile stress, not shear stress. The number of magnets ensures a hold across the entire width of the timber, even if it is not completely warped.

The countersunk metal discs (with a Forstner bit) in the base plate do not pose an obstacle for loads resting flat on the surface.
If the pieces of wood with the magnets are removed when not in use, the base plate remains safe for "magnetically vulnerable" items placed there, such as wallets with debit cards, etc.

Thinking further, several pieces of wood equipped in this way can form variable fields with a predefined grid of holes in the base plate, which can be used, for example, to create a storage area. B. can fix one or more folding boxes, but also has the entire, flat surface available if necessary.