Air Freight Container Intermediate Element for Cargo Securing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air freight containers face challenges in flexible securing of goods and efficient use of transport volume due to strict certification requirements and limitations in securing goods against slipping or falling during transport, leading to partial loading and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
An air freight container with a rectangular, flat bottom and top sides, featuring at least four connecting profiles and a triangular, flexible intermediate element made of textile fabric with adjustable latching devices that can be tensioned to secure and subdivide the cargo space, allowing for flexible segmentation and high packing density without requiring new certification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If permanent intermediate floors are installed in air freight containers to secure goods, then goods can be secured against slipping or falling, but it becomes impossible to transport large-volume goods and the container cannot be flexibly adapted to different transport requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The container interior is segmented into multiple load compartments by intermediate elements that can be positioned at different locations along the longitudinal axis. These intermediate elements divide the cargo space into separate sections, allowing goods to be secured in defined areas while maintaining the ability to reconfigure the segmentation pattern for different transport needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate elements are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be repositioned along the longitudinal axis of the container. This dynamic configuration enables the container to adapt to different cargo volumes and securing requirements while maintaining reliable goods security through the tensioning mechanism.
2Reliability
If certified container types are used to meet safety requirements, then safety certification is maintained, but modifications are time-consuming and containers cannot be flexibly adapted to different transport volumes and weights
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate elements are designed as universal components that can be used in various certified container types without requiring new certification. The same intermediate element design can be applied across different container configurations, providing multi-functionality and flexibility while maintaining compliance with existing safety certifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate elements act as intermediary components between the certified container structure and the cargo. They provide the necessary securing function without modifying the certified container structure itself, thus maintaining the original certification while enabling flexible cargo accommodation.
3Loss of energy
If air freight containers are partially loaded to match transport volume, then volume-based transport costs are reduced, but goods cannot be effectively secured against slipping or falling during flight
Solution Approach 1:
Intermediate elements are selectively positioned at specific locations within the container based on the actual cargo configuration and securing needs. Rather than installing permanent floors throughout, the tensioning mechanism allows intermediate elements to be placed only where cargo securing is required, optimizing both cost efficiency and goods security.
Solution Approach 2:
The tensioning mechanism allows the intermediate elements to be adjusted to different tension levels and positions, changing the physical parameters of the securing system to match the specific cargo load. This enables effective goods securing in partially loaded containers by adapting the securing parameters to the actual transport requirements.
4Reliability
If intermediate floors are permanently installed to separate transport goods, then goods can be separated and secured, but the container cannot accommodate large-volume goods and packing density is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate elements are designed to be movable and repositionable along the longitudinal axis, allowing the separation zones to be dynamically adjusted according to cargo requirements. This enables high packing density by positioning separation elements only where needed rather than having fixed floors that reduce available cargo space.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple intermediate elements can be used to create multiple separation zones within the container, effectively copying the separation function at different locations. This allows flexible compartmentalization of cargo space to accommodate different cargo types and volumes while maintaining high packing density.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to an air freight container (1) with a rectangular, flat bottom (2) for receiving transported goods (8), a rectangular, flat top (6), at least four connecting profiles (10), and at least a triangular, flat intermediate element (12) made of a flexible material, wherein the connecting profiles (10) each connect a corner (11) of the bottom (2) and a corner (11) of the top (6) to form sides (3) of the air freight container (1), a guide device (19) is arranged on at least three connecting profiles (10) and/or a guide device (19) is arranged on two opposite edges (21) of the bottom (2) and on at least one edge (21) of the top (6) or on two opposite edges (21) of the top (6) and on at least one edge (21) of the bottom (2) such that the guide devices (19) form a plane to stretch,and the intermediate element (12) has at each corner (14) a length-adjustable locking device (20) designed to engage in the guide device (19).