Bulk Material Shipping Container With Segmented Pallet and Gate Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bulk material shipping containers are not strong enough, durable enough, lightweight enough, easy to repair, easy to construct, effective in preventing contamination, capable of holding large volumes or weights of loose materials, or optimized for cargo capacity compared to existing solutions.

Innovation Solution

A bulk material shipping container design featuring a pallet, a compartment with an improved material unloading assembly including a gate assembly and gate locking assembly, and a material loading assembly connected to the top wall assembly, which enhances the container's structural integrity, ease of use, and contamination prevention while allowing for greater volume and weight capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional bulk material shipping containers are used, then they provide basic shipping functionality, but they are not strong enough, not durable enough, and too heavy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer strengthVSAvoidcontainer weight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The container employs a composite structure combining a pallet base with a removable compartment assembly. The compartment is constructed from multiple components (walls, floor, lid) that can be separately manufactured and assembled, allowing optimization of each part's material properties for strength-to-weight ratio while maintaining overall container strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The container is divided into modular segments including a base pallet and a removable compartment with separate walls, floor, and lid. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for strength and weight, and facilitates easier repair or replacement of individual parts without replacing the entire container.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If traditional bulk material shipping containers are used, then they provide basic shipping functionality, but they are not durable enough

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer durabilityVSAvoidcontainer structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container structure is segmented into a permanent pallet base and a removable compartment assembly that can be taken apart into individual wall, floor, and lid components. This modular design enhances durability by allowing damaged parts to be replaced without compromising the entire structure, while the simplicity of the connection mechanisms maintains ease of assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of repair

If traditional bulk material shipping containers are used, then they provide basic shipping functionality, but they are not easy to repair or construct

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer repairabilityVSAvoidcontainer assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compartment is designed as a set of separate, interchangeable components (front wall, rear wall, side walls, floor, lid) that can be independently removed and replaced. This segmentation enables easy repair of damaged individual parts without affecting the entire container, while standardized connection methods keep assembly straightforward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The removable compartment assembly can be taken apart and reconfigured, allowing the same components to serve multiple functions or be adapted for different cargo types. The modular design enables universal application of the same basic component set across various container configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional bulk material shipping containers are used, then they provide basic shipping functionality, but they do not effectively prevent contamination of loose materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial contaminationVSAvoidcontainer sealing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into a sealed compartment portion and an open pallet base. The compartment can be completely closed with walls and lid to prevent contamination, while the segmentation allows the sealed portion to be removed for cleaning or replacement, maintaining hygiene without requiring complex sealing systems throughout the entire container.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

5Quantity of substance

If traditional bulk material shipping containers are used, then they provide basic shipping functionality, but they cannot hold greater volumes or weights of loose materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecargo volume and weight capacityVSAvoidcontainer structural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The container uses a strong pallet base designed to support heavy loads, with a removable compartment that can be optimized for volume. The base structure handles the weight-bearing function while the compartment maximizes cargo volume, allowing the container to hold greater volumes and weights without compromising structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The composite construction of the pallet base combined with the compartment assembly allows optimization of each component for its specific function - the base for load-bearing strength and the compartment for cargo volume - enabling the container to achieve greater overall capacity while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS10926940B2Bulk material shipping container
Publication Date: 2021.02.23 SANDBOX ENTERPRISES LLC
  • US10926940B2 patent drawing
  • US10926940B2 patent drawing
  • US10926940B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A bulk material shipping container including a pallet, a compartment configured to receive, hold, and release loose materials and connected to and supported by the pallet, a material unloading assembly positioned under a bottom portion of the compartment, configured to facilitate the release or unloading of loose materials from the compartment, and connected to and supported by the pallet, and a material loading assembly configured to facilitate the loading of loose materials into the compartment and connected to and partially supported by a top wall assembly of the compartment.