Collapsible Stackable Cargo Unit With Removable Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collapsible shipping containers face issues such as components separation during use, damage from impacts, high outward pressure from cargo, and difficulty in accessing identification tags, especially in stacked configurations, while maintaining structural integrity and reducing tare weight.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible, stackable cargo unit with removable walls and an integrated lid system, featuring hinged lids, handles for rigidity, and locking mechanisms, constructed with a metal frame or unitary stamped members to provide strength and rigidity, allowing for compact storage and easy access, with integrated identification components protected from damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If permanently connecting all components together, then components separation issue is solved, but removal of lids and walls cannot be performed for loading and unloading
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into separate components (base, walls, lids) that can be independently removed and reattached. The walls are separable from the base, and lids are separable from the walls, allowing flexible access for loading and unloading while maintaining structural integrity when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The container components are designed with dynamic connection capabilities - walls can be removed and reattached to the base, and lids can be removed and reattached to the walls. This dynamic reconfigurability allows the container to adapt between closed storage mode and open loading mode.
2Strength
If using heavy steel construction, then structural strength to withstand pressures and stacking loads is improved, but tare weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into modular components (base, walls, lids) that can be manufactured separately and assembled. This allows optimization of each component's material usage and enables the use of lighter materials while maintaining overall structural strength through proper joint design.
Solution Approach 2:
The container walls and lids are designed as thin-walled structures that provide sufficient strength for their specific functions. The base remains more robust to support stacking loads, while the walls and lids use thinner material since they primarily need to contain cargo and resist moderate external pressures.
3Ease of operation
If placing identification tags on external surfaces, then tracking functionality is enabled, but tags are subject to damage from impacts and abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The identification tag is nested within a protective recess in the base structure. This recess acts as a protective cavity that shields the tag from external impacts and abrasion during handling and stacking, while still allowing the tag to be accessed and read when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess structure serves as an intermediary between the identification tag and the external environment. It provides mechanical protection against harmful factors (impacts, abrasion) while maintaining the tag's functionality for tracking and identification purposes.
4Ease of operation
If making walls fully removable, then loading and unloading accessibility is improved, but structural integrity during transport may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The walls are designed with dynamic connection capabilities - they can be securely attached to the base during transport to maintain structural integrity, and easily removed when loading or unloading is required. The connection mechanism transitions between locked and unlocked states based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection state of the walls changes between two parameters: securely attached (for transport integrity) and removed (for loading accessibility). This parameter change allows the structure to adapt its configuration based on operational requirements without compromising either transport strength or loading convenience.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are units for transportation of cargo, and methods of using them. In some embodiments, the units are collapsible, stackable cargo units. In some embodiments, the cargo units include a generally rectangular base having a front, a rear and two sides, with forklift slots on its front, rear and each side. The cargo units may further include front and rear walls extending upward from the base. The cargo units may further include first and second side walls extending upward from the base between the front and rear walls. The first side wall may have a length greater than the second side wall. The cargo units may further include an integrated lid hingedly attached to one or more of the front, rear, and side walls.