Collapsible Intermodal Container Side Wall Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transportation of empty intermodal containers is inefficient and costly due to trade imbalances, requiring either costly reuse or storage, and existing collapsible container technologies do not adequately address the need for reduced dimensions and increased stacking efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible intermodal container design featuring hingedly attached side walls and end assemblies that pivot to reduce width, allowing for efficient stacking and transportation, with a lifting system for configuration between erected and collapsed states, enabling secure engagement with other containers for enhanced storage and transportation capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If empty intermodal containers are transported back to the exporting country for reuse, then container availability is improved, but transportation costs and fuel consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The container employs dynamic side walls that can be moved between an erected position (for loading/unloading) and a collapsed position (for return transport). This dynamic transformation allows the container to adapt its volume and footprint based on operational needs, enabling empty containers to be transported back to exporting countries without incurring the same level of energy costs as traditional rigid containers, thus resolving the contradiction between container availability and fuel consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The container utilizes vertical collapse of side walls to reduce its horizontal footprint. By collapsing the side walls downward, the container maintains its length and width but reduces its overall height and volume, allowing more containers to be stacked during return transport. This dimensional transformation enables improved container availability through efficient return logistics while minimizing the energy required for transportation.
2Loss of energy
If empty intermodal containers are stored at the importing country instead of being transported back, then transportation costs are reduced, but storage costs and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container's dynamic side wall mechanism allows it to be collapsed to a fraction of its original volume when not in use. This enables containers to be stored in compact configurations at importing countries, dramatically reducing the storage space required compared to traditional rigid containers. The collapsed state minimizes the area occupied while maintaining the container's structural integrity for future reuse, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing transportation costs and minimizing storage space requirements.
3Strength
If traditional rigid intermodal containers are used, then structural strength and stability are maintained, but transportation efficiency and stacking capability of empty containers deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The container employs dynamically movable side walls that can be positioned in an erected configuration during loading and unloading operations to maintain structural strength and stability. During return transport of empty containers, the side walls are collapsed to reduce volume and improve stacking capability. This dynamic adaptation allows the container to optimize its structural properties based on operational requirements, resolving the contradiction between maintaining structural strength and improving transportation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The container structure is segmented into movable side wall components that can be independently collapsed while maintaining the integrity of the main container body. This segmentation allows the side walls to be folded or collapsed without compromising the overall structural strength of the container, enabling efficient stacking and transportation of empty containers while preserving the necessary structural properties for cargo protection during active use.
4Volume of moving object
If collapsible container designs are implemented, then volume reduction and stacking efficiency are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container utilizes a dynamic side wall mechanism with hinges and locking mechanisms that enable transformation between erected and collapsed states. While this introduces some complexity, the design focuses on simple, robust mechanical components that can be manufactured using conventional processes. The dynamic nature of the system allows for significant volume reduction during return transport, improving the volume-to-complexity ratio and making the collapsible design economically viable compared to traditional rigid containers.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a collapsible intermodal container (10, 10', 10"), comprising: first and second opposing parallel side walls (12, 14), the first side wall (14) being connected to the second side wall (12) such that the collapsible intermodal container is configurable between an erected configuration in which the first and second side walls (12, 14) are spaced apart by a first distance (D1l) to define an interior for storing goods, and a collapsed configuration in which the first and second side walls (12, 14) are spaced apart by a second distance (D2) which is less than the first distance (D1l). The collapsible intermodal container (10, 10', 10") further comprises front and rear end assemblies (24, 26) for closing front and rear ends of the container in the erected configuration and for controlling access to the interior, each of the front and rear end assemblies (24, 26) being hingedly attached to the first side wall (14). When the collapsible intermodal container (10, 10', 10") is in the erected configuration, the front and rear end assemblies (24, 26) are engageable with the second side wall (12) to secure the first side wall (14) with respect to the second side wall (12), and, when the collapsible intermodal container ( 10, 10', 10") is in the collapsed configuration, the front and rear end assemblies (24, 26) are engageable with at least a further collapsible intermodal container (10, 10', 10") to secure the first side wall (14) with respect to the further collapsible intermodal container (10, 10', 10"). The invention further provides a collapsible intermodal container assembly, comprising: first and second collapsible intermodal containers (10, 10', 10") according to the present invention, each of the first and second collapsible intermodal containers (10, 10', 10") being in the collapsed configuration. The front and rear end assemblies (24, 26) of the first collapsible intermodal container (10, 10', 10") are engaged with the first side wall (14) of the first collapsible intermodal container and the second side wall (12) of the second collapsible intermodal container such that the first side wall (14) of the first collapsible intermodal container is secured to the second side wall (12) of the second collapsible intermodal container.