Collapsible Munitions Container Using Fibrous-Polymeric Composite
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional munitions containers are heavy, rigid, and non-collapsible, leading to inefficient storage and transport due to their fixed volume and weight, which is often greater than the munitions themselves, even when empty.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, collapsible munitions container made of fibrous and polymeric materials with sparse metal reinforcements, featuring a layered structure that includes a fibrous inner and outer container with a polymeric bond capable of withstanding impacts and a disposable foam structure for reduced material return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional steel containers are used for munitions storage, then robustness and airtightness are ensured, but weight increases significantly and collapsibility is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining fibrous material (providing structural strength and robustness) with polymeric materials (providing lightweight properties and chemical resistance). This composite construction allows the container to maintain the robustness traditionally achieved only with steel while dramatically reducing weight. The fibrous-polymeric layered structure creates a material composite that simultaneously delivers mechanical strength and low weight, resolving the contradiction between reliability and weight reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible shells and thin films by using fibrous material constructed as layered thin films or shells. This fibrous shell structure provides the necessary robustness and airtightness while being significantly lighter than traditional steel construction. The flexible nature of the fibrous shell allows for collapsibility while maintaining structural integrity during use, solving both the weight and collapsibility issues simultaneously.
2Strength
If traditional rigid containers are used, then structural strength is maintained, but collapsibility after use is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing a container structure that can transition between rigid and collapsed states. The fibrous-polymeric composite construction allows the container to be rigid when loaded (providing structural strength) and collapse when empty (providing adaptability). This dynamic structural behavior resolves the contradiction between maintaining strength during use and enabling collapsibility after use.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible fibrous shell structure allows the container to dynamically adjust its rigidity. When loaded, the shell maintains structural strength; when empty, it can collapse. This flexibility inherent in the fibrous-polymeric construction enables the container to satisfy both structural strength requirements and collapsibility needs, unlike traditional rigid steel containers.
3Quantity of substance
If fixed volume containers are used, then storage capacity is ensured, but storage efficiency decreases due to empty return volume
Solution Approach 1:
The container's dynamic collapse capability allows it to transition from a fixed volume state during transport to a collapsed state for return. This dynamic volume adjustment eliminates the need to transport empty container volume, significantly improving transport efficiency. The fibrous-polymeric construction enables this volume transformation while maintaining full storage capacity when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsible design allows the container to be effectively discarded of its volume after use, collapsing to minimal size for return transport. This eliminates the loss of energy associated with transporting empty containers, as the container volume is recovered (collapsed) after munitions are removed. The fibrous-polymeric material structure enables this volume recovery while maintaining structural integrity during use.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If steel containers are used, then durability is achieved, but material return requirements increase shipping volume
Solution Approach 1:
The fibrous-polymeric composite material provides durability comparable to steel while enabling volume reduction. The composite structure's layered fibrous and polymeric construction delivers the necessary durability for military applications while allowing the container to collapse to minimal volume for return shipping, resolving the contradiction between durability and shipping volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible fibrous shell construction provides sufficient durability for munitions storage while enabling the container to collapse to minimal volume. This flexible shell structure maintains the necessary structural integrity and durability for military use while allowing volume reduction for efficient return shipping, eliminating the need to maintain large shipping volume for durable containers.
Data Source
AI summary
A munitions container includes an inner container and an outer container formed of a fibrous material. A form is positioned within the inner container and receives munitions. The outer container is placed on a rigid baseplate.