Collapsible Sanitary Unit Layout for Stackable Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high transportation costs and inefficiencies in moving residential units, particularly sanitary units, due to the need to transport empty space rather than inventory, are exacerbated by growing demand for temporary use in events and disaster relief situations.
Innovation Solution
A transportable sanitary unit designed as a straight parallelepiped with retractable walls that convert between a low transport position and a high operational position, allowing for efficient stacking and use of standard container dimensions, incorporating a vacuum drainage system and modular design for flexible configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the entire contents including air space are transported along with the unit, then the unit can be deployed quickly, but transportation costs and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The unit is divided into a collapsible structural framework and separate inventory components. The framework can be collapsed for efficient transport while inventory is stored separately and loaded only when needed at the deployment location, eliminating the waste of transporting empty space within rigid walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The unit employs dynamically adjustable wall structures that can transition between expanded and collapsed states. This allows the unit to adapt its volume to minimize transportation space requirements while maintaining full functionality when deployed, directly reducing transportation energy consumption.
2Volume of moving object
If fully collapsible units are used to reduce transport volume, then transportation efficiency improves, but inventory cannot be transported along with them
Solution Approach 1:
The unit separates the structural framework from inventory components. The collapsible framework provides minimal transport volume, while inventory items are stored externally in modular containers that can be attached to or near the unit at the deployment location, ensuring both transport efficiency and inventory availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The unit design incorporates universal attachment mechanisms and standardized interfaces that allow various inventory configurations to be mounted on or near the collapsible unit. This enables the same transport-efficient unit to support different inventory requirements across various deployment scenarios.
3Productivity
If standard container dimensions are used for transportation, then stacking and group transportation become efficient, but the unit height in operational position must be constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The unit incorporates telescopic and adjustable wall sections that allow the operational height to be varied within a range. When transported in collapsed state, the unit fits standard container dimensions for efficient stacking. Upon deployment, the walls can be extended to provide the necessary headroom and functional space, balancing transportation efficiency with operational adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The unit design allows for configuration variations in the horizontal dimensions while maintaining compatibility with standard container height constraints. Different wall panel arrangements and internal layout options provide adaptability for various sanitary unit configurations without exceeding transportation volume limits.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces transportation energy and costs by allowing multiple units to be stacked within a single container volume, maintaining inventory space, and providing a fully functional sanitary facility upon deployment, while being adaptable to various configurations and transportation methods.
Implementation Method 1
In a water-saving embodiment the drain pipe can be connected to a vacuum drainage system.
Data Source
AI summary
Transportable unit for forming a straight parallelepiped-shaped residential space, provided with a bottom and a covering, and upright walls extending in between them, which walls can be converted between a—particularly retracted-transport position and a—particularly extended-operational position, in which the unit has a larger height, wherein the unit is equipped as a sanitary unit having a series of toilet bowls, urinals and/or showers.