Collapsible Tank Floor Panel Design for Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Collapsible portable liquid storage tanks are cumbersome and costly due to excess material in corners, require manual handling of wet floor panels for emptying and collapsing, and have compromised integrity from cutting away excess material.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible portable tank design with a separate, heavier floor panel and lighter side walls, supported by a collapsible frame with hinges and zigzag-patterned hand grips on the floor panel for easier manipulation and collapse, eliminating the need for manual gripping of the wet floor panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the entire liner is made of material sufficient weight to meet floor panel requirements, then the floor panel durability is improved, but the total cost and weight of the liner increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liner is divided into two separate components: a floor panel and side walls, each made from different materials with appropriate weights for their specific functions. The floor panel uses heavier, more durable material to withstand abuse, while the side walls use lighter material, reducing overall liner weight and cost without compromising floor durability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the sheet of material is folded to form side walls and floor panel, then the liner can be manufactured from a single sheet, but excess pleats are created in corners adding weight and bulk
Solution Approach 1:
The liner is segmented into separate floor panel and side wall components that are joined together, eliminating the need to fold a single sheet into corners. This removes excess pleats and redundant material while maintaining ease of manufacture through separate fabrication and assembly.
3Productivity
If workers manually grip handfuls of wet floor panel to empty the tank, then the remaining liquid can be forced toward the drain, but the task is clumsy and often results in damage to the liner
Solution Approach 1:
A rigid floor panel acts as an intermediary tool between the workers and the liquid. The panel can be gripped at its edges or corners (not the wet floor surface) and used to lever and push liquid toward the drain, eliminating direct hand contact with wet material and reducing liner damage risk while maintaining emptying efficiency.
4Productivity
If workers simultaneously cause the tank frame to collapse while gripping and pulling on the wet floor panel, then the collapse process can be accomplished, but the task is even more clumsy and further imperils the liner
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid floor panel serves as a mediator during collapse operations. Workers grip the panel's edges or attached handles rather than pulling wet floor material, using it as a lever to coordinate frame collapse. This eliminates direct manipulation of wet liner material while maintaining collapsing speed and protects liner integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible portable tank for storing liquids has a liquid impervious liner. The side walls of the liner are supported by a collapsible frame. A plurality of hand grips in a zigzag pattern on the floor panel of the liner facilitates manipulation of the liner to collapse the liner with the frame. The liner floor panel is of heavier material than the side walls and is heat sealed along its entire perimeter to the liner side walls, affording a more durable floor while eliminating clumsy excess liner material at the corners of the tank. Another hand grip on the floor panel opposite a drain in the liner side walls facilitates evacuation of stored liquid from the tank prior to collapsing the tank.