Constant temperature container

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional constant temperature containers experience heat transfer due to direct contact between the storage box and the heat insulating container, leading to reduced heat insulating properties.

Innovation Solution

A constant temperature container design featuring a heat insulating container with a support member that separates the storage box from the container walls, using phase change materials on both the box and lid, and a detachable lid to minimize contact and enhance insulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the storage box is housed in the heat insulating container with the outer side face of the wall portion kept in contact with the inner wall of the heat insulating container, then the storage box is securely positioned and supported, but heat transfer occurs due to heat conduction from the heat insulating container to the storage box, reducing heat insulating properties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning stabilityVSAvoidheat transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary structure (support member with heat insulating material or air gap) between the storage box and the heat insulating container wall. This intermediary layer prevents direct thermal contact while maintaining the positioning stability of the storage box, thereby reducing heat conduction losses without compromising structural reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The contact interface between the storage box and the heat insulating container is segmented into discrete contact points rather than continuous contact. The support members create isolated contact zones that provide mechanical support while minimizing the total heat conduction path area, thus maintaining positioning stability while reducing overall heat transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the outer side face of the wall portion is kept in contact with the inner wall of the heat insulating container, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the heat insulating property is reduced due to heat conduction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidheat conduction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The support members act as intermediary elements that are relatively simple to manufacture and integrate into the existing container structure. These support members can be made from common heat insulating materials or simple geometric forms, maintaining ease of manufacture while effectively reducing heat conduction through the addition of thermal resistance at the contact interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If the wall portion of the box body is separated from the wall portion of the heat insulating container using a support member, then heat insulating properties are largely improved by reducing contact area, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat insulationVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The separation structure is segmented into multiple discrete support members distributed at strategic locations rather than a single complex continuous structure. This segmentation allows each support member to be a simple, standardized component that is easy to manufacture and install, while collectively providing effective thermal isolation across the entire container interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support members are strategically positioned at locations where they provide maximum thermal isolation effectiveness. By concentrating thermal resistance at critical heat transfer paths while maintaining simple contact at less critical areas, the design achieves high heat insulation performance without requiring complex structures throughout the entire container.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Significantly improves heat insulating properties by reducing contact area and allowing for efficient cooling and reliable temperature maintenance within the storage box.

Implementation Method 1

heat transfer caused by heat conduction from the heat insulating container to the storage box

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

phase change materials provided on a wall portion and a bottom portion thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentUS11768024B2Constant temperature container

Publication Date: 2023.09.26 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a constant temperature container capable of largely improving the heat insulating property. A constant temperature container includes: a heat insulating container; a heat insulating lid configured to close the heat insulating container; a box body housed inside the heat insulating container; a box lid configured to close the box body; a phase change material provided on a bottom portion and a wall portion of the box body and the box lid; and a support member provided between the bottom portion of the box body and a bottom portion of the heat insulating container, the support member supporting the box body in such a manner that the wall portion of the box body is separated from a wall portion of the heat insulating container.