Cargo Container Aerosol Insecticide Delivery Through Cargo Gaps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for controlling insect pests in cargo containers are cumbersome, time-consuming, and inefficient, particularly due to the use of hazardous substances like phosphine and methyl bromide, and fail to effectively treat spaces with significant depth and filled with cargo items.

Innovation Solution

An aerosol product containing an insecticide and propellant is used to jet insecticide through gaps in the container, such as between cargo items or pallets, ensuring wide distribution within the container without the need for fumigants or smoking agents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fumigants or smoking agents containing phosphine or methyl bromide are used, then high control effect is achieved, but operation complexity increases due to preparation of air supply pipe, protective suit, and other equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol effectVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential function of insecticide delivery from the complex fumigation system (air supply pipes, protective equipment) and implements it through a simple aerosol spray device that can be directly applied to cargo gaps, eliminating the need for complex infrastructure while maintaining pest control effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces reusable complex fumigation equipment with disposable aerosol cans that contain pre-measured insecticide formulations, simplifying the operation to a single-step spray application without requiring specialized equipment or extensive preparation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If fumigants or smoking agents are used, then high control effect is achieved, but treatment time increases to several days or longer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol effectVSAvoidtreatment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent skips the lengthy exposure period required by traditional fumigants by using aerosol-based insecticide delivery that achieves rapid pest control, reducing the treatment time from several days to a much shorter duration while maintaining high efficacy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state and delivery method of the insecticide from gaseous fumigants requiring long exposure times to aerosol droplets that provide rapid contact action, fundamentally altering the time-parameter of the pest control process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If household aerosol insecticide is sprayed in living space, then easy control is achieved, but it is ineffective in container spaces with significant depth and filled with cargo items

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of controlVSAvoidcontrol effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by directing the aerosol spray specifically into the gaps between cargo items where pests are most likely to hide, rather than uniformly spraying the entire container space, thereby concentrating the insecticide where it is most needed for effective pest control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent addresses the three-dimensional challenge of container spaces by injecting aerosol into the narrow gap dimensions between cargo items, allowing the insecticide to penetrate deep into the cargo load and reach pests in locations that would be inaccessible to conventional spraying methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Insect pests can be controlled easily and quickly throughout the container, achieving high efficacy with minimal substance use and reduced operational complexity.

Implementation Method 1

preparing an aerosol product containing an insecticide and a propellant for jetting the insecticide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAerosol: Aerosol

Implementation Method 2

jetting the insecticide from a jetting port of the aerosol product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJet: Jet

Implementation Method 3

the insecticide jetted toward the gap in the container passes through the gap and diffuses easily toward the rear side of the container and both sides in the width direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP4691237A1Method for controlling insect pest in container
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 FUMAKILLA LTD
  • EP4691237A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4691237A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4691237A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for controlling insect pests in a cargo container 100 accommodating a cargo item 200 includes: preparing an aerosol product containing an insecticide and a propellant; and jetting the insecticide from a jetting port of the aerosol product, with the jetting port directed toward gaps S1 to S4 in the container 100, and closing a door of the container 100 after the jetting of the insecticide.