Stackable Container Coupling Hooks Guide Lug Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stackable container systems require precise vertical alignment for connection, making them cumbersome and requiring significant physical effort to couple, especially when fully loaded and heavy.
Innovation Solution
The container system features coupling hooks and recesses with a guide lug and actuation mechanism that allows for intuitive coupling by enabling horizontal insertion and vertical engagement, eliminating the need for precise vertical alignment through a guide shaft with three walls, allowing for easier and more efficient stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coupling hooks are engaged in coupling recesses requiring precise vertical alignment, then secure connection is achieved, but coupling becomes cumbersome and requires significant physical effort
Solution Approach 1:
The guide shaft acts as an intermediary element between the guide lug and the coupling recess. It provides a constrained path that guides the coupling hook into proper alignment with the coupling recess, eliminating the need for precise manual alignment while maintaining secure connection. The guide shaft mediates the coupling process by translating offset positioning into proper engagement alignment.
2Stability of the object's composition
If precise vertical alignment is required for coupling hooks and recesses, then stable connection is achieved, but coupling time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide shaft and guide lug arrangement performs preliminary alignment action automatically during the coupling process. Before the coupling hooks engage in the recesses, the guide lug engages with the guide shaft, which pre-aligns the components in the horizontal direction. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual precision alignment, thereby increasing coupling speed without compromising connection stability.
3Reliability
If coupling hooks are positioned on side walls requiring vertical alignment, then secure stacking is achieved, but the system becomes difficult to operate when containers are heavy and fully loaded
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism introduces a horizontal dimension to the alignment process through the guide shaft and guide lug. Instead of requiring vertical alignment only, the guide lug engages with the guide shaft in the horizontal direction, allowing containers to be positioned with horizontal offset. This dimensional change makes stacking easier when containers are heavy, as operators can more easily achieve horizontal alignment than precise vertical alignment.
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
Enables quick and effortless connection of container systems without the need for precise vertical alignment, reducing the physical effort required, especially when systems are heavy or fully loaded, by allowing for offset positioning and simplified coupling procedures.
Implementation Method 1
the actuation of the coupling hook from the coupled position to the detached position can take place against the action of at least one spring
Data Source
AI summary
A stackable container system includes at least two coupling hooks disposed on oppositely lying side walls of the container system for connecting the coupling hooks with associated coupling recesses of another container system. The coupling hooks move between a coupled position, in which the coupling hooks are engaged in the coupling recesses, and a detached position, in which the coupling hooks are disengaged from the coupling recesses. The coupling recesses are disposed within a wall that extends beyond the upper surface of the container system. After placement of the container system on top of the other container system, one of the coupling hooks can be inserted in the horizontal direction into the associated coupling recess of the other container system. The oppositely lying coupling hook can be subsequently vertically pushed into the associated coupling recess of the other container system.