Low-Profile Containment Deck for Hazardous Material Weighing

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a low-profile weighing apparatus to support containment decks for chemical containers that can accurately measure the weight of materials, including spillage, while ensuring stability and safety to prevent accidents and environmental contamination.

Innovation Solution

A low-profile supporting platform with encapsulated load cells and inert housings that support a containment deck, equipped with a liquid level sensor to detect spills, allowing for accurate weight measurement and spill detection, minimizing the risk of accidents and environmental harm.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional containment decks are used with standard weighing apparatus, then weight measurement capability is provided, but the profile height becomes too high creating instability and safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight measurement capabilityVSAvoidprofile height

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the containment deck and weighing apparatus into a single integrated low-profile unit. The load cells are positioned beneath the containment deck surface, merging the weighing function with the containment structure to achieve a low overall profile while maintaining both spill containment and accurate weight measurement capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The load cells are oriented horizontally rather than vertically, with their sensing surfaces positioned beneath the containment deck. This dimensional reorientation allows the weighing mechanism to operate in a horizontal plane while maintaining a low vertical profile, resolving the contradiction between measurement capability and height

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the containment deck support surface is raised higher, then spill containment capacity is improved, but container stability deteriorates creating accident risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespill containment capacityVSAvoidcontainer stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the vertical position parameter of the containment deck support surface to a lower elevation. By positioning the deck at a lower height while maintaining adequate spill containment volume, the system achieves both spill containment reliability and container stability, as containers are easier to maneuver and less prone to tipping at lower heights

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If load cells are exposed to corrosive chemical materials, then weight measurement function is provided, but the load cells and circuitry become vulnerable to chemical attack

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight measurement functionVSAvoidchemical corrosion vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary protective structure (housing or enclosure) that shields the load cells and associated circuitry from direct contact with corrosive chemicals. This protective barrier allows the weighing function to operate accurately while preventing chemical attack on the sensitive measurement components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into chemically-exposed components (containment deck) and protected components (load cells and circuitry). The load cells are positioned and enclosed in a protected zone beneath the deck, separating them from the chemical environment while maintaining their weighing function through the intermediary protective structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

The solution provides a stable and accurate weighing system that minimizes the risk of accidents and environmental contamination by accurately measuring the weight of materials and detecting spills, ensuring efficient handling and containment of chemical containers.

Implementation Method 1

A plurality of load cells are preferably located adjacent to or at the corners of the platform

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

the leak containment deck is provided with at least one sensor for detecting spillage or leakage captured within the containment vessel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLiquid level detection:

Data Source

PatentUS7737372B2Leak and spill containment scale

Publication Date: 2010.06.15 SCALETRON INDS

AI summary

A scale assembly for weighing potentially hazardous materials comprise a containment deck designed to support a container from which materials are dispensed. The containment deck is preferably provided with sufficient storage capacity to capture spillage or leaks from the container and is supported on a low-profile platform supported in turn by load cells which generate signals indicative of the weight of the contents of the container and of any spillage within the containment deck. The containment deck is further equipped with a level detector typically positioned near the bottom of the deck for generating signals indicating the presence of leakage or spillage from the container.