Cooler Partition with Deformable Margin to Minimize Dead Air Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Insulated containers face challenges in maintaining thermal endurance as cooling or heating elements, such as ice or warming packs, lose effectiveness due to the presence of dead air volume and inefficient insulation, especially as contents are removed.
Innovation Solution
A partition with a stiff center and softer periphery, featuring a spanning matrix and a deformable peripherally extensive margin, which follows the container walls and minimizes dead air volume by deflecting to accommodate changing contents, thus extending the life of thermal storage elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid partition is used to maintain structural integrity, then the partition can provide stable support, but it cannot adapt to changing container contents and creates dead air volume
Solution Approach 1:
The partition incorporates regions of different stiffness: a stiffer central region for structural support and stability, and a softer peripheral region for adaptability and following container walls. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by assigning different mechanical properties to different zones of the same component.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic structure that can change its configuration. The softer peripheral region allows the partition to dynamically adapt its shape and position in response to changing contents, while the stiffer central region maintains overall structural integrity.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If insulation is increased to improve thermal endurance, then thermal performance is enhanced, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The partition is separated from the main container wall insulation structure, allowing it to function as an independent adaptive component. This extraction enables the partition to provide both structural support and thermal barrier functions without requiring the entire insulation system to be complex or heavy.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition uses a flexible or semi-flexible structure with integrated insulation, replacing rigid thick insulation layers. This allows adequate thermal endurance to be achieved with a thinner, more integrated structure that reduces overall complexity.
3Loss of energy
If the partition follows the container walls closely to minimize dead air volume, then thermal endurance is improved, but the partition becomes overly flexible and loses structural stability
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral region of the partition is designed with softer, more compliant material properties that enable it to follow the container walls closely and minimize dead air volume, while the central region maintains stiffer properties for structural stability. This local quality differentiation allows the partition to simultaneously achieve both goals.
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 effectively reduces dead air volume, prolonging the effectiveness of thermal storage elements by maintaining contact with the container walls and adapting to the changing contents, thereby enhancing thermal endurance.
Implementation Method 1
a partition with a stiff center and softer periphery... featuring a spanning matrix and a deformable peripherally extensive margin, which follows the container walls and minimizes dead air volume by deflecting to accommodate changing contents
Implementation Method 2
Insulated containers face challenges in maintaining thermal endurance... The solution effectively reduces dead air volume, prolonging the effectiveness of thermal storage elements by maintaining contact with the container walls and adapting to the changing contents, thereby enhancing thermal endurance
Data Source
AI summary
A cooler insert partition is provided for a container having a hard-walled internal chamber surface. The partition has a spanning matrix and a peripherally extensive margin that defines a dimensionally variable boundary that follows the tapered chamber wall, functions as a wiper, and is deformable in at least one of (a) in-plane compression; and (b) out-of-plane deflection. The margin forms an edge of the spanning matrix. The partition is insulated, and is softer and more flexible than the hard-walled chamber surface. The periphery is thinner in cross-section than the spanning matrix and has a smaller specific flexural modulus. The partition has articulated panel sections. The partition is made from a single polymeric monolith that has been cut and formed. In use the partition is progressively re-positioned in the chamber to minimize dead air space as container contents are removed.