Crate Side Wall Inlets for Cooling Liquid Flow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crates for transporting fruits, vegetables, and meat lack sufficient openings in the side walls to allow the introduction of cooling liquids like ice-water, which can block the ventilation holes and prevent the liquid from reaching the interior, compromising the freshness and temperature control of the products.
Innovation Solution
A crate design featuring a plurality of inlets in the side walls with a continuous stiffening member and strategically placed vent holes, allowing for the introduction of cooling liquids while maintaining structural integrity, and optionally including a lattice mesh to accommodate ice particles, ensuring effective cooling liquid flow without reducing the crate's stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If vent holes are provided in the side walls for air circulation, then air flow is improved, but cooling liquid flow is insufficient because ice particles block the holes
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall openings are segmented into two distinct types: vent holes for air circulation and larger inlets for cooling liquid introduction. This segmentation allows each opening type to serve its specific function without interference, resolving the blocking problem where ice particles would clog vent holes
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the side wall are given different properties: some areas have small vent holes optimized for air flow, while other areas have larger inlets optimized for cooling liquid flow. The continuous stiffening member is strategically positioned to provide local structural reinforcement where openings are present
2Ease of operation
If larger openings are provided in the side walls for cooling liquid flow, then cooling liquid introduction is improved, but structural integrity of the side walls deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A continuous stiffening member is introduced as an intermediary element to bridge the gap between large openings and structural integrity. This stiffening member acts as a mediator that distributes mechanical loads around the openings, allowing large inlets to be provided without compromising the overall structural strength of the side wall
Solution Approach 2:
The side wall structure combines multiple functional elements into a composite construction: the base wall material, the continuous stiffening member for structural reinforcement, and the opening structures for fluid flow. This composite approach allows the side wall to simultaneously provide strength, stiffness, and adequate openings for cooling liquid flow
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A crate includes a bottom (102), two end walls (106a, 106b), and two side walls (108a, 108b). At least one of the end and side walls comprises an inlet (200a-200c) having a dimension allowing to introduce a predefined amount of cooling liquid into the interior of the crate.