Cuboid Fuel Container With Retractable Pump Hose
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable fuel containers are cumbersome, difficult to store, and prone to spills due to their shape and projections, making them inefficient for storage and transportation.
Innovation Solution
A cuboid-shaped container with a pump and hose system that allows for dispensing liquids without lifting, featuring a handle and wheels for easy transport, and a design without protrusions for stacking and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional portable fuel containers are used with projections and irregular shapes, then dispensing function is achieved, but storage efficiency deteriorates and stacking becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into distinct functional segments: a cuboid storage body for efficient stacking, a separate dispensing system with pump and hose, and a removable cap assembly. This segmentation allows the main body to be space-efficient while maintaining full dispensing functionality through the integrated pump system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional vertical pouring (requiring lifting and tilting) to a horizontal dispensing dimension via the integrated pump and hose system. The pump can be positioned at the bottom or side, allowing liquid to be dispensed through a hose without lifting the container, effectively adding a new operational dimension.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional portable fuel containers with protrusions are used, then dispensing capability is provided, but reliability deteriorates due to breakage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing function is extracted from the container body through a separate hose and nozzle assembly. The hose can be retracted or stored within the container body when not in use, eliminating permanent external protrusions that are prone to breakage while maintaining dispensing capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The hose assembly is designed to be dynamic rather than static - it can be extended when dispensing is needed and retracted or stored when not in use. This dynamic configuration reduces the risk of breakage compared to fixed protruding dispensing components.
3Quantity of substance
If traditional portable fuel containers are used, then fuel storage is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to lifting requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical operation of lifting and tilting the container is replaced with a pump system that can actively draw and dispense liquid. The pump (manual or powered) substitutes for the gravitational force that would otherwise require the container to be lifted and tilted for pouring.
Solution Approach 2:
The container performs the dispensing function automatically through the pump system without requiring the user to manually lift or position the container. The pump self-regulates the liquid flow from the storage reservoir through the hose to the dispensing point.
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional portable fuel containers are used, then fuel dispensing is enabled, but loss of substance increases due to spills
Solution Approach 1:
The hose acts as an intermediary between the liquid reservoir and the dispensing point, allowing controlled transfer of liquid without direct pouring. This intermediary system provides better flow control and reduces the risk of spills compared to traditional open pouring methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump system provides feedback control over liquid dispensing, allowing the operator to regulate flow rate and stop dispensing precisely when the receiving container is full, preventing overfilling and spills. The system responds to operator input to maintain controlled dispensing throughout the process.
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 efficient storage, transport, and use of liquids without the need to lift the container, reducing the risk of spills and improving durability through a space-saving, stackable design.
Implementation Method 1
A pump can be disposed in the interior of the housing. The pump can be operable to transfer the liquid between the reservoir and the outlet.
Data Source
AI summary
A container for dispensing a liquid can include a housing. The housing can have a top wall, a base, and side walls, which form a substantially cuboid shape and a substantially uniform rectangular cross-section. The housing further includes a reservoir forming a portion of an interior of the housing. The reservoir can be configured to store the liquid. An outlet can be formed in the housing and fluidly coupled to the reservoir. A pump can be disposed in the interior of the housing. The pump can be operable to transfer the liquid between the reservoir and the outlet. A method of operating the container for dispensing a liquid includes providing the container. The liquid reservoir portion can be filled. The container can be transported to a predetermined location. The hose can be positioned and the pump can be actuated. The container can then be stored.