Divided cooler and cooler conversion kit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coolers lack mechanisms for air circulation, precise environmental condition monitoring, and effective drainage, leading to waterlogging and spoilage of aquatic creatures during transport.
Innovation Solution
A divided cooler system with a temperature-insulated enclosure, a temperature control area, and a vent that provides oxygenated airflow, along with a drainage mechanism to redirect liquid away from the storage area, and a kit for retrofitting existing coolers with these features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional coolers are used for storing aquatic creatures, then temperature control is provided, but air circulation is insufficient and waterlogging occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The cooler is divided into separate functional zones: a temperature control area with ice compartment, a storage area for aquatic creatures, and a drainage area. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function effectively - temperature control in one area, air circulation through dedicated pathways in another, and water drainage separately, preventing waterlogging while maintaining refrigeration.
Solution Approach 2:
A drainage mechanism acts as an intermediary between the storage area and the exterior, intercepting and redirecting liquid away from the aquatic creatures before waterlogging can occur. The serpentine drainage pipes and channel structures serve as mediators that manage fluid flow independently from the temperature control and storage functions.
2Temperature
If airtight containers are used for storage, then temperature control is improved, but air circulation is blocked and creatures begin to smell and spoil
Solution Approach 1:
The cooler design implements different local qualities in different areas: the storage area maintains airtight sealing for temperature control, while dedicated vent openings and drainage channels provide localized air circulation pathways. This allows the bulk storage space to remain sealed for thermal efficiency while specific locations provide airflow to prevent spoilage.
Solution Approach 2:
Air circulation and drainage functions are extracted from the sealed storage environment and provided through separate external pathways. Vent openings and drainage channels are taken out from the airtight container body, allowing air exchange and liquid removal without compromising the overall sealed structure needed for temperature control.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If drainage mechanisms are added to redirect liquid, then waterlogging is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage mechanism utilizes gravity as the primary driving force, with drainage channels and pipes positioned at strategic low points throughout the cooler. By designing the drainage path to follow the natural gravitational potential gradient, liquid flows automatically from higher to lower areas without requiring pumps or complex mechanical actuation, simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage system is designed to be self-regulating and self-cleaning. As liquid accumulates in the storage area, gravity automatically directs it through the drainage channels to the collection point. The continuous flow of liquid through the serpentine pipes helps prevent clogging by flushing debris along, eliminating the need for additional pumping or complex control mechanisms.
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
Ensures proper refrigeration, air circulation, and effective drainage, maintaining optimal temperature and humidity conditions for aquatic creatures, preventing waterlogging and spoilage.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature control medium configured to control the temperature of an oxygenated airflow into the enclosure
Implementation Method 2
a water directing mechanism configured to receive liquid from the drain mechanism and to, using only gravity, carry liquid from the drain mechanism to the drain outlet opening
Implementation Method 3
a cooler with a temperature insulated enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
A divided cooler system and a kit converting a cooler to a divided cooler system with a temperature control area configured to hold a temperature controlling medium, a vent opening, a vent within the vent opening, and a storage area separated from the temperature control area configured to receive oxygenated and temperature controlled air from the temperature control area is disclosed. The divided cooler system and kit to convert a cooler to a divided cooler system can further comprise a drain outlet, a drain mechanism that uses gravity to direct liquid out of the temperature control area, a water directing mechanism that uses gravity to direct water from the temperature control area to the drain outlet, a leveling shim which facilitates liquid drainage by adjusting the system's inclination angle relative to gravity, and a gauge designed to sense at least temperature or humidity with a face and a sensor component.