Flexible Fibrous Container Reinforcement for Impact Load Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current reinforcement systems for liquid, gas, and particulate filled containers are either too rigid, too heavy, or provide inadequate resistance to impact and pressure loads, often leading to damage or failure upon blunt impact.
Innovation Solution
A containment system utilizing a flexible fibrous skeletal reinforcement that conforms to the shape of the container and redistributes impact forces, preventing stresses or strains that exceed the container's failure limit, and optionally includes a self-sealing layer for leak prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If current reinforcement systems are used to strengthen containers, then resistance to impact and pressure loads is improved, but the containers become too rigid and lose flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible shells and thin films by using a membrane structure with integrated rib elements that maintain flexibility while providing reinforcement. The membrane acts as both the containment shell and the reinforcement carrier, eliminating the need for rigid external reinforcement systems. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the container to remain flexible while gaining impact and pressure resistance through the membrane-rib integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining the membrane material with rib structures to create an integrated reinforcement system. The composite membrane-rib structure provides enhanced strength and rigidity where needed while maintaining the overall flexibility of the container. This composite approach allows the container to resist impact and pressure loads without sacrificing the flexibility required for deformation and adaptation.
2Strength
If current reinforcement systems are used to strengthen containers, then resistance to impact and pressure loads is improved, but the containers become too heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible shells and thin films to create a lightweight reinforcement system where the membrane itself serves as the reinforcement carrier. This eliminates the need for heavy external reinforcement structures while providing adequate impact and pressure resistance through the integrated membrane-rib design, thereby reducing overall container weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the thickness, material properties, and geometric configuration of the membrane and rib structures. By carefully controlling these parameters, the design achieves the necessary strength and rigidity for impact and pressure resistance while minimizing material usage and overall weight. This parametric optimization resolves the contradiction between strength and weight.
3Weight of moving object
If lightweight flexible containers are used, then weight is reduced and flexibility is improved, but resistance to blunt impact damage is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by designing the membrane-rib structure to absorb and distribute impact energy before it can cause damage. The rib elements act as pre-positioned energy dissipation features that deform in a controlled manner during impact, protecting the container from blunt impact damage while maintaining the lightweight and flexible characteristics of the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials to create a lightweight yet impact-resistant structure by combining the membrane with strategically placed rib elements. This composite membrane-rib design provides enhanced impact resistance through the synergistic interaction between the flexible membrane and the stiffer rib structures, achieving protection against blunt impact while maintaining low weight and high flexibility.
4Strength
If rigid or semi-rigid containers are used, then resistance to impact is improved, but they may crack or fracture upon sustaining blunt impact damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible shells and thin films to create a container that can absorb impact energy through controlled deformation rather than brittle fracture. The membrane structure allows the container to flex and deform elastically during impact, preventing the cracking and fracturing that would occur in rigid containers, while still providing adequate impact resistance through the integrated rib reinforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by designing a container that transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure during impact events. The membrane-rib design allows the container to adapt its stiffness and deformation characteristics in response to applied loads, enabling energy absorption through controlled dynamic deformation rather than static brittle failure, thereby maintaining reliability after impact.
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 system effectively prevents container failure and leakage by redistributing impact forces, maintaining container integrity and containing contents even if the container fails, while being lightweight and flexible, thus enhancing safety and efficiency in transportation and storage.
Implementation Method 1
redistribute a force of impact, loading, or hydraulic ram
Implementation Method 2
a containment system comprising: a container; and a skeletal reinforcement
Data Source
AI summary
Containment systems are provided. In one example embodiment, a containment system is provided, the containment system comprising: a container; and a skeletal reinforcement comprised of flexible fibers.