Flexible Container Liner for Residue-Free Toxic Powder Transfer

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containers for toxic substances face challenges in managing residues and cross-contaminations due to adhesive forces, requiring extensive cleaning and downtime, which hampers economic efficiency and operational safety.

Innovation Solution

A protective device with a flexible casing and tubular members that surrounds the container opening, allowing direct transfer of substances into a reactor without residue, and can be easily detached and disposed of, eliminating the need for cleaning and reducing handling time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the container is used to store and transport toxic substances, then the substance can be transferred to the reactor, but residues remain in the container due to adhesive forces causing cross-contaminations and requiring extensive cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational safetyVSAvoideconomic efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two separate components: a reusable container for transport and a disposable protective device for substance contact. The protective device includes a liner that is segmented from the container wall, allowing it to be discarded after single use while the container remains clean and ready for next use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective device with its liner is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after single use. This eliminates the need to clean the container after each use, as the liner absorbs all residues and cross-contaminations, thereby maintaining operational safety while improving economic efficiency through immediate container reuse.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the container opening is closed by a cover and the substance is transported, then the substance can be protected during transport, but the container requires cleaning and downtime after use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection during transportVSAvoidcleaning time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The protective device acts as an intermediary between the container and the toxic substance. It includes a liner that interfaces directly with the substance and a protective cover that interfaces with the container opening. This intermediary layer prevents direct contact between the substance and container, eliminating cleaning time while maintaining protection during transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The liner and protective cover are extracted as separate removable components from the container. After use, the entire protective device including the liner and cover is removed and discarded, leaving the container clean and ready for immediate reuse, thereby eliminating cleaning time and downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the container is cleaned after emptying and checked for residue amounts, then safety is ensured, but the container cannot be used immediately taking up space

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidcontainer utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective device with liner is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after single use. This eliminates the need to clean the container after each use, as the liner absorbs all residues and cross-contaminations, thereby maintaining operational safety while improving economic efficiency through immediate container reuse.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is divided into two separate components: a reusable container for transport and a disposable protective device for substance contact. The protective device includes a liner that is segmented from the container wall, allowing it to be discarded after single use while the container remains clean and ready for next use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If the container opening is opened and connected to the reactor, then the substance can be transferred, but residues can escape into the environment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstance transferVSAvoidresidue escape

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective device acts as an intermediary between the container and the toxic substance. It includes a liner that interfaces directly with the substance and a protective cover that interfaces with the container opening. This intermediary layer prevents direct contact between the substance and container, eliminating cleaning time while maintaining protection during transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The liner is made from a flexible material that forms a seal between the substance and the container wall. This flexible film prevents residue escape into the environment during substance transfer while allowing the container opening to be opened and connected to the reactor for productive substance transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 and safe handling of toxic substances by preventing residue accumulation and cross-contaminations, allowing immediate reuse of containers and reducing laborious cleaning processes.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible casing (32) that surrounds a casing space (38) and comprises a first casing opening (34)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical Containment: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

a first tubular member (40) connected to the casing in the region of the first casing opening (34)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid Flow:

Data Source

PatentUS12565378B2Protective device, protective arrangement for a container and method for connecting a protective device to a container

Publication Date: 2026.03.03 U CONSULTING GMBH

AI summary

The present invention relates to a protective device (14) for a container (12) for receiving substances, in particular pulverulent substances, wherein the protective device (14) has a flexible casing (32), which encloses a casing space (38) and comprises a first casing opening (34), and a first tubular body (40) which is connected to the casing (32) in the region of the first casing opening (34) and which has a first mating container connection unit (46), a primary first end (42) and a primary second end (44), wherein the first tubular body (40) is connected to the casing (32) in such a way that the primary first end (42) terminates with the first casing opening (34) or projects into the casing space (38), and the protective device (14) can be connected to the first container connection unit (24) by means of the first mating container connection unit (46) in such a way that the casing (32) can be introduced into the interior (18). The invention further relates to a protective arrangement (10) comprising such a container and such a protective device (14).