Self-Supporting Flexible Fluid Container With Segmented Walls
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible containers for fluids lack stability and ease of use, particularly when empty or under pressure, and often require complex production methods and external support for self-supporting structures, leading to issues with tilting, leakage, and inefficient pressurization.
Innovation Solution
A flexible container with a tetrahedral or polygonal configuration, sealed with longitudinal seams, allowing it to be self-supporting and collapsible, using pliant materials like polymer films, which reduces the volume required for pressurization and simplifies production and handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the container is made with a three-dimensional structure to achieve self-supporting properties, then stability and self-supporting capability are improved, but production complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into a flat bottom portion and separate side walls that are sealed to the bottom and to each other. This segmentation allows each component to be simple and flat, avoiding complex three-dimensional shaping while achieving self-supporting stability when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from requiring complex three-dimensional structures to achieving stability through a different dimensional approach: a flat bottom with vertically extending side walls. The stability is achieved through the arrangement and sealing of these components rather than through complex 3D geometry, simplifying production.
2Strength
If the container uses stiff material to maintain shape and stability when filled, then structural integrity is improved, but flexibility and collapsibility when empty deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The container uses flexible material that can be collapsed when empty for compact storage. When filled, the internal fluid pressure and the container's geometric structure (flat bottom with side walls) provide the necessary structural integrity, eliminating the need for stiff materials.
3Volume of moving object
If the container is designed to be collapsible when empty, then storage space efficiency is improved, but stability when empty deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container consists of a flat bottom portion and separate side walls that can be collapsed together when empty. This segmented design allows the container to collapse into a compact flat package for storage while maintaining the ability to stand stably when filled, as the side walls extend vertically from the flat bottom.
4Stress or pressure
If the container needs to withstand pressure without bursting, then pressure resistance is improved, but material thickness and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container uses thin flexible material that can withstand pressure through its geometric structure and the distributing effect of the sealed seams, rather than relying on material thickness. The flat bottom and vertical side walls create a structure that resists pressure effectively while keeping the material thin and the container lightweight.
Data Source
AI summary
A container for comprising fluid, said container comprising a front wall and a rear wall of pliant material being sealed together along the edge portion to produce a closed bag having a top portion (6) and a bottom portion (5) connected by two side portions (3, 4), wherein the side portions of the edge of the bag may be superimposed and when sealed together forms a three-dimensional configuration. The container may be self-supporting and stable.