Flexible Water Bag Chambers That Freeze Without Cracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water distribution methods, such as plastic or glass bottles, are inefficient due to waste generation and cracking issues when water freezes, making them unsuitable for distributing ice, especially in emergency situations where both water and ice are needed for hydration and preservation purposes.
Innovation Solution
A flexible plastic container comprising connected bags with perforated webs, allowing separation and constructed with a carrying loop, suitable for holding both water and ice without leakage, and equipped with features like embedded drinking straws or nozzles for easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid plastic or glass bottles are used for water distribution, then water can be contained and transported, but the bottles crack or split when water is frozen due to expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible plastic bags instead of rigid bottles to contain water and ice. The flexible material can expand and deform without cracking when water freezes and expands, thereby maintaining container integrity during freezing conditions while avoiding the strength limitations of rigid materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The container design allows dynamic adaptation to volume changes during freezing. The flexible bag can change shape and expand as water transitions to ice, rather than maintaining a fixed rigid structure that would resist the expansion and cause cracking.
2Productivity
If empty plastic bottles are used for water distribution, then water can be transported efficiently, but large volume of waste material is generated when bottles are discarded
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible plastic bags are designed to be collapsible as water is consumed, allowing the used containers to be compacted to a minimal volume. This enables efficient collection and recovery of waste material, reducing the volume of discarded material compared to rigid bottles that retain their shape when empty.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible container dynamically changes volume as water is consumed or removed, collapsing to a compact form. This dynamic volume reduction facilitates efficient waste management and recovery, addressing the waste material volume issue while maintaining distribution efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate containers are used for water and ice distribution, then each can be optimized for its specific purpose, but carriers must transport unwieldy containers increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible plastic bag container is designed to serve multiple functions - it can contain both liquid water and frozen ice, and can be used for both distribution purposes. This universal container replaces the need for separate specialized containers, reducing the number of items carriers must transport while maintaining adaptability for different uses.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functionality of separate water and ice containers into a single flexible container system. The same container type can hold either liquid or frozen water, combining multiple distribution functions into one versatile container, thereby reducing device complexity.
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 flexible container system efficiently transports and distributes both water and ice, addressing the inefficiencies of traditional bottles by reducing waste and preventing cracking, while enabling easy separation and use in emergency scenarios for hydration and cooling.
Implementation Method 1
water expands as it cools
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for water storage and transport uses a container constructed from one of more flexible plastic sheets. A number of chambers for holding water are formed within the container. Each chamber is separated from an adjacent chamber by a web of the flexible plastic sheet. The web of the flexible plastic sheet is perforated to allow adjacent chambers to be separated from one another. In use, the water in the chambers may be liquid or frozen.