Floating Shipping Container With Distributed Air Pockets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shipping containers are prone to loss and damage during accidents, leading to disruptions in maritime trade and supply chains, with a need for enhanced safety features to keep them afloat and maintain integrity until rescue.
Innovation Solution
A floating shipping container with a metallic structure and distributed air pockets, made of aluminum or polymeric composites, allowing it to remain afloat and regulate temperature, reducing weight and fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional shipping containers are used, then cargo transport security is maintained, but containers are prone to loss and damage during accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The container structure is divided into multiple sealed hollow square tubes integrated into the side walls, creating distributed air pockets that provide buoyancy. This segmentation allows the container to remain afloat even if partially damaged, as each tube independently contributes to floating capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The container incorporates air pockets within the hollow tubes before accidents occur. These pre-positioned air pockets act as a cushioning mechanism that activates automatically during shipwrecks or accidents, providing immediate buoyancy without requiring external intervention.
2Strength
If traditional metallic materials are used, then structural strength is achieved, but weight is high increasing fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The container utilizes composite construction combining aluminum or polymeric materials with integrated hollow tube structures. This composite approach maintains structural strength while reducing overall weight compared to traditional solid metallic containers, thereby decreasing fuel consumption during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow square tubes are strategically positioned within the side walls at specific locations where structural support is needed. This local quality approach provides strength only where required, reducing unnecessary material usage and weight in other areas of the container.
3Weight of moving object
If aluminum or polymeric composite materials are used, then weight is reduced and corrosion minimized, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side walls are constructed from modular hollow square tubes that can be manufactured separately and then assembled into the container structure. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process for complex shapes and allows for easier integration of the buoyancy-providing hollow tubes within the wall structure.
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
Enhances maritime transport safety by minimizing container loss, reducing fuel consumption, and lowering insurance premiums while being environmentally friendly.
Implementation Method 1
The side walls (LT) are constructed from square hollow tubes (PM) sealed with end caps (BS), thereby forming air pockets that enable the container to float in the event of a shipwreck
Implementation Method 2
comprising a metallic structure and distributed air pockets, which help regulate internal temperature by preserving it in the event of shipwreck
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention pertains to the field of sea, river and land transport and more specifically relates to a shipping container capable of floating in the event of shipwreck or accident, contributing to increased durability and ease of salvage at sea. The invention has a metal structure (ES) that receives side walls (LT), a back wall (PT) and a lower floor (SL) with doors (PR) on the front part and a roof closure (TT), wherein the walls (LT)(PT), the roof (TT), the doors (PR) and the floor (SL) are made of aluminum or polycomponents, and the walls (LT) are formed by hollow square tubes (PM) closed with plugs (TP). The main difference is the creation of air pockets by means of the tubes (PM) that form the walls (LT), similar to the concept of modules, with joined pieces that enable the container to float in the event of shipwreck.