Floor-Free Metal Container for Emergency Power Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing walk-in metal containers face limitations in size due to transport requirements, suffer from poor quality and high costs, and struggle with durability, especially when transporting heavy equipment like emergency power generators over challenging infrastructure.

Innovation Solution

Designing a walk-in metal container as a floor-free hood with prefabricated wall and roof elements made of metal sheets and supports, connected using screws and adhesive layers, allowing for easy assembly and increased stability, and using a concrete base for anchoring, which reduces material and manufacturing costs and enhances durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional steel containers are used with floor slabs and welded construction, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into modular components: a base support structure, wall elements, and a roof element that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing of individual parts while achieving the required structural strength through proper connection design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces traditional welding connections with screw connections and adhesive bonding. This substitution eliminates the complexity and cost of welding operations while maintaining structural integrity, as the screw connections provide mechanical fastening and the adhesive provides additional bonding strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If containers are designed for standardized transport dimensions, then transportability is improved, but size adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesize adaptabilityVSAvoidtransportability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The container wall elements and roof are designed as separate modular components that can be transported in standardized sizes and assembled on-site to create containers of various dimensions. This allows the system to adapt to different size requirements while maintaining transportability of the individual modules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The container system is designed to be dynamically configurable, where the number and arrangement of wall and roof elements can be adjusted to create different container sizes and configurations based on specific application requirements, rather than being fixed to a single standardized dimension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If heavy emergency power generators are installed in containers, then functional capability is improved, but transport difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional capabilityVSAvoidtransport difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The container is designed with a separate base support structure that can be installed at the final location to support the heavy generator, while the wall and roof elements can be transported separately and assembled around it. This allows the generator to be positioned on suitable ground without requiring the entire container to be transported as one unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base support structure acts as an intermediary between the heavy generator and the ground, providing a stable foundation that distributes the weight. This intermediary element allows the generator to be installed in locations with challenging ground conditions without requiring the entire container to be transported and assembled as a complete unit first.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of manufacture

If screw connections with adhesive layers are used, then assembly ease is improved, but connection strength may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidconnection strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system merges two different bonding mechanisms: mechanical screw connections provide immediate structural fastening and alignment, while adhesive layers provide supplementary bonding strength and sealing. This combination of mechanical and chemical bonding methods achieves both ease of assembly and high connection strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution enables the creation of a stable, cost-effective, and durable walk-in metal container that can be assembled quickly and efficiently, independent of weather conditions, with reduced material costs and improved handling and installation, capable of accommodating heavy equipment without the need for heavy-duty cranes.

Implementation Method 1

The basic structural construction of at least one side wall element and/or at least one roof element and/or at least one front and/or at least one rear wall element is manufactured by bonding metal panels to supports and/or columns and/or intermediate struts using an adhesive layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

at least one sheet metal panel and beams, supports and optionally one or more intermediate struts, which are particularly preferably statically firmly screwed to the sheet metal panel by means of screws

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP3762314B1Walk-in, walk-on metal container, method for producing a walk-in, walk-on metal container, building
Publication Date: 2024.09.11 ANTEPOST GMBH
  • EP3762314B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3762314B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3762314B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a walk-in, walk-on metal container, in particular for accommodating an emergency power system, comprising wall elements and a roof element. Said walk-in, walk-on metal container is characterized in that it is designed as a cover having no base.