Foldable Baffle Assembly for Refrigeration Container Air Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration containers often experience inefficient cooling due to undesired air flow paths created by gaps between produce and container walls, leading to uneven cooling and potential spoilage of perishable goods.
Innovation Solution
A baffle assembly made from stiff planar material with a base, hingedly extending deflector, and angle selector, allowing for adjustable angle deployment and secure anchoring within the container to block air flow paths and enhance cooling uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If inflatable bags or flexible curtains are used as baffles to block air flow paths, then cooling uniformity is improved, but the device becomes cumbersome and difficult to install
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle is divided into multiple planar panels that can be independently positioned and assembled. Each panel is a discrete unit that can be easily handled and installed, yet when combined they form an effective air flow blocking structure. This segmentation allows the baffle to achieve the cooling uniformity of a continuous barrier while maintaining installation convenience through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The baffle incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements that allow it to adapt to different container configurations and produce arrangements. The planar panels can be positioned at various angles and heights to optimize air flow blocking for specific loading patterns, making the installation process more flexible and easier to adapt to different scenarios without requiring complex inflatable mechanisms.
2Reliability
If inflatable bags are used as baffles, then air flow paths are blocked effectively, but the bags are susceptible to damage and puncture
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle is constructed from rigid or semi-rigid planar panels that are more durable than flexible inflatable materials. These panels resist puncture and damage from sharp edges of produce and packaging, providing long-lasting reliability without the fragility of inflatable bags. The structure is designed to withstand the harsh environment of refrigerated containers throughout the transport journey.
Solution Approach 2:
The baffle combines different materials with complementary properties - rigid panels for structural strength and damage resistance, potentially combined with lighter framing or support elements. This composite construction maintains the air flow blocking effectiveness while significantly improving resistance to puncture and mechanical damage compared to pure flexible materials.
3Temperature
If inflatable bags are used as baffles, then cooling uniformity is improved, but a compressor is required for inflation
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle design removes the compressor and inflation mechanism entirely, replacing them with simple rigid or semi-rigid planar panels that maintain their shape without pressurized gas. This extraction of the complex inflation system eliminates the need for portable compressors while preserving the air flow blocking function through the inherent rigidity of the panel structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using inflatable bags that replicate the function of a solid barrier through pressurization, the invention uses actual rigid planar panels that directly perform the blocking function. This eliminates the intermediate step of inflation and the associated equipment, simplifying the system while achieving the same cooling uniformity through direct structural presence.
4Temperature
If rigid baffle structures are used to block air flow paths, then cooling uniformity is improved, but the device becomes difficult to install and maneuver
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid baffle is segmented into multiple smaller planar panels that can be easily maneuvered and positioned individually. Each panel maintains sufficient rigidity to block air flow effectively, yet the segmented nature allows for simple assembly and reconfiguration during installation, combining the benefits of rigid structures with installation convenience.
Data Source
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AI summary
A baffle blank for a baffle assembly and a method for deploying the baffle assembly in a storage container for manipulating air flow in the container is provided. The baffle blank is made of stiff planar sheet material and has fold lines, cut lines and sulcations arranged to form a base, a deflector extending from the base along a hinge line, and an angle selector formed as cut-out in the baffle blank. The baffle blank is operable between a collapsed condition in which the base, deflector and angle selector lie in a substantially planar configuration, into a deployed baffle assembly in which the deflector is secured at a selected angle relative to the base by the angle selector with the angle selector extending between the base and deflector.