Foldable Shipping Container with C-Channel Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable shipping containers do not meet ISO standards for water proofing and are not compatible with standard containers, leading to space inefficiencies and increased costs due to their design limitations, which hinder their adoption in the shipping industry.
Innovation Solution
A foldable shipping container design that collapses to a significantly reduced height, allowing five containers to be stacked in the space of one, using a novel geometry with hinged panels and a c-channel base assembly for structural stability and water resistance, fabricated from corrosion-resistant materials like CorTen steel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If foldable container designs are used to reduce space, then storage and transport efficiency improves, but structural integrity and water proofing deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple hinged panels (roof panel, base panel, side panels, door panel) that can fold relative to each other. This segmentation allows the container to collapse into a compact configuration while maintaining sealed joints through the hinge mechanism, thus achieving both space reduction and water proofing.
Solution Approach 2:
The container uses CorTen steel, a composite material with corrosion-resistant properties, for all panels. This material choice ensures that the foldable structure maintains both structural integrity and water resistance, resolving the contradiction between collapsibility and reliability.
2Volume of moving object
If foldable container designs are used to reduce space, then storage and transport efficiency improves, but compatibility with standard containers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The foldable container is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate as a standard intermodal container for international shipping and as a collapsible container for domestic transport. The standardized dimensions and hinge-based folding mechanism allow it to be compatible with both standard container infrastructure and space-saving requirements.
3Volume of moving object
If foldable container designs are used, then space efficiency improves, but structural stability during operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container is pre-assembled with hinged panels and corrosion-resistant materials during manufacturing. This preliminary construction ensures that when the container is deployed, it achieves full structural stability for international shipping, while the same hinged structure enables easy folding for storage and domestic transport.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a novel apparatus and way for folding a shipping container in order to improve space utilization when in a folded condition. As a result of the container design, less vertical space is occupied in the folded condition thereby allowing an additional folded container to be stacked in an assembly of folded containers when compared to the prior art designs.