Forkliftable Steel Drum with Integrated Pockets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shipping drums are cumbersome and hazardous to transport due to the need for pallets, which lead to inefficiencies in space utilization, increased risk of injury, and waste, as well as difficulties in stacking and bundling drums of varying sizes.

Innovation Solution

A forkliftable drum design featuring a cylindrical body with integrated forklift pockets and strapping mechanisms that allows direct lifting by a forklift, enabling stacking and bundling of drums of different capacities without pallets, ensuring stability and efficient space use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If drums are transported on pallets using straps or plastic wrap, then the drums can be moved using forklift or pallet jack, but the drums may tip over and cause injury or break if the straps fail, and space utilization is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of transportVSAvoidsafety of transport

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the drum and pallet functions into a single integrated structure. The drum body itself incorporates recesses that receive pallet elements, eliminating the need for separate pallets and straps. This merging of functions allows the drum to be both the container and the transport platform, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drum design gives the drum multiple functions: it serves as both the storage container and the transport platform. The recesses in the drum body allow it to interface with pallet elements, forklift forks, and stacking mechanisms. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate pallets and improves both ease of operation and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If pallets are used to transport drums, then the drums can be moved, but space in trucks and shipping containers is wasted, and pallets create waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of transportVSAvoidspace utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the pallet function from the transport system and integrates it into the drum structure itself. The recesses in the drum body that receive pallet elements allow the drum to function as its own transport platform, eliminating the need for separate pallets and maximizing space utilization in trucks and containers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the drum and pallet into a single integrated structure. The drum body incorporates recesses that interface with pallet elements, combining the container and transport platform functions. This eliminates separate pallets, reduces waste, and optimizes space utilization while maintaining ease of transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If drums of varying capacities are stacked and bundled, then different sizes can be accommodated, but stacking and bundling different sized drums is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of different sizesVSAvoidease of stacking and bundling

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The drum design incorporates universal interfaces through standardized recesses and protrusions that work across different drum sizes. The nesting mechanism uses complementary geometric shapes that accommodate varying capacities while maintaining ease of stacking and bundling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nesting mechanism where smaller drums can be placed within larger drums using complementary geometric shapes. The recesses and protrusions are designed to interlock, allowing drums of varying capacities to be stacked and bundled easily while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Loss of substance

If drums are manually transported by tipping and rolling, then no pallets are needed, but strains and hernias can result from handling heavy drums

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelimination of pallet wasteVSAvoidinjury risk to handlers

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the drum and pallet functions, eliminating the need for separate pallets while maintaining mechanical handling capabilities. The integrated design allows forklifts to transport drums directly through recesses in the drum body, avoiding manual handling and reducing injury risk while eliminating pallet waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11801973B2Forkliftable steel drum

Publication Date: 2023.10.31 STACY WILLIAM

AI summary

A forkliftable drum for the transportation and storage of materials is disclosed herein. The drum is comprised of a top ring having a series of forklift pockets arranged around the circumference to allow lifting and transporting of the drum by a forklift. Two or more drums may be connected by means of straps or threaded fasteners to create a bundle which can be transported without pallets. Drums of varying capacities may be provided which have the same diameter, allowing different capacity drums to be integrated into a single bundle.