Hazardous Material Container With Integrated Fire Suppressant Recycling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containers for holding flammable dangerous goods, such as damaged vehicles, face challenges in effectively combating fires within the container while preventing environmental contamination from pollutants and ensuring safe handling and transportation of the extinguishing agent.

Innovation Solution

The container integrates an extinguishing agent tank with a self-sufficient supply system, including fluid lines and a pump for introducing and removing the extinguishing agent, which allows for targeted and efficient fire suppression and agent recycling, reducing the need for external supplies and minimizing environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an external extinguishing agent supply system is used, then the container can be equipped with fire suppression capability, but the system requires external connections and supply hoses which increases device complexity and reduces operational efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire suppression capabilityVSAvoidexternal connections and supply hoses
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container is equipped with an integrated extinguishing agent tank and pump system that enables autonomous fire suppression operations. The system draws extinguishing agent from its own onboard tank through fluid lines and pumps, eliminating the need for external supply connections and hoses, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable fire suppression capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The extinguishing agent storage tank is merged with the container structure itself, integrating the fire suppression system into the container's overall design. This combination eliminates separate external supply equipment and connections, simplifying the system while ensuring dependable fire suppression functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the container uses conventional external extinguishing agent supply, then fire suppression is possible, but the extinguishing agent must be manually supplied and removed which reduces productivity and increases loss of time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire suppression functionalityVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated pump system automatically draws extinguishing agent from the onboard tank and delivers it to the fire location, then automatically drains the spent agent back to the tank or external containment. This automated cycle eliminates manual intervention for both supply and removal operations, significantly improving productivity and operational efficiency while maintaining effective fire suppression

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The pump system enables continuous circulation of extinguishing agent through the container interior, maintaining constant fire suppression capability. The automated drain function ensures continuous operation by readily removing spent agent, eliminating downtime associated with manual agent replacement and enhancing overall productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If the container allows extinguishing agent to be drained externally, then the agent can be removed for transport, but this creates risk of environmental contamination from pollutants and chemical components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveagent removal capabilityVSAvoidenvironmental contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A sealed fluid line system with integrated shut-off devices acts as an intermediary between the container interior and external environment during agent drainage. This controlled intermediary pathway allows safe removal of extinguishing agent while preventing escape of contaminated substances, thus enabling ease of operation without environmental contamination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The container maintains a sealed environment during fire suppression operations, and the controlled drainage system ensures that the atmosphere inside remains contained. This prevents pollutants and chemical components from escaping into the environment while still allowing agent removal through controlled pathways with proper shut-off capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the container is equipped with integrated extinguishing agent tank and pump system, then the system becomes self-sufficient, but this increases the volume and weight of the container

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveself-sufficiencyVSAvoidcontainer volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated tank and pump system serves multiple functions: storing extinguishing agent, pumping it to fire locations, and draining spent agent. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate equipment, achieving self-sufficiency without proportionally increasing container volume, as the same components perform multiple operational roles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This solution enhances fire-fighting capabilities, ensures safe handling and transportation of dangerous goods, and reduces environmental contamination by providing a self-sufficient and efficient extinguishing agent supply and recycling system within the container.

Implementation Method 1

the container has a pump that is fluidly connected to the drain opening for conveying extinguishing agent out of the receiving area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPump: Pump

Implementation Method 2

the extinguishing agent tank and the receiving area are connected by means of a fluid line for introducing extinguishing agent into the receiving area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 3

a shut-off device for opening or closing the fluid line is arranged between the extinguishing agent tank and the receiving area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectValve control: Valve

Data Source

PatentEP3778430B1Container for holding hazardous materials
Publication Date: 2024.09.11 ELLERMANN EUROCON GMBH
  • EP3778430B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3778430B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3778430B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a container (1, 1'), in particular a roll-off container, skip container or ISO container, for receiving flammable hazardous materials, comprising a container base (2) and several side walls (4, 4', 6) that define a receiving area (12) for the hazardous material (11) and at least one fluid-tight sealable container opening (10) as access to the receiving area (12). The invention proposes that an extinguishing agent tank (62, 64) is provided inside the container (1'), wherein the extinguishing agent tank (62, 64) and the receiving area (12) are connected by means of a fluid line (74, 76) for introducing extinguishing agent into the receiving area (12), and wherein a shut-off device (80) for releasing or closing the fluid line (76) is arranged between the extinguishing agent tank (62, 64) and the receiving area.