Hermetic Container Self-Verification System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for storing agricultural commodities in hermetically sealed containers do not effectively monitor or maintain hermeticity and humidity levels over long periods, leading to potential insect infestations, oxidation, and moisture issues, which can result in quality loss and require harmful pesticides.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that includes a hermetic container with a sampling valve, vacuum gauge, and self-verifying components to measure parameters like vacuum level and humidity externally without opening the container, using a data logger for continuous monitoring, and a humidity indicator strip for visual feedback, ensuring safe storage conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hermetic storage is used to prevent insect infestations and oxidation, then commodity protection is improved, but moisture infiltration is prevented which may increase moisture level to unacceptable levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommodity protectionVSAvoidmoisture level

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs humidity indicator strips that provide visual feedback on moisture levels inside the hermetic container. This allows users to monitor the internal environment and take corrective action if moisture infiltration occurs, resolving the contradiction by enabling proactive management of moisture levels while maintaining hermetic protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical monitoring systems with simple chemical humidity indicator strips that change color based on moisture levels. This substitution provides an elegant solution that maintains hermetic integrity while enabling passive monitoring of moisture conditions without requiring active mechanical intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If vacuum level is used to indicate hermeticity, then detection capability is improved, but measurement precision is affected by temperature changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehermeticity detectionVSAvoidvacuum level measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent acknowledges that vacuum level measurements are temperature-dependent and requires temperature compensation. By monitoring temperature and adjusting the vacuum threshold accordingly, the system maintains measurement precision across varying temperatures while preserving the simplicity of vacuum-based hermeticity detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of stationary object

If hermetic containers are used for long term storage, then storage duration is improved, but verification of storage conditions requires opening the container which compromises hermeticity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage durationVSAvoidhermeticity maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces sampling valves as intermediaries that allow extraction of air samples from the hermetic container without compromising the overall seal. This enables verification of storage conditions (oxygen levels, humidity, contamination) while maintaining the hermetic integrity of the container for continued long-term storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical act of opening the container with non-invasive sensing methods including sampling valves, humidity indicator strips, and oxygen sensors. These substitutes provide continuous verification of storage conditions without breaking the hermetic seal, thus maintaining reliability throughout the extended storage period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 system allows for pre-loading verification of container hermeticity and continuous monitoring of storage conditions, preventing excessive oxygen and moisture rise, thereby reducing the need for harmful pesticides and maintaining commodity quality.

Implementation Method 1

measuring a parameter via the vacuum gauge to determine the pre-loading hermeticity of the container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

pulling a vacuum in the container by operating the suction device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS7788968B2System and method for self-verification of safe storage within hermetically sealed containers

Publication Date: 2010.09.07 GRAINPRO

AI summary

A system to first verify an adequate degree of hermeticity of a hermetic container in providing safe storage of a commodity by retaining sufficient hermeticity in a closed container and if satisfactory, loading a commodity in the container to self-verify the continued safe storage of the commodity by retaining sufficient hermeticity to protect the commodity from the effects of at least one of oxygen, humidity, insects and microflora in a hermetic container on the commodity therein. The hermetic container has at least one self-verifying component for measuring a parameter internal to the container, during and after manufacture, before and after placement of a commodity therein, and for providing the measurement externally to the container.