Inductive Coupling Housing with Thermal Barrier for Automated Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for holding and supplying electrical energy to elongated primary conductors in container systems, particularly for inductive coupling, do not efficiently manage heat insulation and automated storage of refrigerated goods.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a housing part with a secondary winding that is inductively coupled to the primary conductor, featuring a thermal barrier with similar or greater specific thermal resistance than the container wall, allowing for inductive electrical supply without a plug connection and enabling automated storage by activating the inductive coupling when containers are stacked.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the secondary part fills the recess in the container wall to enable inductive electrical supply, then electrical energy can be supplied without plug connection, but heat flow may penetrate into the container interior
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary part is designed with a thermal barrier having similar or greater specific thermal resistance than the container wall, creating localized thermal insulation at the exact position where electrical supply is needed. This allows the recess to be filled for electrical coupling while maintaining thermal insulation properties at that specific location.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary part comprises a housing part and a thermal barrier, forming a composite structure. The housing part provides mechanical protection and structural support, while the thermal barrier provides thermal insulation. This composite design enables both electrical supply functionality and thermal insulation in a single integrated component.
2Productivity
If containers are stacked vertically for automated storage, then storage efficiency is improved, but ensuring reliable inductive coupling for all containers becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The holding means with guide elements is designed to universally accommodate multiple containers of the same type in vertical stacks. The guide elements ensure that each container is positioned correctly regardless of its position in the stack, enabling reliable inductive coupling for all containers from a single primary conductor.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide elements in the holding means ensure that all containers in the vertical stack are positioned at appropriate intervals along the primary conductor, creating equivalent coupling conditions for each container. This uniform positioning ensures that each container receives adequate electromagnetic energy for reliable operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the primary conductor is laid in a loop for supplying multiple containers, then electrical supply coverage is improved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding means combines multiple functions into a single structure: it mechanically supports the primary conductor in a loop configuration, provides guide elements for container positioning, and enables inductive coupling for multiple containers. This integration reduces overall system complexity despite the extended electrical supply coverage.
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 ensures efficient electrical supply to cooling units within containers, maintaining thermal insulation and enabling automated storage, thus effectively providing refrigeration to stored goods without increased heat flow or manual connection.
Implementation Method 1
each container having an electrical consumer that can be supplied from a secondary winding, which can be coupled inductively to the primary conductor
Implementation Method 2
the secondary part, which has the secondary winding and the housing part, has a thermal barrier that has a similar or greater specific thermal resistance between the interior and exterior than the wall of the container
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
An installation comprising holding means which accommodates a primary conductor laid in elongated fashion, wherein containers can be arranged, in particular can be arranged such that said containers can be stacked one on top of the other, along the primary conductor in the installation, wherein each container has an electrical consumer to which power can be supplied from a secondary winding which is inductively couplable to the primary conductor, wherein the secondary winding is surrounded by a housing part, at least partially, so as to form a housing, wherein the container has a wall, in particular a housing wall, which has a cutout in which the housing part is arranged and is in particular connected in sealtight fashion to the wall, in particular to the housing wall.