Inflatable Water-Settable Storage Container for Remote Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional large storage containers for liquids are bulky, unsuitable for shipping to remote areas, and require skilled labor or complex construction, posing challenges in deploying durable and stable water storage solutions in hard-to-reach places or emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable storage container with a water-settable material that forms a self-supporting structure after inflation and hydration, featuring a continuous perimeter wall and base, reinforcement structures, and a lid, allowing easy deployment and stability for liquid storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional large storage containers are manufactured as rigid units, then they provide durability and stability, but they become bulky and unsuitable for shipping to remote areas
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple fabric panels that can be folded and packed into a compact form for shipping, yet assembled into a large rigid structure when deployed. The fabric panels are segmented into manageable sections that can be transported efficiently while maintaining the integrity of the final structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric panels undergo a parameter change from a flexible, compact state during transport to a rigid, expanded state when deployed. This transformation is achieved through the cement impregnation that sets upon contact with moisture, changing the physical properties of the material from flexible to rigid.
2Reliability
If onsite fabrication of metal or concrete storage containers is performed, then durable containers can be created, but it requires a lot of equipment and skilled labour
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric panels are impregnated with cement that automatically sets upon contact with moisture from the air or environment. This self-setting mechanism eliminates the need for complex mixing equipment, formwork, or skilled concrete workers, while still producing a durable concrete structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cement is pre-impregnated into the fabric panels during manufacturing, so that when the panels are assembled and exposed to moisture, the cement automatically sets without requiring additional mixing or application equipment at the deployment site.
3Reliability
If a concrete structure is formed using conventional formwork, then a stable container can be created, but it requires a large formwork construction that is a skilled task and requires a lot of material
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric panels serve as flexible forms that can be easily assembled and adjusted without requiring complex rigid formwork. The fabric panels maintain their shape during concrete setting and can be simply removed or left as part of the final structure, eliminating the need for traditional formwork construction.
4Reliability
If fabric impregnated with cement is used to form water containment structures, then waterproofing is achieved, but all applications rely on ground support with no self-supporting walls
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed with a curved, dome-like shape that distributes structural loads efficiently across the fabric panels. This curvature provides inherent structural stability and allows the walls to support themselves without relying on ground containment, while the cement impregnation maintains waterproofing.
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
Enables rapid, tool-free assembly of large-volume containers that are durable and stable, suitable for remote areas and emergencies, with the ability to store liquids like potable water, and adaptable for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
comprises at least one layer of cloth that has been impregnated with a water-settable material
Implementation Method 2
The container is inflated to a predetermined shape
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
An inflatable storage container (100) for liquids or other bulk materials comprises a first portion (5) that defines a base and a second portion (4) that defines a perimeter wall that extends from a perimeter of the base, the two portions together forming an inflatable chamber. The perimeter wall comprises at least one layer of cloth that has been impregnated with a water-settable material. In use, after or when the inflatable chamber is inflated and the water-settable material is set, the first portion and second portion define a storage chamber for a liquid or other bulk material. A method of deploying a deployable storage container is also provided. A combination of a container and an inflation system suitable for inflating the container to form its final deployed shape prior to the water-settable material having set is further provided.