Insulated Shipping Box Layout to Prevent Cold Shock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current temperature-controlled shipping systems for medicines and pharmaceuticals are expensive and ineffective for maintaining a temperature range of 2-8 degrees Celsius for prolonged periods, relying on costly phase change materials like deuterium oxide and decanol-1, which are not designed for extended use.
Innovation Solution
A box system utilizing multiple insulating materials between a refrigerant and the payload, including corrugated cardboard, expanded polystyrene, and a water jacket, to maintain a consistent temperature range without the need for expensive phase change materials, ensuring the payload remains within 2-8 degrees Celsius for up to 144 hours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If expensive phase change materials like deuterium oxide or decanol-1 are used, then the desired temperature range (2-8 degrees Celsius) can be maintained, but the system becomes very expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive phase change materials with inexpensive insulating materials (corrugated cardboard, expanded polystyrene, water jackets) that can be easily manufactured and disposed of after a single use. This allows the system to maintain temperature control without the high cost of deuterium oxide or decanol-1, directly resolving the contradiction between temperature maintenance and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite insulating structure combining multiple materials (corrugated cardboard, expanded polystyrene, water jackets) to achieve effective thermal insulation. This composite approach provides temperature maintenance comparable to phase change materials while significantly reducing cost, as each component is inexpensive and easily obtainable.
2Temperature
If phase change materials are used, then temperature control is achieved, but the system is only effective for local one-day delivery and not for prolonged periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the insulating structure into multiple segments or layers (corrugated cardboard, expanded polystyrene, water jackets) that work together to provide extended temperature control. This segmented approach creates cumulative thermal resistance, enabling the system to maintain temperature for prolonged periods beyond the one-day limit of conventional phase change material systems.
3Use of energy by moving object
If direct contact between refrigerant and payload is used, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the payload suffers from cold-shock
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces multiple insulating materials (corrugated cardboard, expanded polystyrene, water jackets) as intermediaries between the refrigerant and the payload. These intermediaries gradually transfer thermal energy, preventing sudden temperature changes that cause cold-shock while still achieving effective cooling over time. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining cooling efficiency without the harmful effects of direct thermal contact.
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 effectively maintains the desired temperature range for extended periods without the use of expensive phase change materials, providing a cost-effective solution for shipping sensitive products while protecting against cold and heat shock.
Implementation Method 1
three or more insulating materials between a refrigerant and the payload
Data Source
AI summary
A box system for keeping medicine and other payloads at a desired temperature for prolonged periods of time is disclosed. The system generally includes three or more insulating materials between a refrigerant and the payload so that the payload is not cold-shocked by the refrigerant but instead maintains a desired temperature range during shipment. A box having foldable tabs for securing the materials to each other is also disclosed herein.