Insulative Stringer Floor Assembly for Refrigerated Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerated containers face challenges in minimizing weight, lowering the center of gravity, and enhancing thermal efficiency while eliminating the need for steel or aluminum cross members for load support and avoiding thermal shorts from mechanical fasteners.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates unique top and bottom flanges with thermally insulative transverse stringers that act as structural members, replacing steel I-beam cross members, and uses welding instead of mechanical fasteners for improved thermal and structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel or aluminum cross members are used for load support, then structural strength is improved, but weight increases and thermal efficiency deteriorates due to thermal shorts from mechanical fasteners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the thermal insulation function and structural support function into a single integrated component. The insulating layer is formed as an integral part of the floor panel structure, eliminating the need for separate steel or aluminum cross members while maintaining both thermal efficiency and load support capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction by combining insulating materials with structural panel materials in a single integrated floor panel assembly. This composite structure provides both thermal insulation and structural strength without requiring separate metallic cross members that would increase weight and create thermal shorts.
2Strength
If steel or aluminum cross members are used for load support, then structural strength is improved, but thermal efficiency deteriorates due to thermal shorts from mechanical fasteners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the thermal insulation function and structural support function into a single integrated component. The insulating layer is formed as an integral part of the floor panel structure, eliminating the need for separate steel or aluminum cross members that would create thermal shorts and reduce thermal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the problematic metallic cross members and mechanical fasteners that cause thermal shorts. By taking out these conductive elements, the thermal insulation performance is improved while the structural support function is maintained through the integrated composite panel design.
3Strength
If traditional cross member structures are used, then load support is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions (structural support, thermal insulation, and panel formation) into a single integrated floor panel assembly. This eliminates the need for separate cross members and reduces structural complexity while maintaining load support capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated floor panel serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, thermal insulation, and forms the floor surface. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed and simplifies the structure compared to traditional designs requiring separate cross members.
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 design achieves a lighter weight, lower center of gravity, and increased thermal efficiency by transforming thermal spacer materials into structural members, eliminating thermal shorts and providing improved load support without the need for steel cross members.
Implementation Method 1
The design incorporates unique top and bottom flanges with thermally insulative transverse stringers
Data Source
AI summary
A floor assembly for a trailer includes stringers that extend in a transverse direction of the assembly and are spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction of the assembly. The stringers are made of a thermally insulative first material. A bottom flange is coupled to a lower portion of a respective stringer. A top flange made of a second material is coupled to an upper portion of a respective stringer. Floor panels are also provided. Each floor panel extends in the longitudinal direction, is supported by the top flange, is coupled to another floor panel along respective edges thereof, and has at least one rib that extends in the longitudinal direction and depends substantially perpendicularly from a bottom surface thereof. Each floor panel is made of the second material and each at least one rib is welded to a top surface of the top flange.