Integrated Handwheel and Bottom Element for Keg Container Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container designs for liquids face issues with stability, stacking, and recyclability, requiring complex assembly operations and incompatible materials, which lead to increased costs and difficulties in handling, storage, and recycling.
Innovation Solution
A gripping and closing device integrated with a valve unit and a bottom element, featuring a gripping handwheel and closing cap that can be assembled in a single body, allowing for stable association and adaptation to various valve types, facilitating easy handling, stacking, and hermetic closure, while being made from compatible recyclable materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If containers are made with curved surfaces and no protrusions or recesses to protect the internal bag, then the bag is protected from damage, but the containers cannot be stacked and require complex bottom elements and gripping devices
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom element and gripping handwheel are merged into a single integrated component. The handwheel serves dual functions: as a gripping element for handling the container and as a stacking element that couples with the bottom element of another container. This integration eliminates the need for separate bottom elements and reduces assembly complexity while maintaining bag protection through the drum's curved surface design
Solution Approach 2:
The handwheel is designed with multi-functionality: it provides gripping capability for user handling, serves as a structural support element, and acts as a coupling interface for stacking containers vertically. The integration of multiple functions into a single component reduces the overall number of parts and simplifies the container system
2Quantity of substance
If containers are made larger to contain 30 or more liters of liquid, then the container capacity increases, but they become unwieldy and require gripping elements for handling
Solution Approach 1:
The container system is segmented into modular components: the drum, the integrated handwheel, the valve unit with closing cap, and the bottom element. This segmentation allows the large-capacity container to be handled through the ergonomic handwheel gripping element, making it easier to manage despite the increased size and weight. The modular design also facilitates assembly and disassembly for recycling
3Adaptability or versatility
If containers use incompatible materials for different components, then design flexibility increases, but recycling becomes difficult requiring disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
All major components of the container system (drum, handwheel, valve unit, closing cap, bottom element) are made from the same or compatible plastic materials. This material homogeneity enables the entire container system to be recycled together as a single unit without requiring disassembly, while still allowing design flexibility through various plastic material choices and component configurations
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple assembly operations are required to assemble the container components, then design flexibility increases, but production time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom element and gripping handwheel are merged into a single integrated component that can be assembled in one operation, reducing the number of assembly steps. The handwheel integrates multiple functions (gripping, support, stacking coupling) into one component, streamlining the assembly process while maintaining design flexibility for different container configurations
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a gripping and closing device for a keg-type container (10) for liquids, said gripping and closing device comprising a closing and tapping cap (16) and a gripping handwheel (15) which is suitable to handle and move the container (10), said container (10) comprising a drum (13) containing a bag and being able to cooperate with said closing cap (16), said closing cap (16) being suitable to selectively close an entrance (25) of the container (10) allowing the tapping. The invention also concerns a container (10) for liquids comprising the gripping and closing device (11), a method to assemble a gripping and closing device (11) and a method to assemble a container (10) for liquids comprising the method to assemble a gripping and closing device (11). The invention also concerns a combination of a gripping and closing device (11) and of a bottom element (14) suitable to support a drum (13) in a vertical direction and reciprocally stackable with a gripping and closing device (11) of another container (10).