Isothermal Box Thermal Insulation Homogeneity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing isothermal boxes for transporting fresh products, particularly food, pose significant ecological challenges due to their complex multi-material construction, which hinders recycling and leads to prolonged environmental pollution.
Innovation Solution
An isothermal box constructed from three sequentially fitted thermoplastic bodies, with the intermediate body made from expanded thermoplastic material for insulation, allowing for easy recycling and maintaining thermal integrity during storage and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If isothermal boxes are constructed with multiple different materials to provide thermal insulation, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but recyclability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by constructing the entire isothermal box (outer body, intermediate body, and inner body) from the same thermoplastic material. This eliminates the need to separate different materials during recycling, making the box fully recyclable while maintaining thermal insulation through the expanded thermoplastic structure of the intermediate body.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses expanded thermoplastic material for the intermediate body, which is a composite structure with air pockets embedded in the thermoplastic matrix. This provides thermal insulation properties while remaining chemically compatible with the other thermoplastic components, enabling complete recycling of the assembly.
2Temperature
If isothermal boxes use expanded thermoplastic material for thermal insulation, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but material complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the thermoplastic material by using its expanded variant for the intermediate body. This parameter change (from dense to expanded form) provides thermal insulation through trapped air pockets while maintaining material compatibility across all box components.
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 box effectively maintains product freshness through thermal insulation while enabling complete recyclability, reducing environmental impact by simplifying end-of-life disposal and minimizing pollution.
Implementation Method 1
The first intermediate body is manufactured from an expanded variant of said thermoplastic plastic material, so as to provide thermal insulation
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention comprises a container (1) in turn comprising a first rigid outer body (11), a first rigid inner body (12), and a first rigid intermediate body (13) with respective upper openings (112, 122, 132). The container (1) further includes first attachment means (111, 121)joining the first bodies (11, 12, 13) to one another. The first intermediate body (13) is fitted in the first opening (112) and the first inner body (12) is fitted in the third opening (132). The first bodies (11, 12, 13) are manufactured from one and the same thermoplastic plastic material, with the first intermediate body (13) being manufactured from an expanded variant of said thermoplastic plastic material, so as to provide thermal insulation. The box can incorporate a cover (14, 15) for covering the opening (122) of the first inner body (12). The box provides optimal thermal insulation and great ease of recycling.