Isothermal Packaging Structure for External Thermal Stabilizer Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large-capacity isothermal containers face challenges in maintaining uniform temperature and are difficult to handle, assemble, and store due to suboptimal configurations of thermal insulation panels and stabilizers, leading to issues during transport and storage.

Innovation Solution

A device with a parallelepiped-shaped box structure featuring movable front and rear faces, accessible thermal stabilization element housings without opening the packaging space, and a retractable hatch for rear thermal stabilizer placement, allowing for improved thermal stability and ease of handling and storage by enabling the replacement of stabilizers without exposing the products to external temperature variations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If large-capacity insulated containers are used to increase packaging volume, then the quantity of products that can be transported is improved, but the ability to maintain uniform stabilized temperature deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging volumeVSAvoidtemperature uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into multiple independent thermal compartments, each equipped with its own thermal stabilizer. This segmentation allows each compartment to maintain temperature independently, ensuring uniform temperature distribution across the entire large-volume container while enabling modular replacement of stabilizers without affecting other compartments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If thermal stabilizers are placed inside the packaging space for thermal stabilization, then the thermal stability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates when replacement is needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal stabilityVSAvoidstabilizer replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The thermal stabilizers are extracted from the main packaging space and placed in dedicated housings located in the thermal insulation layers. This allows stabilizers to be replaced through external access points without opening the packaging space, maintaining both thermal stability during operation and ease of replacement during maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Dedicated housings serve as intermediary structures between the thermal stabilizers and the external environment. These housings provide controlled access points that allow stabilizer replacement without direct access to the packaging space, acting as a mediator that maintains thermal stability while enabling easy maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the packaging space is opened to replace thermal stabilizers, then the accessibility for maintenance is improved, but the thermal stability deteriorates due to exposure to external temperature variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility for maintenanceVSAvoidthermal stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The thermal stabilizers are extracted from the packaging space and positioned in external housings within the insulation layers. This extraction enables maintenance personnel to access and replace stabilizers through external openings without compromising the thermal seal of the packaging space, simultaneously improving accessibility while preserving thermal stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Strength

If fixed configuration of thermal insulation panels is used for structural integrity, then the strength is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The thermal insulation structure is segmented into modular panels with standardized interfaces. Each panel contains integrated housings for thermal stabilizers, allowing the structure to maintain structural integrity through precise geometric fitting while dramatically simplifying assembly and disassembly operations during manufacturing and maintenance phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution ensures homogeneous temperature maintenance within the packaging volume, simplifies the handling and assembly of large-capacity containers, and facilitates efficient storage and transport by allowing thermal stabilizer replacement without opening the interior space, thus protecting heat-sensitive products effectively.

Implementation Method 1

an outer envelope enclosing a certain number of thermal insulation plates formed from of various materials (such as polystyrene, polyurethane, etc.), these thermal insulation plates being arranged in the outer envelope so as to form a packaging space for the positioning of products, this packaging space being thermally insulated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

housings are provided inside the insulated box for receiving thermal stabilizers to maintain determined temperature conditions inside the packaging space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentEP2699481B1Isothermal packaging device for heat-sensitive products
Publication Date: 2015.11.18 EMBALLISO
  • EP2699481B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2699481B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to an isothermal packaging device, comprising a plurality of thermal insulation panels arranged to form a box (1) of parallelepipedal shape, with: a front face (10) which is movable with respect to peripheral faces (30, 40, 50, 60) so as to form a main opening allowing access to an interior space of the box for the packaging of products, - at least one of the peripheral faces (30, 40, 50, 60) comprising at least one peripheral housing intended to receive at least one thermal stabilising element (80), a rear face (20) opposed to the front face and likewise comprising at least one rear housing intended to receive at least one thermal stabilising element (80), and a rear opening formed along an edge between the rear face (20) and one of the peripheral faces, and designed to allow access to the rear housing of the rear face (20) from outside the box (1), with a removable shut-off element (70) intended to close said lateral opening.