Modular Air Cargo Containers With Pressurized Spine Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional intermodal cargo systems are not compatible with aircraft, limiting the participation of air cargo in international commerce due to size and weight restrictions, and are inefficient for rapid global shipping demands.
Innovation Solution
A cargo transport system comprising a spine assembly, container assembly, and outer fairing, where the container assembly is pressurized and secured to the spine assembly with fittings, allowing for flexible configuration and pressurization to withstand loads, enabling efficient air cargo transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional intermodal containers are used for air cargo, then weight restrictions are imposed, but cargo volume and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo transport system is divided into modular containers that can be independently configured and combined. Each container is designed with standardized fittings and structural elements that allow flexible assembly, enabling optimization of weight versus volume based on specific cargo requirements while maintaining intermodal compatibility across air, sea, and land transport.
2Adaptability or versatility
If aircraft are designed as passenger aircraft first, then cylindrical fuselages are created, but large access ports for intermodal containers are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The container system is designed with universal fittings and standardized dimensions that enable the same container to be transported across multiple modes (air, sea, land). The container's standardized interface allows it to adapt to different aircraft types and transport modes without requiring aircraft-specific container designs, achieving multi-functionality despite the cylindrical fuselage constraint.
3Adaptability or versatility
If intermodal container systems are standardized, then interchangeability is improved, but size restrictions limit flexibility for various cargo types
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses segmented modular containers with standardized interfaces. Containers can be individually selected and combined based on cargo dimensions and requirements, allowing flexible configuration while maintaining standardized fittings for interchangeability across transport modes. This segmentation enables both standardization and customization simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The container system incorporates multi-dimensional configuration options where containers can be arranged in various orientations and combinations (stacked, side-by-side, nested) while maintaining standardized external dimensions and fittings. This allows the same standardized container to accommodate different cargo types by changing its spatial arrangement rather than requiring different container sizes.
4Adaptability or versatility
If truck is the basic unit for transporting goods, then design limitations are imposed, but intermodal container compatibility is achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The container system employs universal standardized fittings and dimensions that enable the same container to be transported by truck, ship, train, and aircraft without requiring different container types. This universality reduces overall system complexity by eliminating the need for mode-specific container adaptations, despite the multi-modal transport requirements.
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 enables efficient air cargo transport by allowing modular and pressurized container configurations that can accommodate various payloads, improving interchangeability and maximizing cargo efficiency across different transport modes.
Implementation Method 1
The container assembly is enclosed within a pressurization space for pressurizing the container assembly
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are apparatus, systems, and methods, including a cargo transport system comprising a spine assembly, a container assembly, and an outer fairing. The spine assembly comprises a rigid spine and a plurality of mounts arranged on the rigid spine in a plurality of mount rows. The container assembly comprises a plurality of containers secured to the spine assembly using at least a subset of the plurality of mounts. The outer fairing at least partially encloses the container assembly. Each container of the plurality of containers comprises a plurality of fittings for securing the container to the spine assembly and/or another container of the container assembly. The container assembly is enclosed within a pressurization space for pressurizing the container assembly.