Modular Container System with Adjustable Support for Fluid Freight

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current transport solutions for fluid freight face challenges such as deadheading, limited dual-purpose functionality, and increased costs due to rigid tank configurations that restrict the transportation of goods without fluid cargo, especially in underdeveloped areas with limited infrastructure.

Innovation Solution

A transportable modular container system featuring an adjustable support and removable fluid flow control module, allowing the container module to be positioned closer to or further from the load area, enabling secondary freight storage and efficient fluid handling, including dangerous and heated goods, while maintaining compatibility with various transport vehicles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a rigid tank is mounted on a trailer to transport fluid freight, then the tank can carry fluid cargo, but the tank structure remains in place after emptying and prevents carrying any other cargo on the trailer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecargo type flexibilityVSAvoidtank structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the tank into a removable tank body and a separate trailer chassis. The tank body can be detached from the trailer, allowing the trailer to be used for other cargo types while the tank body remains available for fluid freight transport. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling cargo type flexibility without requiring complex reconfiguration of the entire vehicle structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tank body is designed with movable and adjustable components, including extendable supports and removable connections to the trailer. This dynamic design allows the tank to be positioned, removed, or reconfigured as needed, providing adaptability for different cargo types while maintaining structural integrity during fluid freight transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a dual-purpose trailer arrangement is used to allow adjustment of the tank, then goods can be stored on or beneath the tank, but the tank and trailer form an integral system requiring significant functionality of the transportation vehicle chassis

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedual-purpose functionalityVSAvoidvehicle chassis functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the tank body from the trailer chassis, eliminating the need for complex integral connections. The tank body attaches to simple supports on the trailer rather than requiring significant chassis functionality, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining dual-purpose capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The trailer chassis is designed with universal compatibility, allowing it to work with various tank body configurations and cargo types. The simple support structure and removable connections enable the same trailer to transport fluid freight, dry goods, and other cargo types without requiring specialized vehicle functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the tank is made removable from the transport vehicle, then the vehicle can be used for other cargo types, but the tank arrangement requires significant functionality of the transportation vehicle chassis to accommodate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle usage flexibilityVSAvoidvehicle chassis requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The tank body is designed as a separate, self-contained unit that attaches to the trailer through simple connections rather than requiring integration with the vehicle chassis. This segmentation allows the tank to be easily removed and installed without modifying the chassis, maintaining vehicle usage flexibility while simplifying manufacturing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3765335B1A modular container system
Publication Date: 2023.01.25 MODULAR TANKING SOLUTIONS MAURITIUS LTD
  • EP3765335B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3765335B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3765335B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This invention relates to a transportable modular container system for fluid freight. The transportable modular container system comprises a container module including a reservoir configured to hold a fluid; an adjustable support for the container module, removably securable to a load area of a freight carrying transport and reciprocatingly adjustable between proximate and distal positions, the container module being located relatively closer to the load area in the proximate position than in the distal position, and wherein a zone for secondary freight is defined between the container module and the load area when the adjustable support is in the distal position and removably secured to the load area of the freight carrying transport; and a removable fluid flow control module for controlling fluid flow of the fluid between an external reservoir and the container module reservoir and releasably connectable to the container module.