Modular Cushioning Units for Battery Transport Containers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current transport containers for batteries are inefficient in handling and unloading due to the need for manual insertion of cushioning elements, which can lead to incomplete insulation and increased risk of damage during transport, and are not adaptable to different battery shapes and sizes, posing safety and regulatory compliance issues.

Innovation Solution

A transport container with modular, firmly arranged cushioning units that can be easily adjusted to accommodate various battery sizes and shapes, featuring a flexible cushion cover and tensioning straps for secure fixation, ensuring complete insulation and compliance with safety regulations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If manual insertion of cushioning elements is used, then the transport container can be assembled with simple components, but the handling and unloading process becomes time-consuming and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidloading and unloading efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cushioning system is divided into multiple individual cushioning elements that can be independently positioned and secured within the transport container, allowing for efficient assembly and disassembly while maintaining complete insulation coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cushioning elements are pre-positioned and secured to the container walls before battery insertion, eliminating the need for manual adjustment during loading and unloading operations, thus improving handling efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If manual insertion of cushioning elements is used, then the container structure remains simple, but complete insulation cannot be guaranteed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer structure complexityVSAvoidinsulation completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cushioning elements are designed with positioning features that provide visual or tactile feedback to confirm proper placement and secure attachment to the container walls, ensuring complete insulation coverage without requiring complex verification procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Attachment mechanisms serve as intermediaries between the cushioning elements and container walls, providing reliable securing while maintaining relative structural simplicity of the overall container design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If fixed cushioning elements are used, then the container design becomes simpler, but adaptability to different battery shapes and sizes is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer design complexityVSAvoidbattery size and shape adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cushioning system consists of multiple separate, adjustable elements rather than a single fixed structure, enabling adaptation to various battery configurations while maintaining a relatively simple overall container design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cushioning elements incorporate adjustable and reconfigurable features that allow them to adapt dynamically to different battery shapes and sizes, providing versatility without requiring multiple specialized container designs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If insufficient cushioning material is used, then the handling process becomes faster, but the risk of battery damage during transport increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling speedVSAvoidbattery damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cushioning elements are pre-positioned and secured to the container walls before battery insertion, ensuring adequate protection is already in place before handling begins, thus maintaining both speed and safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4261148A1Battery transport box
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 LIBCYCLE GMBH
  • EP4261148A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4261148A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4261148A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a transport container (10) for at least one battery (46), in particular a lithium-ion battery, with container walls comprising a container base (38), two end side walls (12a, 12b), two longitudinal side walls (14a, 14b) and a container lid (16), wherein the container walls define a cavity which comprises a packaging space (40) in which elastic cushioning materials are placed, wherein the at least one battery (46) has a base area.The invention is characterized in that the cushioning means have several modular units (18), each of which is provided with a top (18a) facing the container lid (16) and a bottom (18b) facing the base, which are connected to each other by at least one module side wall (18c), wherein the bottom (18b) of the modular unit (18) is detachably fixed in the transport container (10) via a connecting means, the modular units (18) each have a maximum length, a maximum width and a maximum height, the maximum height of a modular unit (18) is a multiple greater than its maximum length and/or maximum width, and the maximum height of a modular unit (18) corresponds to a maximum height of the packaging space (40).