Modular Insulated Container Sections for Aircraft Pallets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermally insulated transportation containers for temperature-sensitive items face challenges in maintaining consistent temperatures during transport due to unpredictable ambient conditions and require complex manufacturing processes to accommodate various aircraft and pallet sizes, leading to increased costs and risks of temperature deviations.
Innovation Solution
A modular thermally insulated container design using a limited number of components with adjustable sections and a support frame that allows for various configurations, including U-shaped wall elements and interchangeable panels, along with temperature control units and sensors, to maintain temperature stability and adapt to different aircraft pallets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional thermally insulated containers are designed to accommodate various aircraft and pallet sizes, then different sized and shaped containers must be manufactured, but this leads to increased manufacturing costs and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple modular sections that can be assembled in different configurations. Each section has standardized dimensions and can be combined to create containers of various sizes suitable for different aircraft and pallet types, eliminating the need to manufacture entirely different container designs for each application.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular sections are designed with universal connection interfaces and standardized dimensions that allow the same basic components to serve multiple functions across different container configurations. This universal design enables a single set of manufacturing tools and processes to produce containers for various aircraft and pallet sizes.
2Reliability
If the number of PCM packs is increased to handle unexpected temperature variations, then temperature stability improves, but the container weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable PCM pack arrangements that can be dynamically adjusted based on the specific transportation conditions. The modular design allows PCM packs to be positioned optimally within different container configurations, providing temperature stability without requiring excessive numbers of PCM packs in all scenarios.
3Ease of manufacture
If container sections are made from multiple components for modularity, then manufacturing flexibility improves, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into standardized modular sections with consistent connection interfaces. This segmentation allows each section to be manufactured independently using the same processes, improving manufacturing flexibility while the standardized interfaces simplify assembly by reducing the variety of connection methods required.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple container sections are designed to combine through standardized coupling mechanisms. This merging approach allows complex container configurations to be assembled from simpler standardized components, where the repetition of identical connection patterns reduces overall assembly complexity despite the multi-component nature of each section.
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 modular design simplifies manufacturing, reduces costs, and effectively maintains temperature ranges for sensitive goods by allowing flexible container sizes and configurations, while ensuring temperature stability and security during transport.
Implementation Method 1
Each container section includes at least one thermally insulated wall element
Implementation Method 2
gel bags containing Phase Change Materials (hereafter referred to as PCMs) that have been cooled or heated to a predetermined temperature to provide additional heating or cooling as required
Data Source
Figure 1a~1f
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~4a
AI summary
A thermally insulated container (1) for transporting temperature sensitive goods. The container (1) has a modular construction that includes a plurality of thermally insulated container sections (3), and means for fixing the container sections together (35) to provide at least part of the thermally insulated container structure. A modular system for constructing thermally insulated transportation containers (1) for transporting temperature sensitive goods is also provided. The modular system enables a variety of different sized thermally insulated containers (1) to be constructed, wherein each thermally insulated container (1) constructed is sized and shaped for loading onto an aircraft Unit Load Device, such as a pallet, said modular system including thermally insulated wall elements (5, 7, 9) that are configurable into a plurality of container sections (3), and means for fixing the container sections together (35) to form at least part of a thermally insulated container structure. A method for constructing a modular thermally insulated transportation container (1) is also disclosed.