Moisture-Sensitive Container With Permeable Insert and Desiccant Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers with desiccant inserts for moisture-sensitive goods face decreased adsorption kinetic over time due to saturation at external surfaces, allowing moisture to reach the goods before it can be effectively absorbed, potentially damaging the contents.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a plastic body with a permeable insert element and a desiccant chamber, where the insert's sidewall forms a double-layered structure with the container body, increasing the overall wall thickness and creating a barrier for moisture ingress, with a permeable bottom for direct moisture transport to the desiccant chamber, enhancing adsorption kinetic and using desiccant polymers or membranes for increased protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a desiccant insert is placed in the container, then moisture absorption capacity is improved, but adsorption kinetic decreases over time due to saturation at external surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The desiccant system is segmented into two distinct components: an internal desiccant insert for long-term storage and a desiccant chamber at the bottom for immediate moisture absorption. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function - the insert provides sustained capacity while the chamber provides rapid kinetic response when moisture ingress occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The permeable bottom of the insert element acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates direct moisture transport from the storage compartment to the desiccant chamber. This intermediary pathway enables moisture to bypass the saturated external surfaces of the insert and reach the fresh desiccant material in the chamber, maintaining high adsorption kinetic throughout the product lifecycle.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the container wall thickness is increased to reduce moisture vapor transmission, then moisture protection is improved, but container volume is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom of the insert element is designed with porous or permeable properties, allowing it to act as a selective barrier. This permeable structure enables moisture vapor to pass through to the desiccant chamber while maintaining structural integrity, achieving moisture protection without requiring thick solid walls that would reduce container volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a two-dimensional wall thickness approach to a three-dimensional spatial arrangement. By creating a desiccant chamber in the vertical dimension at the bottom of the container, the system achieves enhanced moisture protection through volumetric distribution of desiccant material rather than relying solely on increased wall thickness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a double-layered structure is created with insert sidewall and container body, then moisture barrier is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insert element is nested within the container body, creating a double-layered structure where the insert sidewall fits inside the container sidewall. This nested arrangement provides an additional moisture barrier pathway without requiring separate external components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining enhanced protection.
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 container provides improved protection for moisture-sensitive goods by maintaining low humidity conditions through enhanced adsorption kinetic and reduced moisture vapor transmission rates, effectively preventing moisture ingress and extending the protection duration.
Implementation Method 1
the bottom of the insert element is permeable to moisture... moisture has to travel a long distance to diffuse to suitable adsorption sites
Implementation Method 2
desiccant is absorbed close to the external surfaces of the insert so that the external surfaces of the insert become saturated first
Implementation Method 3
the outer circumferential surface of the insert sidewall is in abutting contact to the inner circumferential surface of the sidewall of the container body... increases the overall wall thickness... resulting in a slower moisture vapor transmission rate
Data Source
AI summary
A container for receiving moisture sensitive goods includes a container body (15) and a cap (26) shaped to establish a leak-proof seal between the container body and the cap. The container body has a base and a sidewall with an insert element present inside the container body having a bottom and an insert sidewall, wherein an outer circumferential surface of the insert sidewall is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the sidewall of the container body. The bottom of the insert element is permeable to moisture and the insert sidewall and the sidewall of the container body are designed to attach the insert element inside the container body. In addition, the container has a desiccant chamber between the bottom of the insert element and the base of the container body for receiving desiccant material.