Movable Side Shelves in Military Storage Containers

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Solution Overview

Problem

The packaging and storage of spare parts for military land, water, and air vehicles are inefficient, requiring significant effort due to the need for constant availability and varying sizes, which existing solutions fail to address effectively in terms of space utilization and loading/unloading times.

Innovation Solution

A modular, flexible, and ergonomic transport and storage container with movable side shelves and a fixed central shelf, allowing for optimal space usage and reduced loading/unloading times, featuring a hoist for heavier components and a walk-on platform with guide rails and pivoting cover plates to minimize dirt entry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If three receiving shelves are arranged across the width of the container with the middle shelf fixed and side shelves movable, then space efficiency is improved and loading/unloading time is reduced, but device complexity increases due to movable components and guide rails

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading and unloading timeVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The side shelves are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be pulled out through openings in the side walls to create passage spaces. This dynamic configuration enables faster access to stored components while maintaining structural integrity through guide rails and rollers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The shelving system is divided into a fixed middle shelf and two movable side shelves. This segmentation allows the side shelves to be independently moved outward to create access passages, improving loading/unloading efficiency without requiring movement of the entire shelving structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If shelves extend over the full length of the container, then storage capacity is maximized, but accessibility and loading/unloading ease deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidloading and unloading ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The side shelves are extracted from the fixed structure and made movable, allowing them to be pulled out to create passage spaces. This extraction enables operators to access the middle shelf and load/unload components without moving the entire shelving system, improving operational ease while maintaining full-length shelf configuration for storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If the container is designed as a standard fixed structure, then manufacturing simplicity and robustness are maintained, but flexibility and adaptability for different loading scenarios are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The container combines fixed and movable elements to achieve multi-functionality. The fixed middle shelf provides stable storage, while the movable side shelves enable flexible access and configuration adjustment. This universal design allows the same structure to handle various loading scenarios and component sizes without requiring multiple specialized containers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2017392B1Transport and storage container, particularly for storing replacement parts for military use

Publication Date: 2012.05.23 KRAUSS MAFFEI WEGMANN GMBH & CO KG

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AI summary

In its interior, a standard container (1) has three holding shelves each running parallel to each other in the container's longitudinal direction with compartments for holding components to be stored. A center shelf (2.2) is fixed in the container. Two side shelves (2.1,2.3) are each designed to move outwards on a preset track crosswise to the container's lengthwise direction.