Nested Rainwater Crates for Subterranean Storage Handling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rainwater crates are difficult for human installers to handle due to their large, block-like shape and require complex rotational manipulations during installation, making them cumbersome and hard to maneuver.
Innovation Solution
The design of rainwater crates with a base wall comprising two halves and supports that can be nested and translated, allowing for easy handling and installation without the need for rotation, optimizing both weight and dimensions for improved usability and transport efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If rainwater crates are designed with large outer dimensions to maximize storage volume, then the storage capacity is improved, but the crates become difficult to handle and rotate during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The base wall is divided into two halves (first base wall half and second base wall half), which allows the crate to be segmented in terms of support distribution. This segmentation enables the crate to be handled and installed more easily while maintaining large overall dimensions for storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The supports are designed to be nested within each other through entrance openings, allowing multiple crates to be stacked and stored compactly during transport. This nesting principle reduces the volume during transport while maintaining large storage capacity when installed.
2Volume of moving object
If rainwater crates are made with larger dimensions and weight to increase storage volume, then the storage capacity is improved, but the transport volume efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The supports of upper crates are inserted into the supports of lower crates through entrance openings, enabling compact nesting during transport. This allows large-capacity crates to be stacked efficiently, minimizing transport volume while maximizing storage capacity when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The crate design allows dynamic transformation between two states: a compact nested state for transport and a expanded installed state for storage. The supports can be nested during transport and then deployed during installation, enabling the crate to adapt its volume based on the operational phase.
3Ease of manufacture
If rainwater crates are designed with symmetric block shape for simplicity, then manufacturing is simplified, but rotational manipulation during installation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The base wall is designed with asymmetric support distribution, where supports are concentrated on one half (first base wall half) rather than symmetrically distributed. This asymmetric design eliminates the need for rotational manipulation during installation, as the crate has a predetermined correct orientation, while still maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The invention relates to a subterranean rainwater storage device (10) comprising an inner storage body (20) and an outer layer around the inner storage body that together define a rainwater storage device volume, wherein the inner storage body comprises multiple identical rainwater crates that form a first layer (22) and a second layer (23) on the first layer, wherein in the first layer the rainwater crates are positioned adjacent to each other and form parallel first rows, and wherein in the second layer the rainwater crates are positioned adjacent to each other and form parallel second rows, wherein the second rows extend above the first rows (24) and wherein in the second rows (25) the rainwater crates are shifted with respect to the rainwater crates in the first rows over half of their length in the row direction, wherein the rainwater crates form sets that can be nested into each other.