Passive thermally insulated transport container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passive thermally insulated containers struggle to maintain products within a desired temperature range for extended periods without increasing the capacity of the heat accumulator or thermal insulation, leading to temperature fluctuations during transport.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating rotatable vanes within the transport chamber that move in response to agitation during transport, mixing air and preventing the formation of warm or cold spots, thereby maintaining product temperatures within the desired range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the capacity of the heat accumulator or thermal insulation is increased to maintain products within a desired temperature range longer, then the duration of temperature maintenance is improved, but the device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces movable vanes that can rotate about pivot axes in response to container agitation during transport. These vanes dynamically mix the air within the transport chamber, creating convection currents that distribute heat more evenly throughout the chamber. This dynamic air mixing mechanism extends the duration that products remain within the desired temperature range without requiring increased heat accumulator capacity or thermal insulation thickness, thereby resolving the technical contradiction between duration of temperature maintenance and device complexity
2Duration of action of moving object
If the capacity of the heat accumulator or thermal insulation is increased to maintain products within a desired temperature range longer, then the duration of temperature maintenance is improved, but the volume of the container increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable vanes rotate in response to container agitation, creating dynamic air mixing and convection currents that enhance heat distribution throughout the transport chamber. This dynamic mechanism extends temperature maintenance duration without requiring additional volume for larger heat accumulators or thicker insulation layers, thus resolving the contradiction between duration of temperature maintenance and container volume
3Stability of the object's composition
If air circulation is enhanced to prevent temperature deviations, then the homogeneity of temperature distribution is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs movable vanes that rotate passively in response to container agitation during transport. As the vanes rotate, they actively mix the air within the transport chamber, creating convection currents that promote homogeneous temperature distribution throughout the chamber. This passive dynamic mixing mechanism achieves improved temperature homogeneity without requiring complex active air circulation systems, motors, or control mechanisms, thereby resolving the technical contradiction between temperature distribution homogeneity and device complexity
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
This solution effectively extends the duration that products can be kept within the desired temperature range by ensuring consistent air circulation and heat distribution, preventing temperature deviations and maintaining product quality during transport.
Implementation Method 1
agitation of the container, which in turn causes agitation of the air in the transport chamber adjacent to the vane
Implementation Method 2
the heat accumulators are cooled to a temperature below the desired temperature in the transport chamber if the products are to be maintained cooler than the ambient temperature
Implementation Method 3
Passive thermally insulated containers are particularly suitable for such applications
Data Source
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AI summary
Passive, thermally insulated container with a heat accumulator (29, 30) for transporting products in the container at a temperature above or below ambient temperature. The container has thermally insulated top, bottom and vertical walls bounding a transport chamber (8) for accommodating products to be transported. Goods carriers in the transport chamber are shaped and dimensioned for leaving passages for circulation of air through the goods carriers and/or between the goods carriers and the vertical walls. At least one vane (35, 36) is suspended in said transport chamber in a rotatable manner about at least one pivot axis (77), respectively, wherein said at least one pivot axis is situated at at least one fixed location, respectively, relative to said transport chamber, so that said at least one vane rotatably moves about said at least one pivot axis, respectively, in reaction to agitation of the container.