One-Piece Plastic Wire Drum with Integrated Cone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wire transportation containers, such as fiber drums with cylindrical inserts, are not suitable for stacking when empty and often lead to wire unwinding and tangling due to insert separation.
Innovation Solution
A molded plastic, one-piece drum with an integrally formed interior cone projection that allows wire wrapping and includes features like radially extending ribs for stacking and drainage, along with openings for visual inspection and handle integration for efficient stacking and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cylindrical insert is used in fiber containers for wire transportation, then wire can be wrapped and confined, but the insert is prone to separation causing wire unwinding and tangling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate insert and container into a single integrated one-piece molded plastic drum structure. The interior projection that serves the wire-wrapping function is integrally formed with the container body, eliminating the separation issue that caused wire unwinding and tangling while maintaining the wire containment function.
2Productivity
If fiber containers with cylindrical inserts are used, then wire can be transported, but the containers are not suited for stacking when empty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an asymmetric interior projection (cone or similar shape extending upward from the base) that creates a complementary geometry for stacking. This asymmetric feature allows empty drums to nest within each other efficiently, improving stacking capability while maintaining the wire transport function during operation.
3Reliability
If a one-piece molded plastic drum with interior projection is used, then stacking and wire containment are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While the final product is one-piece, the molding process uses segmentation by creating separate cavity sections for the container body and interior projection. This allows the complex geometric features (exterior ribs, interior projection, drainage openings) to be formed in distinct mold sections that assemble to create the integrated structure, reducing manufacturing complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If drainage openings are added to the interior projection, then moisture management is improved, but structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by strategically positioning drainage openings in specific locations on the interior projection where they provide maximum drainage benefit with minimum impact on overall structural strength. The openings are placed to allow moisture escape while the surrounding projection structure maintains its wire-wrapping and stacking functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A molded plastic drum configured to hold wire. The drum includes a plastic interior cone. The cone can include ribs or other similar structure to simulate an outer cylindrical shape (or any other desired shape) to wrap the wire around. The cone is integrally formed with the rest of the container. The drum includes windows to determine the amount of wire in the drum. The drum can also include drain holes.