Portable Bulk Material Storage Container with Tapered Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
The logistics of bulk material transportation is hindered by bottlenecks caused by transportation delays due to insufficient storage capacity, as conventional storage solutions are costly and inflexible, leading to inefficiencies and resource tying up in the logistics chain.
Innovation Solution
A portable bulk material storage container unit with a rectangular and tapered design, featuring a frame component for support, a dispenser component for flow regulation, and diverter components to reduce the angle of repose, allowing efficient storage and transportation on rail cars or trailers, and enabling easy transfer and unloading using forklifts or lift rings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional permanently fixed storage vessels (silos) are used, then storage capacity is provided, but cost increases and transportation flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is divided into multiple individual storage containers (hopper bins) that can be separately handled, loaded onto transport equipment, and positioned independently. Each container operates as a discrete unit that can be moved and repositioned without affecting the entire storage system, enabling flexible transportation while maintaining adequate storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage system transitions from a fixed, permanent installation to a dynamic, movable configuration. The storage containers are designed to be loadable onto transport equipment and repositionable as needed, allowing the storage capacity to move with the material flow and adapt to changing logistical requirements throughout the processing facility.
2Reliability
If excess storage capacity is provided to accommodate transportation delays, then material accumulation is prevented, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing one large excess storage facility, the system uses multiple smaller storage containers distributed throughout the facility. These segmented storage units can be positioned at various bottleneck points in the logistics chain, providing localized buffer capacity without requiring a single large complex storage infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage containers serve as intermediary buffer zones between different stages of material handling. When transportation delays occur, materials can be temporarily stored in these intermediate containers, allowing the logistics flow to continue without interruption while avoiding the need for extensive permanent storage facilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If portable storage containers are used, then transportation flexibility is improved, but storage capacity per unit is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The total storage capacity requirement is divided across multiple portable containers rather than requiring one large container. This segmentation allows each container to be of manageable size for transportation while the collective arrangement of multiple containers provides the necessary total storage capacity throughout the facility.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage system transitions from a single-dimension approach (one large container) to a multi-dimensional arrangement where multiple smaller containers are distributed throughout the facility in space. This spatial distribution across different locations and levels provides adequate total capacity while maintaining portability and flexibility of each individual unit.
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 solution provides efficient storage and transportation of bulk materials, reducing logistical delays and costs by allowing flexible storage solutions that can be easily moved and integrated into existing transportation systems, thereby optimizing the flow of materials from origin to destination.
Implementation Method 1
The tapered portion includes a plurality of walls disposed at an angle with respect to a horizontal surface, said angle is in the range between about 25 degrees and about 60 degrees
Implementation Method 2
The diverter component comprises two surfaces at an angle with respect to said top surface and a plurality of apertures. Some of the plurality of apertures can have a diameter of about 1.5 inches
Data Source
AI summary
Bulk material storage units that can be placed on flatbeds that can be hauled in various manners, including rail cars or trucks, to the destination and removed from the flatbed for temporary storage at the destination, freeing the transportation mode, e.g., rail cars or trucks, to be used elsewhere. Embodiments of the bulk material storage unit of the present invention replace rail hopper cars or truck trailers to hold the bulk material during transportation as well as provide temporary storage at the desired location, e.g., the origin or destination, without tying up transportation resources.