Portable Food Container With Isolated Heating Chamber

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable food delivery containers with integrated heat sources face issues of damage due to frequent loading and unloading, uneven heat distribution, and the need for servicing or replacement, which affects the temperature control and durability of the container.

Innovation Solution

A portable food delivery container design featuring a removable temperature control source housed in isolated control compartments, preventing direct contact with the food storage compartment and allowing for easy servicing, with a rigid frame to maintain shape and prevent bending, and insulation to manage heat transfer efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the heat source is placed inside the food storage compartment, then the heat source can directly heat the food, but the heat source is susceptible to damage from frequent loading and unloading of food items

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat source durabilityVSAvoidheat distribution efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into separate compartments: a food storage compartment and a control compartment. The heat source is placed in the control compartment rather than directly with the food, separating the heating function from the food storage function. This protects the heat source from damage while still allowing it to heat the food indirectly through the container walls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control compartment acts as an intermediary between the heat source and the food storage compartment. The heat source heats the control compartment, which then transfers heat to the food storage compartment through the shared wall, providing indirect heating that protects the heat source from direct contact with food items.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If the heat source is placed inside the food storage compartment, then heating can be more direct, but the heat distribution becomes uneven causing hot and cold spots

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat distribution uniformityVSAvoidtemperature control stability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the heat source into its own control compartment, the heating is distributed through the container walls rather than from a single point source. This segmentation of the heating function allows for more uniform heat distribution across the food storage compartment, eliminating hot and cold spots.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control compartment is positioned to optimize heat transfer to different areas of the food storage compartment. The shared wall between compartments is designed to distribute heat evenly across the food storage area, ensuring uniform temperature distribution throughout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of repair

If the heat source is integrated into the container, then the container provides active heating, but the heat source cannot be easily serviced, cleaned, or replaced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat source serviceabilityVSAvoidcontainer heating functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control compartment containing the heat source is separated from the food storage compartment. This segmentation allows the control compartment to be accessed, removed, or serviced independently without affecting the food storage compartment, making maintenance and replacement of the heat source much easier.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control compartment is designed to be movable or removable, allowing dynamic access to the heat source for servicing, cleaning, or replacement. This dynamic design maintains the heating functionality while enabling easy maintenance of the heat source.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 ensures consistent temperature maintenance, reduces damage risk, and facilitates easy maintenance of the heat source, enhancing the durability and efficiency of food delivery containers by isolating the heat source and using a modular design for improved heat distribution.

Implementation Method 1

the temperature control source is a heat source that converts electrical energy into heat that is communicated with the food storage compartment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

the control compartment in which the heat source is received preferably is isolated from the food storage compartment so that no part of the heat source is exposed to the food storage compartment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

insulation to manage heat transfer efficiently

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS7491912B1Portable container with temperature control chamber

Publication Date: 2009.02.17 CHECK TECH SOLUTIONS LLC

AI summary

A portable food delivery container includes a food storage compartment, a control compartment, and a temperature control source. A control compartment lies adjacent to and in thermal conductivity with the food storage compartment. A modular removable temperature control source is disposed within the control compartment, where the temperature control source effects transfer of thermal energy between the food storage compartment and the control compartment to maintain the food storage compartment at a temperature other than the ambient temperature.