Releasable Power Assembly for Reefers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerated shipping containers (reefers) often suffer damage or safety hazards due to incorrect unplugging, leading to equipment damage, personnel risk, downtime, and shipping delays, as personnel or computer errors result in reefers being loaded or unloaded while still plugged in, causing strain on power plugs and cords.
Innovation Solution
A releasable power assembly with conductive plug and receptacle terminals, ring latches, and a safety cap assembly that automatically unlatches the power plug from the receptacle when excessive tension is applied to the power cord, preventing damage and ensuring safe disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a power plug is securely locked to a power receptacle, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but the risk of damage from erroneous loading/unloading increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power plug incorporates a trigger mechanism with latches that are pre-configured to automatically release when excessive force is applied during erroneous loading or unloading operations, preventing damage before it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger mechanism is designed to detect and counteract excessive pulling forces by automatically disengaging the latches, thereby preventing the harmful effects of forceful removal on the electrical connection
2Stability of the object's composition
If a power plug is securely locked to a power receptacle, then connection stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to manual unplugging requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The power plug's trigger mechanism is designed to automatically release the latches and disconnect the plug when excessive force is applied, eliminating the need for manual unplugging operations and reducing personnel intervention requirements
3Reliability
If a power plug is securely locked to a power receptacle, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional safety mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The power plug is divided into functional segments including the trigger mechanism, latches, and connection terminals, allowing each component to perform its specific function independently while maintaining overall system reliability
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 prevents damage to power plugs, receptacles, and cords by automatically releasing the plug from the receptacle when excessive tension is detected, reducing the risk of accidents and downtime, and ensuring safe handling and transportation of reefers.
Implementation Method 1
The loop trigger is looped around the ring latch so as to remove the loop trigger from the ring latch when a pulling force is applied to the loop trigger
Implementation Method 2
Each of the ring latches have a spring disposed within the tension frame so as to rotate the ring latches away from the plug collar when the loop trigger is removed from the ring latch
Implementation Method 3
Each of the ring latches have a handle, a tension frame rotatably attached to the handle and a threaded T-bolt partially disposed within, and protruding from the tension frame
Data Source
AI summary
A releasable power assembly prevents damage to plugs and receptacles connected to refrigerated shipping containers (reefers). Reefers are temporarily stored in shipping port reefer scaffolds and then loaded onto or unloaded off of ground transportation or freighters. However, errors in port command and control systems may result in the failure to unplug reefers prior to loading or unloading. Conventional reefer power plugs and receptacles are twist-locked together and damaged or destroyed if not manually disconnected prior to reefer movement. An advantageous releasable power assembly automatically unlatches before reaching a breaking point for failure to disconnect plug and receptacle.