Retractable Wheeled Containers for Parcel Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current parcel delivery methods in urban areas face challenges such as load breakage, requiring manual transfer of packages between vehicles, and inefficiencies in logistics, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions and operational costs.
Innovation Solution
The use of containers with retractable wheels and low-floor electric urban vehicles that allow for seamless loading and unloading without lifting equipment, eliminating the need for manual transfer and optimizing the last-mile delivery process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If manual transshipment of packages between large carrier and urban delivery vehicles is implemented, then transport capacity is consolidated, but operational complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the large carrier vehicle and urban delivery vehicle into a single integrated vehicle structure. The vehicle comprises a large cargo compartment for consolidated transport and multiple smaller delivery compartments that can be independently accessed. This eliminates the need for manual transshipment between separate vehicles while maintaining both consolidated transport capacity and efficient last-mile delivery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle's cargo space is segmented into multiple independently accessible delivery compartments within the single vehicle structure. Each compartment can be accessed separately for last-mile delivery while the entire vehicle maintains its consolidated transport function. This segmentation allows simultaneous consolidated transport and individual package delivery without requiring vehicle changes or manual transshipment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate vehicles are used for collection and delivery journeys, then specific route requirements are met, but greenhouse gas emissions and road space occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple vehicle functions into a single vehicle that can perform both long-distance consolidated transport and short-distance last-mile delivery. The vehicle maintains adaptability to different route requirements by configuring its cargo compartments appropriately, thereby reducing the total number of vehicles needed and lowering greenhouse gas emissions and road space occupation.
3Productivity
If traditional loading equipment like forklifts and tailgates are used, then loading efficiency is improved, but vehicle complexity and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is designed with self-loading capability through its compartment structure. Packages can be directly placed into the cargo compartments without requiring external loading equipment like forklifts or tailgates. The compartments are designed to be easily accessible and loadable by hand or simple mechanical means, thereby maintaining loading efficiency while reducing vehicle complexity and operational costs.
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 reduces load breakage, decreases greenhouse gas emissions, and enhances operational efficiency by consolidating flows and eliminating the need for forklifts and vehicles with tailgates, while enabling single-person operation and temperature-controlled delivery.
Implementation Method 1
The rolling elements are mounted so as to be able to move spontaneously, by gravity, from said retracted position to said deployed position and vice versa by contact with a transverse stop arranged under the platform of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
The rolling elements are mounted so as to be able to move spontaneously, by gravity, from said retracted position to said deployed position and vice versa by contact with a transverse stop arranged under the platform of the vehicle
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method of transporting a plurality of parcels to a plurality of urban recipients from a peri-urban storage space comprising the steps of: placing (E1) said plurality of parcels in a plurality of retractable wheeled containers; transporting (E2) said plurality of retractable wheeled containers in a vehicle moving towards an urban logistics base; unloading (E3) said retractable wheeled containers in said urban logistics base; loading and unloading without lifting means (E4) said retractable wheeled containers into a plurality of low-floor urban electric vehicles; delivering (E5) each parcel placed in each retractable wheeled container transported by each urban electric vehicle to each recipient of the parcel.