Reusable Insulated Container With Active Cooling and Remote Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable coolers are inadequate for maintaining temperature-sensitive products like vaccines and organs during transport due to ice melting and potential leakage, leading to product spoilage and inability to maintain a cooled state over long distances.
Innovation Solution
A portable cooler with a vacuum-insulated double wall chamber, phase change materials, and an active temperature control system using thermoelectric elements, along with a cooling fan and sensors for temperature monitoring, and a user interface for managing shipping information and power transfer between stacked units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ice is used to cool the chamber, then the temperature is maintained initially, but the ice melts and causes leakage and product soaking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses disposable absorbent pads that can soak up melted ice water and contain it within the chamber. These pads are replaced after each use, solving the leakage problem while maintaining the simple ice-based cooling approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary absorbent material between the ice and the products. This material absorbs the harmful melted water and prevents it from contacting the products, while still allowing the ice to cool the chamber effectively.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional insulation is used, then the cooler is simple and inexpensive, but it cannot maintain temperature for prolonged periods during long-distance transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite insulation structures combining multiple materials (foam insulation, reflective barriers, vacuum seals) to achieve superior thermal performance. This composite approach extends temperature maintenance duration while managing the complexity through integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates multiple functions into single components: the lid provides both sealing and insulation, the walls combine structural support with thermal insulation, and the absorbent pads serve both as spill containment and thermal mass. This multi-functionality extends duration without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Reliability
If active cooling systems are added to maintain temperature, then temperature control is improved, but the device complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses phase change materials (PCM) that automatically absorb or release heat as they change phase, providing active temperature control without external power sources. The system self-regulates temperature based on environmental conditions, maintaining reliability without adding complex powered cooling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates phase change materials that transition between solid and liquid states at specific temperatures, automatically absorbing excess heat when temperature rises and releasing heat when temperature drops. This passive active-control mechanism improves reliability while avoiding complex powered systems.
4Ease of manufacture
If single-use containers are used, then manufacturing and disposal is simple, but environmental waste increases and cost per use rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the container with removable and replaceable components (absorbent pads, ice packs, insulation layers) that can be recovered and reused across multiple cycles. Only the consumable elements are discarded, while the main container structure is retained and reused, reducing overall waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the container into modular segments: a permanent outer shell and disposable inner components. This segmentation allows the durable parts to be reused indefinitely while only the consumable parts are replaced, significantly reducing waste compared to single-use containers while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized modules.
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 cooler effectively maintains a consistent temperature for extended periods, preventing spoilage of temperature-sensitive materials and allowing for efficient reuse by enabling power transfer and remote monitoring, thus ensuring the integrity of products during transport.
Implementation Method 1
The cooler can optionally have a vacuum-insulated double wall chamber that can be sealed with a lid
Implementation Method 2
the chamber can hold perishable contents (e.g., medicine, food, other perishables, etc.) therein and a phase change material (e.g., one or more ice packs, a phase change material sleeve) in thermal communication
Implementation Method 3
The container comprises a temperature control system comprising one or more thermoelectric elements configured to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A portable container has a payload chamber for holding goods and a lid operable to access the payload chamber. The portable container also has an electronic system with one or more power storage devices, circuitry that wirelessly communicates via a cell radio with a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device, and an electronic display screen. The electronic system also has a button or a touch screen configured to be actuated by a user to a) automatically switch sender and recipient information on the electronic display screen to facilitate return of the portable container to the sender or b) automatically contact a parcel carrier to alert the parcel carrier that the portable container is ready for pickup.