Segmented Cargo Platform for Lightweight Container Modules

Solution Overview

Problem

The shipping industry faces challenges with traditional steel containers, including high weight, environmental impact, and inefficiencies in handling lighter e-commerce cargo, necessitating a lightweight alternative that meets ISO regulations and reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Innovation Solution

A cargo shipping platform made of a steel frame that encloses lightweight container modules, divided into two equal-sized chambers, allowing for easier accessibility and reduced weight, while meeting ISO standards for intermodal transport, and utilizing steel pallets inside for enhanced security and stacking capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional steel containers are used, then cargo security and structural strength are improved, but overall weight and fuel consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecargo securityVSAvoidcontainer weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The container system is segmented into a reusable steel platform (providing strength and security) and removable lightweight container modules (reducing weight). The platform includes a steel frame, floor, and walls that can be reused, while the container modules are lightweight enclosures that are inserted into and removed from the platform. This segmentation allows the heavy steel components to be used only once and then discarded, while lightweight modules are reused, significantly reducing overall weight and fuel consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lightweight container modules are nested within the steel platform structure. The platform acts as an outer shell that contains and protects the lightweight container modules during ocean freight transport. This nesting arrangement allows the steel platform to provide structural strength and security while the lightweight modules reduce overall weight, resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If steel containers are used, then cargo protection is improved, but CO2 emissions and environmental impact increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecargo protectionVSAvoidCO2 emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The container system is segmented into a reusable steel platform (providing protection) and removable lightweight container modules (reducing weight). The platform includes a steel frame, floor, and walls that can be reused, while the container modules are lightweight enclosures that are inserted into and removed from the platform. This segmentation allows the heavy steel components to be used only once and then discarded, while lightweight modules are reused, significantly reducing overall weight and fuel consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the weight parameter of the container system by replacing traditional full steel containers with a hybrid system consisting of a steel platform and lightweight container modules. This parameter change reduces the overall weight of the shipping container, thereby reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions during ocean freight transport while maintaining cargo protection through the steel platform structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If traditional steel containers are used, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The container system is segmented into a reusable steel platform (providing strength and security) and removable lightweight container modules (reducing weight). The platform includes a steel frame, floor, and walls that can be reused, while the container modules are lightweight enclosures that are inserted into and removed from the platform. This segmentation allows the heavy steel components to be used only once and then discarded, while lightweight modules are reused, significantly reducing overall weight and fuel consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The steel platform is designed as a disposable component that is used once to transport lightweight container modules during ocean freight and then discarded. By making the platform disposable rather than reusable, the invention reduces the need for expensive, heavy-duty steel construction that would be required for repeated use. The lightweight container modules are reused multiple times, amortizing their cost over many uses, which reduces overall manufacturing cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS20230124598A1Cargo shipping platform for lightweight cargo containers

Publication Date: 2023.04.20 YÜRDOR LLC

AI summary

The low-weight design cargo shipping platform as an alternative to the conventional steel container for transportation of e-commerce cargo is provided which uses low-weight container modules enclosed within the cargo shipping platform. According to present embodiment, the cargo shipping platform of present invention is made of four corner upright members and a plurality of horizontal long and short members connected to form a rectangular cage like platform to accommodate and enclose any light weight container module. The shipping platform further includes a pair of central upright members to provide additional support to the platform and a plurality of side gate arms configured between top ends of the corner upright and bottom ends of the central upright member at an angle of 45 degree to form a zigzag wall at the sides of the platform to prevent displacement of the container module during shipping.