Shipping Container with Expanding Bag for Hazardous Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shipping containers for hazardous materials face issues with durability, size, weight, and cost, particularly in meeting regulatory requirements for leak-proof and pressure-resistant transportation of biological specimens, with previous solutions being either expensive or lacking structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A shipping container composed of a substantially rigid exterior enclosure made from corrugated cardboard and expanded polystyrene foam, combined with a flexible, gas-impermeable interior bag that is manually evacuated and sealed, providing a cost-effective and compliant solution for transporting biologically hazardous materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid containers are used to protect contents during handling and transport, then durability and protection are improved, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into two distinct parts: a rigid outer shell for structural protection and a flexible inner bag for containing the hazardous material. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function optimally - the rigid shell provides durability during handling while the flexible bag minimizes weight and adapts to the actual volume of contents.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the container system have different mechanical properties tailored to their specific functions. The outer shell is made rigid to withstand impacts and handling stresses, while the inner bag is made flexible to reduce weight and conform to the actual volume of materials being transported, rather than requiring the entire container to be rigid.
2Strength
If rigid containers are used to protect contents during handling and transport, then durability and protection are improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into two distinct parts: a rigid outer shell for structural protection and a flexible inner bag for containing the hazardous material. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function optimally - the rigid shell provides durability during handling while the flexible bag minimizes weight and adapts to the actual volume of contents.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the container system have different mechanical properties tailored to their specific functions. The outer shell is made rigid to withstand impacts and handling stresses, while the inner bag is made flexible to reduce weight and conform to the actual volume of materials being transported, rather than requiring the entire container to be rigid.
3Reliability
If container size is increased to meet regulatory volume requirements, then compliance is improved, but transportation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner bag is designed to be expandable and collapsible, allowing it to dynamically adjust its volume based on the actual amount of hazardous material being transported. When fully inflated, it meets the minimum volume requirements for compliance; when collapsed, it minimizes the occupied space and reduces transportation costs for empty or partially filled containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The volume parameter of the inner bag can be changed on demand by inflating or deflating it. This allows the container to meet regulatory volume requirements when needed while minimizing transportation costs by reducing volume when the bag is empty or partially filled, effectively decoupling the volume requirement from the actual cargo volume.
4Weight of moving object
If flexible sidewalls are used to reduce weight and cost, then weight and cost are reduced, but structural integrity and protection deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into two distinct parts: a rigid outer shell for structural protection and a flexible inner bag for containing the hazardous material. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function optimally - the rigid shell provides durability during handling while the flexible bag minimizes weight and adapts to the actual volume of contents.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the container system have different mechanical properties tailored to their specific functions. The outer shell is made rigid to withstand impacts and handling stresses, while the inner bag is made flexible to reduce weight and conform to the actual volume of materials being transported, rather than requiring the entire container to be rigid.
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 meets federal regulations for pressure resistance and reduces manufacturing and transportation costs while ensuring the safety and integrity of biological specimens during air transport, offering a durable and cost-effective shipping solution.
Implementation Method 1
the shipping container will undergo a second atmospheric pressure, such as where an aircraft transports the shipping container within a non-pressurized cargo hold
Implementation Method 2
the bag is sized so that, if filled with air or other contents, it will engage all of the walls of the exterior enclosure if placed within its interior cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A shipping container is provided for transporting biologically hazardous materials. The shipping container includes a rigid gas permeable exterior enclosure and an interior positioned substantially gas impermeable flexible bag. Preferably, the exterior enclosure includes an outer cardboard box and inner foam box made of expanded polystyrene. Preferably, the inner bag is made of polyethylene and includes a conventional open top. Preferably, the bag also includes two laterally extending lines. A first line provides a visual indication to the user where air should be evacuated from the bag. A second line is provided to indicate where the bag should be sealed.