Shipping container for shipping temperature-sensitive transport material

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shipping containers for temperature-sensitive goods face issues with uneven heat distribution, leading to localized temperature variations and inefficient use of cooling energy, particularly when goods completely fill the interior space and prevent air circulation, resulting in reduced transit times and increased production costs due to weight and material inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

The use of multilayer heat conducting plates with expanded graphite, which can be integrated into the container walls or as intermediate layers within the goods, to enhance thermal conductivity and distribute heat evenly without the need for air circulation, while maintaining a lightweight, cost-effective, and recyclable design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional thermal insulation materials (EPS, PUR, PIR, XPS) are used in container walls, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but uneven heat distribution occurs in the interior space leading to localized temperature variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal insulation performanceVSAvoidtemperature uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining conventional thermal insulation materials (EPS, PUR, PIR, or XPS) with aluminum elements having high thermal conductivity. The aluminum components are integrated into the container wall structure to create a composite wall system that maintains thermal insulation while distributing heat evenly across the interior space, preventing localized temperature variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Temperature

If aluminum inner shell or aluminum elements are used to improve heat distribution, then temperature uniformity is improved, but weight and production costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature uniformityVSAvoidcontainer weight

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by strategically placing aluminum elements only in specific locations within the container wall structure where heat distribution is needed, rather than using aluminum for the entire inner shell. This localized application of high-conductivity material achieves temperature uniformity while minimizing the overall amount of aluminum used, thereby reducing weight and production costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Quantity of substance

If transported goods completely fill the interior space, then space utilization is improved, but air circulation is prevented leading to poor heat distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidheat distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the function of heat distribution from air circulation by implementing alternative heat conduction paths through aluminum elements integrated into the container walls. This allows the interior space to be completely filled with goods without requiring air gaps for convection, as the aluminum components actively conduct heat throughout the space regardless of air flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Temperature

If grooves are made in inner walls to enable air circulation, then heat distribution is improved, but interior space and wall structure thickness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat distributionVSAvoidinterior space

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of air circulation through grooves with a thermal conduction system using aluminum elements. Instead of creating physical pathways for air flow that consume interior space, the aluminum components directly conduct heat through the wall structure, achieving heat distribution without requiring additional space for grooves or air channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 ensures consistent temperature equalization within the container, extends transit times by over 100% by optimizing heat distribution and utilizing available space efficiently, while maintaining a lightweight and cost-effective structure.

Implementation Method 1

a layer of expanded graphite (3) having a high thermal conductivity in the plane of the layer of expanded graphite (3)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

heat conducting plates (1) arranged in the interior space and/or delimiting the interior space, which are constructed in several layers and have at least one layer of expanded graphite

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20240343467A1Shipping container for shipping temperature-sensitive transport material

Publication Date: 2024.10.17 REP IP AG

AI summary

A shipping container for shipping temperature-sensitive transport material, including container walls which surround and close, on all sides, an interior provided for holding the transport material, the container walls having thermal insulation. Multilayer heat-conducting panels including at least one layer of expanded graphite are arranged in and/or delimit the interior of the shipping container.