Stepped Temperature-Controlled Case for Passive Thermal Regulation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional temperature-controlled transportation containers require continuous power or ice to maintain specific temperatures, which is inefficient and unsuitable for temperature-sensitive objects that need to be maintained within a certain temperature range during transportation, leading to quality degradation due to prolonged packaging times.

Innovation Solution

A temperature-controlled case with a stepped portion and a hexahedral package design that minimizes heat transfer and deformation, allowing for rapid assembly and maintenance of a temperature range using phase change materials without a separate power supply, ensuring efficient temperature regulation within the package.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional transportation containers use coolers or electric heaters to maintain internal temperature, then temperature control is achieved, but continuous power supply is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinternal temperatureVSAvoidpower supply

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses phase change materials (such as gelatin or agar-based materials) that undergo phase transition between solid and liquid states to absorb and release heat, maintaining temperature without requiring continuous power supply. The material absorbs heat when melting and releases heat when freezing, providing passive temperature control during transportation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Temperature

If alternative conventional transportation containers use ice to maintain low temperature, then low temperature maintenance is achieved, but the container is not suitable for maintaining temperature within a certain range and requires short transportation time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow temperatureVSAvoidtemperature range maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The phase change material can be formulated to transition at specific temperatures within a desired range, allowing the container to maintain temperatures between certain thresholds rather than just below freezing. This enables versatile temperature control for different temperature-sensitive objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical composition and physical properties of the temperature control material (using gelatin, agar, or other polymers) to adjust the phase change temperature and thermal properties, enabling the system to maintain different temperature ranges depending on the specific application requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If temperature controlled cases are designed with stepped portions and specific geometric relationships, then deformation from volume expansion is minimized and firm assembly is achieved, but heat transfer between interior and exterior spaces is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidheat transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates different structural zones within the temperature controlled case: the stepped portion provides expansion accommodation space, while the main body maintains structural integrity. Each region has optimized properties for its specific function, minimizing overall heat transfer while allowing for material expansion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables rapid and effective packaging of temperature-sensitive objects by maintaining the required temperature range, preventing quality degradation and eliminating the need for continuous power or ice, thus enhancing the reliability of temperature-controlled transportation.

Implementation Method 1

a temperature controlled case that can be filled with a temperature regulating material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

the temperature controlled case can minimize deformation caused by volume expansion of a temperature regulating material received therein

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVolume expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 3

heat transfer between an interior space and an exterior space of the packaging container can be minimized

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10913591B2Temperature controlled case and temperature controlled package including the same

Publication Date: 2021.02.09 OCI CO LTD(KR)

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a temperature controlled case. The temperature controlled case includes a base and a stepped portion protruding from an upper surface of the base, wherein the stepped portion has a rectangular shape having a major axis and a minor axis in top plan view, a height of the base is the same as a maximum height of the stepped portion protruding from the base, and maximum distances from an edge of the base to the stepped portion in the major axis and minor axis directions are the same as the height of the base or the maximum height of the stepped portion.