Thermoplastic Explosive Container with Collapsible Impact Zone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current steel ammunition containers are heavy, costly to produce, and inefficient in terms of weight reduction, which limits their capacity for bulk transport and increases logistics expenses, while thermoplastic containers lack the necessary strength to meet NATO standards due to irreversible deformation under impact.
Innovation Solution
A thermoplastic container design featuring a primary part with selective reinforcement elements that absorb impacts and distribute forces, providing horizontal and vertical load support, and a collapsible impact zone to maintain structural integrity and prevent deformation, allowing for a lightweight yet robust construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel containers are used to meet NATO standards, then strength and impact resistance are improved, but weight increases and transport efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite construction combining thermoplastic material with reinforcement elements (such as metal or reinforced plastic strips) at critical stress points. This allows the container to meet NATO strength standards while reducing overall weight compared to solid steel construction. The reinforcement elements are strategically placed to provide impact resistance where needed without adding weight throughout the entire container structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire container from heavy steel, the patent applies reinforcement elements only at specific locations where impact forces are most likely to occur, such as corners and edges. This localized reinforcement approach maintains necessary strength and impact resistance while minimizing unnecessary weight in areas that do not require additional protection.
2Weight of moving object
If thermoplastic containers are used to reduce weight, then weight is reduced and transport efficiency is improved, but strength and impact resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines thermoplastic material with reinforcement elements to create a composite structure that achieves both lightweight construction and sufficient strength. The thermoplastic provides basic container structure and weight reduction, while the reinforcement elements (metal or reinforced plastic) are integrated at critical points to provide the necessary impact resistance and meet NATO standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies reinforcement elements selectively at locations where thermoplastic material alone would be insufficient to withstand impact forces. By concentrating reinforcement only where needed rather than throughout the entire container, the design achieves necessary strength while minimizing weight addition.
3Reliability
If steel containers are used to ensure durability, then reliability is improved, but production cost and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite construction that combines inexpensive thermoplastic material with cost-effective reinforcement elements. This approach is generally more economical than manufacturing entirely from steel, as thermoplastics can be molded efficiently and reinforcement elements can be integrated during manufacturing rather than requiring separate assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The container is designed as a segmented structure with the thermoplastic body and separate reinforcement elements that can be manufactured independently and then assembled. This segmentation allows for more flexible manufacturing processes, easier quality control, and potentially lower production costs compared to monolithic steel construction.
4Strength
If reinforcement elements are added to thermoplastic containers, then strength and impact resistance are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates reinforcement elements directly into the thermoplastic container structure during the molding process or through simple attachment methods. This merging of the reinforcement elements with the container body minimizes the number of separate components and assembly steps, thereby reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining the necessary strength and impact resistance.
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 enables a lightweight, cost-effective thermoplastic container that meets NATO standards by distributing impact forces and maintaining structural integrity, reducing the weight burden on transportation and production costs, and enhancing the container's durability for long-term storage and transport.
Implementation Method 1
the reinforcement element comprises at least one collapsible impact zone adapted to absorb an external impact to the secondary part and to transmit the excess forces of the impact into from the reinforcement element to the primary part
Data Source
AI summary
A thermoplastic container for explosive material comprising: a primary part defining a rigid compartment for holding explosive material, where the primary part comprises: a side wall having an inner periphery defining the side boundaries of the compartment and an outer periphery, a base arranged at a lower end of the side wall defining the lower boundary of the compartment, where an upper end of the side wall is arranged to provide access to the compartment allowing explosive material to be loaded into the compartment; a secondary part comprising: at least one reinforcement element defining an outer periphery of the container, wherein the reinforcement element is coupled to the primary part and is adapted to provide horizontal and/or vertical load support to the primary part and where the reinforcement element comprises at least one collapsible impact zone adapted to absorb an external impact to the secondary part and to transmit the excess forces of the impact into from the reinforcement element to the primary part.