Transferable Container Layout for Large and Small Delivery Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current logistics systems face inefficiencies in transferring and accommodating large containers between vehicles of different dimensions, particularly between large and small vehicles, due to size mismatches and the need for manual, labor-intensive, and unsafe handling methods.
Innovation Solution
A logistics system featuring a container with adjustable legs and a movement arrangement using roller elements that allows for easy transfer and positioning on both large and small vehicles, optimizing container placement to fit various vehicle widths and enabling efficient loading and unloading, while maintaining low friction for mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual transfer concepts are used for containers, then relatively small containers can be transferred onto cargo bicycles or subcompact cars, but the process becomes work-intensive, inefficient and problematic in terms of safety
Solution Approach 1:
The container is equipped with pivotable wheels that can dynamically change orientation from longitudinal to transverse position. This dynamic adaptation allows the same container to be efficiently transferred onto different vehicle types (large trucks, small delivery vehicles, cargo bicycles) by adjusting the wheel orientation to match the vehicle's cargo area geometry, thereby maintaining high transfer efficiency across diverse applications
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable wheel mechanism acts as an intermediary between the container and various vehicle types. By introducing this adaptive intermediate element, the system enables efficient transfer across different vehicle platforms without requiring manual handling, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and transfer efficiency
2Adaptability or versatility
If containers are transferred between vehicles of different dimensions, then cargo can be moved between large and small vehicles, but the transfer becomes difficult and relatively inefficient due to size mismatches
Solution Approach 1:
The wheels' ability to pivot between longitudinal and transverse orientations provides a dynamic adaptation mechanism that simplifies container transfer onto vehicles of different dimensions. When transferring onto a small delivery vehicle, the wheels can be oriented to match the narrower cargo opening, making the transfer operation easy and efficient despite the size mismatch with large trucks
3Productivity
If containers are used on small urban delivery vehicles for the last mile, then delivery efficiency in urban areas is improved, but the vehicle must be of smaller width which complicates container transfer from larger vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable wheel system enables the container to adapt its interface geometry to match different vehicle cargo areas. When loaded onto a small urban delivery vehicle, the wheels can be oriented to fit the narrower opening, while the container body maintains its full size for efficient cargo capacity, thus preserving both delivery efficiency and container reception capability across different vehicle types
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 system enables efficient and safe transfer of containers between vehicles, optimizing space utilization on large vehicles and maintaining compactness on small vehicles, facilitating easy loading and unloading, and allowing for direct cargo transfer between adjacent containers.
Implementation Method 1
optimizing container placement to fit various vehicle widths and enabling efficient loading and unloading, while maintaining low friction for mobility
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a logistics system having a large vehicle, a small vehicle and a container. According to the invention, in order to allow containers to be used on different vehicles in an improved manner, the container can be received, with a long side oriented along a transverse direction of the large vehicle, on said large vehicle and, interacting with same via a first movement arrangement, can be moved along a longitudinal direction of the large vehicle, said container can furthermore be received, with the long side oriented along a longitudinal direction of the small vehicle, on said small vehicle and, interacting with same via a second movement arrangement, can be moved along the longitudinal direction of the small vehicle, and said container has multiple legs which, in order for the container to be received on a vehicle, are adjustable from a deployed position into a retracted position.