Transformable refrigerated cargo containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerated cargo containers experience breaks in the cold chain when transferring temperature-sensitive products between ground and air transportation vehicles due to incompatible shapes and sizes, leading to temperature fluctuations that can damage or degrade products.
Innovation Solution
A transformable cargo container with a main body and a movable transformable assembly that includes supplemental containers housing refrigeration equipment, allowing the container to adapt between aircraft and ground configurations, maintaining temperature control and compatibility with both partially-circular and rectangular cross-sectional areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing refrigerated cargo containers are used for ground or water transportation, then adequate temperature control is maintained, but breaks in the cold chain occur when transferring to air transportation vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo container incorporates a transformable assembly that can change its configuration between ground configuration (with rectangular cross-section for ground/water vehicles) and aircraft configuration (with partially-circular cross-section for aircraft). This dynamic transformation capability allows the same container to adapt to different transportation modes without breaking the cold chain, as the refrigeration equipment remains integrated and operational throughout the transformation process.
2Volume of moving object
If cargo containers are designed with shapes optimized for aircraft (e.g., chamfered corners), then space utilization in aircraft is improved, but stacking and storage on ground/water transportation vehicles becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The transformable assembly changes the container's external shape from a rectangular prism in ground configuration to a partially-circular cross-section in aircraft configuration. This dynamic shape transformation allows the container to optimize its volume for aircraft cargo holds while maintaining a standard rectangular shape for easy stacking and handling on ground vehicles, eliminating the need to choose between the two conflicting design requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If products are unloaded and reloaded between ground/water and air transportation containers, then transfer between vehicles is possible, but breaks in the cold chain occur during loading and unloading
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the cargo storage function and refrigeration function into a single integrated transformable container system. The refrigeration equipment is permanently integrated into the container body, and the transformable assembly can be reconfigured in-situ without requiring product transfer. This eliminates the need to unload and reload products between different containers, thereby maintaining cold chain continuity while achieving adaptability to different transportation modes.
4Adaptability or versatility
If transformable assembly is moved between configurations, then compatibility with different vehicles is achieved, but additional time is required for configuration change
Solution Approach 1:
The transformable assembly incorporates mechanical components such as movable walls, rotating sections, or telescopic elements that enable relatively quick transformation between configurations. The design optimizes the transformation mechanism to minimize the time required while ensuring structural integrity and proper sealing for refrigeration. This allows the container to adapt to different transportation modes with acceptable time loss, balancing versatility with operational efficiency.
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 transformable cargo container minimizes breaks in the cold chain by maintaining temperature control and ensuring seamless transfer between ground and air transportation, reducing the risk of product damage through adaptive refrigeration and compatible sizing.
Implementation Method 1
The refrigeration equipment is configured to control a temperature inside the main container body
Data Source
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AI summary
In an example, a transformable cargo container for use with ground and air transportation vehicles is disclosed. The cargo container includes a main container body defining a storage chamber therein and including at least one inlet. The cargo container also includes a transformable assembly coupled to the main container body and positioned at an exterior of the main container body. The transformable assembly includes one or more supplemental containers and one or more supply ducts, at least one of the supplemental container(s) being configured to house refrigeration equipment. The transformable assembly is movable between an aircraft configuration and a ground configuration. Based on the transformable assembly being in either the aircraft configuration or the ground configuration, the refrigeration equipment is configured to supply coolant into the main container body via the supply duct(s) and the inlet(s).