Rotatable Transport Box Lid for Dual-Temperature Food Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport boxes for perishable goods often fail to maintain consistent deep-freeze temperatures and cannot store foods below 0°C without risking freezing, which is inadequate for transporting various types of food items.
Innovation Solution
A transport box with a channel device featuring multiple inlet grooves on one side wall for coolant flow, allowing the lid to be positioned to control coolant flow, enabling temperature regulation between deep-freeze and fresh-keeping temperatures, using dry ice pellets for coolant, and maintaining these temperatures for extended periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If dry ice is used for cooling in transport boxes, then deep-freeze temperatures can be achieved, but consistent and reliable cooling cannot be guaranteed and foods cannot be stored below 0°C without freezing
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed to be rotatable, allowing dynamic adjustment of the flow connection between the coolant space and receiving space. By rotating the lid to different positions, the user can control the degree of coolant flow, enabling adaptation to different cooling requirements (deep-freeze vs. fresh-keeping temperatures) and ensuring reliable temperature control for various food types
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow parameter of the coolant by adjusting the lid position. The flow connection is partially opened in the first lid position for deep-freeze cooling and closed or less opened in the second lid position for fresh-keeping, allowing parameter adjustment to achieve different cooling intensities and maintain consistent temperatures
2Productivity
If coolant flow is increased for faster cooling, then deep-freeze temperature is achieved quicker, but temperature control precision is reduced and risk of over-freezing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable lid provides dynamic control over the flow connection, allowing users to adjust coolant flow from high (for fast cooling) to low or closed (for temperature maintenance). This dynamic adjustment enables both rapid cooling when needed and precise temperature control to prevent over-freezing
Solution Approach 2:
The flow connection is designed to be partially opened rather than fully open or fully closed, allowing fine-tuned control of coolant flow. This partial action enables precise temperature regulation by adjusting the degree of opening to match specific cooling requirements
3Ease of operation
If the lid structure is simplified for ease of use, then operation is easier, but temperature regulation flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lid serves multiple functions: it closes the receiving space, provides rotatable adjustment for flow control, and enables both deep-freeze and fresh-keeping temperature modes. This multi-functionality achieves temperature regulation flexibility without adding complex separate mechanisms, maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable lid design allows flexible temperature regulation through simple rotational movement. The lid can be rotated to different positions to adjust the flow connection, providing adaptability for different temperature requirements while maintaining simple and easy operation
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 transport box effectively cools food to deep-freeze temperatures and maintains fresh-keeping temperatures between 0°C and 10°C, ensuring food safety during transport by allowing flexible temperature control and efficient coolant flow, thus accommodating diverse food types and reducing handling complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the receiving space and the coolant space can be connected via at least one flow connection for the coolant
Implementation Method 2
at least one channel device for guiding the coolant is arranged in the receiving space and that the channel device for this purpose is suitable and designed to guide the coolant
Implementation Method 3
The lid can be arranged in at least two different lid positions closing the receiving space and wherein in a first lid position the flow connection is at least partially opened and in which in a second lid position, the flow connection is closed
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a transport box (1), in particular for partially prepared meals and food, comprising a receiving compartment (2) limited by lateral walls and a base (22), and which can be sealed by a cover (3). The cover (3) has a coolant copartment (33) for receiving a coolant (200). The cover (3) can be arranged in two different cover positions (13, 23) sealing the receiving compartment (2). In addition, a channel device (9) is arranged in the receiving compartment (2) for conducting the coolant. The channel device (9) is designed and suitable for conducting the coolant in such a way that the temperature in the receiving compartment can be controlled to a deep-freezing temperature below 0 °C in a first cover position (13) and to a refrigeration temperature above 0 °C in a second cover position (13).