Reusable Transport Container Drainage Baffle Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Reusable transport containers face dangerous situations due to exceeding maximum load capacity or improper load distribution when fire extinguishing water is introduced, and they also allow rainwater to penetrate through drainage openings.

Innovation Solution

A reusable transport container with a wall featuring a step-shaped opening designed with a baffle section and a drip wall section that narrows the cross-section from both below and above, preventing rainwater ingress while allowing extinguishing water to flow out, and a double-walled structure for stability and weight reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If drainage openings are provided in the wall to allow extinguishing water to drain, then the load capacity and safety are improved, but rainwater can penetrate into the container interior

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload capacityVSAvoidrainwater penetration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The opening is segmented into two distinct functional sections: a baffle section (first wall section) extending from below to prevent water ingress from the floor side, and a drip edge section (second wall section) extending from above to prevent rainwater penetration from the exterior. This segmentation allows each section to address specific drainage and protection requirements independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the opening have different structural configurations tailored to their specific functions. The baffle section features a first wall section with specific geometric properties optimized for draining extinguishing water, while the drip edge section features a second wall section with properties optimized for preventing rainwater entry. Each local region of the opening has quality characteristics matched to its functional requirement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the opening cross-section is narrowed to prevent rainwater ingress, then rainwater protection is improved, but extinguishing water drainage capacity may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverainwater protectionVSAvoidwater drainage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The solution moves from considering only the cross-sectional area of the opening to utilizing the third dimension (depth into the wall) by extending wall sections inward. The baffle section extends a first distance into the opening from the interior side, while the drip edge section extends a second distance from the exterior side. This dimensional approach allows the opening to maintain adequate drainage area while using the extended wall sections to create protective barriers against rainwater.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The wall sections are nested within the opening structure, with the baffle section and drip edge section projecting into the opening space. This nested configuration allows the protective wall sections to be contained within the overall opening geometry, maximizing the use of available space while maintaining both drainage and protection functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 design effectively prevents rainwater from entering while ensuring sufficient drainage of extinguishing water, maintaining container stability and safety, and reducing the risk of collapse or water accumulation.

Implementation Method 1

The baffle section projects into the opening from below, narrowing the cross-section of the opening locally from below, while the drip edge section projects into the opening from above, narrowing the cross-section of the opening locally from above

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4215452B1Reusable transport container with water drain
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 SCHOELLER ALLIBERT GMBH
  • EP4215452B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4215452B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a reusable transport container (2) with a bottom (4) and a wall (6) extending substantially perpendicularly from the bottom (4), wherein the wall (6) is formed with at least one opening (10) connecting an interior of the reusable transport container (2) with its surroundings. The opening (10) is formed on one side facing the interior with a baffle section (28) extending away from the bottom (4) into the opening (10). Furthermore, the opening (10) is formed on one side facing the surroundings with a drip-wall section (22) extending towards the bottom (4) into the opening (10).