Transportable sanitary unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing transportable sanitary units require significant logistical efforts and costs due to their large size, even with existing retractable designs, as they do not efficiently reduce transport volume enough to fit multiple units in standard containers.
Innovation Solution
A transportable sanitary unit with a frame that consists of an upper and lower section, where the sections can slide into each other, allowing for a lower transport height while maintaining operational height, and featuring column sections that can be secured using blocking means, enabling efficient stacking and reduced transport dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the sanitary unit is designed with a fixed frame structure to ensure stability and strength, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the transport volume remains large and logistics costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into an upper section and a lower section that can be moved relative to each other. The upper section includes an upper cover and upper column sections, while the lower section includes a bottom and lower column sections. This segmentation allows the frame to be compacted for transport while maintaining structural integrity during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame transitions from a static fixed structure to a dynamic reconfigurable structure. The upper and lower sections can be moved between operational and transport positions, with column sections that slide into each other. This dynamic capability enables the frame to adapt its volume for different operational and transport requirements.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the column sections are made longer to maintain overlap length for stability in operational position, then the stability is improved, but the transport height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper column sections are inserted into the lower column sections during transport, creating a nested configuration. This nesting allows the column sections to achieve sufficient overlap length for stability while minimizing the overall transport height, as one set of columns is housed within the other.
3Length of stationary object
If the slide path is extended to allow greater compression for transport, then the transport height is reduced, but the complexity of the mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into movable upper and lower sections with column sections that can slide relative to each other. This segmentation creates a straightforward sliding mechanism that achieves compression without requiring complex additional components, as the segmentation itself enables the sliding action.
4Productivity
If multiple sanitary units are transported in a standard container to reduce logistics costs, then the transport efficiency is improved, but the available space for each unit is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sanitary units employ dynamic frame sections that can be compressed into a compact transport configuration. This dynamic compression reduces the volume occupied by each unit during transport, enabling multiple units to be accommodated within a standard transport container and thereby improving transport efficiency.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Transportable sanitary unit, comprising a frame and a number of sanitary facilities supported by the frame, wherein the frame comprises an upper section and a lower section, wherein the upper section comprises an upper cover and upper column sections extending downward from the upper cover and the lower section comprises a bottom and lower column sections extending upward from the bottom, - wherein the upper section and the lower section can be moved relative to each other between an upwardly extended operational position having an operational height and a downwardly retracted transport position having a transport height that is lower than the operational height, - wherein the upper column sections and the lower column sections can be slid into or along each other over a slide path, between the operational position and the transport position, and in the operational position can be secured one to the other in that position using blocking means, wherein the upper cover and the bottom comprise construction members, such as girders and carriers, providing the upper cover and the bottom with a construction height, which each time defines a vertical space, - wherein in the transport position the lower column sections extend to within the vertical space of the upper cover and/or the upper column sections extend to within the vertical space of the bottom.