Vertical Fitting Storage Structure for Fast Picking and Compact Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plumbing installation technicians face challenges in efficiently organizing, identifying, and transporting hydraulic fittings due to loose collection methods, which lead to time-consuming searches, potential errors in inventory, and excessive bulk, limiting flexibility and visibility.
Innovation Solution
A storage structure with a central body and vertically arranged fins supporting adjustable vertical profiles that accommodate stacked fittings, allowing easy identification and transport, and featuring a handle for ease of movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If fittings are collected loosely in bags or boxes, then the technician can carry a large number of fittings, but identifying and picking the chosen fitting becomes time-consuming and laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The storage structure divides the collection of fittings into multiple vertical receptacles, each dedicated to storing fittings of a specific type or size. This segmentation allows the technician to quickly locate the desired fitting by knowing which receptacle to check, eliminating the need to search through all fittings randomly.
Solution Approach 2:
Each vertical receptacle is designed with specific dimensional characteristics (width, height, depth) tailored to accommodate fittings of particular types or sizes. This local customization of storage spaces enables efficient organization and immediate visual identification of fittings by their physical attributes.
2Reliability
If an organized but very bulky box is used, then fittings can be organized by type and number, but the excessive bulk makes it difficult to handle and transport
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple vertical receptacles are nested around a central hollow body, creating a compact cylindrical or hexagonal structure. This nested arrangement maximizes the storage capacity for various fitting types while maintaining a small overall footprint, making the container easy to carry and handle.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage structure transitions from a traditional horizontal box layout to a vertical cylindrical arrangement with receptacles extending radially outward. This dimensional change allows efficient use of vertical space and creates a compact form factor that is easier to transport while maintaining organized storage capabilities.
3Reliability
If an organized box with internal sectors is used, then fittings can be categorized, but it forces the insertion of fittings of a single size inside it due to internal sector constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical receptacles are designed with adjustable or removable partition walls that can be reconfigured to accommodate different fitting sizes and types. This dynamic adaptability allows the same storage structure to cater to various fitting categories without being constrained by fixed internal sectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage structure is designed as a universal container that can hold multiple types and sizes of fittings through its modular receptacle system. Each receptacle can be adapted to store different fitting categories, making the entire structure versatile for various plumbing needs rather than being limited to a single fitting type.
4Adaptability or versatility
If fittings are stored in loose containers, then the technician can carry many types of fittings, but the technician must manually check containers to ensure all necessary fittings are present, which is labor-intensive and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The storage structure segments fittings into distinct vertical receptacles, each potentially labeled or color-coded for specific fitting types. This segmentation enables the technician to quickly verify the presence and quantity of required fittings by visually inspecting each receptacle rather than searching through loose containers, significantly improving inventory checking efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A storage structure (100) for hydraulic fittings (13) or the like, comprising a base (4) which supports a central body (1) associated with a plurality of fins (3) associated with vertical profiles (2), characterized in that at least one pair of mutually adjacent vertical profiles (2) delimits a respective vertical receptacle (20) configured to accommodate a plurality of mutually stacked fittings (13).