Increasing the safety and operational efficiency of container transportation

Abstract

Introduction. Currently, there is a logistic problem in container transportation technology related to the transportation of empty freight containers, as returnable containers, since an empty container takes up as much space as a full one. A promising direction for solving this problem is the introduction of folding cargo containers. A disadvantage of this approach is the likelihood of injury to the maintenance personnel, which must be inside in the process of folding and unfolding.

Problem Statement. The objective of this study is to study the conditions for increasing the safety of preparatory work due to the design of the container, the main feature of which is the ability to realize the effect of functional self-adaptation to working conditions.

Theoretical Part. This approach allows us, when folding and unfolding, to balance the changing reactions from the own masses and the moments of its moving body parts by means of the corresponding lockable gas springs. Gas springs connect leading links and driven kinematic chains thereby ensuring that their movement in a given speed mode on the entire trajectory is independent of the speed of the driving link. For the practical implementation of the proposed design solution, the paper presents a general method for the synthesis of an adaptive controller of the container mechanisms in the process of folding and unfolding its moving parts.

Conclusion. Testing of the container showed that the effect of functional self-adaptability is quite well implemented along the entire trajectory of the container elements without the use of external lifting mechanisms.