Design and Prototype of the ATCOM Shipping and Storage Containers CNU-582/E, CNU-583/E, CNU-584/E and CNU-585/E,

The US Army Aviation and Troop Command ATCOM St. Louis MO AMSAT-I-SDP program office requested engineering assistance designing a small number of reusable, sealed, aluminum containers that would replace their existing line of many specialized wooden crates. AFPTEF recommended reducing the more than 20 different containers to 4. Three of the new container designs designated 2, 5 and 6 utilize an existing proven AFPTEF design. These three container sizes are 1675 66 L x 51020 W x 457.2 18 H, 129751 x 122048 x 533.2 21, and 1345 53 x 1270 50 x 1132.1 45. Container 3 is a totally new single walled design for which two new extrusions were designed and procured. The dimensions of this container are 2,388 L x 381 W x 394 H 94 x 15 x 15.5. Item weights will range from 0.9 kg 2 lb. to 70 kg 154 Ib.. All containers will use polyurethane foam for the cushion system. These stackable containers utilize standard cam-over center latches, pressurevacuum relief valves, air filling valves, desiccant ports, and tie down rings. They are unpainted and will be manufactured exclusively from aluminum extrusions and sheet material. The life cycles of these containers are 20 years. Prototype containers of the four designs have been fabricated and have successfully passed all qualification tests.