Why does the jerrycan have three handles?

Surely every adult at least once in their life has seen a metal can used to transport and store fuel. Usually, these are aluminum or steel drums with a capacity of 5 to 20 liters.

Jerrycan fuel tanks remain the standard for fuel storage from the battlefield to everyday life. (Source: Finenews)

The Jerrycan — the design of this container, the version we are all familiar with — was developed in Hitler's Germany in 1937. But have you ever wondered why the handles of such boxes are divided into three sections, placed equally apart?

At that time, the need for improved fuel storage was urgent, as the old tanks often caused fires. Fuel was stored in 200-liter drums and poured into 20-liter tin cans with screw caps. Needless to say, the level of fire safety was very low, not to mention the inconvenience in use and transportation.

Faced with this situation, the German military command launched a competition to design a new fuel tank. The most successful version was the classic rectangular design developed by a team of engineers under the leadership of Gründfogel.

The new fuel tank design makes it easier to arrange and transport. (Source: Finenews)

The design was so effective that by the start of the war in 1939, the German army had thousands of these handy boxes in stock. After the war, they were produced for civilian use and quickly spread around the world .

Outstanding advantages of the design: Rectangular shape makes it easy to carry by hand and transport by vehicle without worrying about tipping or explosion; no extra details protruding outside, helping to stack reasonably and optimize space. The lid opens much faster than traditional threaded lids. Rubber gasket seals the lid, does not fall off even when not in use.

The tight lid, rubber gasket, safety latch, every small detail in the Jerry-can design serves survival on the battlefield and in real life (Source: Finenews)

What about the three handles? They are designed to be flexible in carrying. One person can carry two boxes at a time with one hand, which means carrying four empty boxes with both hands. If the full box is too heavy, two people can share the handle.

This is a prime example of a simple yet incredibly clever design solution — and one that still works today.