Baffled Reservoir Tank Layout for Stable Coolant Pump Feed

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional coolant modules directly connected to reservoir tanks without hoses suffer from air suction into the pump, leading to pump performance deterioration and increased noise due to coolant fluctuations, and require separate molds for water level sensors, complicating manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

A reservoir tank design with a baffle to separate internal spaces, a water level sensor with a floating member and sensing member, and a guide to restrict the floating member's movement, eliminating the need for separate clips and ensuring accurate level detection and improved coolant circulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the reservoir tank is directly connected to the pump without a separate hose, then the coolant module is miniaturized, but air inside the reservoir tank flows into the pump along with the coolant, deteriorating pump performance and increasing noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoolant module sizeVSAvoidpump performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The reservoir tank is segmented into an upper space and a lower space using a baffle. The baffle extends from the bottom wall upward, creating a partition that separates the air-containing upper space from the coolant-containing lower space. This segmentation prevents air from mixing with coolant during direct connection to the pump, maintaining pump performance while enabling miniaturization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoolant module sizeVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The baffle partitions the reservoir tank to ensure that the lower space remains filled with coolant while the upper space contains air. This segmentation ensures continuous coolant supply to the pump during direct connection, preventing momentary coolant lack and the associated noise generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If a separate mold for fixing a water level sensor is added, then accurate coolant level detection is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoolant level detection accuracyVSAvoidmold complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The water level sensor fixing structure is merged with the existing baffle component. The baffle serves dual functions: partitioning the reservoir tank into upper and lower spaces, and providing a mounting structure for the water level sensor. This integration eliminates the need for separate molds, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining accurate coolant level detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Measurement precision

If the floating member is allowed to move freely, then accurate water level sensing is achieved, but the floating member may move excessively and interfere with other components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater level sensing accuracyVSAvoidfloating member position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure is provided with localized constraints that allow the floating member to move vertically for accurate water level sensing while preventing excessive lateral or rotational movement. The guide ensures the floating member maintains proper orientation and position within the lower space, stabilizing its composition during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design prevents air mixing with coolant, maintains stable coolant levels, reduces noise, and enhances coolant circulation performance while simplifying manufacturing by eliminating the need for separate molds and clips.

Implementation Method 1

a floating member that moves upward and downward according to the level of the coolant and a sensing member that detects the floating member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS20250223919A1Reservoir tank and coolant module including the same

Publication Date: 2025.07.10 HANON SYST CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a reservoir tank for storing coolant and a coolant module including the same and relates to a reservoir tank and a coolant module, which have a baffle inside the reservoir tank to improve noise performance and coolant circulation performance and are formed to restrict the upward movement of a floating member using the baffle to improve manufacturing convenience.