Fluid Tank Breather Assembly with Angled Perforated Screen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breather assemblies for fluid tanks in heavy equipment are prone to wear and contamination due to hydraulic fluid splashing and mist deposition, leading to reduced durability and environmental concerns from discharged hydraulic fluid, and may not effectively maintain atmospheric pressure or capture entrained liquids.
Innovation Solution
A breather assembly with a mounting collar, breather insert, and cap configuration that includes a perforated screen and filter media, where the screen extends past the fluid tank spout and is angled to reduce exposure to hydraulic fluid, allowing air to enter and exit while preventing hydraulic fluid discharge into the environment, and facilitating the return of liquids to the tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the breather is positioned close to the fluid tank to maintain pressure, then pressure regulation is effective, but hydraulic fluid splashing and mist deposition increase wear and reduce durability
Solution Approach 1:
The breather assembly is divided into separate functional components: a mounting collar that positions the breather away from the tank, a breather insert with filter media for filtration, and a cap for sealing. This segmentation allows the breather to maintain effective pressure regulation while reducing exposure to hydraulic fluid splashing and mist.
Solution Approach 2:
A mounting collar with a hollow center acts as an intermediary structure between the fluid tank and the breather. This collar extends downward to position the breather away from the tank opening, serving as a mediator that maintains pressure regulation effectiveness while reducing direct exposure to hydraulic fluid contamination.
2Reliability
If the breather allows free air flow to maintain atmospheric pressure, then pressure regulation is effective, but hydraulic fluid entrained in air is discharged into the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The breather insert incorporates filter media with porous structure that allows air to pass through while capturing and retaining hydraulic fluid entrained in the air stream. This porous filtration mechanism enables effective pressure maintenance by allowing free air flow while preventing harmful fluid discharge into the environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The breather assembly converts the potentially harmful discharge of hydraulic fluid into a beneficial filtration process. The filter media captures entrained fluid particles, transforming what would be environmental pollution into a contained filtration action that protects the environment while maintaining pressure regulation.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the breather is positioned away from the tank to reduce fluid exposure, then durability is improved, but pressure maintenance effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting collar serves as an intermediary structure that extends downward from the breather cap toward the fluid tank. This collar positions the breather away from direct fluid exposure while its hollow center and strategic positioning maintain the air pathway effectiveness for pressure maintenance, resolving the contradiction between durability and pressure regulation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting collar extends in the vertical dimension away from the tank opening, positioning the breather in a different spatial zone that is less exposed to hydraulic fluid splashing. This dimensional repositioning allows the breather to maintain pressure regulation effectiveness while improving durability by reducing fluid exposure.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If a small opening is used in the breather, then fluid discharge is reduced, but atmospheric pressure cannot be properly maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The breather insert uses porous filter media that provides a large surface area with numerous microscopic pores. These pores collectively allow sufficient air flow to maintain atmospheric pressure in the tank while each individual pore is small enough to capture and retain hydraulic fluid particles, resolving the contradiction between pressure maintenance and fluid discharge reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter media changes the effective opening size parameter from a single large opening to numerous small porous channels. This parameter change allows the breather to maintain atmospheric pressure through cumulative pore flow while reducing fluid discharge through the small pore dimensions that trap particles.
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 breather assembly effectively maintains fluid tank pressure, reduces maintenance needs, and enhances durability by minimizing exposure to hydraulic fluid, while preventing environmental contamination and improving aesthetic appearance.
Implementation Method 1
The filter element of the breather cleanses the air entering the fluid tank
Implementation Method 2
A breather assembly with a mounting collar, breather insert, and cap configuration that includes a perforated screen and filter media
Implementation Method 3
The breather contains a filter element and functions by inhaling and exhaling air to regulate pressure within the fluid tank
Implementation Method 4
facilitating the return of liquids to the tank
Data Source
AI summary
A breather assembly is disclosed for use with a fluid tank. The breather assembly may include a mounting collar having a first end and an opposing second end. The first end of the mounting collar may be connected to a distal end of a fluid tank spout. The breather assembly may also include a breather insert connected to the mounting collar. The breather insert may have a perforated screen extending a distance past a base end of the fluid tank spout. The breather assembly may further include a breather cap having a first end and an opposing second end. The first end of the breather cap may be connected to the breather insert. The breather cap may also have a passage in common with a hollow center of the mounting collar.