Drain Funnel Adapter for Fuel Filter Water Separators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for draining water from fuel filter water separators in boats are messy and prone to leakage, posing safety risks due to the inefficiency in transferring fluids from one container to another.
Innovation Solution
A drain funnel adapter with a tapered body and flanged portions that securely engage with a fuel filter water separator at one end and a fluid container at the other, featuring engaging members and fluid flow channels to direct fluid transfer while minimizing leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If tubing is used to drain water from the fluid collecting canister, then the draining process is simple and cheap, but water leakage occurs during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a funnel as an intermediary device between the fluid collecting canister and the drain container. The funnel serves as a mediator that guides water flow in a controlled manner, preventing direct contact and potential leakage between the tubing and containers. This intermediary structure ensures reliable fluid transfer while maintaining the simplicity of the draining process.
2Reliability
If a drain funnel adapter is used to facilitate fluid transfer, then water leakage is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated adapter device. The adapter merges the funnel structure with engagement features (flanged portions, engaging members) and fluid flow channels into one component. This consolidation achieves reliable leakage prevention while minimizing the number of separate parts, thereby reducing overall device complexity despite the enhanced functionality.
3Ease of operation
If tubing connected to the fluid collecting canister is used, then the draining process is simple, but the process is messy and prone to leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel acts as an intermediary that transforms the direct tubing connection into a controlled pour-through process. It guides the water flow through defined paths (fluid flow channels) and directs it accurately into the drain container, eliminating the messiness associated with direct tubing drainage while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful leakage and messiness from the draining process by introducing the adapter with controlled flow channels. The adapter separates the water flow path from the direct connection between containers, removing the source of leakage and mess while preserving the ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for transferring fluids from one container to another. A drain funnel adapter for facilitating the transfer of a fluid from one container to another using a funnel, the drain funnel adapter having a first end constructed and arranged to secure to a first container having a fluid, and a second end constructed and arranged to secure to a second container for storing a fluid transferred through the drain funnel adapter from the first container.