Filling Device Inner Part Radial Demolding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filling devices for operating fluid tanks, particularly 'capless' designs, are complex and costly to produce due to the large number of components requiring assembly and ensuring fluidtightness.

Innovation Solution

A filling device with a tubular outer part and an inner part designed as a one-piece casting or plastic injection molding, featuring shell openings that allow demolding in a radial direction, reducing the number of components and enabling cost-effective production, along with spring-loaded closure flaps for fluid containment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a filling device is designed with multiple separate components to ensure fluidtightness and proper function, then the device can reliably contain and transfer operating fluid, but the production complexity and cost increase due to the large number of components requiring assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefluidtightnessVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate components (outer part, inner part, closure flap, spring elements) into an integrated assembly where the inner part is received within the outer part and the closure flap is mounted on the inner part. This consolidation reduces the number of discrete components that require separate production and assembly while maintaining fluidtightness through coordinated sealing surfaces and interfaces between the integrated parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The filling device employs a nested structure where the inner part is received inside the outer part, and the closure flap is mounted on the inner part. This nesting arrangement allows multiple functional elements to be housed within each other, reducing overall complexity and assembly requirements while ensuring proper spatial relationships for fluid containment and transfer operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If a filling device uses multiple separate components that must be assembled, then the device can achieve proper function, but the assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly processVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The filling device is segmented into distinct functional modules (outer part, inner part, closure flap assembly) that can be produced separately and then assembled. This segmentation allows for specialized production techniques for each component while maintaining overall assembly simplicity, as each module is designed to interface with others in a straightforward manner, reducing assembly complexity and improving production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If the shell opening width corresponds substantially to the maximum inner width of the shell, then the inner part can be produced as a one-piece casting or injection molding, but the closure flap must be precisely positioned to maintain fluidtightness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction methodVSAvoidclosure flap positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The closure flap assembly incorporates localized sealing features at specific positions on the inner part, concentrating the fluidtightness function at critical interfaces rather than requiring uniform precision throughout the entire assembly. This allows the shell opening to be produced with standard tolerances for one-piece manufacturing while maintaining reliable sealing through specially designed local sealing surfaces and closure flap positioning features.

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

Simplifies production and reduces costs by minimizing components and assembly complexity while maintaining fluidtightness and operational reliability through a single-piece inner part and efficient sealing mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

at least one closure flap which is urged, in particular under spring loading, into a closure position closing an opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring loading: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3183137B1Filling device for a fluid tank
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
  • EP3183137B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3183137B1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP3183137B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A filling device for an operating fluid tank, comprising a tubular outer part 1 and an inner part 2 which is received in the outer part 1 and which is designed to receive an operating fluid nozzle, wherein the inner part 2 comprises a first end wall 8 having an opening and a second end wall 9 having an opening, the end walls (8,9) being connected to one another via a shell 7 and the shell 7 being provided over the entire length between the end walls with a shell opening (19,20) whose width corresponds substantially to the corresponding maximum inner width of the shell 7.