Filling System Mixing Unit for Lubricant Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing variety of transmission types in motor vehicles requires different lubricant additives, leading to complex and time-consuming conversion processes in production, resulting in high logistics, disposition, and storage costs, as existing systems need to be flushed and reconfigured for each type, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A filling system with a mixing unit that includes a main supply line for basic additives and secondary supply lines for specific additives, allowing for precise mixing ratios to be set during the filling process, enabling the mixing of lubricants directly on the production line, ensuring freshness and reducing the need for extensive conversion measures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ready-mixed fuel mixtures are kept in tanks for different transmission types, then different lubricant compositions are available for various transmissions, but space requirements increase and storage costs rise due to the need for multiple tanks
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant storage system is segmented into separate components: a main tank containing base oil and multiple additive tanks containing different transmission-specific additives. This segmentation allows the system to store multiple lubricant compositions without requiring separate complete mixture tanks for each transmission type, thereby reducing space requirements while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The main tank containing base oil serves as a universal reservoir that can supply the same base oil to multiple different transmission types. Combined with the additive tanks, this creates a multi-functional system where one main storage tank supports various lubricant formulations, reducing the total number of tanks needed compared to storing complete pre-mixed lubricants for each transmission type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the complete tank system or filling system is pumped empty and flushed for conversion between different transmission types, then the system can be reused for different lubricant compositions, but the conversion process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the lubricant composition into base oil and additive components stored in separate tanks. When converting between different transmission types, only the additive tanks need to be switched, not the entire filling system. This segmentation eliminates the need for complete system flushing and reduces conversion time significantly.
Solution Approach 2:
Different transmission-specific additives are pre-prepared in separate tanks before production. When a new transmission type is to be manufactured, the corresponding additive tank is simply connected or switched into position, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site mixing or system flushing. The additives are ready in advance for immediate use.
3Reliability
If different transmission types require different additive compositions, then each transmission can receive its specific lubricant formulation, but the logistics and disposition costs increase due to the complexity of managing multiple lubricant types
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant system is divided into a common base oil component and transmission-specific additive components. This segmentation simplifies logistics by allowing the base oil to be managed as a single commodity while only the additives require differentiated handling. The system complexity is reduced compared to managing completely different lubricant formulations for each transmission type.
Solution Approach 2:
The additive tanks serve as intermediaries between the common base oil and the specific transmission requirements. By introducing this intermediary layer, the system can maintain a simple, unified base oil supply while accommodating diverse transmission-specific requirements through the additive selection, thereby simplifying the overall logistics and disposition system.
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
This approach allows for flexible and efficient production of different transmission types without the need for extensive reconfiguration, ensuring that the lubricant mixture is always fresh and reducing production costs by eliminating the need for multiple tanks and minimizing storage issues.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing unit (20) which has a main supply line (22), an outlet line (26) and at least one secondary supply line (24)
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a filling system, in particular for filling a component with operating fluid, comprising a mixing unit (20), which has: a main supply line (22), an outlet line (26), and at least one secondary supply line (24); wherein the filling system comprises a metering device, which is designed to set inflows from and/or in the supply lines (22, 24) into the mixing unit (20) in such a way that a specified mixing ratio can be set in a component to be filled, and wherein the main supply line (22) is designed to provide a greater inflow than the at least one secondary supply line (24).