Flexible Bladder Tank for Agricultural Vehicle Liquid Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional agricultural vehicles with rigid storage compartments for rinse water and products lead to increased soil compaction and waste of carrying capacity, as rinse water is often carried unnecessarily, and products like herbicides and fertilizers require separate tanks to prevent cross-contamination.
Innovation Solution
A liquid holding tank with a flexible bladder that compartmentalizes the tank into multiple chambers, allowing for efficient use of space by filling the bladder with rinse water when needed and products when not, and vice versa, using elastomeric materials like natural rubber or silicone to accommodate varying product volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid storage compartment is used to hold rinse water and products separately, then cross-contamination is prevented, but carrying capacity is wasted and soil compaction increases due to unnecessary rinse water transport
Solution Approach 1:
The storage tank is segmented into multiple chambers by flexible bladders, allowing independent containment of different liquids (rinse water and products). Each bladder acts as a separate compartment that can be filled or emptied independently, preventing cross-contamination while enabling flexible space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible bladders that can dynamically change volume and shape based on the amount of liquid they contain. This dynamic structure allows the bladders to be collapsed when empty, maximizing the available space in the storage tank for other liquids, and expanded when filled, optimizing carrying capacity utilization.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If separate rigid tanks are used for rinse water and products, then cross-contamination is prevented, but vehicle weight increases and soil compaction worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple storage functions into a single tank structure by using flexible bladders to create separable compartments within one container. This eliminates the need for multiple separate rigid tanks, reducing overall vehicle weight while maintaining the ability to store different liquids separately to prevent cross-contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible bladder structures made of thin, lightweight materials to create separable compartments within the storage tank. These flexible membranes provide effective separation for preventing cross-contamination while adding minimal weight compared to rigid tank structures.
3Reliability
If rinse water is always carried in a dedicated tank, then cleaning capability is ensured, but carrying capacity is reduced and soil compaction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible bladder structure allows the rinse water compartment to dynamically adjust its volume based on actual cleaning needs. When cleaning is required, the bladder can be filled with rinse water; when not needed, it can be collapsed to maximize space for product storage, thereby improving carrying capacity efficiency while maintaining cleaning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage tank with flexible bladders serves multiple functions: it can store products, rinse water, or a combination of both at different times and in different proportions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated single-purpose tanks, improving productivity by optimizing space utilization based on operational requirements.
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 design allows for more efficient use of the vehicle's carrying capacity, reducing soil compaction and waste by ensuring all available volume is utilized for either rinse water or products, while maintaining separation to prevent cross-contamination.
Implementation Method 1
The first bladder may include an elastomeric material
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis, a plurality of ground-engaging elements, and a liquid holding tank (118). The liquid holding tank includes a first bladder (302) disposed within an interior of the liquid holding tank, the first bladder defining a first chamber (306) within the first bladder, and a second chamber (308) defined between a wall (304) of the liquid holding tank and an outer surface of the first bladder. A method of forming a liquid holding tank (118) of a vehicle includes disposing a first bladder (302) within an interior of the liquid holding tank, a first chamber (306) being defined within the first bladder and a second chamber (308) being defined between an inner wall surface (304) of the liquid holding tank and an exterior of the bladder, and causing both of the first chamber and the second chamber to be in fluid communication with a delivery system of an application system of the vehicle.