Flexible Fuel Container Guidance for Accurate Fluid Level Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible fuel tanks with variable volumes face challenges in maintaining positional accuracy and accurately detecting fluid levels due to deformation under vibration and inconsistent shape changes, leading to difficulties in precise fuel quantity measurement.
Innovation Solution
A fluid storage apparatus with a flexible container equipped with a guiding mechanism featuring guiding columns and sliders that linearly guide the container during expansion and contraction, combined with a position detection system using electric conductors and sensors to enhance positional reproducibility and accuracy of fluid level detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible container is used to store fluid, then the container can expand and contract according to fluid amount, but the container experiences positional deviation and deformation under vibration
Solution Approach 1:
A guiding mechanism consisting of guiding columns and sliders is introduced as an intermediary between the flexible container and the mounting structure. The guiding columns are fixed to the mounting structure while the sliders are attached to the container, allowing the container to expand and contract vertically along the guiding columns without lateral deviation. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling volume adaptability while maintaining positional reliability through the constrained sliding motion.
2Ease of manufacture
If the flexible container deforms under vibration, then mounting is simplified, but the container shape becomes inconsistent making fluid level detection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding mechanism acts as a mediator that allows the container to deform vertically for easier mounting while preventing lateral deformation that would affect measurement. The sliders constrain the container to move only along the vertical axis defined by the guiding columns, maintaining shape consistency in the horizontal plane where fluid level detection occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding mechanism segments the motion of the flexible container into independent vertical expansion/contraction from lateral deformation. By separating these motion components, the container can deform vertically for mounting simplicity while maintaining horizontal shape consistency for accurate fluid level detection using sensors like ultrasonic or capacitive sensors.
3Device complexity
If the container expands freely without guidance, then the structure is simpler, but positional deviation occurs reducing detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding mechanism with guiding columns and sliders serves as a minimal yet effective intermediary structure. The guiding columns provide fixed reference positions while the sliders enable smooth vertical motion, creating a simple but effective system that ensures reproducible positional changes during expansion and contraction, thereby maintaining detection accuracy without excessive structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid storage apparatus includes a guiding mechanism that linearly guides a flexible container in accordance with expansion and contraction of the flexible container. The guiding mechanism includes a guiding column that is disposed adjacent to the flexible container and that extends linearly and a slider that has a guiding hole, in which the guiding column is inserted, and that is formed on an upper edge portion of the flexible container.