Flexible Membrane Fuel Container Bottom for Reliable Fluid Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing operating fluid containers for motor vehicles face challenges in reliably removing operating fluids, especially when the container is almost empty or when the vehicle is inclined, due to the lack of effective mechanisms to manage fluid flow under gravity.
Innovation Solution
A flexible membrane container bottom with an electrically operated drive device that displaces the membrane to create a funnel effect, ensuring the operating fluid is pushed towards a removal point by gravity, even when the container is almost empty or the vehicle is inclined.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional rigid container bottom is used, then the container structure is simple and stable, but the operating fluid cannot be reliably removed when the container is almost empty or when the vehicle is inclined
Solution Approach 1:
The container bottom is transformed from a rigid structure to a dynamically adjustable flexible membrane that can change its shape and orientation. The membrane is divided into multiple regions that can be independently displaced by a drive device, allowing the bottom surface to be tilted or formed into a funnel shape to guide remaining fluid toward the dispensing point, thereby ensuring reliable fluid removal under various operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The container bottom is replaced with a flexible membrane made of elastomeric material that can be deformed and positioned in different configurations. This flexible membrane allows the creation of inclined surfaces and funnel effects to direct fluid flow toward the dispensing point, solving the problem of incomplete fluid removal while maintaining a relatively simple overall container structure.
2Productivity
If the container is kept simple without membrane displacement mechanism, then the device complexity is low, but the fluid extraction efficiency deteriorates when the container is inclined or nearly empty
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane displacement system provides dynamic control over the container bottom geometry, enabling the formation of inclined surfaces and funnel shapes that actively guide fluid toward the dispensing point. This dynamic adjustment significantly improves fluid extraction efficiency by maximizing gravitational flow paths, while the modular drive device keeps the added complexity manageable through electrically actuated regions.
3Reliability
If the membrane is made fully flexible and displaceable, then fluid removal reliability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is divided into multiple discrete regions (first region, second region, third region) that can be independently displaced or fixed. This segmentation allows selective displacement of only the necessary portions to create fluid-guiding surfaces, while other regions remain fixed to maintain structural stability. The segmented approach reduces manufacturing precision requirements compared to fully flexible membranes, as each segment can be independently positioned and secured.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the membrane are assigned different functional properties: some regions are made displaceable to create inclined surfaces for fluid guidance, while other regions are fixed to maintain structural integrity. This local differentiation of membrane properties allows the system to achieve reliable fluid removal without requiring the entire membrane to be fully flexible, thereby reducing overall manufacturing complexity and precision 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 configuration ensures reliable removal of operating fluids across various filling levels and vehicle inclinations, maintaining efficient fluid extraction by enhancing the gravitational influence on the fluid, thereby addressing the reliability issues of existing containers.
Implementation Method 1
ensuring the operating fluid is pushed towards a removal point by gravity
Implementation Method 2
create a funnel effect, ensuring the operating fluid is pushed towards a removal point by gravity
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a fuel container (1) for a motor vehicle for the temporary storage of a liquid fuel, comprising a container volume (6) bounded by a container housing (2) and serving to hold the fuel, and a dispensing point for dispensing the fuel from the fuel container (1), wherein the dispensing point is arranged on a container base (7) of the fuel container (1) which, together with the container housing (2), bounds the container volume (6). It is provided that the container base (7) is formed, at least partially, by a flexible membrane (8), wherein a first region (10) of the membrane (8), spaced apart from the dispensing point, is displaceable relative to a second region (11) of the membrane (8) arranged at the dispensing point. The invention further relates to a method for operating a fuel container (1) for a motor vehicle.