Float Valve Support Structure to Prevent Fueling Hammer and Float-Up

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel tank valve devices experience hammering sounds and float valve malfunction during fuel supply due to fluid pushing the float valve, causing it to float prematurely, which affects its functionality as a cut valve or overfill suppression valve.

Innovation Solution

A valve device with a float valve support portion featuring a support wall, side wall, first slit, and second slit forms an elastic piece with a first extending portion and a second extending portion that contacts the float valve's bottom surface, narrowing the support wall opening and reducing fluid push-up, thus preventing premature floating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If an elastic piece is added to suppress hammering sound, then the hammering sound is reduced, but the float valve becomes more likely to float during fuel supply

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehammering soundVSAvoidfloat valve functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic piece is divided into two functional parts: a first extending portion that provides cushioning to suppress hammering sounds, and a second extending portion that acts as a blocking structure to prevent fluid from pushing up the float valve. This segmentation allows the single elastic piece to simultaneously address both the hammering sound issue and the float valve stability issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic piece serves as an intermediary element between the float valve and the housing bottom surface. It mediates the interaction by providing both cushioning (for hammering suppression) and blocking (for preventing fluid push-up), thereby resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and functional reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the float valve is designed to not float during fuel supply, then the valve functions correctly, but the float valve generates hammering sounds when lowered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloat valve functionalityVSAvoidhammering sound

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic piece is divided into two functional parts: a first extending portion that provides cushioning to suppress hammering sounds, and a second extending portion that acts as a blocking structure to prevent fluid from pushing up the float valve. This segmentation allows the single elastic piece to simultaneously address both the hammering sound issue and the float valve stability issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic piece changes the physical parameters of the interaction between the float valve and the housing. By introducing this elastic element, the hard impact (hammering) is converted into elastic deformation, and the fluid dynamics are modified to prevent push-up, thereby resolving both the noise and reliability issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If arc-shaped split grooves are formed in the case to create an elastic piece, then the hammering sound is suppressed, but fluid can flow through the grooves and push up the float valve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehammering soundVSAvoidfluid push-up

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic piece is divided into two functional parts: a first extending portion that provides cushioning to suppress hammering sounds, and a second extending portion that acts as a blocking structure to prevent fluid from pushing up the float valve. This segmentation allows the single elastic piece to simultaneously address both the hammering sound issue and the float valve stability issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic piece converts the potential harm of fluid flow through the grooves into a benefit by using the fluid pressure to press the second extending portion against the float valve bottom surface, thereby preventing float-up while maintaining the cushioning effect for hammering suppression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

The solution effectively suppresses hammering sounds and prevents the float valve from floating during fuel supply, ensuring the valve functions correctly as a cut valve or overfill suppression valve by reducing fluid push-up and maintaining the float valve in a non-floating state until a predetermined flow rate is reached.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic piece defined by the first slit and the second slit, and the elastic piece includes a first extending portion extending along the side wall, and a second extending portion extending from the first extending portion and capable of coming into contact with the bottom surface of the float valve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12172515B2Valve device

Publication Date: 2024.12.24 PIOLAX INC

AI summary

A valve device includes: a housing; a float valve; and a float valve support portion. The float valve support portion includes a support wall, a side wall, a first slit formed in the support wall, a second slit formed in the side wall, and an elastic piece defined by the first slit and the second slit. The elastic piece includes a first extending portion extending along the side wall, and a second extending portion extending from the first extending portion and capable of coming into contact with a bottom surface of the float valve.