Elastic Floating Cover for Reservoir Tank Bubble Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid storage devices on vehicles fail to effectively suppress the generation of air bubbles, particularly due to the inability of fixed guide members to follow changes in the liquid level and the lack of sufficient restraint on the liquid surface.
Innovation Solution
A liquid storage device equipped with a reservoir tank and a floating cover that floats on the liquid surface, allowing the cover to change from a stored state to a deployed state, thereby effectively covering the liquid surface and suppressing air bubble generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed guide members are used in the reservoir tank, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the guide members cannot follow changes in liquid level and cannot sufficiently suppress undulation and air bubble generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from fixed guide members to a floating cover that moves with liquid level changes. The floating cover is equipped with a float mechanism that automatically adjusts its vertical position to follow the liquid surface, ensuring continuous coverage and effective suppression of undulation and air bubble generation regardless of liquid level fluctuations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by making the guide structure adaptable to varying liquid levels. The floating cover's vertical position is dynamically adjusted based on the liquid level parameter, allowing the coverage area and suppression effectiveness to change according to the actual liquid level conditions in the reservoir tank.
2Reliability
If the floating cover is made large enough to cover the entire liquid surface, then air bubble generation is suppressed, but the cover cannot pass through the tank inlet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the floating cover into multiple detachable sections or components. This allows the cover to be assembled in a compact configuration that can pass through the tank inlet, and then expanded or assembled into a larger configuration that provides sufficient coverage of the liquid surface for effective air bubble suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the nested doll principle by designing the floating cover components to nest within each other during storage and installation. The cover can be collapsed or folded into a compact form that fits through the tank inlet, and then expanded to its full size once inside the tank, providing adequate surface coverage without installation difficulties.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the floating cover is made elastic to expand and contract, then it can pass through the tank inlet and follow liquid level changes, but the material selection and manufacturing become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible shells and thin films by using elastic or flexible materials for the floating cover construction. These materials allow the cover to expand and contract elastically in response to liquid level changes and installation requirements, while maintaining structural integrity and buoyancy functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies composite materials by combining multiple materials with complementary properties in the floating cover construction. This includes using elastic materials for flexibility, buoyant materials for floating capability, and potentially reinforcing materials for structural strength, creating a composite structure that achieves the desired adaptability while remaining manufacturable.
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 floating cover effectively follows changes in the liquid level, reducing undulation and air bubble generation, thereby improving the stability and efficiency of the liquid storage system.
Implementation Method 1
a floating cover that floats on a liquid surface of the liquid in the reservoir tank
Implementation Method 2
the floating cover has elasticity to such an extent that the floating cover can change from a stored state in which the floating cover can pass through the tank inlet to a deployed state in which the floating cover is spread along the liquid surface by elastic restoring force
Data Source
AI summary
The liquid storage device comprises a reservoir tank that is equipped on a vehicle and that stores a liquid; and a floating cover that floats on a liquid surface of the liquid in the reservoir tank and that covers at least a part of the liquid surface, wherein the reservoir tank includes: a body configured to store the liquid; and a tank inlet having a smaller diameter than the body, and the floating cover has elasticity to such an extent that the floating cover can change from a stored state in which the floating cover can pass through the tank inlet to a deployed state in which the floating cover is spread along the liquid surface by elastic restoring force.