Fluid Pressure-Feed Device With Sub Tank For Continuous Feeding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid pressure-feed devices for vehicle body manufacturing lines require multiple pump units to maintain continuous fluid pressure during tank replacement, leading to increased device size and installation space requirements.

Innovation Solution

A compact fluid pressure-feed device configuration that includes a main tank and a sub tank, where the fluid from the main tank is transferred to the sub tank under pressure, allowing continuous fluid pressure feeding during main tank replacement without the need for multiple pump units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If two pump units are provided to maintain continuous fluid pressure during tank replacement, then the reliability of continuous fluid feeding is improved, but the device size and installation space increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous fluid feedingVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sub tank is pre-filled with fluid before the main tank is replaced. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the main tank needs replacement, the sub tank already contains sufficient fluid to maintain continuous pressure feeding during the entire replacement operation, eliminating the need for a second pump unit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fluid storage system is divided into two separate tanks: a main tank for bulk storage and a sub tank for backup supply. This segmentation allows the system to switch between tanks seamlessly during replacement operations, maintaining continuous fluid pressure without requiring duplicate pump units

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If two pump units are provided to maintain continuous fluid pressure during tank replacement, then the productivity of the manufacturing line is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing line continuityVSAvoidpump unit configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sub tank is pre-filled with fluid before the main tank is replaced. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the main tank needs replacement, the sub tank already contains sufficient fluid to maintain continuous pressure feeding during the entire replacement operation, eliminating the need for a second pump unit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The backup fluid storage function is extracted from the pump unit structure and placed into a separate sub tank. This extraction simplifies the pump unit configuration by removing the need for duplicate pumps while maintaining the ability to sustain productivity during tank replacement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Volume of stationary object

If a single pump unit is used, then the device size is reduced, but the manufacturing line must stop during tank replacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidmanufacturing line stoppage
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sub tank is pre-filled with fluid before the main tank is replaced. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the main tank needs replacement, the sub tank already contains sufficient fluid to maintain continuous pressure feeding during the entire replacement operation, eliminating the need for a second pump unit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sub tank acts as an intermediary fluid reservoir that bridges the gap during main tank replacement. It provides temporary fluid supply to the single pump unit, allowing the manufacturing line to continue operating without interruption while the main tank is being replaced

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 enables continuous fluid pressure feeding during tank replacement, optimizing fluid delivery and reducing the device size by eliminating the need for multiple pump units, thus minimizing installation space requirements.

Implementation Method 1

a main follower plate that applies pressurizing force to a fluid inside the main tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

a pump that forces out the fluid inside the sub tank under pressure toward the fluid passage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3552718B1Fluid pressure-feed device
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3552718B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3552718B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3552718B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A fluid pressure-feed device (1) includes a main tank (2) and a sub tank (3). The sub tank (3) is connected integrally with an upper portion of a main follower plate (4) that applies pressurizing force to a urethane adhesive (U) inside the main tank (2). A drum pump (8) is provided in an upper portion of a sub follower plate (5) provided in the sub tank (3). While the urethane adhesive (U) is flowing into the sub tank (3) from the main tank (2), the urethane adhesive (U) is fed under pressure from the sub tank (3) to a fluid passage by actuation of the drum pump (8). While the main tank (2) is being replaced, the urethane adhesive (U) inside the sub tank (3) is fed under pressure to the fluid passage by the drum pump (8).