Fluid Reservoir Plug Ramp Mechanism for Manual Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid reservoir assemblies face difficulties in easily transitioning between open and closed positions without tools, and they are often costly and heavy due to metal materials.
Innovation Solution
A fluid reservoir assembly design featuring a plug with radially extending wings and ramps on the pan's inner surface, allowing manual operation between open and closed positions, and suitable for polymer materials to reduce production costs and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a threaded plug with clamping member is used to seal the drain opening, then sealing engagement is achieved, but the plug becomes difficult to operate manually and may unintentionally rotate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the threaded mechanical fastening system with a friction-fit system where the shaft of the plug fits into a recess in the pan. This eliminates threading operations that cause unwanted rotation while maintaining secure attachment through friction and the engagement of the shaft's distal end with the recess's blind end.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug design incorporates a shaft with a distal end that self-aligns and self-secures within the recess of the pan. The friction fit and blind end engagement create a self-retaining mechanism that prevents unwanted rotation without requiring additional clamping members or threaded fasteners that would complicate manual operation.
2Strength
If metal materials are used for both pan and plug, then strength and durability are ensured, but production cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction where the pan is made of metal (providing structural strength) and the plug is made of polymer material (providing corrosion resistance and reducing weight). This combination leverages the advantages of both materials to achieve the required strength while reducing overall weight and production cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug is designed as a polymer component that can be easily replaced if needed, rather than a permanent metal fixture. This allows for cost-effective maintenance where the cheaper polymer plug can be replaced without replacing the entire metal pan assembly, reducing long-term operational costs.
3Ease of operation
If a polymer plug with detent device is used, then manual operation is enabled, but the detent device becomes difficult to grasp and weaken with repetitive flexing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the detent device entirely from the design, replacing it with a simple friction-fit shaft-to-recess interface. This eliminates the problematic detent mechanism that required manual manipulation and was prone to weakening from repetitive flexing, while maintaining ease of manual operation through the simple insert-and-rotate motion.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid reservoir assembly having a pan defining a drain opening and a plug disposed therein is disclosed. The pan includes a pair of ramps disposed on an inner surface thereof adjacent the drain opening. The plug includes a pair of wings in engagement with the ramps. The ramps increase in height relative to the inner surface of the pan along a first direction of rotation about the central axis. The plug is drawn into sealing engagement with an outer surface of the pan by rotating the plug in the first direction of rotation about the central axis thereby moving the wings up the ramps. The pan includes at least one stop to prevent over-rotation of the plug. The ramps define a recess to secure the wings in a closed position.