Portable Fuel Storage Cabinet with Sensor-Controlled Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for obtaining and transferring fuel are inefficient and prone to spills, and obtaining fuel can be inconvenient, especially when service stations are far away or not easily accessible, and may pose safety risks, particularly at night.
Innovation Solution
A fuel unit with a cabinet containing one or more fuel tanks, a dispenser, and a control unit that includes sensors and a communication circuit to ensure safe and authorized dispensing of fuel, featuring a movable conduit and a lock that can be controlled to prevent accidental fuel release, with safety features like sensors to detect user presence and nozzle positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fuel is transferred multiple times between containers and equipment, then fuel can be obtained and delivered, but fuel spills occur due to over-filling and improper nozzle positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the fuel transfer process into controlled stages: storage tank, pump, conduit, and dispenser nozzle. Each component performs a specific function to ensure precise fuel delivery without overfilling, eliminating the need for manual transfer between multiple containers.
Solution Approach 2:
A controlled conduit system acts as an intermediary between the fuel storage tank and the equipment fuel inlet. The conduit with positioned nozzle ensures accurate fuel delivery directly into the equipment, preventing spills that occur during manual container-to-equipment transfers.
2Productivity
If service stations are located far from user locations, then centralized fuel storage is efficient, but accessibility and convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel storage and dispensing system is extracted from centralized service stations and placed directly at the user's equipment location. This allows centralized storage efficiency to be maintained while eliminating the need for trips to distant service stations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service fueling at the equipment location, allowing users to refill equipment fuel tanks directly from the portable storage tank without needing to visit service stations, thereby improving accessibility and convenience.
3Quantity of substance
If service stations are the only fuel source, then fuel can be obtained, but safety risks increase during nighttime or adverse weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
Fuel is pre-stored in a portable tank at the user's location before needed, eliminating the need to travel to service stations during nighttime or adverse weather conditions, thereby preventing safety risks associated with such travel.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable fuel system enables users to refuel equipment independently at any location and time, eliminating dependence on service stations during unsafe conditions while ensuring continuous fuel availability.
4Reliability
If a lock mechanism is added to secure the fuel cabinet, then unauthorized access is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A control unit serves as an intermediary between the lock mechanism and the fuel dispensing system. It manages the complexity of authorization verification and lock control, providing simple user interaction while ensuring secure fuel access through multi-factor authentication.
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 fuel unit reduces fuel spills and ensures safe, convenient, and authorized dispensing of fuel, allowing for secure and efficient fuel transfer, even in remote or hard-to-reach locations, and provides enhanced safety features like night-time operation and secure access.
Implementation Method 1
A pump moves the fuel from the one or more fuel tanks through the conduit and the dispenser
Implementation Method 2
a spring is connected to the door and configured to apply a force to the door to move the door to the open position when the lock moves from the locked position to the unlocked position
Implementation Method 3
a rotatable holder having a rounded shape supports the conduit in the retracted position with the rotatable holder being spring biased towards the retracted position
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel storage and dispensing device that includes one or more storage tanks that are housed in a cabinet. A dispenser is fluidly attached to one or more of the storage tanks through a conduit. The dispenser includes one or more safety features to prevent inadvertent dispensing of fuel and to control the dispensing of the fuel.