Fuel Tank Internal Locking Mechanism for Leak-Tight Sub-Component Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for attaching parts to fuel tanks compromise the tank's barrier properties by requiring holes to be cut into the tank body, which can diminish its integrity and leak-tightness.
Innovation Solution
A fuel tank design featuring complimentary male and female formations on the sub-component and the tank's inside surface, allowing for angular movement and interlocking without compromising the tank's integrity, using alignment and locking mechanisms to secure parts like gas vent valves or baffles internally without cutting the tank wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional attachment methods (welding or mechanical attachment requiring holes) are used to attach parts to the fuel tank, then the part can be securely attached to the tank, but the tank's barrier properties and leak-tightness are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is nested within the tank interior, with the male formation on the attachment part fitting into the female formation formed on the inner surface of the tank wall. This allows secure attachment without penetrating the tank wall, maintaining barrier properties while achieving reliable mechanical coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism transitions from a conventional through-hole approach to a surface-level engagement system. The male and female formations engage at the inner surface of the tank wall, utilizing the third dimension (depth from inner surface) to create secure attachment without compromising the outer surface integrity and barrier properties.
2Ease of manufacture
If holes are cut into the tank body to attach parts, then the part can be mounted to the tank, but the tank's integrity and leak-tightness are diminished
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment formations are nested within the tank structure, with the female formation molded into the inner surface and the male formation inserted from the interior. This nesting approach enables part mounting without creating holes through the tank wall, preserving the tank's structural integrity and leak-tightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The female formation is pre-formed on the inner surface of the tank wall during tank manufacturing (via molding), eliminating the need for subsequent hole-cutting operations. The attachment part with the male formation is then simply inserted and engaged, achieving easy manufacturing while maintaining tank integrity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the tank wall integrity is maintained without cutting holes, then leak-tightness is preserved, but conventional attachment methods cannot be used
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system uses nested male and female formations that engage at the inner surface of the tank wall. This nested configuration provides secure attachment capability while maintaining the outer surface integrity and leak-tightness of the tank, as no holes penetrate the tank wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism utilizes the interior space and inner surface of the tank wall to create engagement formations. By operating in the dimensional space of the inner surface rather than creating through-holes, the system achieves attachment capability while preserving the tank's leak-tight barrier function.
Data Source
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AI summary
The inside wall of a fuel tank, and a sub-component are provided with locking means in the form of complementary formations that allow the sub-component to be coupled to the inside surface of the fuel tank wall. Interlocking of the complementary formations is achieved by moving the sub-component towards the wall providing angular movement to the sub-component relative to the fuel tank.