Work Vehicle Fuel Tank Shielding Liquid Tank Heat

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing work vehicles with urea water solution tanks for exhaust gas purification are exposed to hot air from engines, leading to expansion issues and inefficient supply structures, with no effective protection from heat and potential mixing of fuels and reductants during supply.

Innovation Solution

A work vehicle design where the fuel tank shields the liquid tank from hot air, using a recessed structure to accommodate the liquid tank and incorporating a heat exchanger for cooling, with separate and angled inlets to prevent mixing and allow for expansion space, ensuring the liquid tank is protected from heat and efficiently supplied.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the liquid tank is arranged in the space between the vehicle body and the ground to utilize space, then space utilization is improved, but the tank is exposed to hot air from the engine causing the purification liquid to expand

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidexposure to hot air
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid tank is nested within the fuel tank structure, specifically utilizing the fuel tank as a protective outer shell. The fuel tank's robust construction and positioning create a thermal barrier that shields the liquid tank from engine heat while maintaining compact space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The fuel tank serves as an intermediary element between the engine (heat source) and the liquid tank. By positioning the liquid tank within or adjacent to the fuel tank, the fuel tank acts as a thermal mediator that blocks hot air from directly contacting the purification liquid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the urea water solution inlet and fuel inlet are arranged close to each other with a common cap, then workability during supply is improved, but there is risk of mistaken supply and scattering of liquids

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkability during supplyVSAvoidprevention of mistaken supply
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The supply inlets are segmented into separate, distinct openings rather than using a common cap. The fuel inlet and liquid inlet are positioned at different locations with different orientations, creating physical separation that prevents mixing errors while maintaining ease of access for supply operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inlets are designed with asymmetric characteristics - different shapes, orientations, or positions - that allow operators to easily distinguish between the fuel inlet and liquid inlet. This asymmetric design prevents mistaken supply while keeping the supply process simple and efficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Volume of moving object

If the liquid tank is exposed to space below the vehicle body, then space utilization is improved, but no protection is provided against hot air from the engine

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidprotection from hot air
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid tank is positioned within the structural envelope of the fuel tank, utilizing the fuel tank's volume and positioning to create a protected niche. This nesting arrangement allows the liquid tank to occupy available space while being thermally protected by the fuel tank's location relative to the engine.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The fuel tank, which could be considered a separate component taking up space, is instead utilized as a protective shield. The very structure that occupies space becomes the thermal barrier that protects the liquid tank, converting a potential spatial conflict into a beneficial protective relationship.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 tank effectively blocks hot air from reaching the liquid tank, preventing expansion and mixing issues, while the heat exchanger maintains the reductant solution's stability, and the angled inlets simplify and secure the supply process, enhancing safety and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the tank is exposed to hot air from the engine, and this is disadvantageous for the urea water solution that expands when heated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

incorporating a heat exchanger for cooling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP2949496B1Work vehicle
Publication Date: 2019.06.05 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP2949496B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2949496B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2949496B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A work vehicle includes an engine, a fuel tank that has a fuel supply inlet and stores engine fuel, and a liquid tank that has a liquid supply inlet and stores purification liquid that is used in purification of engine exhaust gas. The liquid tank is protected by the fuel tank so that the liquid tank is not directly exposed to hot air from the engine.