Fuel Tank Stiffness Reinforcement via Segmented Column
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel tanks in hybrid vehicles face challenges in maintaining stiffness under positive pressure and negative pressure conditions, leading to deformation and potential oil leakage during collisions due to inadequate reinforcement structures.
Innovation Solution
A stiffness reinforcement structure featuring a reinforcing column with upper and lower openings, sliders, and springs, which provides elastic compression force and allows for horizontal movement to induce separation from the fuel tank's top and bottom plates during collisions, preventing bursting and oil leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the stiffness of the reinforcing column is excessively high, then the fuel tank maintains its shape well under normal pressure conditions, but the thermal bonding portions between the top plate and bottom plate and the reinforcing column break during collision, causing fuel leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing column is divided into multiple sections with varying stiffness characteristics. The upper and lower portions have different structural configurations compared to the middle portion, allowing each segment to serve different functions: maintaining stiffness where needed and enabling controlled fracture where safety is prioritized.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the reinforcing column are designed with different structural qualities. The middle portion has a specific cross-sectional shape that promotes fracture induction, while the upper and lower portions maintain higher stiffness. This local differentiation allows the column to simultaneously provide structural support and controlled failure modes.
2Reliability
If the stiffness of the reinforcing column is excessively small, then the fracture induction portion easily absorbs shock through fracture, but the fuel tank deforms excessively even under negative pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing column is divided into multiple sections with varying stiffness characteristics. The upper and lower portions have different structural configurations compared to the middle portion, allowing each segment to serve different functions: maintaining stiffness where needed and enabling controlled fracture where safety is prioritized.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the reinforcing column are designed with different structural qualities. The middle portion has a specific cross-sectional shape that promotes fracture induction, while the upper and lower portions maintain higher stiffness. This local differentiation allows the column to simultaneously provide structural support and controlled failure modes.
3Ease of manufacture
If a conventional reinforcing column structure is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot maintain stiffness in both positive and negative pressure states while preventing oil leakage during collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing column is divided into multiple sections with varying stiffness characteristics. The upper and lower portions have different structural configurations compared to the middle portion, allowing each segment to serve different functions: maintaining stiffness where needed and enabling controlled fracture where safety is prioritized.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the reinforcing column are designed with different structural qualities. The middle portion has a specific cross-sectional shape that promotes fracture induction, while the upper and lower portions maintain higher stiffness. This local differentiation allows the column to simultaneously provide structural support and controlled failure modes.
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 structure effectively maintains stiffness in both positive and negative pressure states, absorbs shock by separating from the tank's plates, and prevents oil leakage by maintaining thermal bonds during collisions, ensuring fuel tank integrity.
Implementation Method 1
springs wound around outer sides of the reinforcing column and the sliders and providing elastic compression force to the upper thermal bonding member and the lower thermal bonding member through the sliders
Implementation Method 2
an upper thermal bonding member inserted in the upper opening of the reinforcing column and fastened to corresponding sliders with a top thermally bonded to an inner side of a fuel tank; a lower thermal bonding member inserted in the lower opening of the reinforcing column and fastened to corresponding sliders with a bottom thermally bonded to an inner side of a fuel tank
Data Source
AI summary
A stiffness reinforcement structure for a fuel tank of a vehicle includes: a reinforcing column having an upper opening and a lower opening, and side openings arranged at both sides of an upper end and both sides of a lower end thereof; sliders fastened to the side openings of the reinforcing column; an upper thermal bonding member inserted in the upper opening and fastened to corresponding sliders; a lower thermal bonding member inserted in the lower opening of the reinforcing column and fastened to corresponding sliders with a bottom thermally bonded to an inner side of the fuel tank; and springs wound around outer sides of the reinforcing column and the sliders and providing elastic compression force to the upper thermal bonding member and the lower thermal bonding member.