Work Vehicle Fuel Tank Layout for Easier Fuel Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel tank designs for work vehicles, such as those described in JP 8-132897 A, face difficulties in efficiently sucking fuel from the tank due to the suction port being located at the upper end, making it hard to extract fuel from the bottom to the top, and there is a need for improved methods to discharge fuel and urea water without erroneous discharge or splashing.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a fuel tank with a drain port and suction port positioned on the lateral side surfaces, where the suction port is lower than the drain port, allowing for easier fuel suction and discharge, and the urea water tank's drain port is positioned above the fuel tank's drain port to prevent erroneous discharge and utilize space effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the suction port is formed at the upper end portion of the fuel tank, then the fuel can be discharged from the tank, but it becomes difficult to suck fuel from the bottom to the upper end portion
Solution Approach 1:
The suction port is inverted from the conventional upper end position to the lower end portion of the fuel tank. This inversion allows the suction pipe to draw fuel from the bottom of the tank where fuel accumulates, making it much easier to suck fuel and improving fuel discharge efficiency without requiring suction from the bottom to the top.
2Productivity
If the drain port is positioned at the lower end of the fuel tank, then fuel can be discharged, but impurities may remain around the drain port and be sucked into the engine
Solution Approach 1:
The drain port and suction port are positioned asymmetrically on opposite side surfaces of the fuel tank rather than at the same location. The drain port is on one side at the lower end, while the suction port is on the opposite side. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that when fuel is discharged from one side, impurities remain on that side and are not drawn into the suction port on the opposite side, preventing contamination while maintaining effective fuel discharge.
3Volume of stationary object
If the urea water tank and fuel tank are positioned close together, then space is utilized effectively, but erroneous discharge between the two fluids may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The drain ports of the urea water tank and fuel tank are positioned asymmetrically at different heights. The urea water tank's drain port is positioned higher than the fuel tank's drain port. This height difference creates clear visual and operational distinction between the two discharge points, preventing erroneous discharge while effectively utilizing the vertical space in the vehicle.
4Device complexity
If the suction port is positioned at the upper end, then the tank structure is simple, but fuel suction becomes difficult requiring suction from bottom to top
Solution Approach 1:
The suction port is inverted from the upper end to the lower end portion of the fuel tank, and the suction pipe is configured to draw fuel from this lower position. This simple structural inversion eliminates the need for complex bottom-to-top suction mechanisms while greatly improving ease of fuel suction, as fuel naturally accumulates at the bottom of the tank.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a fuel tank of a work vehicle in which fuel can be easily sucked into an engine. The fuel tank 30 includes: a drain port 43 which is open to an outside on a side surface and through which fuel is discharged to the outside; a suction port 44 which is open to the outside on a side surface and has a center positioned lower than a center C43 of the drain port 43 and through which the fuel is sucked by an engine 3; and a first recess 45a which is formed to be recessed downward with respect to a bottom surface 40d and communicates with the drain port 43.