Fuel Tank Valve Device Using Segmented Coupling for Rapid Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel tank valve devices face difficulties in responding quickly to changes in fuel surface levels, particularly in releasing the closed state of the air passage when the surface level drops, and require excessive force to correct the tilt of the valve body during ascent, leading to inefficient venting under high pressure conditions.
Innovation Solution
The valve device incorporates a float body with a valve body coupled by multiple coupling parts allowing upward and downward movement, where one coupling part catches ahead of others to tilt and restrict the valve body, and guide means on the central axis corrects the tilt, ensuring minimal force is needed for seating and easy opening of the valve seat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the valve member is pushed upward by a protruding part of the float to close the air exchange passage, then the valve can block fuel inflow effectively, but when the float descends to open the passage, the valve member cannot be pulled away quickly from the seat part under high pressure, resulting in poor response
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is divided into multiple coupling parts (first coupling part and second coupling part) that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the valve body to tilt independently during descent, enabling quick release from the seat part even under high pressure, while maintaining reliable closure during ascent.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling parts are designed to allow dynamic relative movement between the float body and valve body. During descent, the valve body can tilt relative to the float body, enabling rapid opening. During ascent, the guide means ensures proper alignment for effective closure. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between quick opening and reliable closure.
2Device complexity
If the valve member is supported by a protruding part of the float body, then the structure is simple, but when the valve member tilts during ascent, excessive force is required to make it contact completely with the seat part
Solution Approach 1:
The guide means acts as an intermediary mechanism between the float body and valve body. It guides the valve body to tilt appropriately during descent and return to the correct position during ascent, reducing the force required for complete seating. This intermediary mechanism maintains structural simplicity while reducing seating force requirements.
3Speed
If the valve body is tilted during descent to open the air passage quickly, then the response speed improves, but the valve body may not return to the correct position for proper closure
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism enables periodic tilting and returning of the valve body. During descent, the valve body tilts to open quickly. During ascent, the guide means ensures it returns to the correct position for closure. This periodic action pattern maintains both quick response and positional stability.
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
Enables quick response to fuel level changes, efficient venting, and minimal force for valve operation, even under high pressure, by utilizing the coupling and guide mechanisms to manage the valve body's movement and seating.
Implementation Method 1
a float body (1) having a valve body (3) on an upper part
Data Source
AI summary
A valve body and a float body are combined by respectively coupling two or more coupling parts provided on one of the valve body and the float body to coupled parts provided on the other of the valve body and the flat body in a state allowing upward and downward movements of the valve body. During descent of the float body, one coupling part of the two or more coupling parts is caught on the coupled parts ahead of the other coupling parts whereby the valve body is tilted, and the other coupling parts restrict the tilting of the valve body.