Fuel Tank Vent Valve Shielding for Overflow Prevention in Turns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel overflow from a vehicle fuel tank into a canister occurs due to insufficient sealing or abnormal occurrences, leading to engine shutdown and reduced effectiveness of the canister in collecting fuel boil-off gas, especially when the vehicle turns, causing fuel to flow into the canister from the valve.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a valve unit and a shielding unit that rotates by gravity and acceleration to block the fuel inlet hole, preventing fuel from flowing into the canister, featuring a cover unit with windows and a shielding unit that adjusts its position based on the vehicle's turning direction to complicate the fuel flow path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed window hole location is used in the valve body, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but fuel overflow into the canister occurs when the vehicle turns in certain directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the window hole movable instead of fixed. The window hole is configured to change its opening/closing state and position based on vehicle acceleration and turning conditions, allowing it to dynamically block the fuel inlet hole when fuel overflow risk is detected during vehicle turns, thereby preventing fuel from entering the canister while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by having the window hole proactively block the fuel inlet hole before fuel can overflow into the canister. The movable window hole detects potential overflow conditions (vehicle turning, acceleration) and closes the opening in advance, preventing the harmful effect of fuel entering the canister before it can occur
2Ease of manufacture
If the window hole is positioned on the left side of the valve body, then manufacturing is simplified, but fuel overflow into the canister occurs when the vehicle turns to the left
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this directional limitation by making the window hole dynamically adjustable. Instead of being fixed on the left side, the window hole can move to different positions (left, right, center) based on vehicle turning direction and acceleration, allowing it to effectively block fuel overflow paths regardless of which direction the vehicle turns
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by having different sections of the valve body structure serve different functions. The window hole is designed with selective positioning capability, allowing it to be located at different positions (left side, right side, or center) depending on the specific operating conditions, thereby optimizing fuel overflow prevention for various turning scenarios
3Reliability
If a movable shielding unit is added to block the fuel inlet hole during turns, then fuel overflow prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces complexity by merging the shielding function with the existing window hole structure. Instead of adding a separate complex shielding mechanism, the patent utilizes the window hole itself as the shielding element, combining the opening/closing function and the shielding function into a single integrated component that moves to block the fuel inlet hole when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by designing the window hole to automatically move and position itself based on vehicle acceleration and turning conditions without requiring external control systems. The window hole self-adjusts its position to block the fuel inlet hole when fuel overflow risk is detected, eliminating the need for complex sensors, actuators, or control mechanisms
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
Effectively prevents fuel overflow into the canister, maintaining the canister's ability to collect fuel boil-off gas and reducing the risk of engine shutdown by blocking the fuel inlet hole during vehicle turns, while allowing for ease of manufacture and cost reduction.
Implementation Method 1
a shielding unit mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the cover unit to shield open windows and configured such that, when mounted on the cover unit, the shielding unit rotates along a turning direction of a vehicle
Implementation Method 2
the shielding unit rotates by gravity and acceleration to block a fuel inlet hole provided in the valve unit
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for preventing fuel overflow of a vehicle fuel tank includes: a valve unit including a valve body, a housing configured to cover a lower part of the valve body, a float mounted on the valve body and configured to slide up and down, a vapor line opened and closed according to a movement of the float, and a fuel inlet hole; a cover unit coupled to and enveloping the housing, the cover unit having a plurality of windows along an outer circumferential surface at a height corresponding to the fuel inlet hole, thereby being formed to allow the fuel to be introduced into the valve unit; and a shielding unit mounted on the cover unit to shield open windows, the shielding unit able to rotate along a turning direction of the vehicle to form an inflow path of the fuel flowing into the fuel inlet hole.