Vehicular Gaseous Fuel Pipe Layout for Pressure Pulsation Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel supply pipes for vehicular gaseous fuel face challenges in reducing pressure pulsation without increasing cost and weight, and they have limited layout flexibility due to the need for enlarged spaces for pulsation suppression mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A fuel supply pipe design that includes a main pipe for gaseous fuel, a sub tank separated from the main pipe, and a coupling member that connects the main pipe with the sub tank, allowing for increased volume without using elastic members or diaphragms, thus suppressing pressure pulsation effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pulsation suppression mechanism using an elastic member or diaphragm is provided in the supply pipe, then pressure pulsation is reduced, but cost and vehicle weight are unnecessarily increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure pulsation suppressionVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The supply pipe is divided into a main pipe and a separate storage tank connected via coupling members, creating a segmented structure that functions as a pulsation suppression mechanism without requiring elastic members or diaphragms in the pipe itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A storage tank is introduced as an intermediary component between the fuel tank and engine, serving as a buffer to suppress pressure pulsation while allowing the main pipe to remain simple and lightweight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a space portion is provided in the fuel supply pipe for pulsation suppression, then pressure pulsation is reduced, but the fuel supply pipe needs to be enlarged, reducing layout flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure pulsation suppressionVSAvoidlayout flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The supply system is segmented into a main pipe for fuel flow and a separate storage tank for pulsation suppression, allowing the main pipe to maintain a compact size while the storage tank is positioned independently in available space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The storage tank is positioned in a different spatial location (separated from the main pipe) rather than incorporating volume within the pipe itself, enabling flexible three-dimensional layout around the engine compartment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20250052353A1Supply pipe for vehicular gaseous fuel

Publication Date: 2025.02.13 USUI CO LTD

AI summary

A supply pipe for vehicular gaseous fuel includes a main pipe through which gaseous fuel supplied to an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle flows, a sub tank separated from the main pipe, and a coupling member that couples the main pipe with the sub tank, wherein the sub tank is coupled with the main pipe via the coupling member.