Gravity-Fed Fuel Delivery With Mechanical Float Valve Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel delivery systems for hydraulic fracturing equipment are complex, prone to failure, and require manual refueling, leading to potential equipment shutdowns and safety risks due to the need for numerous hoses and electronic components.
Innovation Solution
A gravity-fed fuel delivery system that uses a bulk storage tank elevated by a hydraulic power pack to supply fuel through a network of conduits with dry break connections and a unique float valve assembly that operates mechanically, eliminating the need for electronic sensors and individual hoses, ensuring a steady fuel flow without overpressurizing fuel lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fuel delivery systems use electronic sensors, networks, touch screens, powered valves, and switches to monitor and control fuel flow, then fuel delivery control is achieved, but device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to numerous potential failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes electronic sensors, networks, touch screens, powered valves, and switches from the fuel delivery system. Instead, it uses a mechanical float valve assembly that operates autonomously based on fuel level, eliminating the complex electronic control infrastructure while maintaining fuel delivery functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The float valve assembly automatically responds to fuel level changes without external control signals. When fuel level drops, the float mechanism automatically opens the valve to allow refueling; when fuel level rises, it automatically closes the valve, creating a self-regulating system that eliminates the need for electronic monitoring and control components.
2Productivity
If manual refueling is used for each equipment fuel tank, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time increases due to frequent manual intervention and potential equipment shutdowns
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous fuel supply to equipment through the float valve assembly that automatically activates refueling when fuel levels drop. This eliminates interruptions in equipment operation and removes the need for manual refueling interventions, ensuring uninterrupted productive operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The float valve assembly performs automatic fuel level monitoring and refueling activation without human intervention. The system self-regulates fuel delivery based on actual fuel levels, eliminating the time loss associated with manual refueling checks and operations while maintaining equipment operational continuity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple individual hoses are used from main fueling unit to each fuel pump and equipment tank, then fuel delivery flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to numerous hoses and connection points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple individual fuel delivery lines into a single common fuel source that serves all equipment through the float valve assembly. This merging approach reduces the number of hoses and connection points while maintaining the ability to deliver fuel to multiple equipment simultaneously, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing delivery flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The float valve assembly serves as a universal fuel level control mechanism that can manage fuel delivery to multiple different equipment types and tank sizes. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate control systems for each equipment while maintaining adaptability to various fueling requirements.
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 system provides a safer, more reliable, and cost-effective fuel delivery by reducing potential failure points, eliminating the need for manual refueling, and maintaining fuel levels without electronic components, while allowing for easy monitoring and adaptation to various fuel tank sizes.
Implementation Method 1
A gravity-fed fuel delivery system that uses a bulk storage tank elevated by a hydraulic power pack to supply fuel through a network of conduits
Implementation Method 2
a unique float valve assembly that operates mechanically, eliminating the need for electronic sensors and individual hoses, ensuring a steady fuel flow without overpressurizing fuel lines
Data Source
AI summary
A gravity-fed fuel delivery system is provided. A central storage tank holds fuel to re-supply a number of pump trucks or other mechanized equipment, such as on a hydraulic fracturing location, and can be selectively raised or lowered. Hoses or other conduits extend from the central storage tank to individual fuel tanks of the equipment to be refueled. Adapters allow connection of the distal end of each hose or conduit to an inlet opening of a fuel tank. A float valve assembly senses when fuel inside an individual fuel tank is below a predetermined level, thereby mechanically opening a valve assembly to permit fluid to flow from the central storage tank, through a conduit, through the float valve assembly and into the fuel tank.