LPG Valve With Separate Pivoting Floats For Tank Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valves for liquefied petroleum gas tanks face challenges in being compatible with various tank sizes and shapes, as they often require a pivoting float to perform both level measurement and overfill protection functions, which can be difficult to adapt for different tank configurations.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring separate pivoting floats for the level gauge and overfill protection device, with the level gauge float pivoting around a first axis distant from the body and the overfill protection float pivoting around a second axis closer to the body, allowing for a tube and rod configuration that can be adjusted to fit different tank dimensions, and incorporating a support element with offset arms to accommodate bevel gears, enabling precise level indication and refilling control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single pivoting float is used to perform both level measurement and overfill protection functions, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different tank sizes and shapes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The single pivoting float is divided into two separate floats: a first pivoting float for level measurement and a second pivoting float for overfill protection. Each float can be independently positioned and adjusted, allowing the device to adapt to various tank sizes and shapes while maintaining functional simplicity through modular design
2Measurement precision
If the pivoting float is positioned close to the tank body for overfill protection, then overfill detection precision is improved, but level measurement range deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The solution uses two separate floats positioned at different distances from the tank body along the longitudinal axis. The first float extends further to measure lower liquid levels, while the second float is positioned closer to the body for precise overfill detection near the maximum level, effectively utilizing spatial distribution to resolve the measurement range vs. precision trade-off
3Length of moving object
If the pivoting float is positioned far from the tank body for level measurement, then level measurement range is improved, but overfill protection precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The level measurement function and overfill protection function are segmented into separate floats with distinct positioning. The first float extends farther to provide broad level measurement coverage, while the second float is strategically positioned closer to the tank body to ensure high-precision overfill detection, allowing each component to optimize its specific function
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
This design provides greater flexibility in fitting valves to tanks of various sizes and shapes, allowing for precise level measurement and overfill protection, while maintaining a compact and adaptable structure that can be easily adjusted for different tank configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a level gauge with a pivoting float for measuring the level of the liquid phase of the gas
Implementation Method 2
an overfill protection device with a pivoting float for limiting refilling of the tank based on the level of the liquid phase of the gas
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention is directed to a valve (10) for a gas tank (2), comprising a body (12) with a longitudinal axis to be mounted on an opening on a wall (43) of the gas tank (2), with a gas outlet port (14) and a gas refill port (20), a level gauge (18) with a pivoting float (46) for measuring the level of the liquid phase of the gas, an overfill protection device (22) with a pivoting float (26) for limiting refilling of the tank based on the level of the liquid phase of the gas. The pivoting float (46) of the level gauge pivots around a first axis (44) distant from the body (12), and the pivoting float of the overfill protection device is a distinct float (26) pivoting around a second axis (28) that is less distant from the body (12) than the first axis (44).