Membrane Tank Structure for Complete Horizontal Emptying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tank emptying systems for semi-liquid and powdery products, such as those used in hydro-cleaners, face inefficiencies and safety risks due to tilting or movable partitions, leading to incomplete emptying and increased instability during discharge.
Innovation Solution
A tank design incorporating a flexible, gas- and liquid-tight membrane fixed to the internal face of the shell, with a system for generating pressurization and depression, allowing horizontal emptying and complete removal of the membrane for thorough emptying, and featuring a niche for vacuum generation and anti-overflow protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the tank is tilted at 40° for emptying, then the products can be drained, but the carrier and equipment may roll over on unstable ground
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of tilting the tank to empty it, the patent inverts the approach by keeping the tank horizontal and using a movable partition that can be shifted to redirect product flow toward the discharge outlet. This inversion of the emptying mechanism eliminates the need for tilting while maintaining effective product evacuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a movable partition as an intermediary element between the product mass and the discharge outlet. This partition acts as a mediator that can be positioned to guide product flow horizontally, enabling emptying without tilting the entire tank structure and thus maintaining stability on uneven ground.
2Reliability
If a movable partition is used for emptying, then the tank can be emptied horizontally, but the emptying may be incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamically movable partition that can be shifted in both directions along its axis. This dynamic positioning allows the partition to adapt to different product levels and volumes, ensuring complete emptying by progressively directing all product toward the discharge outlet without leaving residue in dead zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable partition enables continuous product flow toward the discharge outlet by eliminating dead zones where product could be trapped. The partition can be continuously adjusted to maintain an unbroken flow path, ensuring that all product is evacuated completely without interruption or residue.
3Ease of operation
If the membrane is fixed at a distance from the rear of the shell, then vacuum can be generated inside the membrane, but the tank is not completely emptied and cleaning is not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the membrane from its conventional fixed position and repositions it to extend to the rear opening of the shell. This extraction and repositioning allows the membrane to be completely removed through the rear opening, enabling complete emptying and optimized cleaning access that was not possible with the membrane fixed at a distance from the rear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimensional arrangement of the membrane by extending it to the rear opening rather than fixing it at a distance from the rear. This dimensional change creates additional access space and allows the membrane to be fully extracted, transforming the emptying and cleaning process from partial to complete.
4Weight of moving object
If a flexible membrane is used for emptying, then the system is lightweight and efficient, but the membrane arrangement affects complete emptying and cleaning efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a flexible membrane that can be completely removed through the rear opening of the shell. This flexible structure maintains the lightweight and efficient characteristics while the ability to fully extract it enables complete emptying and optimized cleaning, resolving the contradiction between weight efficiency and emptying completeness.
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 safe, quick, and complete horizontal emptying of the tank, reducing the risk of rolling over and facilitating easy cleaning, while ensuring all products are evacuated, even on unstable ground, with a lightweight and efficient solution.
Implementation Method 1
a system for generating a pressurization and a depression of the free space between the tank and the membrane, said system comprising a vacuum generator configured to generate a depression of an internal space inside the membrane
Implementation Method 2
a system for generating a pressurization and a depression of the free space between the tank and the membrane
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
- The tank (1) for storing products, in particular semi-liquid, pasty or powdery solid products, comprises a shell (2) provided with an opening (5) and a door (7) capable of closing this opening (5), a flexible membrane (9) impermeable to gases and liquids, intended to receive the products to be stored, said membrane (9) being provided with an opening (10), being arranged inside the tank (1) so that its opening (10) is at the level of the opening (5) of the shell (2), and being fixed along an annular fixing zone to the internal face of the shell (2) around its opening (10) so as to create a closed so-called free space (15), and a system (16) capable of generating a pressurization and a depression of this free space (15) as well as a depression of an internal space (11) of the membrane (9), rapid and complete emptying of the tank (1) being possible be carried out using said membrane (9) and said system (16).