Nested Fuel-Urea Tank Layout for Better Drainage and Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fuel and urea tank arrangements in work vehicles, such as tractors, face issues with limited urea tank drainage and interference from toolboxes, which hinder efficient operation and visibility.

Innovation Solution

A tank arrangement where the urea tank is inserted into a housing within the fuel tank, with a front-rear direction, allowing for easy filling and drainage without interference, and incorporating a notch to direct fluid flow, a tank support to prevent displacement, and a recess for a toolbox to enhance visibility and usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the urea tank is arranged side by side with the fuel tank, then easy filling of both tanks is ensured, but the drainage flow of the urea tank is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of fillingVSAvoiddrainage flow
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The urea tank is nested within the fuel tank housing, with the urea tank positioned inside the space defined by the fuel tank's secondary portion. This allows the urea tank to be filled easily from the front face while enabling improved drainage through the integrated housing structure and groove system that directs fluid flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The urea tank is positioned in a different spatial arrangement within the housing, utilizing the vertical and transverse dimensions more effectively. The groove extending through the housing along the transverse direction creates a new fluid flow path that enhances drainage capability without compromising the ease of filling from the front.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If a toolbox is stored above the fuel tank and urea tank, then storage space is provided, but interference with front loaders occurs and operator visibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidvisibility and implement operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The toolbox storage function is extracted from the space above the tanks. By positioning the urea tank inside the fuel tank housing, the space above the tanks is freed up, eliminating the need to place a toolbox there. This removes the interference with front loaders and improves operator visibility while still providing storage space elsewhere.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the urea tank is inserted into the housing from the front face, then easy filling is achieved, but the drainage path is constrained by the housing structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of fillingVSAvoiddrainage efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A groove is introduced as an intermediary structure within the housing that mediates between the urea tank and the external environment for fluid drainage. The groove extends through the housing along the transverse direction, creating an efficient drainage path that allows fluid to flow from the urea tank through the housing without being constrained by the housing structure, while maintaining easy filling from the front face.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4414199B1Improved tank for a work vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP4414199B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4414199B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4414199B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tank arrangement (1), wherein the fuel tank body (110) comprising a main portion (102) and a secondary portion (104) which comprises an upper portion (140) and an intermediate portion (130) arranged successively along the vertical direction (Z-Z), configured so as to define a housing to accommodate the urea tank (200), wherein in an engaged configuration, the urea tank (200) is arranged under the upper portion (140) of the secondary portion (104) along the vertical direction (Z-Z), in abutment on the intermediate portion (130) along the transverse direction (Y-Y), and in abutment on the primary portion (102) along the front-rear direction (X-X) , wherein the urea tank (200) comprises a urea drain (220) on a lower portion of the urea tank (200) along the vertical direction (Z-Z), the secondary portion (104) of the fuel tank (100) comprises a groove (144) that extends through the fuel tank (100) along the transverse direction (Y-Y), adapted to allow ducts to go through the secondary portion (104) of the fuel tank (100) along the transverse direction (Y-Y) to be connected to the urea tank (200).