One-Piece Fuel Tank Vent With Crimped Float Rollover Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial vehicle fuel tanks face issues with vapor release during normal conditions and potential fuel leakage during rollover events due to existing vent designs being time-intensive, costly, and insecure in retaining a ball and float.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece vent manufactured from a single material, such as Aluminum, featuring a groove or crimp to secure a ball and float, providing a cost-effective and secure vapor release mechanism that maintains an air-tight seal during rollover conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional multi-component vent designs are used, then the ball and float can be retained, but the manufacturing process is time-intensive and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (vent body, retention mechanism, ball, and float) into a single integrated vent structure. The retention mechanism is formed as an integral part of the vent body through processes like injection molding, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps and reducing manufacturing time and cost while maintaining secure retention of the ball and float.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the venting aperture for vapor release, incorporates the retention mechanism for securing the ball and float, and integrates the float mechanism for rollover detection. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall manufacturing process.
2Reliability
If traditional vent designs are used, then vapor release is possible, but fuel leakage occurs during rollover events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a dynamic float mechanism that responds to changes in vent orientation. During normal operation, the vent functions as designed for vapor release. During rollover events, the float moves in response to gravity and fluid pressure changes, automatically triggering the closure mechanism to seal the aperture and prevent fuel leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent design includes a pre-configured retention mechanism and float system that is prepared in advance to prevent fuel leakage. The ball is securely retained within the vent body structure, and the float mechanism is pre-positioned to automatically activate the sealing function when rollover conditions are detected, preventing the harmful effect before it can occur.
3Reliability
If secure retention of ball and float is implemented, then fuel leakage is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention mechanism is merged with the vent body structure, forming an integral unit. The ball retention feature is built directly into the vent body through molding or forming processes, eliminating the need for separate retention components and complex assembly procedures while ensuring secure retention of the ball and float.
Data Source
AI summary
A one piece vent formed from one integral piece of material, such as Aluminum, and which defines a fluid pathway therethrough having a borehole within said fluid pathway, and further including a crimp that secures a ball and a float within an interior of the vent, the float movable between a sealing position on said borehole and an unsealed position away from said borehole.