Portable Fuel Storage Device with Shock-Absorbing Suspension
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel storage devices are limited in their ability to deliver fuel to inaccessible locations and are not designed for air delivery, with potential fuel leakage during rough handling.
Innovation Solution
A portable fuel storage device with a frame, central column, and resilient spacers that absorb external forces, allowing for air transport and delivery to remote locations, featuring a fuel distribution system and control circuit for even weight distribution and leak prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a motorized vehicle or fuel trailer is used for fuel delivery, then fuel can be delivered to locations accessible by road, but fuel cannot be delivered to inaccessible locations such as rooftops, remote geographic positions, or occupied structures
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel storage device transitions from a static ground-based system to a dynamic air-deliverable system. The device is designed with a portable configuration that enables it to be lifted and transported by aircraft, allowing fuel delivery to previously inaccessible locations such as rooftops, remote areas, and occupied structures without requiring road access
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds the aerial dimension to fuel delivery by designing the storage device to be air-deliverable. This dimensional change from ground-based to air-based transport enables access to three-dimensional space including rooftops and remote geographic positions, fundamentally expanding the delivery envelope beyond traditional road-accessible locations
2Quantity of substance
If a fuel container is designed for manual handling, then the container can be moved by a user, but the fuel capacity is limited by the user's lifting ability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses aircraft lifting capability to counteract the weight of the fuel storage device. By designing the device to be air-deliverable rather than manually portable, the system effectively uses the aircraft's anti-gravity capability to overcome the weight limitation, enabling much larger fuel capacities that would be impossible for manual handling
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing fuel storage devices are used for air delivery, then the devices can be transported by aircraft, but fuel leakage occurs during rough handling
Solution Approach 1:
The invention incorporates cushioning and shock-absorbing features into the fuel storage device construction before air delivery occurs. These protective elements are designed to absorb the shocks and rough handling forces that occur during aerial transport and deployment, preventing fuel leakage that would occur in conventional rigid storage devices
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel storage device utilizes flexible or resilient containment structures that can deform to absorb shock during rough handling and air delivery. This flexibility allows the storage system to withstand the mechanical stresses of aerial transport without compromising fuel containment integrity
4Area of stationary object
If fuel storage tanks are positioned close together to maximize space utilization, then the device size is minimized, but weight distribution becomes uneven causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs asymmetric positioning of fuel storage tanks relative to the device centerline, combined with selective placement of counterweights or ballast. This asymmetric configuration allows the tanks to be positioned for optimal space utilization while maintaining proper weight distribution and stability through strategic placement of balancing elements
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 the delivery of fuel to remote and inaccessible locations via air transport, ensuring even weight distribution and minimizing fuel leakage, facilitating the establishment of remote fueling depots and improving operational flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
A suspension with resilient spacers is positioned between the frame and the base to provide relative motion between the base and the frame. The suspension also includes resilient spacers positioned between the tanks and the frame to provide relative motion between the tanks and the frame.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable storage device to contain fuel. The device is designed to be relatively light-weight to allow for movement around a fueling facility, and to be delivered to the fueling facility through the air. The device includes a number of separate tanks each configured to contain fuel. A suspension protects the tanks by absorbing external forces that could occur in the event the device is dropped during air delivery.