Rail Vehicle Sanitary System Water Level Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rail vehicle sanitary systems inaccurately calculate vehicle mass due to 100% full fresh and waste water tanks, leading to increased fuel supply requirements, as they do not effectively manage the fill levels to minimize vehicle weight.
Innovation Solution
A control device links the fill levels of the fresh and waste water tanks using sensors, controlling the fresh water tank fill based on the waste water tank level to prevent overfilling and ensure the total water quantity does not exceed a maximum value, allowing for accurate vehicle mass calculation by locking or adjusting the filling lines and potentially emptying the fresh water tank to match the waste water tank capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the fresh water tank and waste water tank are both calculated as 100% full for vehicle mass determination, then the vehicle mass calculation is simplified, but the calculated vehicle mass is excessively high leading to increased fuel supply requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The control device receives feedback signals from fill level sensors in both the fresh water tank and waste water tank. Based on this feedback, the control device automatically adjusts the filling process to ensure that the sum of fresh water and waste water does not exceed the maximum permissible filling quantity, thereby optimizing vehicle mass without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the filling parameter (fill level of fresh water tank) based on the actual fill level of the waste water tank. When the waste water tank is partially full, the fresh water tank can be filled to a higher level, and vice versa, maintaining the optimal total water quantity
2Quantity of substance
If the fresh water tank is filled to maximum capacity independently, then the fresh water supply is maximized, but the total water weight exceeds the maximum permissible filling quantity leading to increased fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The maximum fill level of the fresh water tank is not fixed but dynamically adjusted based on the fill level of the waste water tank. The control device continuously monitors both tanks and adjusts the fresh water filling limit in real-time, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and optimize the balance between fresh water supply and vehicle mass
3Weight of moving object
If the waste water tank fill level is monitored and used to control fresh water tank filling, then the total water quantity is optimized reducing vehicle mass, but the system complexity increases due to control device and sensor integration
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs multiple functions: it monitors fill level signals from both tanks, determines the maximum permissible filling quantity, controls the filling process of the fresh water tank, and can trigger emptying operations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The control device integrates the fill level monitoring, calculation of maximum permissible filling quantity, and control of filling operations into a single unified system. The fill level sensors from both tanks are merged into a single control logic that manages the overall water quantity optimization
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 solution allows for precise control of the total water fill quantity in the sanitary system, reducing vehicle mass calculations and fuel supply needs by preventing overfilling and coordinating the fill levels between tanks, thus optimizing vehicle weight and fuel efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the fill level sensor (3) of the waste water tank (1) is in a signaling connection with a control device (4) which controls a fill level of the fresh water tank (2) depending on a currently recorded measured value for the fill level of the waste water tank (1)
Implementation Method 2
the control device (4) causes the fresh water tank (2) to be emptied in a metered manner... the control goal is pursued that the fresh water tank (2) is emptied to such a level that the remaining fresh water can be taken up by the waste water tank (1)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a rail vehicle having a sanitary system which has a waste water tank (1) and a fresh water tank (2) which are each equipped with associated filling level sensors (3), wherein a control device (4) is provided for establishing a link in terms of control between the filling levels in the fresh water tank (2) and waste water tank (1), which control device monitors the filling level in the waste water tank (1) by means of the associated sensors (3) and controls the filling level in the fresh water tank (2) as a function of a measured filling level in the waste water tank (1).