Rotating Hydraulic Fill Arm for Accessible Tank Refilling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural systems face challenges in efficiently and conveniently accessing and filling hydraulic fluid tanks, as current methods are cumbersome and often interfere with other equipment on the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic fill system featuring a rotating arm with a flexible conduit that extends away from the tank, allowing for easy filling while minimizing interference with other vehicle components, and a retention system to secure the fill system in a retracted position when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional fixed fill system is used for hydraulic fluid tanks, then the filling process is simple, but the system interferes with other equipment and reduces operational convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The fill system incorporates a rotating arm that can dynamically change its position between extended and retracted states. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements, extending during filling operations for convenience and retracting when not in use to minimize interference with other equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The fill system is divided into separate functional components: a rotating arm mechanism, a flexible conduit, and a retention system. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while reducing overall interference with other equipment through strategic positioning and retraction capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If the fill system is extended to facilitate filling, then operational convenience improves, but interference with other equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating arm provides dynamic positioning, extending the fill system to accessible locations during filling operations while allowing retraction to minimize interference with other equipment when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible conduit is extracted from a fixed position and routed through the rotating arm structure, allowing the fill opening to be positioned away from the tank while maintaining accessibility. This extraction enables the fill system to reach convenient locations without permanently occupying space that would interfere with other equipment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a rotating arm with flexible conduit is used, then filling convenience and flexibility improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating arm mechanism provides adaptability through controlled rotation, allowing the fill system to reach various positions around the tank. The flexible conduit within the arm maintains fluid passage while accommodating the rotational movement, achieving versatility without excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible conduit allows the fill system to adapt to different positions and angles while maintaining a relatively simple structural framework. The flexibility of the conduit compensates for the rotational movement of the arm, providing adaptability without requiring complex rigid mechanical linkages.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An agricultural system that includes a hydraulic fluid tank with a conduit. The hydraulic fluid tank receives and stores hydraulic fluid. A hydraulic fill system couples to and facilitates filling of the hydraulic fluid tank. The hydraulic fill system includes an arm that rotates with respect to the hydraulic fluid tank between an extended position and a retracted position. The arm defines a channel. A connector couples to the arm. The connector defines an opening that receives the hydraulic fluid. A flexible conduit rests within the channel. The flexible conduit includes a first end and a second end. The first end couples to the conduit and the second end couples to the connector