Tank Venting via Air Inlet Device for Fast Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tank arrangements can only be vented when full and emptied at a limited speed, as they require a free-flowing medium for venting and have restricted drainage capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A tank arrangement with an air inlet device that allows air to be supplied to the tank, enabling venting even when empty and facilitating faster drainage through the use of a valve system that converts the inlet into an outlet and includes a connection for compressed air, allowing for enhanced flow control and pressure management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a tank uses only outlet valves for draining and pressure release, then the structure is simple, but the tank can only be vented when full and emptying speed is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The air inlet device is designed to serve multiple functions: it can supply air to accelerate emptying when the tank is full, enable venting when the tank is empty, and provide flushing capability. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by allowing the same device structure to achieve both fast emptying and empty-state venting without requiring separate complex systems for each function.
2Speed
If air is supplied to accelerate emptying, then emptying speed increases, but the tank requires a free-flowing medium which is not available when empty
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts its function based on the tank's state. When the tank is full, the air inlet device supplies air to accelerate drainage. When the tank is empty, the same device enables venting of built-up pressure. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize performance for different operational states using the same hardware infrastructure.
3Productivity
If compressed air connection is added for faster emptying, then productivity increases, but the device complexity and storage risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air inlet device with valve provides controlled feedback management for pressure. The valve allows operators to regulate air supply to accelerate emptying while also serving as a pressure relief mechanism. This feedback control resolves the contradiction by enabling fast emptying when needed while providing a controlled pathway to manage and release built-up pressure, reducing storage risks.
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 efficient venting and drainage of tanks at any state, including when empty, and allows for quicker emptying and flushing, while also managing pressure and reducing storage risks by dissipating built-up pressure through the air inlet valve.
Implementation Method 1
a tank arrangement with an air inlet device, as a result of which air can be supplied to the interior of a tank. In this way, the tank can be vented and the flow rate of the drain can be controlled
Implementation Method 2
an outlet to remove a medium from the tank, the outlet having a valve device which can be opened manually via a lever
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Tank arrangement (1) with a tank (2) having an inlet for filling the tank (2) with a flowable medium and an outlet (10) for removing a medium from the tank (2), wherein the outlet (10) has a valve device (4 a) which can be manually moved from an open position to a closed position and/or vice versa via a lever (18 a), wherein the tank (2) has an air inlet device (6) with an air inlet (12) through which air can be supplied into the tank (2) in order to vent the tank (2), characterized in that an air line can be connected to the air inlet (12) in order to supply air to the tank (2) via the air inlet device (6).