Tank Connection Assembly with Decoupled Sealing and Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tank connection assemblies for fuel-operated vehicle heaters lack reliable and long-lasting attachment to tank walls while ensuring a tight seal to prevent fuel leakage, especially during retrofitting where structural provisions are absent.
Innovation Solution
A tank connection assembly featuring a connection pipe with a first clamping element, a second clamping element, an expansion element, and an abutment element that separates sealing and fastening functions, using a ring-like fastening area with radially elastic expansion legs and sealing elements to ensure stable fixation and tight sealing without relying on elastic deformation for sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elastically deformable expanding/sealing element is used to both seal against the tank wall and attach the connection assembly, then a tight seal can be achieved, but the attachment stability deteriorates over service life due to deformation and spreading
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the previously combined sealing and attaching functions into two separate functional elements: a rigid abutment element for stable attachment and a flexible expansion element for sealing. This segmentation allows each element to optimize its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and attachment stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment element acts as an intermediary between the connection pipe and the tank wall, providing a stable attachment point. The expansion element then acts as an intermediary between the abutment element and the tank wall for sealing purposes. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by decoupling the attachment and sealing functions.
2Device complexity
If a single expanding element performs both sealing and fastening functions, then device complexity is reduced, but sealing reliability deteriorates because the element cannot provide both functions effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the abutment element for fastening and the expansion element for sealing. Although this increases the number of parts, it ensures that each component is optimized for its specific function, thereby improving overall sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection pipe serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, acts as a guide for assembly, and serves as the base for both the abutment element and expansion element. This multi-functionality helps compensate for the increased complexity by reducing the need for additional separate components.
3Reliability
If the expanding element is deformed radially outward to seal against the tank wall, then a tight seal is achieved, but the attachment stability deteriorates due to spreading and loss of positional accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the sealing function (expansion element) from the positioning function (abutment element), the invention allows the expansion element to deform radially for sealing without affecting the positional accuracy established by the rigid abutment element. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between sealing tightness and positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment element provides localized rigid support at the attachment point, while the expansion element provides localized flexible sealing at the interface with the tank wall. This local differentiation of properties allows each element to perform its function optimally without compromising the other.
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
The solution provides a stable, long-lasting attachment to the tank wall with a reliable tight seal, allowing for easy retrofitting of fuel-operated vehicle heaters by decoupling sealing and positioning functions, ensuring no fuel leakage and maintaining structural integrity over the service life.
Implementation Method 1
radially elastic expansion legs which extend from the fastening area to the first clamping element
Implementation Method 2
an axially movable abutment element arranged between the first clamping element and the expansion element... with a first sealing area for providing a tight seal with respect to an outer peripheral surface of the connecting pipe and a second sealing area for providing a tight seal with respect to a second side facing away from the first side of the tank wall
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A tank connection assembly, in particular for a fuel-operated vehicle heater, comprises a connecting pipe (12) extending through a tank opening in a tank wall (66) in the direction of a longitudinal axis (L) of the pipe and a fastening assembly (64) on the connecting pipe (12) for fixing it to the tank wall in the area of the tank opening, wherein the fastening assembly (64) comprises: - a first clamping element (18) fixed to the connecting pipe (12), - a second clamping element (22), wherein the second clamping element (22) engages or can be brought into engagement with the first clamping element (18) such that a rotation of the second clamping element (22) relative to the first clamping element (22) about the longitudinal axis of the pipe causes a movement of the second clamping element (18) relative to the first clamping element in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pipe (L).- a spreading element (26) fixed to the connecting pipe (12) at an axial distance from the first clamping element (18) at least in the direction away from the first clamping element (18) for support against a first side of a tank wall, - a buttress element (42) arranged axially movably between the first clamping element (18) and the spreading element (26), which can be supported or is supported axially with respect to the first clamping element (18) in the direction away from the spreading element (26) via the second clamping element (22), with a first sealing area for providing a tight seal with respect to an outer circumferential surface of the connecting pipe (12) and a second sealing area for providing a tight seal with respect to a second side of the tank wall facing away from the first side.