Sewer Vehicle Tank Hinge Bolted Articulation Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sewer cleaner vehicles face misalignment issues between the storage tank and the carrier frame due to large positioning tolerances during the welding of the articulation, requiring complex installations to ensure proper alignment.

Innovation Solution

A sewer cleaner vehicle design featuring a storage tank mounted on a carrier frame via a screw or bolted articulation, with a tipping arm and a plate connection system that includes a crosspiece and reinforcement strapping, allowing for simple and precise alignment during assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If welding is used to fix the articulation to the storage tank shell, then the joint strength is improved, but the positioning tolerance increases leading to misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejoint strengthVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The articulation assembly is divided into separate components: a support plate fixed to the carrier frame and a tipping arm with the articulation joint. This segmentation allows the support plate to be precisely positioned and fixed first, then the tipping arm is attached to it, enabling precise alignment without complex pre-positioning of the entire articulation assembly during welding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support plate acts as an intermediary element between the carrier frame and the tipping arm. It provides a stable, precisely positionable base that facilitates accurate alignment of the articulation joint, eliminating the need for complex pre-positioning operations while maintaining strong welded connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If complex installation procedures are used to ensure alignment, then the alignment precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the articulation system into a support plate and a tipping arm assembly, the complex alignment problem is simplified. The support plate can be independently positioned and fixed to the carrier frame using simple procedures, while the tipping arm is then attached to it, achieving precise alignment without complex overall installation procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support plate is preliminarily fixed to the carrier frame before attaching the tipping arm. This preliminary action establishes a precise reference position that simplifies subsequent alignment operations, allowing the tipping arm to be accurately positioned relative to an already-fixed reference point rather than requiring complex simultaneous alignment of all components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If screwing or bolting is used to fix the articulation to the storage tank, then the alignment precision is improved, but the joint strength decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidjoint strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is segmented into two distinct joints: a welded joint between the support plate and the carrier frame (providing high strength), and a bolted/screwed joint between the tipping arm and the support plate (providing precise alignment and ease of assembly). This segmentation allows each joint type to optimize its strengths for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different connection methods are applied to different locations in the articulation assembly. The support plate-to-carrier frame connection uses welding for maximum strength where structural integrity is critical, while the tipping arm-to-support plate connection uses bolting/screwing where precise alignment and ease of assembly are prioritized. Each location has the connection quality appropriate to its functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3815970A1Sewer-cleaning vehicle comprising an improved hinge for storage tank
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 HUWER HLDG
  • EP3815970A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3815970A1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP3815970A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The hydrojetting vehicle comprises a carrier chassis (2), a storage tank (3) comprising, along a longitudinal axis, a tank bottom (34), a ferrule (30) and a tilting lid (35), the storage tank being mounted tilting on the carrier chassis by means of a joint (7), the joint being fixed to the storage tank by screwing or bolting.