Mobile Tank Valve Gear for Liquid Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile tank containers face issues with non-homogeneous product separation during transport, poor heat transfer, and the need for bulky and difficult-to-clean stirring devices that violate sterility and headroom regulations.
Innovation Solution
A valve gear with a movable plate-shaped valve that facilitates tangential or axial liquid circulation within the tank container, which is activated by rotation and linear acceleration, and automatically closes under gravity, ensuring continuous mixing without the need for external stirring devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If stirring devices are placed in the liquid for mixing, then liquid mixing is improved, but device complexity and height increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the traditional stirring device from the tank container and replaces it with a valve gear system integrated into the existing wall structure. The valve, when moved between open and closed positions, creates liquid circulation without requiring separate mixing equipment, thereby extracting the unnecessary stirring device while maintaining mixing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve gear utilizes the liquid flow itself and the valve's movement to create circulation and mixing. The system serves itself by using the existing liquid dynamics and valve operation to achieve mixing, eliminating the need for external stirring devices, motors, and complex mechanical assemblies.
2Stability of the object's composition
If stirring devices are placed in the liquid, then liquid mixing is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cleaning difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the stirring device from the liquid environment, the invention eliminates the source of cleaning difficulties. The valve gear is integrated into the wall structure and does not extend into the liquid, allowing for easy cleaning of the tank interior without disassembling complex mixing equipment.
3Stability of the object's composition
If stirring devices project above the circumferential wall, then liquid mixing is improved, but tank container height increases violating headroom regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the mixing function from the protruding stirring device and relocates it to the valve gear integrated into the wall structure. This eliminates the need for height extension above the circumferential wall while maintaining effective liquid circulation and mixing within the available space.
4Stability of the object's composition
If tank container is opened to place stirring device, then liquid mixing capability is improved, but sterility is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The valve gear for liquid circulation is pre-installed and integrated into the wall structure before the tank container is put into service. This preliminary installation eliminates the need to open the tank later for adding stirring devices, thereby maintaining sterility throughout the operational lifecycle of the container.
5Stability of the object's composition
If heavy stirring devices are used, then liquid mixing is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve gear system uses the natural movement of the valve and existing liquid dynamics to create circulation, eliminating the need for heavy motors, drive mechanisms, and robust structural support required by traditional stirring devices. The system serves itself using minimal mechanical components.
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 valve gear effectively mixes liquid contents, preventing separation and improving heat distribution while maintaining sterility and compliance with headroom regulations, eliminating the need for bulky stirring devices.
Implementation Method 1
the valve can move freely between the open position and the closed position as a result of the flow of liquid caused by rotation and/or linear acceleration of the tank container
Implementation Method 2
the valve is moved to the closed position under the influence of the force of gravity in a condition of rest of the tank container
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile tank container arranged to transport a liquid, comprising a circumferential wall which extends around an axis in a driving direction of the mobile tank container and two end walls which close the container volume at the front side and the rear side, wherein the tank container is provided with a valve gear comprising at least one valve which extends into the container volume, such that the valve, when used while the tank container is at least substantially full with liquid, comparatively allows circulation of liquid in the container volume in one tangential circulation direction around the axis or in one axial circulation direction along the axis, or a combination of the two directions, in the open position thereof, and that the valve comparatively impedes circulation of liquid in the opposite circulation direction in the closed position thereof.