Tank Vent Membrane Drainage for Water-Blocked Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle liquid tank ventilation devices fail to effectively manage pressure changes, protect against contamination, and prevent water ingress during ford crossings, as they can become obstructed by standing water, leading to reduced functionality.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation device with a membrane impermeable to liquids but permeable to vapors, featuring drainage pipes to remove water by gravity and a compact design that includes a labyrinthine structure to prevent foreign object intrusion, made from materials like polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) that are oleophobic and hydrophobic, ensuring functionality under various conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a membrane impermeable to liquid is used for ventilation, then the tank is protected from water ingress during ford crossings, but water accumulates on the membrane and obstructs ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful element (water) from the system by providing a dedicated drainage path that removes water accumulated on the membrane surface, preventing it from obstructing the ventilation function while maintaining the membrane's water ingress protection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary drainage structure (drainage channel and outlet) between the membrane surface and the external environment, which mediates the conflict by providing a separate pathway for water removal that does not interfere with the membrane's primary ventilation function
2Volume of moving object
If the ventilation device is made compact, then space is saved in the vehicle, but the drainage path for water removal becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention resolves the space constraint by changing the dimensional arrangement of the drainage path - using a downward-sloping three-dimensional configuration that utilizes vertical gravity-driven flow rather than requiring extended horizontal space, thus achieving effective water drainage within a compact device volume
3Reliability
If the membrane is made from hydrophobic material, then water resistance is improved, but the membrane becomes sensitive to freezing and thawing cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The invention provides beforehand cushioning against the harmful effects of freezing and thawing by ensuring complete water removal through the drainage system before freezing can occur, and by using flexible materials that can accommodate thermal expansion and contraction without damage
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 ensures reliable ventilation, protects against contamination, withstands freezing and thawing, and maintains functionality during ford crossings by preventing water accumulation on the membrane, while being compact and resistant to moisture and foreign objects.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane impermeable to a predetermined liquid and permeable to a vapor likely to be produced by this liquid
Implementation Method 2
The membrane can be made from any material whose properties allow it to be impermeable to a predetermined liquid and permeable to a vapor that may be produced by this liquid. Preferably, the membrane is made from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Advantageously, the membrane is oleophobic, hydrophobic and permeable to air.
Implementation Method 3
the or each pipe having an end contiguous with the membrane, the rest of the or each pipe extending at an altitude lower than this end when a main axis of the device is vertical. Thus, when water has managed to reach the membrane, in particular in case of ford crossing, the or each pipe immediately ensures the discharge thereof by gravity.
Data Source
AI summary
The ventilation device (4) for a vehicle liquid tank, comprises: a membrane (20) impermeable to a predetermined liquid and permeable to a vapor likely to be produced by this liquid, and at least one pipe (52) suitable for discharging liquid found on the membrane from the device. The or each pipe has an end contiguous with the membrane, the rest of the or each pipe extending at an altitude lower than this end when a main axis of the device is vertical.