Tractor Fuel Tank Layout With Nested Reductant Tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional tractors face space constraints when integrating a post-processing device for exhaust gas purification and a reductant tank, which limits fuel tank capacity and requires sacrifices in vehicle length or operation unit size.
Innovation Solution
The tractor design includes a tank-accommodation recess for the reductant tank at a lower-front portion of one fuel tank, allowing the reductant tank to be aligned up and down with the fuel tank, and a recessed front surface on the reductant tank to avoid interference with the front wheel, enabling compact arrangement without lengthening the tractor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a reductant tank is mounted in front of the left fuel tank, then the post-processing device can be installed, but the longitudinal length of the tractor increases and the capacity of the fuel tank is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The reductant tank is nested within the fuel tank assembly by forming a tank-accommodation recess in the left fuel tank and placing the reductant tank inside this recess. This nested arrangement allows both the fuel tank and reductant tank to coexist in the same longitudinal space without increasing the overall length of the tractor, effectively resolving the contradiction between mounting the SCR device and maintaining compact dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a reductant tank is mounted in front of the left fuel tank, then the post-processing device can be installed, but the capacity of the fuel tank must be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of arranging the reductant tank in the longitudinal direction (front-rear axis), the invention utilizes the vertical dimension by creating a tank-accommodation recess in the left fuel tank and placing the reductant tank within this recess. This dimensional transition from longitudinal to vertical arrangement allows the reductant tank to occupy space that would otherwise be structural or unused, thereby preserving the full longitudinal capacity of the fuel tank while still accommodating the SCR system.
3Volume of stationary object
If the reductant tank is accommodated in the tank-accommodation recess, then space is optimized, but the upper front portion of the fuel tank and reductant tank must be aligned vertically
Solution Approach 1:
The tank-accommodation recess is designed with specific local geometric characteristics that match the shape and dimensions of the reductant tank. The recess is formed at a specific location (lower portion) of the left fuel tank, creating a localized accommodation zone with optimized spatial properties. This local quality approach allows the reductant tank to be precisely fitted within the recess, achieving optimal space utilization while the vertical alignment of the upper front portions is naturally determined by the recess geometry and overall tank assembly configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A tractor including: a traveling body having an engine; a post-processing device configured to purify exhaust gas of the engine; and a reductant tank configured to store a reductant to be supplied to the post-processing device. A pair of left and right fuel tanks are arranged respectively on left and right sides of a longitudinally midway portion of the traveling body. A tank-accommodation recess for accommodating a reductant tank is formed at a lower-front portion of one of the left and right fuel tanks. While the reductant tank is accommodated in the tank-accommodation recess, an upper front portion of the fuel tank and the reductant tank are aligned up and down.