Variable Thickness Water Tank Bladder Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Water storage tank bladders face durability issues due to repeated folding and unfolding, wrinkle generation, and limitations in placement within the tank body, particularly with regards to pressure and welding burrs, which affect their performance and compatibility with water treatment apparatuses.

Innovation Solution

A water storage tank bladder with a thicker lower surface than upper and side surfaces, made from polyolefin elastomer, is designed with a pole member for easy handling and placement, featuring a burr prevention portion in the tank body to prevent damage from welding and allowing easy connection to water treatment systems, and having an external diameter greater than the internal tank diameter to maintain stability and prevent back pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a bladder is used to store and discharge water in a water storage tank, then the limitations on outlet position are removed, but the bladder durability is degraded due to repeated folding and unfolding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutlet position flexibilityVSAvoidbladder durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bladder is designed with different thicknesses at different locations: the lower surface has a greater thickness than the upper and side surfaces. This local quality variation strengthens the area subject to repeated folding and unfolding during water discharge, thereby improving durability while maintaining the adaptability of the outlet position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If water flows in and out of a bladder repeatedly, then water storage and discharge functions are achieved, but wrinkles are generated and durability is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater discharge efficiencyVSAvoidbladder durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bladder has a greater thickness at the lower surface where wrinkles and folding occur during discharge operations. This localized reinforcement reduces wrinkle formation and prevents material fatigue, enabling repeated water discharge cycles while maintaining bladder integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If an upper body and lower body are welded together to form a tank body, then structural integrity is improved, but welding burrs are generated that can damage the bladder

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetank body structural integrityVSAvoidwelding burr damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The welding burrs generated during tank body assembly are converted from harmful factors into beneficial positioning features. The bladder is designed with a lower surface shape that fits against the welding burrs, using them as natural stops to prevent the bladder from moving downward and adhering to the burrs, thereby eliminating damage while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The bladder's lower surface is pre-formed with a specific shape that anticipates the presence of welding burrs. This preliminary design ensures that when the bladder is installed, it naturally positions itself relative to the burrs, preventing contact and damage before the harmful effect can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 bladder maintains improved durability, reduces wrinkle formation, and facilitates easy integration with water treatment apparatuses by preventing damage from welding burrs and ensuring stable water flow, even when filled, while minimizing the risk of expansion and pressure issues.

Implementation Method 1

molding a bladder to mold the bladder by injecting air into the bladder material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir injection inflation:

Data Source

PatentUS10507954B2Water storage tank bladder, manufacturing method therefor, water storage tank including bladder, and water treatment apparatus including water storage tank

Publication Date: 2019.12.17 COWAY CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed are a water storage tank bladder, a manufacturing method therefor, the water storage tank including the bladder, and a water treatment apparatus including the water storage tank. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the water storage tank bladder used in the water storage tank to receive and store water and discharge the stored water has a lower side of which the thickness can be thicker than the thickness of the upper side of the bladder and thicker than the thickness of the lateral sides of the bladder.