Reservoir Vent Valve Adapter for Adjustable Shutoff Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing venting and air admission valves for fuel reservoirs require multiple valve housings for different shutoff heights, leading to increased complexity and significant fuel loss due to evaporation-induced pressure issues, especially when the tank is full or nearly full and exposed to heat.
Innovation Solution
A venting and air admission valve system with a single valve housing that uses interchangeable adapters to adjust the shutoff height, preventing gas exchange through a liquid column and minimizing fuel loss by allowing gas exchange without entraining liquid droplets, thus reducing fuel vapor release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If riser pipe shutoff valves with extended communication openings are used to achieve lower shutoff heights, then the valve can close at lower operating fluid levels, but fuel vapor/air mixture escapes through the communication opening when the reservoir is full and heated, causing significant fuel loss
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the valve system into two separate functional components: a valve housing with communication openings for liquid level sensing and a separate vent housing with the ventilation opening for gas venting. The valve body moves independently within the vent housing to control the ventilation opening, while communication openings in the valve housing sense the liquid level. This segmentation allows the communication openings to be positioned lower for early shutoff while the ventilation opening remains protected by the independently controlled valve body.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a second valve body (or valve member) that acts as an intermediary between the communication openings and the ventilation opening. This second valve body is positioned to block the ventilation opening before the liquid level reaches the communication openings, preventing fuel vapor/air mixture escape. The intermediary valve body responds to liquid level changes detected by the communication openings and proactively closes the ventilation opening to prevent harmful emissions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different valve housings with different communication opening positions are used for different shutoff heights, then the correct shutoff height can be achieved for different reservoirs, but the device complexity and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes a single valve housing design universal for multiple shutoff height requirements by incorporating multiple communication openings at different heights within the same valve housing. The second valve body can be positioned to respond to any of these communication openings, allowing the same valve housing to achieve different shutoff heights by selecting which communication opening triggers the valve closure. This eliminates the need for multiple specialized valve housing designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces adjustability into the valve system by allowing the second valve body to be positioned at different heights within the vent housing. This dynamic positioning capability enables the same valve housing to adapt to different shutoff height requirements by adjusting where the valve body responds to liquid level signals from the communication openings, providing versatility without requiring multiple fixed designs.
3Stress or pressure
If the ventilation opening remains open to allow pressure relief when the reservoir is full, then excess pressure can escape, but gas bubbles rise through the fuel column in the valve housing, reducing lift on the valve body and preventing proper closure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements preliminary action by positioning the second valve body to close the ventilation opening before the liquid level reaches the communication openings that would trigger valve closure. This proactive closure prevents gas bubbles from forming and rising through the fuel column, eliminating the reliability issue of incomplete valve closure. The ventilation opening is closed in advance to prevent the harmful gas bubble formation mechanism from occurring.
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
Enables flexible shutoff height adjustment with a single valve housing, significantly reducing fuel loss during temperature changes and allowing continuous gas exchange without liquid penetration into the ventilation line, thereby maintaining the functionality of the activated carbon filter and preventing excessive fuel vapor release.
Implementation Method 1
a valve body (20), which can move freely in the valve housing interior and closes the ventilation opening (12) by buoyant lift when an operating fluid level (4) within an interior of an operating fluid reservoir (1) exceeds a shutoff height (SOH)
Implementation Method 2
an adapter (31, 32) which can be fastened on an operating fluid reservoir wall (1), wherein the valve housing (10) can be fastened on the adapter (31, 32) in such a way that the adapter (31, 32) is arranged between the operating fluid reservoir wall (1) and the valve housing (10)
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention discloses an improved venting and/or air admission valve for an operating fluid reservoir, by means of which different shutoff levels (SOH) can be achieved. The venting and/or air admission valve according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that it comprises an adapter (31, 32), which can be fastened on an operating fluid reservoir wall (1), and that a valve housing (10) of the venting and/or air admission valve can be fastened on the adapter (31, 32) in such a way that the adapter (31, 32) is arranged between the operating fluid reservoir wall (1) and the valve housing (10).