Oil Tank Venting Cap With Spiral Labyrinth Splash Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing venting caps for oil tanks on machines are complex to manufacture, assemble, and store, and they often leak due to violent agitation of oil, leading to environmental hazards and reduced oil quantity, despite previous solutions like screw-in cups with splash guards and labyrinth systems.
Innovation Solution
A venting cap design featuring a cup with a flange and snap-fitted lid, incorporating a spiral labyrinth and a dipstick with a cylindrical insert, allowing for easy assembly and manufacturing, with a toroidal groove and thread for secure engagement, and a labyrinth structure for vapor escape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional venting caps are used to allow vapors to escape, then condensation is reduced and pressure is balanced, but oil leaks occur due to violent agitation and spraying
Solution Approach 1:
The venting cap is divided into two separate components: a cup portion that attaches to the filler pipe and a lid portion that snaps onto the cup. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the cup provides the sealing interface with the tank while the lid houses the vapor escape mechanism, reducing oil leakage paths
Solution Approach 2:
A gasket is introduced as an intermediary sealing element between the cup and the tank filler pipe, and another gasket between the lid and cup. These intermediary elements create reliable sealing barriers that prevent oil leakage while allowing vapor passage through the designed channels
2Object-generated harmful factors
If complex splash guard structures with multiple diaphragms and labyrinth systems are added, then oil leakage is reduced, but manufacturing and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The splash guard function, vapor escape path, and structural support are merged into the integrated cup-lid assembly. The cup walls and lid structure together form the vapor escape channels and oil containment barriers, eliminating the need for separate diaphragms and labyrinth components while maintaining protection against oil leakage
Solution Approach 2:
The cup and lid components serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural support, create sealing interfaces, guide vapor escape, and prevent oil leakage. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count and simplifies manufacturing compared to specialized single-function parts
3Reliability
If multiple separate components are assembled to protect against oil leakage, then sealing is improved, but assembly time and storage space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gaskets are pre-installed onto the cup and lid components during manufacturing, so that when the components are assembled in the field, the sealing interfaces are already prepared. This preliminary action ensures reliable sealing while minimizing on-site assembly time and complexity
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 simplifies manufacturing and assembly, ensures effective sealing, reduces leaks, and maintains the oil quantity within the tank, providing a more practical and durable cap system.
Implementation Method 1
a spiral labyrinth on top of which is fitted the means for engaging said cup
Data Source
AI summary
The application relates to a venting cap for oil tanks of machines and machinery, including: a cup fitted with a flange along its outer surface, with this flange bearing coupling elements underneath it with complementary elements provided on the access sleeve of the tanks and at the top of shaped engagement tabs, a lid for closing the cup that is snap-fitted onto the cup, fitted with a flange, wherein: the flanged partition houses on its lower surface an insert with a substantially cylindrical profile, the cup body is associated with a spiral labyrinth on top of which is fitted the means for engaging the cup; and above the flange of the cup there is a collar fitted with an external toroidal groove that engages with a raised toroidal thread along the inner surface of an upper closing lid of the cup.