Vehicle Air Conditioning Pipe Bracket C-Pillar Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle air conditioning pipe arrangements occupy valuable space and pose safety risks by being located near batteries and high-voltage lines, necessitating a safer and more stable fixing solution.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle air conditioning pipe fixing device featuring a body frame member with an accommodating space and a sliding air conditioning pipe bracket, which includes chutes and matching members for secure support and radial fixation of the pipes, preventing movement and contact with hazardous components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If air conditioning pipes are arranged at the lower parts of the floors, then space utilization is improved, but safety deteriorates due to proximity to batteries and high-voltage lines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the air conditioning pipes from the dangerous lower floor area and relocates them to the C-pillar region, separating hazardous components (pipes) from sensitive components (batteries and high-voltage lines) to eliminate safety risks while maintaining space efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If air conditioning pipes are arranged at the lower parts of the floors, then installation simplicity is improved, but safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the air conditioning pipes from the dangerous lower floor area and relocates them to the C-pillar region, separating hazardous components (pipes) from sensitive components (batteries and high-voltage lines) to eliminate safety risks while maintaining space efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates pre-designed fixing structures (fixing ears, fixing holes, and fixing components) into the C-pillar and pipe assemblies during manufacturing, enabling simplified installation without compromising safety. The fixing components are prepared in advance with matching geometries that allow straightforward assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid fixing structure is used to securely fix pipes, then stability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing stabilityVSAvoidinstallation adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a dynamic fixing mechanism where the fixing component can rotate around the fixing ear, transitioning from a loose state during installation to a locked state during operation. This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt during assembly while maintaining stability during use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a spherical ball head on the fixing component that fits into a corresponding spherical receptacle on the fixing ear. This spherical geometry provides multi-directional adaptability during installation while the locking mechanism ensures stable fixation once positioned

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP3699002B1Fixing device for vehicle air-conditioning pipe
Publication Date: 2022.11.30 NIO ANHUI HLDG CO LTD
  • EP3699002B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3699002B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3699002B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention provides a vehicle air conditioning pipe fixing device, including: a body frame member, wherein the body frame member is provided with a first accommodating space; and an air conditioning pipe bracket that can be accommodated in the first accommodating space, wherein the length direction of the air conditioning pipe bracket is consistent with the length direction of the first accommodating space, and the air conditioning pipe bracket is provided with a second accommodating space for accommodating and supporting at least a part of an air conditioning pipeline. Further, the body frame member includes a sill beam, and and the sill beam is provided with the first accommodating space. By adopting the vehicle air conditioning pipe fixing device provided by the present invention, the air conditioning pipeline can be effectively supported, fixed and protected, furthermore, the total assembly is facilitated, and the safety is high.