Actuator Fixing Device for Fuel Trap Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices for fuel flap actuators in motor vehicles are prone to deformation due to vibrations, can be manually removed, and are visually exposed, leading to reliability and security issues with locking/unlocking functionality.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with coplanar and angularly offset protuberances and a cutout in a partition of the housing, where the protuberances are introduced between the wall and partition, and the actuator is secured in a misaligned position using a snap-fit mechanism, preventing manual removal and deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the actuator is mounted using a cantilevered fastening device on the housing wall, then the actuator can be attached to the housing, but the mounting is subjected to vibrations causing deformations of the wall and/or protrusions over time, which are detrimental to the retention of the actuator
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a single-plane cantilevered mounting to a three-dimensional embedding solution. The protrusions are inserted through a cutout in the partition wall and engage with the actuator body from both sides, creating a spatial fixation that eliminates the cantilever effect and distributes mechanical stresses in multiple directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a damping element between the actuator mounting surface and the housing wall to preemptively absorb vibrations and mechanical shocks. This cushioning element prevents deformations before they occur, protecting both the actuator and housing from vibration-induced damage.
2Ease of operation
If the fastening device uses a cutout in the wall for protrusions, then the actuator can be attached, but the actuator can be manually removed by the user from the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening device employs asymmetric protrusions with specific geometric profiles that match corresponding asymmetric recesses in the actuator body. This asymmetric design allows the protrusions to be inserted in one direction through the cutout but prevents removal, as the actuator cannot be pulled out without disassembling the housing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions are nested within the actuator body structure, with the actuator head positioned within the housing and the protrusions extending through the partition wall. This nested configuration creates an integrated assembly where the actuator is embedded in the housing rather than merely attached to the surface.
3Ease of manufacture
If the fastening device protrusions and cutout are used, then the actuator can be fixed to the housing, but the fastening device is visible from the case
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the fastening function from the external surface of the housing and relocates it to an internal partition structure. The cutout is made in a partition wall that is not visible from the exterior, allowing the protrusions and actuator mounting to be hidden from view while maintaining the fixation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening device is relocated from the external visible surface to an internal dimensional space within the housing. By using a partition wall that is hidden from the exterior view, the fastening mechanism operates in a concealed dimension, eliminating visual exposure while preserving structural function.
4Reliability
If the actuator is mounted with protrusions passing through a cutout in the wall, then the actuator can be secured, but the wall deformations under vibration affect the cooperation between the head and the flap
Solution Approach 1:
A damping element is incorporated into the fastening device to preemptively absorb vibrations and mechanical shocks before they can cause wall deformations. This cushioning element protects the precision配合 between the actuator head and flap by maintaining stable dimensional relationships despite external vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting solution moves from a surface-level attachment to a three-dimensional embedded configuration with the actuator head positioned within the housing and protrusions engaging through the partition. This spatial arrangement provides structural stability that prevents wall deformations from affecting the precision cooperation between components.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
An assembly (2) comprising: a housing (3) comprising a wall (7); a movable flap; an actuator (15) comprising: • a box (17) comprising a finger (18); • a movable head (19) located in the housing; an attachment device (16) for attaching the actuator to the housing, said device comprising: • at least two projections (23, 24); • a cut-out (25); • a shoulder (28); the actuator pivoting between an aligned position and a non-aligned position; the attachment device having the following features: the cut-out is made in a partition (8) of the housing; the thickness of the partition is equal to the axial dimension defined between the shoulder and the projections; the finger is in a hole (29) made in the wall.